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McGowan, James Alton

Individual Personnel Data
Name McGowan, James Alton
Rank Flight Officer
Serial Number T-133124
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #14 dated 16 January 1945, effective 16 January 1945.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report - Casual Pool, 70th Reinforcement Depot, AAF Station Stone, effective 20 May 1945.
Duty Bombardier / Navigator
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 20 May 1945
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 18 May 1925
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Big Spring AAF, Big Spring, Texas, Class #44-12, 2 September 1944.
  • Departed Grafton Underwood to AAF Station Stone on 20 May 1945. Returned to the ZOI via B-17.




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Graehl, Russell EPilotCT
2nd Lt. Horrigan, Thomas JCo-pilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Skrocki, Casimir StanleyNavigatorCT
Flt. Ofcr. McGowan, James AltonBombardierCT
CPL. Kajka, Frank AndrewRadio Operator / GunnerCT
T/SGT. Alderson, William EEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
CPL. Crawford, Donald LeeBall Turret GunnerTBD
CPL. McKee, William RFlexible GunnerTBD

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 34 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
263 1 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Bombardier 43‑38800 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
264 3 February 1945 Target: Tempelhof Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Bombardier 43‑38647 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report
265 9 February 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany
Bombardier 43‑38757 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
266 14 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Dresden, Germany
Bombardier 43‑38757 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
268 19 February 1945 Target: Coking Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Bombardier 44‑6514 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
269 20 February 1945 Target: Main Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Nuremberg / Nürnberg, Germany
Bombardier 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron flying spare; joined formation. This aircraft was a ground spare, which replaced 43‑37917 after having taken off and returned.
Sortie Report
271 22 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Ülzen, Germany
Bombardier 43‑38630 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
272 23 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Plauen, Germany
Bombardier 43‑38647 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
273 24 February 1945 Target: Submarine Construction Shipyard
Type: Shipyards
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Bombardier 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
281 4 March 1945 Target: Ordnance Depot
Type: Military
Location: Ulm, Germany
Navigator 43‑38752 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron hot camera ship. Landed away at at Glatton Airfield, AAF Station 130, on return due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
282 7 March 1945 Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bochum, Germany
Navigator 42‑102459 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report
283 8 March 1945 Target: Oil Refinery - 'Benzol Plant'
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Essen, Germany
Navigator 43‑38757 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
285 10 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Schwerte, Germany
Navigator 43‑37843 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
286 11 March 1945 Target: Vacuum Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bremen, Germany
Navigator 43‑37843 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
288 14 March 1945 Target: Railroad Bridge, Weser River
Type: Transportation
Location: Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
Navigator 44‑6898 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
289 15 March 1945 Target: Army HQ
Type: Military
Location: Zossen, Germany
Navigator 44‑6514 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report
290 17 March 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bohlen (Leipzig), Germany
Navigator 44‑6909 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
292 19 March 1945 Target: Braunkohle-Benzin Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bohlen, Germany
Navigator 43‑38630 Combat Mission Credit
41C Group.
Sortie Report
293 20 March 1945 Target: Deutsche Werft Submarine Shipyard
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Navigator 43‑38800 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
294 22 March 1945 Target: German Hutted Camps (Barracks) at 51°36'N,7°06'E
Type: Military
Location: Westerholt, Germany
Navigator 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 43‑38800. Returned to base in 43‑38800 with #1 engine feathered, transferred to this aircraft, took off and caught formation; completed mission.
Sortie Report
295 23 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gladbeck, Germany
Navigator 43‑37843 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
297 24 March 1945 Target: Twente Enschede Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
Navigator 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
300 30 March 1945 Target: Deutsche Schiff- u. Maschinenbau A.G. (DESCHIMAG)
Submarine and Warship Yard
Machine Shop
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany
Navigator 43‑37843 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
301 31 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany
Navigator 43‑37843 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
302 3 April 1945 Target: Underground Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Kiel, Germany
Navigator 43‑38747 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
303 4 April 1945 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Fassberg, Germany
Navigator 44‑8430 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report
304 5 April 1945 Target: Ordnance Depot
Type: Military
Location: Ingolstadt, Germany
Navigator 43‑38647 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
305 6 April 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (Visual Primary)
Type: Transportation
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Navigator 43‑38647 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
306 7 April 1945 Target: Underground Oil Storage Plant
Type: Military
Location: Hitzacker, Germany
Navigator 44‑6592 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
307 9 April 1945 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany
Navigator 43‑38757 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
309 11 April 1945 Target: Underground Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Freiham, Germany
Navigator 43‑38757 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
310 14 April 1945 Target: Gun Battery
Type: Military
Location: Royan (Bordeaux), France
Navigator 44‑6592 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
311 15 April 1945 Target: Flak guns at Pointe de Suzac
Type: Military
Location: Royan, France
Navigator 44‑6592 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
312 16 April 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Regensburg, Germany
Navigator 43‑38747 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 44‑6592.
Sortie Report

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