Home > United States of America > Iowa > Boone County > Boone > Linwood Park Cemetery > Major Gene Wesley “Swede” Brown

Major Gene Wesley “Swede” Brown

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Birth	:	2 Jun 1930 Boone, Boone County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	8 Jul 1967 Đà Nẵng, Đà Nẵng Municipality, Vietnam
Burial	:	Linwood Park Cemetery, Boone, Boone County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.0550003, -93.8850021
Inscription	:	IOWA MAJOR 736 BOMB SQ AF
Description	:	Major Gene Wesley "Swede" Brown was born to his loving parents Wyatt Frank "Frank" and Edna C. (Hedman) Brown on Monday June 2, 1930 at Boone, Boone County Iowa. My research found no information on his childhood, college years, and if he was married. Swede was stationed on the Island of Guam in 1967, while stationed there he hit a hole in one on the Guam golf course, a friend of his stated Swede had the biggest smile a human could have. Swede was a pilot who flew the B-52D Stratofortress from Guam on combat missions over Vietnam.... Read More	Major Gene Wesley "Swede" Brown was born to his loving parents Wyatt Frank "Frank" and Edna C. (Hedman) Brown on Monday June 2, 1930 at Boone, Boone County Iowa. My research found no information on his childhood, college years, and if he was married. Swede was stationed on the Island of Guam in 1967, while stationed there he hit a hole in one on the Guam golf course, a friend of his stated Swede had the biggest smile a human could have. Swede was a pilot who flew the B-52D Stratofortress from Guam on combat missions over Vietnam. The B-52D fully loaded with fuel and munitions would take the entire three mile runway to take off. I recall about halfway down the runway the wing tip support wheels lifting from the runway surface. On the morning of Sunday July 9, 1967 I was in my launch recovery pickup when over my truck radio someone asked where aircraft 601 was located. Radio control came back that the aircraft had gone permanently TDY to Da Nang. I at that point knew something had gone terribly wrong. While on a bombing mission over Shau Valley near Vinh Vietnam B-52D 56-0601 was struck by anti-aircraft fire which created an electrical problem which caused the aircraft to have no flaps or brakes. The aircraft was diverted to Da Nang, a fighter base, to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft first touched down at a 1,000 feet down the runway then bounced back into the air for another 5,000 feet before setting down a second time at the 6,000 foot marker. The aircraft overran the end of the runway at the speed of hundred knots ending up in a mine field on fire. All forward crew members perished that night, five crew members gave the utmost sacrifice, their lives. It was a very sad day since we lost two other B-52D the day before. Sadly Major Swede died in that fire on Saturday July 8, 1967 at Da Nang South Vietnam at the age of 37 years, 1 month, 6 days which does not include his last day, he lived a total of 13,550 days. Major Swede remains were interred in the Linwood Park Cemetery in Boone, Boone County Iowa. Swede's information was provided from researching many resources and my memory. This biography was created as an honor to Swede by a fellow airman Loren R. I believe all lives matter, even the lives of those who have passed. Many details are still missing from his life, if you have any more details I will be happy to edit the additional information into this biography. Please send your info to me at my email address [email protected] Probable brother: John Brown (1920 - 1946) CREW MEMBERS: Caption: William Henry Pritchard (1936 – 1967) Caption: James Thomas Davis (1937 – 1967) Caption: Anthony Kent Johnson (1940 – 1967) Caption: Donald J Reynolds (1940 – 1967) Credits: Aviation Safety Network, Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, Indian Country Today, timeanddate.com, familysearch.org (K8JP-BQD), Tim Cook Revised: 07/08/2021

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Major Gene Wesley “Swede” Brown's memorial?
Major Gene Wesley “Swede” Brown's memorial is located at: Linwood Park Cemetery, Boone, Boone County, USA.
When did Major Gene Wesley “Swede” Brown death?
Major Gene Wesley “Swede” Brown death on 8 Jul 1967 in Đà Nẵng, Đà Nẵng Municipality, Vietnam
Where are the coordinates of the Major Gene Wesley “Swede” Brown's memorial?
Latitude: 42.0550003
Longitude: -93.8850021

Family Members:

Parent

Wyatt Frank Brown

(1900 - 1976)

Edna Charlotte Hedman Brown

(1897 - 1962)

Siblings

Frank J. “John” Brown

(1920 - 1946)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Linwood Park Cemetery
Boone, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0550003, -93.8850021

2. Latham Cemetery
Boone, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0489006, -93.8878021

3. Biblical College Cemetery
Boone, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0456009, -93.9113998

4. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Boone, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0485992, -93.9163971

5. Boone Memorial Gardens Cemetery
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Coordinate: 42.0449982, -93.9152985

6. Sarah Dinwoodie Cemetery
Worth Township, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0278000, -93.8697000

7. Rose Hill Cemetery
Boone, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0419006, -93.9408035

8. Bass Point Cemetery
Boone, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0992012, -93.8957977

9. Oakwood Cemetery
Moingona, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0219002, -93.9396973

10. Squire Boone Cemetery
Luther, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0032997, -93.8531036

11. Buckley Cemetery
Boone, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0999810, -93.9418960

12. Hollaway Cemetery
Moingona, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0138720, -93.9530080

13. Quincy Cemetery
Boone, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0074997, -93.9503021

14. Hickory Grove Cemetery
Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1074982, -93.9507980

15. Bluff Creek Cemetery
Boone, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0774994, -93.9796982

16. Sparks Cemetery
Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9728012, -93.9191971

17. Hull Cemetery
Luther, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9603004, -93.8664017

18. Leininger Cemetery
Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1492004, -93.8356018

19. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Boone, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9618988, -93.9492035

20. Boone County Poor Farm Cemetery
Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1591100, -93.9159000

21. Schlicht Cemetery
Fraser, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1444200, -93.9780100

22. Mitchell Cemetery
Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1208000, -93.7544022

23. Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery
Ogden, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0344000, -94.0407000

24. Olive Branch Cemetery
Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0080986, -93.7369003