Lowell Hoyt Watts

Military
media-6380.jpeg UPL 6380 Lowell Watts Crew
388th BG - 562nd BS

Standing Left to Right: Lowell Watts (P), Robert M. Kennedy (CP), Emmett Murphy (N), Edward J. Kelley (B)

Kneeling Left to Right: Joseph B. Ramsey (FE), Raymond Hess (WG), Ivan Finkle (R/O), Robert Sweeney (BTG), Harold A. Brassfield (TG), Donald W. Taylor (WG)

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 6380 - Lowell Watts Crew 388th BG - 562nd BS Standing Left to Right: Lowell Watts (P), Robert M. Kennedy (CP), Emmett Murphy (N), Edward J. Kelley...

On the return from a mission to Klein Machnow, Berlin on 6 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-37886 'Blitzin' Betsy' was severely damaged by attacks from several FW190s causing it to collide with another 388th B-17, exploding in mid-air and crashing near Emmen, Holland. Prisoner of War (POW).



POW

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35447653
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15382852
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13084696
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O 734468
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O 748677
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177) nicknamed "Charlene". Printed caption on reverse: '61552 AC- Crew of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Charlene". England. 30 August 1943. Standing left to right are: 2nd Lt John N Harlan, Boise, Idaho; 1st Lt Charles Bliss, Los Angeles, California; 2nd Lt Vernon D Dunkin, Columbus, Ohio; 2nd Lt Bernard J Quenneville, Hadley, Mass. Kneeling left to right: S/Sgt Ro
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Charlene
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 562nd Bomb Squadron 803rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Quarterback
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 388th Bomb Group with their Cletrac and a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30851) nicknamed "Little Boy Blue". Image via B Cook. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17F-125-BO "Little Boy Blue" 560th BS, 388th BG, s/n 42-30851. Lost in mid-air 7-19-44.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Boy Blue
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: A Good And Happy Ship
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Blitzing Betsy
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA 4 February 1920

Other

Shot Down

Klazienaveen, Netherlands 6 March 1944 Shot down by attacks from multiple FW 190's that wounded the tail gunner, several damaged the tail and set the oxygen bottles and fuel tanks on fire. The aircraft exploded with Watts still at the controls in a caldron of fire in the cockpit, blowing him clear. He was fortunately wearing his parachute and was able to pull the rip cord.

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Barth, Germany 15 March 1944 Stalag Luft III

Died

Sun City West, AZ 7 January 2021
Sun City West, AZ, USA

Revisions

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Son - Gary Watts

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http://www.388bg.info/servlet/Controller?pageType=detail&id=388-I-WAT04…
Phone interview with Lowell Watts - November 2017

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Letter from Lowell Watts - Brassfield Archives

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Chris Brassfield -
Letter from Lowell Watts

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Chris Brassfield

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ContributorAAM
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Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3089 / MACR 3089, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Lowell Hoyt Watts: Gallery (3 items)