General, wife die in private plane crash

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Maj. Gen. Joseph D. Brown, IV and his wife, Sue, were killed when a private Cessna 210 crashed near Williamsburg, Va.
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General, wife die in private plane crash

Posted 4/20/2013 Updated 4/22/2013

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4/20/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Maj. Gen. Joseph D. Brown IV and his wife, Sue S. Brown, were killed April 19, when the Cessna 210 he was piloting crashed in Williamsburg, Va. General Brown has been the commandant of The Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy in Washington D.C. since October 2010.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Joe Brown and his wife, Sue. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family, friends, and the members of the National Defense University as they come to terms with the tragedy. Joe and Sue dedicated their lives in service to our nation and their loss will be felt across our Air Force and joint team." - Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen Mark A. Welsh III

Brown has served in the Air Force since 1980. During his 33 years of service, Brown flew more than 4,300 hours in B-1 and B-2 aircraft and commanded a bombardment squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and both a group and wing at Ellsworth AFB, S.D. Before his assignment to the National Defense University, Brown was the deputy director for nuclear operations with the U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt AFB, Neb.

Comments

4/29/2013 4:23:32 PM ET
I worked under his CMD while on my remote tour at Eskisehir Turkey. He was an exceptional person. I will always cherish those memories. Still can't believe it. RIP Sir.

Glenda, Alabama

4/23/2013 11:08:49 AM ET
At USSTRATCOM we formed a men's singing group called Command Performance. Every chance Maj Gen Brown had he came down and sang with us. Even at gormal functions. He was an avid supporter and a good friend to us all. He will be greatly missed.

Paul Kelly, Offutt AFB NE

4/23/2013 10:22:18 AM ET
Worked for General Brown when he was Vice Commander then Commander of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB. There was a rare time when I got to talk to him one on one and he showed kindness and just simply talked about various things about various subjects and about my family while he waited for a call. A Interesting person and I am sorry he and his wife died in a tragic accident like this. - Frank Martin MSgt USAF Ret

Frank Martin, Portland OR

4/23/2013 9:31:23 AM ET
As mentioned by previous poster I too was stunned when my wife delivered the news that Maj Gen Brown and his wife Sue died in a plane crash. He and I served concurrently at the Pentagon and then Ellsworth AFB. At Ellsworth we interacted often to accomplish the mission and our familys interacted socially in the close knit base community. As the Wing CC his recommendation was a primary reason I was promoted following my service as a Squadron CC under his command. A highly experienced and genuinely personable leader I would have served with at any time. Very sorrowful news. May God Bless and my condolences to Family.

Brian Withrow, Virginia

4/23/2013 4:20:00 AM ET
I was a 2Lt when I first met MG and Mrs Brown at Ellsworth AFB. Shortly after he assumed Wing Command we had a spaghetti dinner at the O'Club through out the evening there was singing and dancing wow...could the Brown's dance At one point my 4 year old daughter and her friends took the microphone and started singing America the Beautiful next thing you hear are the Brown's singing along from the back of the room before it was over the O'Club was echoing on the plains of South Dakota. We PCS'd shortly thereafter but what a wonderful memory of two two wonderful people.

Tom Guyer, Kaiserslautern Germany

4/22/2013 11:21:05 AM ET
Maj Gen Brown was a servant leader and the perfect gentleman. I had the honor of serving as his executive officer while at USSTRATCOMJ3N. Ms. Sue was the perfect host and a true lady in all she did. The AF their family and friends have truly lost a wonderful couple.

J. Keith Brown, Malmstrom AFB MT

4/21/2013 12:50:31 PM ET
So sad to see this. Worked for him in the 28BS at Dyess 97-98. He had my back as SqCC can't say that about all of them I had over the years. Godspeed Col Brown.

Ken Tyhurst, California

4/20/2013 11:01:12 PM ET
Totally stunned to hear this horrible news. Maj Gen Joe Brown was my aircraft commander when he was a major at Dyess AFB TX in the early 90's. I was the OSO on the four man B1-B Excalibur crew and we were one of the bomb wings standardization and evaluation flight check crews. He and Sue were also our neighbors living two doors down from us in Abilene near the zoo...our daughter baby sat their little one. Great memories flying with Joe of awesome and exciting missions including providing a distinguished visitor flight for Neil Armstrong during his visit to Dyess. Very sorry to hear this news...blessings and peace upon his family in this difficult time. My sincere condolences. VR - - Pete Henson Lt Col USAF Ret

Peter Henson, Omaha NE

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