Jay J. Brown

Jay J. Brown (Lt. Colonel, Ret., USAF) Lt. Colonel Jay J. Brown passed away Dec. 13, 2011. Born Nov. 23, 1918, he led a life full of daring and adventure – with a great deal of help from his guardian angel. After graduating in the first Army-Air Corps training class from Arkansas Polytechnic College (Arkansas Tech University) he was commissioned a Second Lt. in 1941. While serving as a flight instructor in the Army-Air Corps at Randolph Field, San Antonio, he met and married his wife of 70 years, Doris Steussy on October 23, 1941. Together, they traveled the world. During WWII, Jay flew 472 combat hours in 33 missions against the Japanese in the Asian-Pacific Theater. He served as operations officer of the 871st Bomb Group as a Captain. Once, while serving as formation leader, he piloted his crippled B-29 Super Fortress, "The Twentieth Century Limited," back to base at Saipan with two engines knocked out, 147 bullet holes and unexploded enemy bomb shells above the fuel tank after the battle with Japanese fighters sent to bring him down. For this he was awarded the Silver Star. For his wartime service, his country awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with five clusters and four battle stars. Later, he flew in the Berlin Airlift, for which he received the Berlin Airlift Medal. After the war, he was stationed at Eglin AFB, Fla. serving as a test pilot, flying the B-29, B-50 and B-47. Later he was assigned as the original test pilot for the B-52 development program in Wichita, Kan., and served as head of the flight test and acceptance division at Boeing Aircraft. Jay loved flying and it can be said that he never met a plane he couldn't fly. After retiring from the Air Force, he continued to fly commercially for several companies in Arkansas. While flying was his passion he was also an avid fisherman, hunter and enjoyed traveling with his wife Doris in their RV. He is survived by daughters Susan Adams (Butch) of Morrilton, Ark., Patty Hamm (James) of Clarence Center, NY., and son Jay J. Brown (Cindy) of NLR, Ark. Along with seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and special friends Wayne and Sandy Hardy. A memorial service will be held at Stonehaven Assisted Living Facility, 101 Olympia Dr., Maumelle, Ark. on Dec. 17, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. A very special thanks to all the staff at Stonehaven for their support and love shown during the last four years. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 5600 W. 12th St, Little Rock, Ark. 72204.