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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
Personal info
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