Staff Sergeant, 353rd Bomb Squadron, 301st Bomb Group, World War II.
On January 11, 1944, bombers from the 15th Air Force based in Cerignola, Italy, were dispatched to strike harbor installations at Piraeus, Greece.
Approaching the target area, they encountered adverse weather and extreme wind and icing conditions. Two bombers in the lead element turned back, and in doing so, collided in cloud cover with two bombers in the second element. In addition, a B-17 was collided with by one of the P-38 Lightning escort fighter planes.
Twenty-eight of the 42 airmen killed in this action were interred in a common grave at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in 1950.
Staff Sgt. Bowns was the tail gunner on B-17G Flying Fortress #42-31396. He and eight crew members were Killed In Action when collided with by B-17F #42-29918, and the bomber crashed at Kalami, Greece.
All the crew KIA, except Bowns, were interred in a common grave at Jefferson Barracks.
They were:
1st Lt. Joseph S. Dunbar, CA, Pilot
Capt. Homer C. Mills, TX, Co-Pilot
1st Lt. Charles R. Glenn, MO, Bombardier
2nd Lt. Reed W. Dean, FL, Navigator
SSgt. Don E. Brundage, ??, Engr.-Top Turret Gunner
TSgt. Hilary F. Helsabeck, NC, Radio Operator
SSgt. Adolph G. Bauman, NJ, Ball Turret Gunner
Sgt. Ward V. Phillips, AL, Waist Gunner
SSgt. Harold R. McClung, TX, Tail Gunner
To see the names of the air crew of 42-29918
CLICK HERE
To see the names of the air crew of the other
airmen lost on this mission, CLICK HERE
On January 11, 1944, bombers from the 15th Air Force based in Cerignola, Italy, were dispatched to strike harbor installations at Piraeus, Greece.
Approaching the target area, they encountered adverse weather and extreme wind and icing conditions. Two bombers in the lead element turned back, and in doing so, collided in cloud cover with two bombers in the second element. In addition, a B-17 was collided with by one of the P-38 Lightning escort fighter planes.
Twenty-eight of the 42 airmen killed in this action were interred in a common grave at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in 1950.
Staff Sgt. Bowns was the tail gunner on B-17G Flying Fortress #42-31396. He and eight crew members were Killed In Action when collided with by B-17F #42-29918, and the bomber crashed at Kalami, Greece.
All the crew KIA, except Bowns, were interred in a common grave at Jefferson Barracks.
They were:
1st Lt. Joseph S. Dunbar, CA, Pilot
Capt. Homer C. Mills, TX, Co-Pilot
1st Lt. Charles R. Glenn, MO, Bombardier
2nd Lt. Reed W. Dean, FL, Navigator
SSgt. Don E. Brundage, ??, Engr.-Top Turret Gunner
TSgt. Hilary F. Helsabeck, NC, Radio Operator
SSgt. Adolph G. Bauman, NJ, Ball Turret Gunner
Sgt. Ward V. Phillips, AL, Waist Gunner
SSgt. Harold R. McClung, TX, Tail Gunner
To see the names of the air crew of 42-29918
CLICK HERE
To see the names of the air crew of the other
airmen lost on this mission, CLICK HERE
Staff Sergeant, 353rd Bomb Squadron, 301st Bomb Group, World War II.
On January 11, 1944, bombers from the 15th Air Force based in Cerignola, Italy, were dispatched to strike harbor installations at Piraeus, Greece.
Approaching the target area, they encountered adverse weather and extreme wind and icing conditions. Two bombers in the lead element turned back, and in doing so, collided in cloud cover with two bombers in the second element. In addition, a B-17 was collided with by one of the P-38 Lightning escort fighter planes.
Twenty-eight of the 42 airmen killed in this action were interred in a common grave at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in 1950.
Staff Sgt. Bowns was the tail gunner on B-17G Flying Fortress #42-31396. He and eight crew members were Killed In Action when collided with by B-17F #42-29918, and the bomber crashed at Kalami, Greece.
All the crew KIA, except Bowns, were interred in a common grave at Jefferson Barracks.
They were:
1st Lt. Joseph S. Dunbar, CA, Pilot
Capt. Homer C. Mills, TX, Co-Pilot
1st Lt. Charles R. Glenn, MO, Bombardier
2nd Lt. Reed W. Dean, FL, Navigator
SSgt. Don E. Brundage, ??, Engr.-Top Turret Gunner
TSgt. Hilary F. Helsabeck, NC, Radio Operator
SSgt. Adolph G. Bauman, NJ, Ball Turret Gunner
Sgt. Ward V. Phillips, AL, Waist Gunner
SSgt. Harold R. McClung, TX, Tail Gunner
To see the names of the air crew of 42-29918
CLICK HERE
To see the names of the air crew of the other
airmen lost on this mission, CLICK HERE
On January 11, 1944, bombers from the 15th Air Force based in Cerignola, Italy, were dispatched to strike harbor installations at Piraeus, Greece.
Approaching the target area, they encountered adverse weather and extreme wind and icing conditions. Two bombers in the lead element turned back, and in doing so, collided in cloud cover with two bombers in the second element. In addition, a B-17 was collided with by one of the P-38 Lightning escort fighter planes.
Twenty-eight of the 42 airmen killed in this action were interred in a common grave at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in 1950.
Staff Sgt. Bowns was the tail gunner on B-17G Flying Fortress #42-31396. He and eight crew members were Killed In Action when collided with by B-17F #42-29918, and the bomber crashed at Kalami, Greece.
All the crew KIA, except Bowns, were interred in a common grave at Jefferson Barracks.
They were:
1st Lt. Joseph S. Dunbar, CA, Pilot
Capt. Homer C. Mills, TX, Co-Pilot
1st Lt. Charles R. Glenn, MO, Bombardier
2nd Lt. Reed W. Dean, FL, Navigator
SSgt. Don E. Brundage, ??, Engr.-Top Turret Gunner
TSgt. Hilary F. Helsabeck, NC, Radio Operator
SSgt. Adolph G. Bauman, NJ, Ball Turret Gunner
Sgt. Ward V. Phillips, AL, Waist Gunner
SSgt. Harold R. McClung, TX, Tail Gunner
To see the names of the air crew of 42-29918
CLICK HERE
To see the names of the air crew of the other
airmen lost on this mission, CLICK HERE
Inscription
MICHIGAN
STAFF SGT 553 AAF BOMB SQ
WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Michigan; ASN 16111855
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