Jesse Clyde Bowling

Military
media-52338.jpeg UPL 52338 1LT Jesse C Bowling, B24 Bomber Pilot Jesse C Bowling

1LT Jesse C Bowling is my father

Object Number - UPL 52338 - 1LT Jesse C Bowling, B24 Bomber Pilot

Jesse C Bowling named his aircraft 'Ruth Please!' after his wife Ruth.



Bowling was shot down on 19-Feb-45 on a mission over Vienna. Bowling managed to land the aircraft in Zadar.



Awards: DFC, AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12177677 / O-2001884
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Ruth Please!
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Akron, OH 6 April 1921 Son of Paris C and Lillie B Bowling.

Enlisted

Charleston, WV 26 October 1942 Charleston, West Virginia

Other

Crash landing

Zadar, Czech 19 February 1945 Shot down on 19-Feb-45 on a mission over Vienna. Managed to land the aircraft in Zadar.

Died

Cool Ridge, WV 19 July 2005

Buried

Mountain Home National Cemetery Mountain Home, Washington County, TN 22 July 2005 Mountain Home National Cemetery Mountain Home, Washington County, Tennessee

Based

Lecce Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 15AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorJessBowling
Changes
Sources

Jesse is my Father - he was discharged with permanent rank of 1LT

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Information provided by Jim Thomas, son of Clifford Thomas who shared with me his correspondence with Jim and Sherry Bowling, children of Jesse Bowling about their father's aircraft and service.

Jesse Clyde Bowling: Gallery (1 items)