John W Howland

Military

A proud World War II veteran, Jake was a B-17 Pathfinder navigator with the 8th Air Force. He flew numerous missions with both the 91st and 381st Bomb Groups. Jake led a group of 18 B-17s on D-Day bombing Gold Beach moments before the landing of British

and Canadian troops. (written by son, John)



December 1943 - July 1944. Was assigned to 91st BG as Pathfinder Navigator in 1944

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.

305th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.

381st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.

91st Bomb Group

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

Aircraft

42-97625

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sunkist Special
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

San Antonio, Texas 22 November 2015

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

AAM

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

http://www.91stbombgroup.com/Ragged_Irregular/RI_2016_Jan_V49_N1.pdf

Date
Contributorsofford
Changes
Sources

From a copy of a diary kept by Captain John W Howland USAAF held in IWM, Documents.8143

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

381st Bomb Group Memorial Assoiciation, March 1999 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia