Quince Brown

Quince Brown was a native of Bristow and graduated from Oklahoma A&M College. He and his younger brother wanted to fly so badly that each learned to fly as private citizens before being accepted into the cadet flying schools of the Army Air Corps.

As a pilot, he moved to the Easter Theater of Operations in April 1943 and was assigned to the 78th Fighter Group, based in Duxford, England. He remained the leading fighter ace of the 78th Fighter Group. He was credited with the first successful strafing and destruction of locomotives on the European continent prior to the invasion. He was also credited as the first American pilot to destroy four enemy aircraft in a single mission. The official count for his air-to-air victories was twelve aircraft.

His aircraft was hit by ground antiaircraft fire while strafing an enemy airfield in Germany on Sept. 6, 1944, and he parachuted from the disabled P-47. He was seen to land safely, gather his parachute, and disappear into the woods. It was months later before it was learned that Quince had been killed by civilians led by the local SS burgermeister. He had flown more than 130 combat missions.

The Quince L. Brown Parkway at the main entrance to Vance Air Base in Enid is named in his honor.