Albert J Shower
Military
Object Number - FRE 2004 - A poster celebrating the 100th mission of the 467th Bomb Group.
Colonel Shower had the unique distinction of being the only commander of a Group that flew from the U S to Europe, stayed in command until the war was over, flew on many missions with the Group and then flew back to the U S with them after the war.
Nickname "Black Al" reflected his "stern but fair, no nonsense" command style.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Air Division 467th Bomb Group 790th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36559571
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ground Crew - Mechanic
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Air Division 467th Bomb Group 790th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Assistant Crew Chief
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 467th Bomb Group 790th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32865613
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Right & waist gunner, Ball & Tail Turret
Added by his son, David J Patton, 6Dec2016.
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 467th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-820815
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Air Division 467th Bomb Group 790th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33326964
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer, Top Turret Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Madison, WI, USA | 16 June 1910 | |
|
Other Commissioned |
West Point, NY, USA | 12 June 1935 | Bachelor of Science, USMA 1935 |
|
Other Commander |
25 October 1943 - 12 June 1945 | 467th Bomb Group | |
|
Died |
15 October 2001 |
Revisions
Ross Rainwater, "Black Al" addition. Often heard my dad, TSGT Roy L. Rainwater use that nickname for COL Shower, but he meant it with respect, especially with the benefit of hindsight that COL Shower's command style saved lives.
BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 1942-1945 (Command and Staff Officers) by Russell A. Strong
392nd BG Memorial Association News February 2001 & Page 406 in the book 2ND AIR DIVISIONby Turner Publishing Company, 1998 edition (D790.A2S45) / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
