Gerald E. Brower signed the Tucson Register once, on Friday, April 12, 1929 flying Boeing P-12 29-354. Major Brower was commanding officer of the 1st Pursuit Group, Selfridge Field, MI at that time, but he listed his home base as Dayton, OH, Wright Field. He was eastbound from San Diego, CA, Rockwell Field to Dayton. No purpose was cited for his flight.

Gerald E. Brower, 1941 (Source: NASM Biographical File)

He was born August 25, 1893 in Brooklyn, NY. He attended school in Brooklyn, and graduated with a degree in civil engineering from Cornell University 1916. Later, he also earned a Master's degree in aeronautical engineering from MIT in 1927.

He saw active service as a Captain during WWI in the Toul Sector and in St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives. He was with the Field Artillery. He was an aerial observer for artillery from November, 1918.

In 1921 he was transferred to the US Army Air Service as a Captain and from 1928 was promoted to Major and served as observer, pilot, operations officer and group commander. He was assigned to the 1st Pursuit Group, Selfridge Field, MI as Commanding Officer.

After commanding the 1st Pursuit Group he was transferred and became Commanding Officer of the 3rd Pursuit Squadron at Clark Field, Philippine Islands, May 15, 1930-July 9, 1932.

From 1935-36 he attended the Command and General Staff School, Ft. Leavenworth, KS. From 1936-38 he was with the US Army Office of the Chief of the Air Corps as a Lt. Colonel in charge of the Supply Division.

Brower was killed at age 47 in an airplane accident on Sunday April 20, 1941 at El Obeid, Egypt about 250 miles southwest of Khartoum. He was the first casualty among American military observers assigned to the war zones just months before America's entry into WWII. He was survived by his wife and one daughter.

He was a member of the Early Birds of aviation and the National Aeronautical Association. He held civilian transport pilot certificate number 1162.

---o0o---

Dossier 2.2.39

UPLOADED: 02/04/09 REVISED: