Island Bennett Brown was born on September 21, 1922, in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina. He was the son of Richard Edward Brown and Missouri Elizabeth Brown. He was married to Nelda Allene Williams Brown. He was employed as a time keeper on construction projects at Camp Lejeune before enlisting in the service. He served in the 601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner in B-17G #43-37889 nicknamed ''Black Widow” during World War II.

On January 20, 1945, the B-17G “Black Widow” departed Nuthampstead, England, for a mission into the Rhine valley. The day’s target was the bridge between Mannheim and Ludwigshafen, an important industrial and transportation link across the Rhine. The aircraft was hit by heavy flak before reaching the target, but remained steady long enough to release its bombs. Afterward, the bomber caught fire, fell out of formation, and came under attack from a German fighter before crashing near Mechtersheim in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. Out of the nine crew members, two were killed in action, while the other seven parachuted to safety but were captured and spent the rest of the war as prisoners.

Sgt Brown was captured and imprisoned at Stalag Luft III in Sagan-Silesia, Bavaria. After being freed and returning to duty, he later rose to the rank of First Sergeant in the Army Reserves, 993rd Transportation Unit, before retiring. He worked 42 years for the NC Employment Security Commission. He was also a Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 218, as well as being a Mason. He died on April 14, 2008, and is now buried in the Oleander Memorial Gardens, Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, USA.

Source of information: www.andrewsmortuary.com, www.ig-heimatforschung.de