Roscoe C. Brown Jr. was squadron commander of the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group. During combat, he served as a flight leader and operations officer. He had graduated from the Tuskegee Flight School on March 12, 1944, as a member of class 44-C-SE.
The 100th Fighter Squadron deployed to the war in Europe as a part of the 332nd Fighter Group. Captain Brown’s first combat mission was flown in August 1944, escorting B-24 Liberator bombers over the Ploesti oil fields in Romania. Altogether he flew 68 combat missions, a combination of strafing runs and escort missions for heavy bombers and P-38 reconnaissance flights. During this period, Capt. Brown shot down an advanced German Me 262 jet fighter and an FW-190 fighter. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for these actions.
I had the pleasure of getting to know Roscoe Brown, now Dr. Brown. On one occasion, he had agreed to sign a couple of my paintings that I had created for him and his P-51D Mustang. In the accompanying photo, he just signed the painting after seeing it for the first time.
He was very proud of everything that the Tuskegee Airmen had to accomplish and the legacy that they had left. It was a sad day on July 2, 2016, when he passed. He lived an exemplary life and made such a difference in the world!
Part 2 will be about his big day tangling with a Messerschmitt 262 jet.
