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Personal info

Full name
LOWRIE, Donald Albert
Date of birth
26 March 1921
Age
22
Place of birth
Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33349466
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner
Unit
571st Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
10 October 1943
Place of death
Ost Bevern, northeast of Munster, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 21 15

Immediate family

Members
William Lowrie (father)
Pearl Lowrie (mother)
Shirley Lowrie (sister)
Pauline (Lombardi) Lowrie (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-30826
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Spirit of the Union Pacific
Destination: Munster, Germany
MACR: 863

More information

Donald Lowrie parachuted out after Capt Short gave his order to abandon the aircraft. Three crewmembers saw Sgt Lowrie preparing to exit the waist door, with one reporting that Lowrie may not have bailed out by the time the aricraft exploded. Capt Short reported later that Lowrie's chute failed to open, or he was killed by civilians.

S/Sgt Lowrie entered the service 6 August 1942 and, after basic training at St. Petersburg, Florida, attended radio school at Chicago and gunnery school at Panama City, Florida. He received his silver wings and the rank of staff sergeant 23 February 1943 after completing advanced training at fields in Utah, Idaho, Washington, Montana, Kansas, and Maine. In July 1943 he went overseas.

Additional information can be found at: http://utahrails.net/up/up-b-17.php

Source of information: Michel Beckers, Mark Short, http://utahrails.net, www.fold3.com MACR, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File, www.newspapers.com - The Plain Speaker

Photo source: Michel Beckers, Mark Short, www.newspapers.com - The Plain Speaker