Memorial

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1st Lt Maynard L. Cowles attended college and worked on a farm before he joined the Regular Army in Grand Rapids, Michigan on 13 July 1942.

Statement from 2nd Lt Edward J. Eshbaugh:
"On 3 March 1945, while on a dive-bombing mission in the area west of Bingen, Germany, we let down through the overcast to about 1,500 feet in search of a target. While flying northwest along the Rhine River, we got intense light and heavy flak. My wingman and I broke to the left of the leader. Blue two, Lt Cowles, broke to the right. I turned to the right to see if I could see them, but the flak was still heavy, so I turned left again. I looked back and saw a big cloud of black smoke coming up from the ground. This was just north of Ingelheim, about 6 miles west of Bingen, Germany. I called blue leader, and he answered me. Then I called blue two, but did not receive an answer from him. Lt Cowles was not seen after this."