384th 2025 REUNION
INFORMATION PAGE⇗

Knowling, Edward Johnson

Individual Personnel Data
Name Knowling, Edward Johnson   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-736868   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #70 dated 11 March 1943, effective 11 March 1943.
Duty Navigator
MOS1034 - Navigator
Last Duty Date 16 September 1943
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 1 February 1920
  • Placed on Temporary Duty (R&R) for seven days on or about 28 August 1943 to Stanbridge Earls, Hampshire per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #83 dated 27 August 1943.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 722⇓ (20.367 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Koch, William S, "Willie"⇗PilotTR
2nd Lt. Wollenweber, Herman, Jr⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Knowling, Edward JohnsonNavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Baggs, Joseph William⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Davis, Preston Allen⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Turlington, Howard Joe⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerEV
S/SGT. Wolven, William David, "Bill"⇗Ball Turret GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Martin, Burnia ((NMI)⇗Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Ordaz, Armando Noriega⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Rogers, Marion Coleman⇗Flexible GunnerKIA

Crew History

The Koch Crew joined the 547th BS on 11 March 1943. Johnny Butler took over this crew when it was found that Koch needed additional training before being qualified for overseas combat duty. They were identified as Crew #19 on the Special Orders assigning them to the 384th, and became Crew #78 (547th BS, 8th crew).

This crew flew to England together (Captain Dillingham took Herman Wollenweber's place, and Wollenweber flew as Selden McMillin's copilot), and flew many missions together. Eventually, pressures of combat caused changes to the crew, a common occurrence during wartime.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 14 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
1⇗ 22 June 1943 Target: General Motors Truck Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Antwerp, Belgium 		Navigator 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
2⇗ 25 June 1943 Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens
Type: Military
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Navigator 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Bombed primary target on wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
4⇗ 28 June 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France 		Navigator 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
5⇗ 29 June 1943 Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Navigator 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
6⇗ 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France 		Navigator 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
7⇗ 10 July 1943 Target: Drucat Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Abbeville, France 		Navigator 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
8⇗ 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Navigator 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
9⇗ 24 July 1943 Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Herøya, Norway 		Navigator 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
15⇗ 15 August 1943 Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France 		Navigator 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
16⇗ 16 August 1943 Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Navigator 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
17⇗ 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Navigator 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Navigator 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy. Landed away at Hornchurch, Essex, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
22⇗ 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Navigator 42‑29768⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Difficulty controlling #4 engine and prop caused Butler to abort, after assembling his section.
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Navigator 42‑29768⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
24⇗ 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France 		Navigator 42‑5849⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Shot down by enemy aircraft; crashed near Rennes, France; MACR 722.
Sortie Report⇗

Every effort has been expended to ensure all information on this page is complete and accurate.
Please inform webmaster of any discrepancies or omissions by using the button below.