42-50719 Sans Souci

Nine men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a Air Force bomber plane. Four men standing in rear and five men kneeling in front UPL 65551 UPL 65551 Bowman Crew, 859th BS, 492nd BG. Back row, left to right: Vernon Rood, Bombardier; Jock, Pilotage Navigator; William Kriegel, Navigator; James Bowman, Pilot. Front row, left to right: James Green, Engineer; Everett Newton, Waist Gunner; Howard Garrett, Radio Operator; August Bonkowski, Ball Turret Gunner; William Ryan, Waist Gunner. The Bowman Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They were assigned to the 859th BS, designated as Crew 914. 1st Lt James Bowman signed out for a B-24J, 44-40139. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Perhaps the crew came closest to death during a training exercise on the evening of 30 Jun 44 as they were practicing night flying formations. Bowman's leader signaled for him to peel off and land. However, he was directed to the wrong base which had a short runway. No one was hurt when the plane ran off the end of the landing strip, however the plane was damaged beyond repair.

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On

Object Number - UPL 65551 - Bowman Crew, 859th BS, 492nd BG. Back row, left to right: Vernon Rood, Bombardier; Jock, Pilotage Navigator; William Kriegel, Navigator; James...

Obtained by the 492nd BG from the replacement depot to replace 42-50370 OONIE DOONIE lost on 7 Jul 44.

This plane was ferried over to the ETO by Lt Blackwell Dunnam who named the plane SANS SOUCI. The plane was taken from him at Nutts Corner, Northern Ireland. Ironically, this plane and the Dunnam Crew R-46 were both assigned to the 492nd BG, 859th BS. But he never got to fly it in combat. Although this plane did have a name, no nose art was painted on it.

6 Aug 44: Aircraft lost in landing accident on return from a mission, colliding with another ship. Both aircraft destroyed. This ship burst into flames, killing all ten crewmen aboard. One of the ten had survived the crash only to die of his injuries 11 days later.

 

Connections

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Units served with

A Swedish Soldier guards a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40159) nicknamed "Boulder Buff" of the 492nd Bomb Group that has landed in Sweden.

492nd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Nine men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a Air Force bomber plane. Four men standing in rear and five men kneeling in front

James L Bowman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron 788th Bomb Squadron 467th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-659448
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Missions

A B-24 Liberator of the 492nd Bomb Group bombs a target near Hamburg. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USAF- 492nd BG showing successful result on oil target near Hamburg, 6 Aug 1944.'

524

  • Date: 6 August 1944
A mission log for Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst of the 91st Bomb Group, 3 August 1944 -15 December 1944. Image via Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst, 91st Bomb Group.

519

  • Date: 5 August 1944
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a military airplane. Six men standing to the rear, four men kneeling in front. Large canvas bags are laying in front of kneeling men

513

  • Date: 3 August 1944

Revisions

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Sources

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42-50719: Gallery (1 items)

Nine men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a Air Force bomber plane. Four men standing in rear and five men kneeling in front

Object number: UPL 65551 - Bowman Crew, 859th BS, 492nd BG. Back row, left to...