John Dickey Bowser

Military

John Bowser was a Navigator in the 388th Bomb Group. He is mentioned in War correspondent Ernie Pyle's book "Brave Men", together with his Pilot Lt William T. White. On return from a mission to Berlin on 19 May 1944, their B-17 Fortress #42-107160 ditched in the North Sea, 25 miles off Great Yarmouth and all ten men on board were immediately rescued by a nearby Allied minesweeper A British Air-Sea Rescue Craft brought the crew members back to land.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.

388th Bomb Group

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

People

Richard Anzalone

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12157532
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret gunner

Ross Mitchell Fritzley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39455994
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Earl Ross Harris

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17078242
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Paul George W Hauschild

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37395393
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Charles A Ludwig

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

42-107160

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Joe
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

9 September 1922 Seward, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Enlisted

23 April 1942 Altoona, Pennsylvania

Died

15 February 2011
Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania

Buried

John Bowser rests at the Forest Park Cemetery in Houston, Texas

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

http://www.8thafhs.com/get_one_mission.php?mission_id=963
Freeman's "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story"

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
2003 postings by daughter Becky Hicks about her father having been mentioned in War correspondent Ernie Pyle's book "Brave Men", together with his Pilot Lt William T. White.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.388bg.info/Personnel.html