Bower crew

 

According to crewmember Dwight Bell, the original B-24 was named Small Change, The second B-24 was Small Change II. The third plane was a B-17. James Barnes drew up the logo for Small Change and painted it on the back of the crew's flight jackets. Bell still had his flight jacket in the late 1980s. Crew highlights: Dropping radar foil at tree top level to an enlisted men's rest home at Christmas to use as tinsel for their Christmas Tree; the test flight to a nearby base for ice cream; the way Bower landed our damaged plane on one wheel at the home base without anyone suffering more than a few bruises.

 

MISSION LIST

 

CREW #57; 391st Squadron

Mission #3 May 25, 1944 42-94849 L/D 391BS Bower Maid of Fury

Mission #6 May 29, 1944 42-94849 L/D 391BS Bower Maid of Fury Slight damage.

Mission #8 May 31, 1944 42-52770 D/N 391BS Bower The Ruptured Duck  (incorrectly listed as 370)

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 44-40323 L/A 391BS Bower

Mission #18 June 20, 1944 44-40436 L/D 391BS Bower Nancy (deputy lead)

Mission #20 June 22, 1944 44-40436 L/D 391BS Bower Nancy (deputy lead)

Mission #23 June 24, 1944 42-50585 L/G 391BS Bower (lead)

Mission #32 July 8, 1944 42-50585 L/D 391BS Bower

Mission #34 July 12, 1944 42-50585 L/D scheduled for Bower but used by Ray

Mission #34 July 12, 1944 44-40328 L/K 391BS Bower This Above All  (deputy lead)

Mission #36 July 17, 1944 42-50585 L/D 391BS Bower

Mission #40 July 21, 1944 42-50613 L/A 391BS Bower Holy Joe 

Mission #44 July 27, 1944 42-50613 L/A 391BS Bower Holy Joe 

 

CREW #88; 391st Squadron (as of July 28, 1944)

Mission #46 July 29, 1944 44-40328 L/B 391BS Bower This Above All

Mission #48 August 1, 1944 42-50585 L/D 391BS Bower

Mission #49 August 2, 1944 44-40328 L/B 391BS Bower This Above All (lead)

Mission #53 August 6, 1944 42-50585 L/D 391BS Bower

Mission #59 August 14, 1944 42-50585 L/D 391BS Bower

Mission #70 September 28, 1944 43-38380 L/B 391BS Bower

Mission #71 October 2, 1944 43-38380 L/B 391BS Bower

Mission #77 October 14, 1944 44-8237 H/I 7BS Bower (PFF)

Mission #81 October 22, 1944 44-8237 H/I 18BS Bower (PFF)

Mission #82 October 25, 1944 44-8200 H/H Bower & Young Chaff plane

Mission #85 October 30, 1944 44-8352 H/G 18BS Bower (PFF)

 

CREW #4; 4th Squadron

Mission #92 November 25, 1944 44-8147 H/S 7BS Bower (PFF)

Mission #95 November 30, 1944 44-8176 H/Q 18BS Bower (PFF)

Mission #96 December 4, 1944 44-8441 H/S 18BS Bower (PFF)

Mission #97 December 5, 1944 44-8176 H/Q 18BS Bower (PFF)

Mission #99 December 11, 1944 44-8235 H/X 18BS Bower (PFF)

Mission #103 December 27, 1944 44-8457 H/G 7BS Bower (PFF)

Mission #114 January 16, 1944 44-8176 H/Q Capt Bower & Dunham                Weather & monitor aircraft

 

MISSION AND CREW DETAILS

 

CREW #57; 391st Squadron

BOWER WALTER R (P) (1024)                         2 LT        391          O-686957

PRATT ROBERT E (CP) (1024)                          2 LT        391          O-699849

MORRISON ROBERT D (N) (1034)                   2 LT        391          O-699947

LEMEN JAMES L (B) (1035)                              2 LT        391          O-695358

BELL DWIGHT N (AEG) (748)                           S/SGT     391          39554506

BARNES JAMES P (ROG) (757)                        S/SGT     391          33271713

INGROUILLO ROBERT L (AG) (612)                SGT        391          36813948

BLOOM JEROME (BG) (611)                             SGT        391          32719961

HARTMAN RALPH E (BG) (611)                     SGT        391          32574951

 

                     May 24, 1944 Bower

Crew Status Report 1700 hours.

