This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Allen, Brooke Empie, Maj Gen USAF(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Wilmington, North Carolina
Last Address Collier County, Florida
Date of Passing May 30, 1992
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Brooke Empie Allen (ASN: 0-20465), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-17 Heavy Bomber and Commander of the 42d Bombardment Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group (H), HAWAIIAN Air Force, in aerial action against enemy Japanese Naval surface forces during the period 4 to 6 June 1942, at Midway. Lieutenant Colonel Allen led his squadron of B-17s in four attacks against the Japanese Task Force during the first two crucial days of the Battle of Midway. The gallant leadership, personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Allen on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Hawaiian Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
General Orders: Headquarters, Hawaiian Department, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 155 (1942)
Division: Hawaiian Air Force
He was also presented 2 foreign decorations not shown on the ribbon chart:
1. The Chinese Order of the Cloud and Banner, 6th Grade. 2. The Greek Order of the Phoenix, Knight Commander.
Base, Station or City
Hickam Field & Kualoa Point Field, Oahu, T.H.
State/Country
Hawaii
Patch
11th Bombardment Group, Heavy Details
11th Bombardment Group Heavy (H) "The Grey Geese"
They were there on that infamous day, Sunday, December 7, 1941. They were around on September 2, 1945 when the Japanese surrendered. They are still here today only not as a combat unit. The 11th Bombardment Group (H) was organized and activated at Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii, on February 1, 1940 as part of the 18th Wing of the Hawaiian Air Force. It included Headquarters, Headquarters Sq., 14th Bombardment Sq., 26th Bombardment Sq., 42nd Bombardment Sq. and the 50th Reconnaissance Sq. In February of 1942 it was assigned to the 7th Air. It's planes consisted of B-18 Bolos, B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberators.
Boeing B-17E "Typhoon McGoon II" (S/N 41-9211) of the 11th Bomb Group, 98th Bomb Squadron, taken in January 1943 in New Caledonia. Note the antennas mounted above the nose plexiglass used for radar tracking
The B-24 Liberty Belle Crew, 42nd Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group (H), 7th Air Force 11th Bomb Group (H) - 42nd Bomb Squadron, April 1945 - Jan 1946.
"Thar She Blows"
B-24L-5-CO Liberator
s/n 44-41468
42nd Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group, 7th Air Force.
"Miss Traveler"
B-24J-165-CO Liberator
s/n 44-40530
98th Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group, 7th Air Force.
Photo taken on Guam,Marianas Islands on May 4,1945.
Lady"
B-24J-1-CO Liberator
s/n 42-73004
98th Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group, 7th Air Force.On YYThe photo of the nose art of the �??Wishful Thinkin�??.�?? That is my father�??s B-24M Liberator, S/N 44-41945, when he was on Guam and Okinawa in 1945 with the 431st Bomb Squadron. My father, 2LT Thomas Victor �??Vic�?? Hart, was the co-pilot of a B-24 crew that had been together since training at Muroc Army Airfield in California in late-1944. I literally grew up with that photo (undoubtedly the first topless woman I ever saw!) as I was born two months before my father came home from the Pacific. Thanks for including the photo maybe you know a little more about it now.