Charles O Brown Jr

Charles "Orville" Brown, Jr. (Brownie) was a B-25 Airborne RADAR /Radio /Aerial Gunner.

Charles O/ Brown, Jr enlisted in the AAC, from CA.and went thru Basic and chose Radio.  "Brownie" met  Ed (Edward C Ennis) and they became "forever friends" immediately.... Learning Radio at the AAC Radio Academy at Scott Field, Ill, Ed and Brownie would spend their off-time together, with another close friend, Jack Best.  Ed's "bride" Alta would come from Chicago (every other weekend) and Jack's wife, Helen would come too, and the 5 of them had geat times, not much money, but sandwiches, a few beers and card games kept them busy.  Alta taught "Surgical Technique" at Michael Reese Hospital and would meet Helen (from PA) and travel on to Scott Field.

 Ed Ennis, Charles "Brownie" Brown Jr. and Jack Best went to Boca Raton, Fla. to learn the very 1st application of "Top-Secret" Airborne RADAR.  Ed and Brownie ( met his newest/ next/other best-friend, Walter Cantrell) at DeRidder AAB, LA.  Within weeks, they all flew away from Morrison Field, Fla. in the "now famous" Col. Bob Knapp's 321st Bomb Group" of B 25 Mitchells that flew across the Alantic the Southern Route to Africa without a single loss.   Walter Cantrell finished his 50 Combat Missions while still in Africa, and came home (Sept./Oct. '43) and Ed and Brownie continued on to be the 1st Group to land on the mainland of Italy.  Ed's ship, on the 1st Mission out of Italy, crashed on take-off, a complete and total loss (One man died, Lt James Shaw) 4 Oct. 1943.  The rest of the crew all recovered and returned to Combat Duty.

   Brownie and Ed continued on with Combat Missions but daily life was much different in Italy, the Germans burnt and/or killed everything on their way out.  Brownie became very adept at catching anything and everything, including an occasional fish :)  Ed said "I never asked !  If it tasted good (and it always did) he would just eat it happily".  When Ed returned from the Hospital in Africa after recovering from the Crash, it was only a Mission or 2 until a sad and unimaginale tragedy happened.....  As they neared the Target, Brownie (a Radio/Gunner) was flying as a volunteer Bombardier in the next ship over, and Ed was waving to Brownie when the ship took a direct hit to the engine and "Brownie" disappeared.   "Brownie", a true and faithful friend, Ed missed you every day of his life.

   Brownie is interred at the American Battle Monument at Florence Italy, if any relative sees this, PLEASE contact Ed's daughter Barbi (Ennis) Connolly at PRINCESSBARBI_B25@msn.com  I am a Researcher for the 57th Bomb Wing and the Historian for their 321st Bomb Group.   http://57thbombwing.com   "Brownie" and Ed Ennis.

http://57thbombwing.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1077

His FATHER was Charles O. Brown, SENIOR.

MILDRED Ethel Baughn was "Brownie's" MOTHER.  Mildred was the ONLY Baughn daughter born in South Dakota, and both census that Brownie is in, says his Mother, was born in South Dakota.  

His Father was Charles Orville Brown.  Charles Orville Brown died sometime between June of 1917 (the date he registered for the WW1 draft)~~~~~SEE ATTACHMENT~~~~~~~~and January 8th, 1920 (when we find Mildred widowed, in the 1920 census).   Family legend has it that Mildred divorced Charles Sr but he is not seen anywhere else so PERHAPS Charles Orville Brown, SENIOR, served and died in WW1? 

Brownie's Mother, Mildred, later married (about 1922?) a man named Nick Doman, and had at least TWO daughters with him, so Brownie had at least 2 half sisters, Palmena Doman, born about 1923, and Sarah Lou Doman, born about 1926.  Sarah Lou was probably named for Mildred's Mother, Sarah L. Brown Baughn Sims.

Mildred lived to be 99 years & 7 months old.  50 years WITHOUT her son, Brownie.

