Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 December 4

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Jesse L. Brown

Jesse L. Brown (1926–1950) was the first African-American naval aviator in the United States Navy, and the first naval officer killed in the Korean War. Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to an impoverished family, Brown had an avid interest in aircraft from a young age. After graduating as salutatorian of his high school, he enlisted in the US Navy in 1946 and became a midshipman one year later after finishing a degree at Ohio State University. He earned his pilot wings on 21 October 1948, and was subsequently assigned to Fighter Squadron 32 aboard the USS Leyte. At the outset of the Korean War, the Leyte was ordered to the Korean Peninsula, arriving in October 1950. Brown flew 20 combat missions before his F4U Corsair aircraft came under fire and crashed on a remote mountaintop on 4 December 1950 during a mission supporting ground troops at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Brown died of his wounds in spite of efforts by wingman Thomas J. Hudner, Jr., who intentionally crashed his aircraft attempting a rescue and was later awarded the Medal of Honor. Brown's successes in the segregated US military were memorialized in several books, and the frigate USS Jesse L. Brown (FF-1089) was named in his honor. (Full article...)

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  • In the news

    On this day...

    December 4: Navy Day in India

    The Mary Celeste

  • 1872 – The American brigantine Mary Celeste (pictured) was found apparently abandoned under circumstances which to this day remain unknown.
  • 1893First Matabele War: A patrol of British South Africa Company soldiers was ambushed and annihilated by more than 3,000 Matabele warriors.
  • 1954 – The global hamburger fast food chain Burger King, known for its signature item the Whopper, was founded in Miami, Florida, US.
  • 1979Bruce George Peter Lee set fire to a family home in Hull, England; after his arrest he revealed that he had started nine other fatal fires in the area.
  • 1992U.S. President George H. W. Bush ordered American troops into Somalia to help provide humanitarian aid and restore order during the ongoing Somali Civil War.

    More anniversaries: December 3 December 4 December 5

    It is now December 4, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page
  • Today's featured picture

    Blue-winged Parrot

    The Blue-winged Parrot (Neophema chrysostoma) is a small parrot found in Tasmania and southeast Australia. Males (example shown here) are mainly olive green with a blue frontal band reaching from forehead to eye, blue wing coverts, black primaries, and a yellow belly. Females are slightly duller with more green on the wings.

    Photo: JJ Harrison

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