Leo LaDean Mower

Military
media-6603.jpeg UPL 6603 Crew #609
Leo Mower Crew
466th BG - 786th BS

Standing Left to Right: George Hamas (WG), James Branum (NG), Lynn Fostmeier (CP), Harry Brainard (TG)

Kneeling Left to Right: Charles Seth (N), Edward Magalski (FE), Walt Taylor (R.O), Leo Mower (P)

This photo was taken while the crew were interned in Sweden. They were forced to crash land their badly damed "Lovely Lady's Avenger" near the beach at Bulltofta, Sweden on 21 June 1944. They flew the mission with an 8 man crew. Their bombardier, William Hoopes, wasn't scheduled to fly the mission. One of their gunners, Harry Melin, had turned up with an injured hand and unable to fire his guns. It was too late to flnd a replacement gunner.

Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom

Object Number - UPL 6603 - Crew #609 Leo Mower Crew 466th BG - 786th BS Standing Left to Right: George Hamas (WG), James Branum (NG), Lynn Fostmeier (CP), Harry Brainard...

Damaged by flak and fighters and landed in Sweden on 6/21/44 in B-24 Lvly Lady's Avngr #4440093 INT

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'

466th Bomb Group

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

People

Harry M Brainard

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12168077
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

James Nelson Branum

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38444377
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Lynn J Fostmeier

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

George Hamas

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

William Roberts Hoopes

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

The wreckage of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40093) nicknamed "Lovely Ladies Avenger" of the 466th Bomb Group that has crashed in Malmo, Sweden. 21 June 1944. Image via E Olov Sundgren. Handwritten caption on reverse: '466th BG place unknown.'

44-40093

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Lovely Lady's Avenger
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron

Missions

428

  • Date: 21 June 1944
  • Official Description:

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Attlebridge

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Fountain Green, UT 84632, USA 5 March 1922

Enlisted

Ephraim, UT 84627, USA 3 March 1941

Died

Salt Lake City, UT, USA 1 August 1998 Leo LaDean Mower, 76, passed away on August 1, 1998, in Salt Lake City, Utah . Born on March 5, 1922, in Fountain Green, Utah to Clarence and Leona Fredericksen Mower. Leo married Mildred Allred on August 21, 1943 in Casper, Wyoming, marriage later solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple on October 7, 1943. Served as a B-24 bomber pilot in World War II, 8th Army Air Force; Commander, National Guard, Fillmore; XI Corps Artillery, Ft. Douglas, retired as a Major. Leo received his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Utah State University. He was an educator for 34 years: Industrial Education at North Sevier High, and Mechanical Drawing at Olympus High and Cottonwood High. Editor of Industrial Arts Journal. He was the recipient of many awards. An active member in the LDS Church, he served as scout master, Elders Quorum president, ward executive secretary, ward and stake clerk, worker in the Jordan River Temple. Served as officer in Salina Lions Club; treasurer of Holladay Chapter Sons of Utah Pioneers; enjoyed traveling with members of Wasatch Wheelers WIT Club.

Other

Interned (INT)

Bulltofta, Kirseberg, Malmö, Sweden 21 June 1944

Buried

Fountain Green, UT 84632, USA Fountain Green Cemetery Fountain Green Sanpete County Utah, USA Plot: Sec PA 16 Lot 8

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466rh BG Historian

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 6164 / MACR 6164 & Page 360 in the book 2ND AIR DIVISIONby Turner Publishing Company, 1998 edition (D790.A2S45) / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Leo LaDean Mower: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 6603 - Crew #609 Leo Mower Crew 466th BG - 786th BS...