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Personal info

Full name
MCGOWAN, Daryl Paul
Date of birth
6 April 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Lanesboro, Carroll County, Iowa
Hometown
Lake City, Calhoun County, Iowa

Military service

Service number
17069106
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Engineer/Gunner
Unit
777th Bombardment Squadron,
464th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
26 June 1944
Place of death
Hadersfeld, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
B 22 56

Immediate family

Members
Paul McGowan (father)
Bernice M. McGowan (mother)
Joe McGowan (brother)
Billie McGowan (brother)
Robert McGowan (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-50401
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Heavy Date
Destination: Floridsdorf, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 6455

More information

T/Sgt Daryl P. McGowan was a driver before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Camp Dodge, Herrold, Iowa, on 5 October 1942.

Report of the pilot, 1st Lt Lamar J. Dunn who was one of the surviving crew members: "Just after we dropped our bombs, we got a hit, which knocked out the windshield. Ten or fifteen seconds later, we received a direct hit in the vicinity of the flight deck. As soon as we were hit, fire broke out in the flight deck. About the left half was on fire. Controls were out and there was no rudder, elevator or aerilon control. I was unable to contact the crew by inter-phone. I pushed the bailout signal and held it for a few seconds. I glanced at my altimeter and we had reached approximately 1,200 feet. At that time, the ship came out on almost an even keel. During this time, I hadn't contacted any members of the crew. I was not aware of what was happening in any part of the ship in the pilot compartment. The next thing I remember, I was falling through space. I opened my chute. There were two chutes below mine."

Two crew members bailed out and were taken prisoner, nine were killed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Iowa Word War II Bonus Case Files / 1930 census, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com – Patti Johnson, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Jun.44.html

Photo source: Daryl Paul McGowan