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name
MC GOWAN, Robert Lee - Date of
birth
31 January 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
New York -
Hometown
White Plains, Westchester County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-745151 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
340th Bombardment Squadron,
97th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
15 April 1944 - Place of
death
Near Beiul, Romania
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 37 | 17 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Thomas H. Mc Gowan (father)
Mary E. (O’Donnell) Mc Gowan (mother)
Thomas H. Mc Gowan (brother)
Ida J. Mc Gowan (sister)
Arthur C. Mc Gowan (brother)
William F. Mc Gowan (brother)
Edwin F. Mc Gowan (brother)
Richard F. Mc Gowan (twin-brother)
Mary E. Mc Gowan (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97499 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Ploesti, Romania
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 3977
More information
2nd Lt Robert L. Mc Gowan attended college.He volunteered for the U.S. Army in New York City, New York on 6 April 1942.
Statement from S/Sgt Marvin W. Pierson:
"While flying over Romania, we were only a few minutes past the target when one B-17 blew up. I could not see any fighters near, so I did not know the reason for it doing so. Shortly afterward, a B-17, out of the element just behind us, was starting to lag and lost about a 1,000 ft in altitude, right directly below us. I saw it being attacked by one fighter. I made one pass and nothing seemed to happen. It then circled and flew along with the B-17 off to one side. It then made another pass on the B-17 and our aircraft started to smoke, and seemed a little out of control. I saw two parachutes before the aircraft got into the clouds, where I lost sight of it."
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / Blackwell Family Tree, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, http://connect.phigam.org - Phi Gamma Delta April 1945.