24 Feb Merle P. Brown

Merle P. Brown, co-pilot

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.

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.

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