Crew #57, 391st Squadron

Bower, W. R. (P)                   OK

Pratt R. E. (CP)                      OK

Morrison, R. D. (N)              OK

Lemen, J. L. (B)                     OK

Barnes, J. P. (R)                    OK

Bell, D. N. (E)                        OK

Hartman, R. E. (NG)              OK

Bloom, J. (TG)                       OK

Maccarini, I. (BG)                 OK

Ingrouille, R. L. (G)               OK

 

Mission #3 May 25, 1944 42-94849 L/D 391BS Bower Maid of Fury

Took off at 0501 hours.

Flew Deputy Lead, position 1-2 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped on the Secondary Target at 0920 hours from 18,600 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1105 hours.

Oxygen leak. Inspected and repaired.

Bower (P)

Pratt, R. E. (CP)

Morrison, R.D. (N)

Boyle, R. J. (N2) (from crew #58)

Lemen, J. L. (B)

Barnes, J. D. (R)

Bell, D. N. (E)

Maccinini, I. (BG)

Bloom, J. (TG)

Hartman, R. E. (NG)

Ingrouille, R. L. (G)

 

                     May 28, 1944 42-94849 L/D Bower

Took off at 1421 hours on a local flight.

No landing time shown.

 

Mission #6 May 29, 1944 42-94849 L/D 391BS Bower Maid of Fury

Took off at 0739 hours from Hardstand #22.

Flew Deputy Lead, position 1-2 in High Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1234 hours from 22,600 feet.

Slight damage reported.

Landed 1656 hours.

#3 oil line to prop governor leaks. Inspected and being repaired.

Slight flak damage: station #7, bulkhead.

Bower (P)

Pratt, R. E. (CP)

Morrison, R.D. (N)

Boyle, R. J. (N2) (from crew #58)

Lemen, J. L. (B)

Barnes, J. D. (R)

Bell, D. N. (E)

Maccinini, I. (BG)

Bloom, J. (TG)

Ingrouille, R. L. (G)

 

Mission #8 May 31, 1944 42-52770 D/N 391BS Bower The Ruptured Duck  (incorrectly listed as 370)

Took off at 0752 hours.

Carried 6 1000 lb bombs. Brought all bombs back to base.

The mission was Recalled.

Landed 1220 hours.

#2 Voltage regulator out. Inspected and repaired.

Bower (P)

Pratt, R. E. (CP)

Morrison, R.D. (N)

Lemen, J. L. (B)

Barnes, J. D. (R)

Bell, D. N. (E)

Maccinini, I. (BG)

Bloom, J. (TG)

Hartman (NG)

Ingrouille, R. L. (G)

 

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 44-40323 L/A 391BS Bower

Took off at 0421 hours.

Flew position 1-2 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 24 250 lb GP bombs. Brought back all bombs to base due to 10/10 cloud coverage of target.

No battle damage reported.

Landed 1040 hours.

Bower (P)

Burton (Command Pilot)     Capt

Pratt (CP)

Morrison (N)

Boyle (N2)

Lemen (B)

Barnes (R)

Bell (E)

Maccarini, I. (BG)

Bloom (TG)

Hartman (NG)

Ingrouille (G)

 

                       June 12, 1944 44-40436 L/D Bower Nancy

Took off at 1351 hoursfor the Otmoor range.

Landed 1527 hours.

 

                       June 14, 1944 44-40436 L/D Bower Nancy

Took off at 1403 hours.

Flew as the Weather Ship.

Landed 1617 Hours.

 

                       June 17, 1944 44-40436 L/D Bower Nancy

Took off at 1441 hours on flight to Debach

Landed 1722 hours back at base.

 

Mission #18 June 20, 1944 44-40436 L/D 391BS Bower Nancy (deputy lead)

Took off at 0453 hours.

Flew Deputy Lead, position 1-2 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0914 hours from 23,800 feet.

Slight damage reported.

Landed 1150 hours.

Bower (P)

Pratt (CP)

Morrison (N)

Boyle (N2)

Lemen (B)

Barnes (R)

Bell (E)

Maccirini (BG)

Hartman (NG)

Ingrouille (G)

 

Mission #20 June 22, 1944 44-40436 L/D 391BS Bower Nancy (deputy lead)

Took off at 1450 hours from Hardstand #22.

Flew Deputy Lead, position 1-2 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1915 hours from 20,200 feet.

Major damage reported.

Landed 2135 hours.

Bower (P)

Pratt (CP)

Morrison (N)

Boyle (N2)

Lemen (B)

Barnes (R)

Bell (E)

Maccarini (BG)

Hartman (NG)

Ingrouille (G)

 

                       June 23, 1944 42-94766 L/F Bower Crow's Nest

Took off at 2001 hours on a local flight.

