Black Naval Aviator Number ONE

Ensign Jesse L. Brown was the first Black Naval Aviator. He was killed when his plane was shot down during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. He was unable to eject from his crippled F4U Corsair and crash-landed successfully. His injuries and damage to his aircraft prevented him from leaving the plane. A white squadron mate crash-landed his plane near Ensign Brown and attempted to extricate Brown but could not and Brown died of his injuries.

The U.S. Navy honored Jesse Brown by naming an escort ship after him—the USS JESSE L. BROWN. He was the first black naval aviator to die in combat and flew with VF-32 from the USS Leyte Gulf (CV-32).