 Brown commenced his basic flight training in Fairchild PT @-@ 19s at Pine Bluff , Arkansas on 20 August 1941 . He then went to Randolph Field , Texas , for the second phase of his training . The third and final phase was completed at Kelly Field , Texas , where he received his pilot 's wings on 7 March 1942 . He officially transferred to the Air Corps on 4 April , and was promoted to first lieutenant on 18 June . His first assignment after flight training was at Barksdale Field , Louisiana , where , as a member of the 344th Bombardment Squadron of the 93d Bombardment Group , he flew Consolidated B @-@ 24 Liberator . Moving with the organization to Fort Myers , Florida , he flew both antisubmarine patrol and conventional bomber training aircraft . 
