Born in San Francisco, California, December 19, 1915 Graduated from the Polytechnic High School, San Francisco, June 1933
Enrolled in the University of California, Davis, August 1934 Animal Science Curriculum
Member Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity
Completed three semesters in residence and withdrew in February 1936
Enrolled in the Nondegree Curriculum August 1936 through May 1937
On leave of absence, August 1937 to August 1939
Re -enrolled in the Nondegree Curriculum, August 1939 and graduated December 1939
Enrolled in the Santa Rosa Junior College, 1940 and Graduated June 1941
Military Service
MILITARY HISTORY
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Military Training
Enlisted as Aviation Cadet, Army Air Corps, San Diego, December 1941.
Later as signed to Falcon Field, Arizona for advanced training under British auspices; thence to Mitchell Field, Wisconsin; to Gore Field, Montana (for delivering B-17s to Alaskan and other AAF bases); to Reno, Nevada, (for 'blind flying practice') and finally to Homestead, Florida, (special training for foreign service).
COMMISSIONED Second Lieutenant, AUS, December 1941. COMMISSIONED First Lieutenant, AUS, January 1945.
COMMISSIONED Captain, AUS, April 1953.
Service Assignments
Lt. Brown departed the United States in August 1944 for foreign service in the India-Burma-Chinese Theater where he flew a total of 83 missions ‘Over the Hump'. In November 1945, he separated from the Service and engaged in farming operations at home in Guerneyville, California, during the ensuing five years.
Recalled to active service in February 1951, Lt. Brown was stationed at Randolph Field, Texas to train B-29 personnel. From November 1951 to May 1952 he was based on Okinawa and during this period flew 111 missions over Korea in B-2Ss. In May 1952, he was transferred to the African Theater (French Morocco) and thence to Germany (with a Captain's commission) where he served during July and August, 1954.
Captain Brown was recalled to the United States in September 1954 and as signed to the 44th Air Refuel Squadron (ARS Bombing Wing) with bases at Lake Charles, La.; Valdosa, Ga.; and Palm Beach, Fla. Late in 1954 he was transferred to the 340 ARS, Sedalia, Mo. as Pilot instructor and crew trainer.
On 23 February 1955, while serving as a KC-97 Air Craft Commander and after eight years of gallant service in AAF uniform, his tragic death is depicted by the following United Press dispatch abstracted from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, February 24, 1955.
‘GUERNEYVILLE MAN AND 8 OTHERS DIE IN FLAMING CRASH’
‘Captain Leslie H. Brown, Guerneyville, Commander of the giant military refueling plane that crashed near Sedalia, Missouri last night has been listed among the known dead.’
Decorations and Awards
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.
AIR MEDAL with Two Oak Leaf Clusters.
AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL.
ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL with Three Bronze Stars.
WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL.
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL.
KOREAN SERVICE MEDAL with Two Bronze Service Stars.
ARMED FORCES RESERVES MEDAL.
UNITED NATIONS SERVICE MEDAL.
AVIATION BADGE 'Senior Pilot’.