360
21 May 1944
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.
On
Mission Details
MARQUISE/MIMOYECQUES (Primary)
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Notes: 1st Bomb Division was made up of 379th Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 94.5 T HE
SIRACOURT (Primary)
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 492nd Bomb Group
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 365 T HE
Connections
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People
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Trembling Gremlin
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lilly Belle
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron 398th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Trips Daily
- Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 577th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Green Mountain Gal
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Sweet Mama
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Lee Cunningham, 8th Air Force missions research database / Stan Bishop's 'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces', the Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces and the work of Roger Freeman including the 'Mighty Eighth War Diary'.