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Contact Info
Home Town Globe, Arizona
Last Address Chandler, Arizona
Date of Passing Dec 08, 2007
Location of Interment National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona (VA) - Phoenix, Arizona
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (Army Design) to Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Brown (AFSN: FR-9625A/0-740139), United States Air Force, for exceptionally outstanding and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility. From 30 November 1950 to 6 September 1953, while a Prisoner of War in North Korea. In full knowledge of the great personal risk involved as Senior United Nations officer at the Pingchong-Ni Prisoner of War Camp, Colonel Brown, in the latter part of 1951, despite anticipated punishment by torture, starvation, deprivation and probable execution, organized and directed a secret resistance movement of all prisoners in opposition to the indoctrination program of the Chinese Communist Forces. Colonel Brown's objective was attained when the enforced study program of the enemy eventually collapsed due to the organized resistance inspired by this movement. In late December 1951, Colonel Brown, immediately recognizing the need for positive leadership to defeat the enemy's psychological design, personally countermanded the orders issued by the Chinese Camp Commander that all United Nations prisoners of war would join in sending New Year's Day greetings to the Commander of the Chinese Communist Forces in Korea. The outstanding leadership, exceptional fortitude and selfless devotion to duty consistently displayed by Colonel Brown during his thirty-three months of captivity, reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
General Orders: Department of the Air Force, General Orders No. 66 (1955)
Action Date: November 30, 1950 - September 6, 1953
Aircraft/Missile Information
General characteristics
* Crew: 1 * Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m) * Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m) * Height: 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m) * Wing area: 235 ft� (21.83 m�) * Empty weight: 7,635 lb (3,465 kg) * Loaded weight: 9,200 lb (4,175 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 12,100 lb (5,490 kg) * Powerplant: 1� Packard Merlin V-1650-7 liquid-cooled supercharged V-12, 1,695 hp (1,265 kW) * Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0163 * Drag area: 3.80 ft� (0.35 m�) * Aspect ratio: 5.83
Performance
* Maximum speed: 437 mph (703 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,620 m) * Cruise speed: 362 mph (580 km/h) * Stall speed: 100 mph (160 km/h) * Range: 1,650 mi (2,755 km) with external tanks * Service ceiling 41,900 ft (12,770 m) * Rate of climb: 3,200 ft/min (16.3 m/s) * Wing loading: 39 lb/ft� (192 kg/m�) * Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (300 W/kg) * Lift-to-drag ratio: 14.6 * Recommended Mach limit 0.8
Armament
* 6 � 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns; 400 rounds per gun for the two inboard guns; 270 per outboard gun * 2 hardpoints for up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) * 10 � 5 in (127 mm) rockets
Specifications
* A-36A Apache - Dive bomber (US Army) * F-6 - US Army offshoots model * F-6A - US Army offshoots model * F-6C - Reconnaissance variant * P-51A - More powerful powerplant; 4 x machine guns. * P-51B - 4 x machine guns; Original and bubble canopy. * P-51C - 4 x machine guns; Original and bubble canopy. * P-51D - Classic variant; most produced. * P-51H - Lighter airframe version * P-51K - Featuring an Aeroproducts propeller. * F-51 - Redesignated to "Fighter" in the new jet fighter age. * F-6K - Reconnaissance version of P-51K
