Leland A Dowden

Military

Leland A Dowden was assigned to the 369th Bomb Squadron on 1 October 1943. He completed one mission as a bombardier with William Hilton and his crew, before being shot down on 14 October 1943 in B-17 #42-30199 'Wicked WAAC. '



Dowden was taken prisoner of war at Stalag 4 D/Z in Annaburg. He wrote extensively about his experiences during the war in his memoir ' One and a half missions: From Maine to New York the Long Way', published in 1989.

Connections

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Units served with

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-733592
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-7360
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39303948
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner, Top Turret Gunner ; Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-672813
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron 369th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Wicked WAAC
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Prisoner of War

Stalag 4 D/Z, Annaburg 14 October 1943

Died

California 20 September 2004

Born

Sacramento, California, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Library catalogue record for 'One and a half missions: From Maine to New York the Long Way' in IWM collection

< href="https://aad.archives.gov/aad/display-partial-records.jsp?s=644&dt=466&b…">POW Record

Find a Grave

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 821 / MACR 821, First Over Germany pg. 169 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database