USS Walter S. Brown (DE-258) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy during World War II.

In the next few hours, 10 successive shore-based fighter interception sorties including some conducted by British radar-equipped Beaufighters failed to drive off the enemy reconnaissance aircraft.

In Campbell, the commander of the screen, Jesse Clyburn Sowell, enjoined his escorts to be especially vigilant and warned that a dusk attack was well within the realm of possibility.

At 2025, radar noted the approach of enemy aircraft; and Sowell formed his charges into eight columns 1,000 yards (1,000 m) apart to allow for plenty of maneuvering room.

Eleven minutes after sunset beneath a moonless, overcast sky, Walter S. Brown received orders to commence laying smoke.

Eight minutes after the initial sightings, the first German aircraft came in low and fast and entered Walter S. Brown's defense sector.

Despite the fact that the gunners could not hear the bearings being called out from the bridge over the sound-powered phones the fire from the Oerlikons deterred the aircraft from making an attack.

Walter S. Brown, which had engaged six enemy aircraft during the seven-minute battle, dropped astern at 2153 in company with Evarts (DE-5) the British tug Hengist and the French coastal escort Cimieterre to search for possible casualties.

Sowell had high praise for the men and ships of the convoy's screen and was especially complimentary in judging Walter S. Brown's performance.

For the remainder of the war in Europe, Walter S. Brown continued to escort convoys on round trips from the east coast of the United States to North African ports.