One of several Pensacolians killed in New Guinea was AMM 2nd Class Joseph Edward Brown Jr. of Route #4, Pensacola. He was the son of Joseph Sr. and Bernice Brown who were married in 1922. He was born in Pensacola on January 24, 1923 and lived at 410 West Gadsden Street while his father worked as the manager of a local filling station. By May 1, 1944, Joseph Jr. was a crew member on a Dauntless dive bomber off the coast of New Guinea where he conducted combat operations against the Japanese. He and his pilot took off that fateful morning and never returned from their mission and were presumed lost in action. By January, the young airman was presumed dead and his parents were notified. A memorial service was conducted in Pensacola at the Church of God located at “T” and Avery Street on January 17, 1945. Sadly, his body was never recovered, and the deep Pacific became his final resting place.
US Navy SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber,
Joe would have been the rear gunner 1944
Pensacola News Journal article of 1-16-1945
Pensacola News Journal article of 1-17-1945