Now, Mildred's 1930 census says she was 1st married at 16, which would have been about 1909, but the 1910 census, says she is 17, at home, and SINGLE.  Mildred & Charles O. Brown, SR. may have been married shortly AFTER the 1910 census.

*************************************************************************************

July, 2011  We have been contacted by Brownie's Nephew

I'm thiking Ocsar and Sarah Baughn Divorced, as I found Oscar in 1920 in Washington, living with his nephew & his family, he claimed to be widowed.  The divorce or Oscar's death came sometime before 1919, which "freed" Sarah to marry Ansel Sims.  

Ansel Sims was Likely a relative or friend of Oscar's, but by 1930, he had been WITH the family for more than 30 years.

From: rootsweb.com:
Name: Oscar Baughn
Given Name: Oscar
Surname: Baughn
Sex: M
Birth:
Mother: Phoebe Sims b: ABT 1830
Father: Ben Baughn

NOTE: Oscar Baughn's Mother's Maiden Name was SIMS
------------
California Death Index, 1940-1997
Name: Ansel L Sims
Social Security #: 0  
Sex: MALE  
Birth Date: 7 Oct 1863
Birthplace: Illinois  
Death Date: 26 Jan 1949
Death Place: Santa Cruz  
Mother's Maiden Name: Beaston  
Father's Surname: Sims  
===============
June 06, 1900 census/Converse Co. Wyoming/Manville/Lost Spring/roll 1826/ED-20/page ?a/sheet 2a
Family#: 27-27
Oscar Baughn/42/June 1857/Married-19yrs/sheep raiser/ILL/OH/NJ
Sarah L./wife/42/February 1858/Married-19yrs/6-4 kids/KYx3
Roy C./son/16/November 1883/sheep herder/NEB/ILL/KY
Florence A./daughter/10/December 1889/NEB/ILL/KY
Mildred E./daughter/6/August 1893/SOUTH DAKOTA/ILL/KY
Maggie/daughter/4/July 1895/WYO/ILL/KY
Ansel L. Sims/Boarder/35/October 1864/Single/sheep raiser/ILL/NJx2
----------------------------
April 22, 1910 census/Santa Cruz Co. California/Santa Cruz-Ward-4/roll 106/ED-129/page ?/b/sheet 13b
Family#: 369-379
Sarah L. Baughn/52/M1-30yrs/7-5 kids/KYx3
Florence J./daughter/20/Single/teacher/lessons/NEB/ILL/NEB
Mildred E./daughter/17/Single/SOUTH DAKOTA/KY/NEB
Margaret L./daughter/15/WYO/KY/NEB
Velma V./daughter/WYO/KY/NEB
Ancel L. Sims/Boarder/46/Single/ILL/NYx2/no occupation listed

Living at 9 Seaside Avenue
----------------------
California Birth Index, 1905-1995
Name: Charles O Brown
Birth Date: 16 Oct 1914
Gender: Male  
Mother's Maiden Name: Baughen  
Birth County: Santa Cruz  
-------------------------------
January 05, 1920 census/Santa Cruz Co. California/Santa Cruz/roll 148/
ED-231/page 112b/sheet 3b
Family#: 89-89
Ansel Sims/56/Married/ILL/NJx2/poultry missing?
Sarah L./wife/61/Married/KYx3
Charles O. Brown/Grandson/5/CAL/SOUTH DAKOTA/ORE
George Moris/Servant/40/Single/Scotlandx3/immigration-1909/Alien Status
laborer/farm work