Landed 2032 hours.

 

Mission #23 June 24, 1944 42-50585 L/G 391BS Bower (lead) Small Change II

Took off at 1624 hours.

Flew Lead of High Squadron.

Carried 24 250 lb GP bombs. Brought all bombs back to base. Target unidentified.

No damage reported.

Landed 2056 hours.

Bower (P)

Crabtree (Command Pilot)                   Capt

Pratt (CP)

Morrison (N)

Boyle (N2)

Lemen (B)

Barnes (R)

Bell (E)

Maccarini (BG)

Hartman (NG)

Ingrouille (G)

 

                       July 6, 1944 42-94766 L/F Bower Crow's Nest

Took off at 1127 hours on a local flight.

Landed 1326 hours.

 

Mission #32 July 8, 1944 42-50585 L/D 391BS Bower

Took off at 0416 hours.

Flew Lead of High Squadron.

Carried 20 250 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0816 hours from 23,000 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 0907 hours.

Bower (P)

Crabtree (Command Pilot)                   Capt

Pratt (CP)

Morrison (N)

Boyle (N2)

Lemen (B)

Barnes (R)

Spencer (E) (from crew #58)

Maccarini (BG)

Hartman (NG)

Ingrouille (G)

 

Mission #34 July 12, 1944 42-50585 L/D scheduled for Bower but used by Ray

Mission #34 July 12, 1944 44-40328 L/K 391BS Bower This Above All  (deputy lead)

Took off at 0446 hours.

Flew Deputy Lead, position 1-2 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 6 500 lb GP bombs. Did not drop due to 10/10 cloud. Brought all bombs back to base.

No damage reported.

Landed 0931 hours.

Bower (P)

Pratt (CP)

Morrison (N)

Boyle (N2)

Lemen (B)

Barnes (R)

Bell (E)

Maccarini (BG)

Hartman (NG)

Ingrouille (G)

 

                       July 14, 1944 42-50585 L/D Bower

Took off at 1330 hours on a local flight.

Landed 1450 hours.

 

Mission #36 July 17, 1944 42-50585 L/D 391BS Bower

Took off at 0640 hours.

Flew Deputy Lead, position 1-2 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 5 1000 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1051 hours from 20,000 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1324 hours.

Bower (P)

Pratt (CP)

Morrison (N)

Boyle (N2)

Lemen (B)

Barnes (R)

Bell (E)

Maccarini (BG)

Hartman (NG)

Ingrouille (G)

 

                       July 20, 1944 42-50585 L/D Bower Small Change II

Took off at 1356 hours on a flight to the bombing range.

Landed 1727 hours.

 

Mission #40 July 21, 1944 42-50613 L/A 391BS Bower Holy Joe 

Took off at 0609 hours.

Flew Deputy Lead, position 1-2 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb bombs. Dropped on target of opportunity, the Heilbruun marshalling yards at 1052 hours from 20,000 feet.

Landed 1313 hours.

Trailing antenna inoperative. Leak in oxygen system. Inspected and repaired.

Bower (P)

Pratt (CP)

Morrison (N)

Boyle (N2)

Lemen (B)

Barnes (R)

Bell (E)

Maccarini (BG)

Hartman (NG)

Ingrouille (G)

 

Mission #44 July 27, 1944 42-50613 L/A 391BS Bower Holy Joe 

Took off at 0536 hours.

Flew Deputy Lead, position 1-2 in High Squadron on 490BG.

Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary of Brussels at 0831 hours from 21,700 feet.

Slight battle damage reported.

Landed 1003 hours.

Bower (P)

Pratt (CP)

Morrison (N)

Boyle (N2)

Lemen (B)

Barnes (R)

Bell (E)

Grzeskiwiak (G) (a write-in)

Hartman (NG)

Ingrouille (G)

 

CREW #88; 391st Squadron (as of July 28, 1944)

Bower (P)

Pratt (CP)

Boyle (N)

Morrison (N)

Lemen (B)

Barnes (R)

Bell (E)

Hartman (NG)

                 (TG)

Maccarini (BG)

Ingrouille (G)

 

Mission #46 July 29, 1944 44-40328 L/B 391BS Bower This Above All

Took off at 0452 hours.

Flew position 1-2 in Low Squadron.

Carried 20 250 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0844 hours from 20,000 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1031 hours.

