Wife; Geraldine Marie Denhardt Downs
Enlisted 11 August 1942 in Louisville, Ky
Torpedoman's Mate Third Class, U.S. Navy 6345066
USS Brownson (DD-518)
During WWII while screening the landings at Cape Gloucester, the Brownson was targeted by a D3A2 Val (dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy) that dropped two bombs that hit at 2:42pm. The bombs struck to starboard of the centerline, near number two stack. A tremendous explosion followed and the entire structure above the main deck as well as the deck plating, was gone. The ship listed 10 to 15 degrees to starboard and settled rapidly amidships with the bow and stern canted upward.
The wounded were placed in rafts and at 2:50pm and the order to abandon ship was given. The amidships section was entirely underwater at that time. There was a single ripple like a depth charge explosion and the destroyer sank at 2:59pm. During the bombing and sinking a total of 108 crew members were listed as Missing In Action (MIA) (including Orion Downs) and Killed In Action (KIA).
Enlisted 11 August 1942 in Louisville, Ky
Torpedoman's Mate Third Class, U.S. Navy 6345066
USS Brownson (DD-518)
During WWII while screening the landings at Cape Gloucester, the Brownson was targeted by a D3A2 Val (dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy) that dropped two bombs that hit at 2:42pm. The bombs struck to starboard of the centerline, near number two stack. A tremendous explosion followed and the entire structure above the main deck as well as the deck plating, was gone. The ship listed 10 to 15 degrees to starboard and settled rapidly amidships with the bow and stern canted upward.
The wounded were placed in rafts and at 2:50pm and the order to abandon ship was given. The amidships section was entirely underwater at that time. There was a single ripple like a depth charge explosion and the destroyer sank at 2:59pm. During the bombing and sinking a total of 108 crew members were listed as Missing In Action (MIA) (including Orion Downs) and Killed In Action (KIA).
Wife; Geraldine Marie Denhardt Downs
Enlisted 11 August 1942 in Louisville, Ky
Torpedoman's Mate Third Class, U.S. Navy 6345066
USS Brownson (DD-518)
During WWII while screening the landings at Cape Gloucester, the Brownson was targeted by a D3A2 Val (dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy) that dropped two bombs that hit at 2:42pm. The bombs struck to starboard of the centerline, near number two stack. A tremendous explosion followed and the entire structure above the main deck as well as the deck plating, was gone. The ship listed 10 to 15 degrees to starboard and settled rapidly amidships with the bow and stern canted upward.
The wounded were placed in rafts and at 2:50pm and the order to abandon ship was given. The amidships section was entirely underwater at that time. There was a single ripple like a depth charge explosion and the destroyer sank at 2:59pm. During the bombing and sinking a total of 108 crew members were listed as Missing In Action (MIA) (including Orion Downs) and Killed In Action (KIA).
Enlisted 11 August 1942 in Louisville, Ky
Torpedoman's Mate Third Class, U.S. Navy 6345066
USS Brownson (DD-518)
During WWII while screening the landings at Cape Gloucester, the Brownson was targeted by a D3A2 Val (dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy) that dropped two bombs that hit at 2:42pm. The bombs struck to starboard of the centerline, near number two stack. A tremendous explosion followed and the entire structure above the main deck as well as the deck plating, was gone. The ship listed 10 to 15 degrees to starboard and settled rapidly amidships with the bow and stern canted upward.
The wounded were placed in rafts and at 2:50pm and the order to abandon ship was given. The amidships section was entirely underwater at that time. There was a single ripple like a depth charge explosion and the destroyer sank at 2:59pm. During the bombing and sinking a total of 108 crew members were listed as Missing In Action (MIA) (including Orion Downs) and Killed In Action (KIA).
Bio by: Tim Cook
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Kentucky.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