Living at 363 Broomesforte(?) Avenue
=======================================
BROWNIE'S FATHER:
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Name: Charles Orville Brown
County: Residence: 39 School Street, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
State: California  
Birthplace: Oregon;United States of America  
Birth Date: 9 Apr 1891
Race: White  
Roll: 1544331  
DraftBoard: 0  
Age: 26
U.S. Citizen: Natural Born
Occupation: Barber
Employer: M.L. Rittenhouse
Place of Employment: 153 Pacific Avenue
Nearest Relative: Not Given
Dependants: Yes, Wife & Baby
Height: Tall
Build: Slender
Color of Eyes: Blue
Color of Hair: Light
Signature: Charles Orville Brown
James Andrew Barrett, Registrar
05 June 1917
Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co. California
===================================
January 08, 1920 census/Santa Cruz Co. California/Santa Cruz/roll /page ??b/sheet 6b
Family#: 154-169
Mildred Brown/26/WIDOWED/South Dakota/ILL/KY/saleswoman/bookstore
====================================
January 05, 1920 census/Yakima Co. WASHINGTON/Lemingburg/roll 1945/ED-185/page 173a/sheet 2a
Family#: 35-36
Eck E. Baughn/34/Married/NEB/ILL/WISC/irrigation engineer/dealers in building supplies and irrigation supplies
Nelma/wife/32/Married/NEB/WISC/SWEDEN
Charlotte/daughter/10/IDAHO/NEBx2
Lee/son/6/WASH/NEBx2
OSCAR BAUGHN/Uncle/61/WIDOWED/ILL/OH/NJ/farm laborer/working out
Ruby Baughn/Niece/23/Single/NEB/ILL/WISC/nurse/private homes
-----------------------
April 03, 1930 census/Santa Cruz Co. California/Santa Cruz/roll 215/ED-6
Page 171a/sheet 2a
Family#: 46-51
Ansel L. Sims/67/1st Married at 56/ILL/NJx2/poultry
Sarah L./wife/71/1st Married at 22/KYx3
Velma V. Baughen/daughter/28/Single/WY/ILL/KY
Charles O. Brown/Grandson/15/CAL/SOUTH DAKOTA/ORE

Living at 19 Oceanview Avenue
----------------------------
April 04, 1930 census/Santa Clara Co. California/San Jose/roll 219/ED-62/page 41a/sheet 4a
Family#: 93-115
Nick Doman/36/1st married at 26/chef/hotel/JugoslaviaX3/immigration-1912/Naturalized
Mildred E./wife/36/1st married at 16/SOUTH DAKOTA/ILL/KY
Palmena/daughter/7/CAL/JUGO/SD
Sarah Lou/daughter/3yrs-8months/CAL/JUGO/SD

Living at 850 South Third Street
-------------------
U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Name: Charles O Brown Jr
Enlistment Service # : 19040584
Birth Year: 1914  
Race: White, citizen (White)  
Nativity State or Country: California  
State of Residence: California  
County or City: Santa Cruz      
Enlistment Date: 4 Feb 1942
Enlistment State: California  
Enlistment City: Moffet Field  
Branch: Air Corps  
Branch Code: Air Corps  
Grade: Private  
Grade Code: Private  
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law  Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman
whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of the United States under Army Regulations 605-10
Source: Civil Life      
Education: 1 year of college  
Civil Occupation: Salesmen, insurance  
Marital Status: Divorced, without dependents  
Height: 70  
Weight: 169  
--
U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945
Name: Charles O Brown Jr
Gender: Male  
Race: White  
religion: Protestant      
Cemetery Name: Nettuno (Permanent Cemetery), Nettuno, Italy  
Grave number: h 6 5  
Disposition: According to next of kin      
Service Branch: Army  
Rank: Staff Sergeant  
Service Number: 19040584  
================================
California Death Index, 1940-1997
Name: Mildred Ethel Doman
[Mildred Ethel Baughn]  
Social Security #: 545362022  
Sex: FEMALE  
Birth Date: 8 Aug 1893
Birthplace: South Dakota  
Death Date: 25 Mar 1993
Death Place: Santa Clara  
Mother's Maiden Name: Brown  
Father's Surname: Baughn  
--
Social Security Death Index
Name: Mildred E. Doman
SSN: 545-36-2022  
Last Residence: 95014  Cupertino, Santa Clara, California, United States of America
Born: 8 Aug 1893
Died: 25 Mar 1993
State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951)
=================================