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Jesse L. Brown, the first African-American naval aviator, crashed behind enemy l
Featured Event 1950 Event

December 4

Jesse Brown Killed in Korea: First Black Naval Aviator Dies in Action

Jesse L. Brown, the first African-American naval aviator, crashed behind enemy lines during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir after his plane took antiaircraft fire. His wingman Thomas Hudner deliberately crash-landed nearby in a futile rescue attempt, earning the Medal of Honor for a bond that transcended the racial barriers of the era.

December 4, 1950

76 years ago

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