Jesse L. Brown: A High Flying African american
Jesse Brown was an amazing man, who overcame barriers saying only whites could do certain things. Jesse also showed that those barriers were not true. Jesse was born on October 13,1926 in Hattiesburg Mississippi. As the son of a sharecropper and school teacher, he was raised in poverty. From a young age, Jesse loved airplanes, and was determined to fly. He attended Eureka high school and graduated second in his class, and was accepted into Ohio State University.
When he saw a poster announcing V-5, a new navy pilot program, he went straight to the recruiting office. When he got there, the recruiting officer, lieutenant
Dawkins said that he wouldn't be able to pass the written test, plus, the navy had never let a african american even sit in a navy cockpit. But they were about to. He passed them all, including the physical. In 1947, as a midshipman he was the first african american accepted into the navy flight school. Then he went to selective flight training at Glenview III, where it was fly well, or get washed out.
His classmates weren’t exactly pleasant, using cruel words and actions trying to get him to resign. But Jesse wasn’t giving up just like that. When he first reported to Lt. jg. Roland Christensen he was nervous, but when he got there he was welcomed
and told this: “You’ll be flying with me while you’re here. Just relax and concentrate on doing the job.” His first flight in a stearman biplane trainer went well. He completed the selection and soloed.Ten days later he reported to Ottumwa, Iowa for his next sixteen weeks of preflight training. It was instructors’ jobs to remove cadets who didn’t meet navy standards.In the June of 1947, only 36 out of 66 graduated. Jesse was one of them. Him and the others were flown to Pensacola,Florida to begin flight training at Pensacola’s naval station.
On October 1, 1947 Jesse made his first flight in a navy SNJ, a trainer made by North American Aviation, who also made the famed P-51 Mustang. Three days later he made a move that could have ended his career as a navy pilot. He married his long time girlfriend, Daisy. At that time the rule stated that a cadet had to remain single or be dropped out. The final test for cadets was to land on an aircraft carrier, which was not a easy task. The instructors said the five “traps” he had made were flawless. On October 21st, 1948, eight days after his 22nd birthday, he became the first african american to wear gold wings.
He was assigned to the fighter squadron VF-32 aboard the carrier Wright, and later he and his squadron were transferred to the Leyte.When he first met Thomas Hudner, Hudner extended his hand. Jesse was not used to a white wanting to shake his hand. But later he did other things for Jesse. Big things. He now flew a Vought F4U Corsair and a section leader, and he provided air support for allied ground troops.
On December 4, 1950 he and his section left the carrier Leyte to provide air support for the U.N. troops at the Chosin Reservoir. There were no targets available, but to the Chinese anti-aircraft gunners, they were targets. Jesse’s voice comes through on the radio, and in a calm voice he says: “I think I may have been hit. I’ve lost my oil pressure.”
He skillfully flew his corsair down to a pasture on the top of a mountain. His friend and wingman, Thomas Hudner, realized how much danger jesse was in,considering he was 17 miles behind enemy lines.Hudner said: “I’m going in.” That is amazing as is, but in 1950 whites didn’t have a lot of respect for african americans. Hudner tried to free Jesse with a small axe, but his leg was stuck under the crushed instrument panel.
He called a rescue helicopter, which at the time was a HO3S. The helicopter brought a fire extinguisher and bigger axe, but the axe just bounced off the metal and trapped him even more. The helicopter pilot told Hudner they didn't have the instruments to fly at night so they had to go. Hudner finally agreed, but before he left he brought back Jesse’s last words: “ If i don’t make it, please tell Daisy how much I love her.”
Thomas Hudner was later awarded the medal of honor by president harry truman. When he received a cash award he used it to put Jesse’s widow through college, because Jesse’s dream was for her to go to college and become a school teacher like his mother. Hudner always wondered why he had been rewarded for his act and always said: “Jesse would have done the same for me.” but for the rest of us I think it is pretty obvious why: pure heroism.
Hudner later met up with olympian Jesse Owens to try to help end segregation.Now there are many african american carrier pilots today. I believe it was partly because of Jesse. There are many people trying to get back his remains. Someday. Somehow
