The Story of Jesse L. Brown: The Navy’s First African American Pilot

This Korean War hero broke the color barrier, paving the way for Black aviators for years to come.

Jeremy Kariuki

Friday, February 11, 2022 at 11:39 AM ET

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Ensign Jesse L. Brown seated in the Vought F4U-4 Corsair — Circa 1950. [Courtesy: F-35 Joint Program Office]

Key Takeaways:

Jesse L. Brown, overcoming significant racial barriers, became the U.S. Navy's first African American fighter pilot in 1948.
During the Korean War, Brown's F4U-4 Corsair was shot down while he was providing close air support to U.N. troops surrounded at the Changjin Reservoir.
His wingman, Lt. Thomas Hudner Jr., heroically crash-landed his own plane in an attempt to rescue the trapped Brown, an act that earned Hudner the Medal of Honor.
Brown died from his injuries and the extreme cold, becoming the first African American officer killed in the Korean War, and was posthumously awarded numerous honors, including having a Navy frigate named after him.

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Editor’s Note: This article is part of a month-long series celebrating Black History Month through aviation: Feb. 1: African American Pioneers in Flight and Space | Feb. 4: Legacy Flying Academy | Feb. 10: Why Aren’t There More Black Pilots in the Air Force? | Feb. 11: Jesse L. Brown | Feb. 15: Meet Four African Americans Making a Difference in Aviation | Feb. 18: From “Hidden Figures” to “Artemis” | Feb. 22: CMSAF Kaleth O. Wright | Feb. 25: Cal Poly Humboldt

The Korean winter of 1950 was an especially bitter one. United Nations troops, including thousands of U.S. Marines, were advancing near the Changjin Reservoir in sub-freezing temperatures.