William Slater Cowart Jr

Military

Cowart was one of 6 staff officers to accompany Eaker to England in February 1942.



Cowart was instrumental in the creation of the 482nd Bomb Group in 1943.

OBITUARY 'RAPPAHANNOCK RECORD' 15.06.1995: ''Col. William Slater Cowart Jr., USAF, Ret., 77, of Lottsburg, died Sunday, June 4, 1995, in a Tappahanonck hospital after a long illness. He was a native of Northumberland County and the son of the late William Slater and Alice Eichelberger Cowart. He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, with a BS in electrical engineering, and from Ohio Slate University with a M.S. in nuclear physics. His postgraduate work included investigation of the periodic table, chemical separations and analysis of radioactivity, and he was credited with the discovery of the isotope. Radioactive Selenium 73. Col. Cowart did supplemental studies at Harvard, M.I.T. and George Washington University. In 1940, he entered the regular U.S. Air Force. During his service in World War II, 1941-45, he established the Blind Bombing Force in Europe and China. He also established Tactical Bombs Radar Control System in Normandy, France, Belgium and Germany. He flew more than 50 combat missions in Europe and the Pacific. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Commendation Ribbon, Belgian Order of Leopold, Belgian Croix dc Guerre, French Crois de Guerre, the Dutch Orange Lanyad and the Purple Heart. From 1946-48, Col. Cowart was the director of Flight Control-All Weather Flying Center, where he established flight control facilities for the Air Force to use in all kinds of weather. From 1951-54, he served as Director of Operations-Joint Task Force 7FTF3, which tested atomic bombs, thermonuclear devices and hydrogen bombs. He also served as a design engineer at Los Alamos.

As the Chief of the Tactical Systems Division Air Research Development, he was responsible for the design and development of fighter-bombers. From 1958-60, he was the director of the National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center in Pomona, now known as the Federal Aviation Administration Technical Center. He helped select the site for the tcch center, developed air traffic control techniques, procidures and equipment and oversaw the planning and construction of the installation. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1960. He then joined Atlantic City Electric Company as an assistant to the executive vice president. He retired from Atlantic Electric as senior vice president with responsibilities over the personnel and public relations and customer and community service departments. Col. Cowart was affiliated with and held offices in many organizations and philanthropic groups in New Jersey. He was a past president and director of the Miss America Pageant.'' His USAAF/USAF career records show he flew B-17s, B-29s, B-50s, B-47 and B-52 bombers plus the F-84 and F-104 fighters.

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People

Colonel Frank A. Armstrong of the 97th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Photographed by US Army Air Air Forces.' [caption], 'US Official Phot No. USB 230. (WA) Distributed by the Ministry of Information.' [caption] 'USAA(BRI)CCC:TYPE.' [written annotation] Printed caption on reverse: 'LEADER OF THE US BOMBING ATTACK ON WILHELMSHAVEN. Photo shows:- Col. Frank A. Armstrong of Asheville N.C. who led the bombing attack on Wilhelmshaven- the first American air a
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-17459
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Commanding Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: VIII Bomber Command Headquarters (Eighth Air Force)
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Chief of Supply
A painting of Brigadier General Frederick W. Castle. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Brig. Gen. Frederick W. Castle.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 4th Combat Bomb Wing 487th Bomb Group 94th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-319375
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer; Air Leader, Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Headquarters Squadron (VIII Bomber Command) Headquarters (Eighth Air Force) United States Army Forces in the British Isles
  • Service Numbers: O-7478
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
  • Role/Job: Commanding General, 8th Air Force
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Headquarters (Eighth Air Force)
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Combat Intelligence Officer

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

31 October 1917 Northumberland County, Virginia. His father was a US Army Lt Col and Civil Engineer.

Enlisted

Flew 50 missions in ETO and Pacific Theatre devising and perfecting bombing through cloud techniques.

Other

Retired 1960 after holding a series of high-profile jobs with USAF post-war including tactician on atomic warfare, all-weather fighters, and air traffic control management.

Revisions

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Obituary.

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ContributorEmily
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Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Source: History [of] the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron [and] WAC Detachment, Eighth Air Force. Alden Press, 1945.