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Back row, left to right...
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Vernon Rood, bombardier
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Jock, pilotage navigator
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William Kriegel, navigator
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James Bowman, pilot
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Front row, left to right...
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James Green, engineer
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Everett Newton, waist gunner
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Howard Garrett, radio operator
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August Bonkowski, ball turret gunner
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William Ryan, waist gunner
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Bowman Crew 914 Summary
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The Bowman Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They transferred in as crew 1635 from the CCT (Combat Crew Training) school in Biggs, Texas, on 3 Mar 44. They were assigned to the 859th BS, designated as Crew 914.
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1st Lt James Bowman signed out for a B-24J, 44-40139. To our knowledge they didn't give their plane a nickname. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Their ground crew chief Sgt Blocher flew with them, thus bumping one of the crewmen onto the Queen Elizabeth. Sgt Newton shows up on both the flyover and the Queen Elizabeth rosters while Sgt Bessette isn't on either.
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By our count, Bowman flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 914 for 24 missions. We can't be positive of all of the personnel changes on some of their missions. It's always possible that the bombardier could have missed Pathfinder missions.
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Perhaps the crew came the closest to death during a training exercise then they did on their 24 missions. On the evening of 30 Jun 44 they were practicing night flying formations. Bowman's leader signaled him to peel off and land. Except he was directed to the wrong base. Instead it was a base with a short runway. No one was hurt when it ran off the end of the landing strip, but their original plane was totaled.
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The Bowman Crew transferred to the 467th BG when the 492nd was disbanded. There they were assigned to the 788th BS, designated as Crew 2.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Bowman Crew 914
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Bowman, James L
"Chief" |
1st Lt |
O-659448 |
Promoted Capt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Bowerman, Quentin R
"Quent" |
2nd Lt |
O-702223 |
Promoted 1st Lt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Kriegel, William P Jr
"Willie" |
2nd Lt |
O-704599 |
Promoted 1st Lt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Rood, Vernon J
"John" |
F/O |
T-123134 |
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Green, James R
"Possum" |
S/Sgt |
34665310 |
15 May, promoted T/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Garrett, Howard V |
S/Sgt |
14066189 |
15 May, promoted T/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Waist
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Newton, Everett E
"E.E." |
Sgt |
11106559 |
15 May, promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Waist
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Ryan, William M
"Junior" |
Sgt |
39293817 |
15 May, promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Bonkowski, August J
"Gus" |
Sgt |
32300616 |
15 May, promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Tail
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Bessette, Rosario A
"Old Goat" |
Sgt |
31007148 |
15 May, promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
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Others Who Flew with Bowman Crew 914
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Crew Chief
MOS 750 |
Blocher, Melvin |
S/Sgt |
17123354 |
Flew to England with the crew
15 May, promoted S/Sgt
15 Jul, promoted T/Sgt |
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Bowman Crew 914
492nd BG Mission Record
859th Bomb Squadron
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Crew
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Date |
Aircraft
Serial
Number |
Primary Target |
Mission Notes |
| 01 |
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12 May 44 |
44-40139 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 02 |
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13 May 44 |
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Tutow, Germany |
Target: Airfield |
| 03 |
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15 May 44 |
44-40139 |
Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 04 |
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21 May 44 |
44-40139 |
Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 05 |
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24 May 44 |
44-40139 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 06 |
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25 May 44 |
44-40139 |
Belfort, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 07 |
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28 May 44 |
44-40139 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Bombed target of opportunity |
| - |
xx |
30 May 44 |
44-40139 |
Training Mission |
Practicing flying night formations
Lost a/c in accident |
| 08 |
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31 May 44 |
44-40068 |
Brussels, Belgium |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 09 |
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4 Jun 44 |
44-40290 |
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 10 |
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6 Jun 44 |
44-40290 |
Caen, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 11 |
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8 Jun 44 |
44-40290 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction |
| 12 |
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10 Jun 44 |
44-40290 |
Orleans/Bricy, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 13 |
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12 Jun 44 |
44-40290 |
Dreux, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 14 |
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18 Jun 44 |
44-40290 |
Luneburg, Germany |
Target: Airfield
Bombed Nordenham |
| 15 |
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19 Jun 44 |
44-40155 |
Courbronne, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 16 |
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21 Jun 44 |
44-40130 |
Genshagen, Germany |
Target: Aircraft engine factory |
| 17 |
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23 Jun 44 |
44-40130 |
Juvincourt, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 18 |
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25 Jun 44 |
44-40130 |
La Vaupeliere, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 19 |
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4 Jul 44 |
44-40119 |
Beaumont-le-Roger, France |
Target: Airfield
A/C borrowed from 856th BS |
| 20 |
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6 Jul 44 |
44-40155 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Shipyard |
| 21 |
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19 Jul 44 |
42-50719 |
Russelheim, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed Koblenz |
| 22 |
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24 Jul 44 |
42-50611 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical
Led C Section |
| 23 |
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25 Jul 44 |
42-50737 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 24 |
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6 Aug 44 |
42-50614 |
Hamburg, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Aborted, credit undetermined |
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