Charles A. Brown, Jr.

By zthanson, 15 December, 2022
First Name
Charles
Middle Name
A.
Last Name
Brown
Suffix
Jr.
Birthdate
Hometown
Boston, Massachusetts
Rank
Colonel
Service Branch
Air Force
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
Man in a U.S. Air Force uniform.
PreCapture Description

Charles Brown was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Air Force ROTC program at Boston University on May 20, 1968, and went on active duty beginning July 8, 1968. He then attended Undergraduate Pilot Training, receiving his pilot wings at Craig AFB, Alabama, in July 1969. After completing B-52 Stratofortress Combat Crew Training, Lieutenant Brown served with the 99th Bomb Wing at Westover AFB, Massachusetts, from January 1970 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on December 19, 1972.

Post Release Image
Man in a military suit and cap on a tarmac with aircrafts in the background.
Post Release Description

Captain Brown was released during Operation Homecoming on March 29, 1973. He left active duty on August 1, 1973, and served in the Rhode Island Air National Guard from 1974 to 1976. Captain Brown then joined the Air Force Reserve at Westover AFB, Massachusetts, serving first as a C-123 Provider pilot and later as a C-130 Hercules pilot. Colonel Brown served as commander of the 439th Component Repair Squadron at Westover from 1989 to 1993, during which time he was mobilized for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991. He was maintenance officer of the 439th Equipment Maintenance Squadron at Westover from 1993 to 1996, and then served as maintenance officer for the 439th Aircraft Generation Squadron from 1996 to 1998. Colonel Brown was vice commander of the 439th Logistics Group at Westover from 1998 to 1999, and then served as commander of the 439th Logistics Group from 1999 until his retirement from the Air Force on March 4, 2004. During this time, he was mobilized in support of the War on Terrorism from October 2001 to September 2002, and from February 2003 to March 2004.

 Post-Release Photograph: (CHRISTOPHER EVANS / The Republican, Springfield, Massachusetts)

Honors, Citations, and Commendations
  • Legion of Merit
  • Distinguished Flying Cross
  • Bronze Star
  • Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release