 In August 1942 he flew with the 93d Bombardment Group to England , where it became the first B @-@ 24 group to join the Eighth Air Force . He served in various positions with the group , including commander of the 329th Bombardment Squadron , group operations officer and group executive officer . He was promoted to captain on 20 October , major on 13 February 1943 , and lieutenant colonel on 27 August 1943 . High casualties and the rapid expansion of the Air Force paved the way for fast promotion , which Brown 's superiors felt was deserved due to his outstanding performance in combat and leadership skills . Perhaps no one was as surprised at his rapid advance in rank as his father , now a brigadier general , who was serving in North Africa at the time Brown arrived there with the 93d Bombardment Group when it was temporarily detached from the Eighth Air Force . The elder Brown wanted to know " What 's a young <unk> like you doing as a colonel ? ! " 