Bower (P)

Pratt (CP)

Boyle (N)

Morrison (N)

Lemen (B)

Barnes (R)

Bell (E)

Hartman (NG)

Maccarini (BG)

Ingrouille (G)

Denny (position not given)

 

Mission #48 August 1, 1944 42-50585 L/D 391BS Bower

 

Mission #49 August 2, 1944 44-40328 L/B 391BS Bower This Above All (lead)

Took off at 1545 hours.

Landed 2130 hours.

Bower (P)

Fandel (Command Pilot)                      Maj.

Pratt (CP)

Boyle (N)

Morrison (N)

Lemen (B)

Barnes (R)

Bell (E)

Hartman (NG)

Rverson (TG) (a write-in)

Maccarini (BG)

Ingrouille (G)

 

Mission #53 August 6, 1944 42-50585 L/D 391BS Bower

No crew loading list available.

 

Mission #59 August 14, 1944 42-50585 L/D 391BS Bower

Bower (P)

Pratt (CP)

Boyle (N)

Morrison (N)

Lemen (B)

Barnes (R)

Bell (E)

Hartman (NG)

Maccarini (BG)

Ingrouille (G)

 

CREW #

 

Mission #70 September 28, 1944 43-38380 L/B 391BS Bower

Mission #71 October 2, 1944 43-38380 L/B 391BS Bower

Mission #77 October 14, 1944 44-8237 H/I 7BS Bower (PFF)

Mission #81 October 22, 1944 44-8237 H/I 18BS Bower (PFF)

Mission #82 October 25, 1944 44-8200 H/H Bower & Young Chaff plane

Mission #85 October 30, 1944 44-8352 H/G 18BS Bower (PFF)

 

CREW #4; 4th Squadron

 

Mission #92 November 25, 1944 44-8147 H/S 7BS Bower (PFF)

Bower, Walter R. (P)                            1 Lt         O-686957

Pratt, Robert E. (CP)                             1 Lt         O-699849               

Griffith, Frank R.                                   1 Lt         O-703734

Kelson, W. A.                                       1 Lt         O-706241

Tompkins, Frank M.                            2 Lt         O-765541

Bell, D. N.                                              T/Sgt      39554506

Barnes, J. P.                                           T/Sgt      33271713

Ingroville                                               S/Sgt      36813948

Hartman, R. E.                                       S/Sgt      32574951

Maccarani, I.                                         S/Sgt      32697024

 

Mission #95 November 30, 1944 44-8176 H/Q 18BS Bower (PFF)

Took off 0828 hours

Landed at Woodbridge to replace gas cap, Took off again at 0914 hours.

Landed at 1624 hours

Bower, Walter R. (P)                            1 Lt         O-686957

Cook, Charles (Command Pilot)         Capt        O-415441

Pratt, Robert E. (CP)                             1 Lt         O-699849               

Griffith, Frank H.                                   1 Lt         O-703734     (shown as 7037374 but that is not an Officer ASN)

Kelson, Walter E.                                 1 Lt         O-704217

Tompkins, Frank                                  2 Lt         O-765541

Dobson, Benjamin E.                           2 Lt         O-2045086

Bell, Wright N.                                      T/Sgt      39554506

Barnes, James P.                                   T/Sgt      33271713

Ingroville, Robert L.                             S/Sgt      36813948

Hartman, Ralph E.                                S/Sgt      32574951

Maccarani, Isveno                               S/Sgt      32697024

 

Mission #96 December 4, 1944 44-8441 H/S 18BS Bower (PFF)

Bower, W. R. (P)

Pratt, R. E. (CP)

Griffiths, F. H. (N)

Kelson, W. E. (B)

Barnes, J. P. (R)

Bell, D. N. (E)

Hartman, R. E. (G)

Maccarani, I. (G)

Ingroville (G)

Tompkins, F. M. (MO)

 

Mission #97 December 5, 1944 44-8176 H/Q 18BS Bower (PFF)

Bower, W. R. (P)

Pratt, R. E. (CP)

Griffiths, F. H. (N)

Kelson, W. E. (B)

Tompkins, F. M. (MO)

Barnes, J. P. (R)

Bell, D. N. (E)

Hartman, R. E. (G)

Maccarani, I. (G)

Ingroville, R. L. (G)

 

Mission #99 December 11, 1944 44-8235 H/X 18BS Bower (PFF)

Mission #103 December 27, 1944 44-8457 H/G 7BS Bower (PFF)

Mission #114 January 16, 1944 44-8176 H/Q Capt Bower & Dunham                Weather & monitor aircraft