Merle P. Brown

Merle Paul Brown

Merle “M.P.” Brown was the co-pilot of Herman’s original crew and also on the Liberty Lady. He lives in Minnesota now, near our mother’s family, so I hope that someday soon … perhaps this year … I will be able to visit Merle and interview him in person. I have talked to him, and he has been very helpful filling in gaps.

Merle was born in West Virginia … moved first to Pennsylvania then Ohio.  In Akron he formed a small orchestra that played country music at dances, and he also had a half hour spot on a local radio station.  He enlisted in the armed services in 1942 and became an airman. 

After their interval in Sweden, he and Smithy flew together for several more missions. One B-17 they flew was the Konditori Baby which eventually left the 306th BG and went to the 381st BG.

MP, the Co-Pilot

Merle for a time was a flight instructor and was then employed by a civilian airline company. After that he was pilot and managing director of International Jet Inc, in Minneapolis.

I have recently corresponded with Merle’s son, Ed, who is also very interested in the history of his Dad’s war experiences. He and Merle have visited the crash site in Sweden as well as the areas near Stockholm where Merle was an internee.