Marshall Joseph Brown was born on December 14, 1917, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. He was the son of Jesse Herman Brown and Elizabeth Philomena Lohmeyer Brown. He served in the 760th Bomber Squadron, 460th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier of B-24 #41-29291 during World War II.

On June 30, 1944, B-24H 41-29291 also joined the Fifteenth Air Force strike on Blechhammer, flying deep into German-held territory as part of the long-range strategic effort to cripple Axis fuel production. After releasing its payload, the bomber began the difficult homeward journey, navigating thunderstorms, heavy flak belts, and persistent Luftwaffe fighter attacks. Over northern Lake Balaton, the aircraft came under renewed pressure as enemy fighters pounced on stragglers from the American stream. Damaged and unable to hold altitude, 41-29291 broke away and attempted an emergency descent toward the countryside near Nemesvita, just north of the lake. The Liberator crashed in the rural terrain there, scattering debris and leading to an immediate German response. Some crewmen were killed outright, while others survived to be taken prisoner.

2Lt Brown was captured and became a prisoner of war, held at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan, Silesia, Bavaria, but was later released and returned to duty. He died on May 22, 2006, and is now buried in the Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, norwalkctheroes.org, www.15thaf.org