Michael Kowal joined the 8th Air Force after obtaining his private pilot's license in Teterboro, NJ. He was assigned to fly B-17 aircraft with the 94th Bomb Group, 333rd Squadron, Bury St Edmunds, England. This group was under the command of Medal of Honor recipient General Frederick Castle.

"Hal" completed 25 missions early in the war while proving daylight bombing was possible. These missions were completed prior to any fighter air cover over Germany. After completing his 25 missions he was assigned to command the Poltava Air Base in the Ukraine. Their mission was to refuel B-17 aircraft that were flying deeper into German air space and send them back.

Hal was a pilot with the 333rd BS 94th BG August 1943 - May 1944, and was one of those selected to go to the Soviet Union to take part in the shuttle raid operations. He was an early member of the Group Memorial Association and served on the Board of Directors. He died on 15th September 1991 after a long illness.