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Great KIA US medal grouping to USN pilot


brannow
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I thought I would share an amazing WWII US medal grouping. Its to USN pilot Lt. Russel Earl Bowen from Winneshiek County, Iowa. Lt. Bowen was killed in action in October of 1944. He was missing in action. His remains were located exhumed and re-interned in Sioux Falls, SD where he grew up.


Enjoy!

Bill Rannow
Mpls, MN

 

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Thank you for showing us this group. There are very few examples of Navy DFC engraving posted on the forum. It’s not for lack of trying, they are just really rare.

 

Kurt

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Brian Dentino

Great grouping. That engraved DFC is a work of art. Very exceptional and hard to find grouping and a great add to your collection for sure!

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Incredible grouping, thanks for posting! The engraving on that DFC reminds me of the best of engraving of that period that might be seen on a MOH-- absolutely stunning.

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He was a pilot in VPB-101, flying the PB4Y-1, which was the Navy version of the B-24J Liberator.

 

The Camotes Islands are straight west of Leyte, south / southwest of Ormoc.

 

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His Findagrave entry has his obituary.

 

NAVY USNR VETERAN- WW2- SECOND LT

The body of Lt. Russell E. Bowen, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl T.
Bowen, 239 North French Ave., and a former Augustana football star, will arrive in Sioux Falls this afternoon. Lt. Bowen, a Navy flier, was returned to Sioux Falls from the Philippines for services and reburial.

Lt. Bowen lost his life on Poro Island in the Philippines during a bombing mission. He was pilot of a B-24 Liberator. He was reported
missing on October 26, 1944, but was later declared officially dead when his body was recovered. He was 26 years of age when he lost his life.

Lt. Bowen was born December 27, 1918, at Decorah, IA., and came to Sioux Falls as a boy. He attended schools here and was graduated from Augustana college in 1940. He was one of three Bowen brothers who played guard on Augustana football teams.

The first flier in South Dakota to solo under the CAA flight program, he was appointed an aviation cadet at Pensacola, Fla., on January 10, 1941. He was commissioned an ensign on June 6, 1941, and went overseas in 1943. He was a member of bombing squadron 101. In addition to the Purple Heart, he was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. The latter award was recommended Lt. Bowen for a single bombing mission which destroyed a medium cargo ship, a torpedo plane, two luggers and a power boat. He was also given the Navy Unit Commendation as well as several defense and campaign medals.

Surviving Lt. Bowen are his parents; a sister Alice, at home; and three brothers, Francis of Gainesville, Fla., and Jean and Dale, both of Sioux Falls. Francis and Jean were Navy and Marine fliers during
the war.

Services for the returned flier will be held at the Miller Funeral home Thursday at 2 p. m. The Rev. A. R. Eschliman of the East Side Methodist will officiate. Mrs. C. B. Van Ausdall will be organist with Mrs. Henry Saure as soloist. Burial will be in the Hills of Rest. The American Legion will conduct graveside services. Pallbearers will be Barney Boos, Allen Bresee, Joe Foss, Duane Corning, Everett Zellers, Spence Sandvig, Elliot Muxfelt and Le Roy Henning.

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Interesting to see that Joe Foss, WW2 Marine Ace and Medal of Honor recipient who was from South Dakota, was one of his pallbearers when his remains came home.

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  • 2 years later...

What a very nice medal group with a beautifull engraved DFC. 

 

The story of Russ Bowlen also enfolds nicely.  And indeed the Navy flying Liberators is also new for me.

 

Regards 

Herman 

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