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| Lt. Willie Flake Bowles was the navigator of the B-17 Woolaroc in the 327th Bombardment Squadron. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80001463/willie-flake-bowles http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/27448 |
Willie Flake Bowles never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on June 22, 1919 in North Carolina. His parents Marvin and Elsie were also both born in North Carolina. His father worked as a farmer. Flake had one older sister, five younger brothers, and four younger sisters. By 1940 Flake had completed three years of college. He was living with his parents and worked as a farmer. He went on to graduate from North Carolina State College and worked as an assistant county agent.
He enlisted in the army on September 24, 1942. He was trained as a navigator and was a second lieutenant in the 327th Bombardment Squadron, 92nd Bombardment Group which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses. It was engaged in bombing missions over Germany and elsewhere over continental Europe by May 1943. Lt. Bowles arrived in England in October 1943. He was a replacement for the losses taken in the costly Schweinfurt mission that cost the 8th Air Force 60 bombers.
The target for December 20, 1943 was Bremen. Lt. Bowles was the navigator in a bomber nicknamed Woolaroc. It was shot down and three of the crew were captured. The other seven, including Lt. Bowles were killed.
His grave is at Sulphur Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Hiddenite, North Carolina.
Last year on this date I profiled PFC Cike Kawano, 442nd Infantry Regiment. You can read about Cike here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
I believe the picture of the crew shown above is the crew BEFORE Willie Flake Bowle's and his crew took over the bomber WOOLAROC. I BELIEVE this is true.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. I will do some further research and make a correction as needed.
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