Dear Golden Eagles,

I am saddened to report that Rear Admiral F. Taylor Brown, USN (Ret.) made his final take-off on Monday, July 11, 2011 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is survived by his wife Shirley and his daughters and step-daughters: Leslie Brown Heitz and husband Bill of Atlanta, GA, Diane Brown Weaver and husband Tim of Vilonia, AR, Cindy Thomas Pugh and husband Tom of Little Rock, and Jill Thomas McIntyre and husband Andy of Jacksonville, AR; three grandchildren and four step-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 1 PM, Saturday, July 16, 2011 at St. James United Methodist Church, 321 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, AR 72212. A reception will follow at the church. His ashes will be interred in Westfield, WI at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. James United Methodist Church or to the National Aviation Museum Foundation, 1750 Radford Blvd, Suite B, NAS Pensacola, FL 32508.

Admiral Brown joined the Navy Reserve upon graduation from high school in 1943, and in ’45 was called to active duty and designated an Aviation Cadet. He was commissioned and designated a naval aviator in November ’45. He joined Fighter Squadron FIVE in San Diego where he flew FJ-1’s in the Navy’s first jet squadron. After a brief stay at Marquette University and Line School, he spent three years in VF-171 flying the F2H-2/3 Banshee. In ’57 Taylor attended Empire Test Pilot School in Farnborough, England. In ’58 Taylor joined the Navy’s first F8U Crusader squadron and developed a new concept of periodic maintenance that was later adopted Navy-wide. From ’60-62 he served as Head of Flying Qualities and Performance Branch of Flight Test at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, MD. From ’62-64 Taylor was XO and CO of VF-143 where he led fighters on the first U.S. strike against North Vietnamese forces. As Commander Air Wing NINE aboard USS Ranger (CV-61) in early ’65, he led first coordinated Navy/Air Force attacks against North Vietnamese ground targets. He was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Air Medals for his heroism in Vietnam actions.

Admiral Brown attended National War College in ’67-’68, and attained his Bachelor of Science degree at George Washington University in Jan ’69. He commanded USS Guadelupe (AO-32) in the Vietnam area of operations, USS Inchon (LPH-12), and as a Flag officer was Commander Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River. He also served as Defense Attache, U.S. Embassy London, England. He retired in August ’79.

In a career highlighted by many “first’s”, Taylor won the Bendix Trophy Race of the Cleveland National Air Races in ’48 as a junior officer. He set the World Time-To- Climb record to 20,000 meters flying the F4H Phantom while assigned to Flight Test. He was inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame in ’91. A charismatic leader, Taylor led from the cockpit throughout his impressive career.

Taylor was an avid do-it-yourselfer who could fix almost anything, and enjoyed using his skills to help others. He had a passion for golf, and was competitive in many Golden Eagles tourneys. He was a cheerful and warm addition at all Eagles reunions. We have lost a great aviator and loyal shipmate. He will be missed.

Sadly,

Bill Gureck, Pilot