S/Sgt. Edward J. Borowy, born in Chicago, flew 21 missions and was awarded the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters. He was a ball turret gunner in both B24s and B17s.

After completing his initial training in the U.S. with the Lt Albert L Tucker crew, Ed came over to the U.K. on the Queen Elizabeth and eventually arrived in Debach on the 6th June 1944, where the crew commenced their training and flew several practice missions before proceeding to enemy territory.

One month after arriving, the Tucker crew flew their first mission, on 7th July 1944, to France and then went on to fly 2 further missions together. However, in late July 1944 the ball turrets were removed from the B-24s and Ed reluctantly left the crew and was detailed to work in the armoury, cleaning and preparing the guns. He continued to be billeted with the enlisted men of his original crew and also the men from 2 other crews he had trained with. When the 493rd BG changed over to flying B-17s, Ed remained in the armoury and a “new” ball turret gunner was assigned to the Tucker crew.

On 12th September, the crew was shot down on the raid over Magdeburg and all but one of the men were killed (the radio operator, Floyd Ford Jr, was made a P.O.W.). To make matters worse the other crew who shared the Nissen hut with Ed was also lost.

Ed stated that “That night sleeping, or rather lying awake, was his loneliest night in the Army”. The next morning he requested to be returned to flying duty and joined the Lt Edward Glotfelty crew, as ball turret gunner and went on to fly a further 18 missions.