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Jack Brownell

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Jack Brownell

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    1937 LHS Basketball Squad    		 Placeholder
    1937
This January 7, 1943, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
    Cpl. Jack Brownell, son of the Guy Brownells, is, thus far, the only Lowell boy fighting with the American forces in conjunction with the British 8th army in their present drive from Egypt across Libya.

    Cpl. Brownell, with the ground crew of the U.S. army air force, received his basic training at Chanute Field, Rantoul, Ill., and was the first local boy to see action in the North Africa zone.

The following article was found in the January 28, 1943, Lowell Tribune on page 2, column 1:

    Cpl. Brownell Writes

    Cpl. Jack Brownell writing from Libya, states: "The names of nine boys were chosen to spend a weeks vacation in Cairo and I was one of the lucky ones. It was a wonderful trip.

    "Our tent in the desert is almost modern. We rigged up lights with a one-cylinder engine and generator. All we lack now is running water and bath. 'Necessity was the mother of invention indeed.'"

This March 11, 1943, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 6, column 2:

    Brownells Receive Letter

    Writing his parents, the Guy Brownells, Cpl. Jack Brownell, with the air corps in Libya, says that the sand storms are raising havoc with everything just now, and sometimes you can see but a few feet ahead of you. He says he is getting along fine -- in spite of the sand.
This April 8, 1943, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 4, column 1:

    Cpl. Jack Brownell In Tunisia

    Betty Brownell received a letter from her brother, Cpl. Jack Brownell, stating that he was getting along fine in spite of the desert heat and sandstorms. Cpl. Brownell, stationed with an air force ground crew in the battle zone, also mentioned that one of the bomber crews whose plane they service, received silver stars for their exploits over enemy territory the day he wrote the letter.
The following April 22, 1943, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 3, column 3:

    Eats Sand -- But Doesn't Like It

    Writing his parents, the Guy Brownells, Cpl. Jack Brownell says all is well on the front at "………." where he is stationed with the air corps. Jacks says that the sand blows continually and he knows he gets some mixed with his chow, but "a fellow has to eat, you know."
The following Aug. 24, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 4, column 1:

    Local Boy's Group Receives Third Presidential Citation

    12th Army Air Force -- Sgt. Jack Brownell, 25, of Lowell, is a Crew Chief of a 12th Air Force P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bomber, now blasting enemy communications, transports and gun positions in support of Allied ground troops in the Mediterranean theater.

    Brownell enlisted in December, 1941 and recently celebrated two years of foreign service, July 16. His fighter group just received its third Presidential citation.

    Tactical air force fighter-bombers which gave close support to Allied ground forces on the beaches in southern France on "D" day carried into the operations the cumulative experience gained during the Mediterranean campaigns starting with the battle at El Alamein and climaxed by the landings in Sicily and at Salerno and Anzio.

    Lessons learned from these previous operations contributed much to keeping the P-47 Thunderbolts shuttling back and forth over the beachhead, bombing and strafing enemy positions in support of the Allied landings and the march inland.

An obituary of Jean Brownell in the April 12, 1945, issue of the Lowell Tribune (page 2, columns 5-6) mentions that her brother Jack Brownell, "was serving with the army in Italy."

This May 31, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 6, column 2:
    Word has been received by the Guy Brownells from their son, Staff Sgt. Jack Brownell, that he is on his way home. Jack has been with the air corps overseas for over two years.
This June 28, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
    S/Sgt. Jack Brownell arrived home Saturday after spending 35 months overseas with the air corps. Jack has received an honorable discharge, and is now at the home of his parents, the Guy Brownells. He is enjoying a visit to Michigan now.
Last updated on March 6, 2010.

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