|
Francis Eugene "Mike" Bowerman
|
|
|
|
 |
| Crew of the Round Trip Ticket |
| |
| Current Address: |
|
513 E. Silver Lake Road, Traverse City, MI 49684 |
| |
| Email: |
|
|
| |
| Family Information: |
|
Parents: Frank and Rose; Children: Lawrence, Susan, Mary Ann, Janet |
| |
| Hometown: |
|
Romeo, MI |
| |
| Date Entered Service: |
|
January 19, 1943 |
| |
| Service Number: |
|
36565261 |
| |
| Bomb Group: |
|
444th |
| |
| Squadron: |
|
678th |
| |
| Location of Unit: |
|
Dudkundi, India |
| |
| Missions Flown: |
|
36 |
| |
| Hump Missions Flown: |
|
18 |
| |
| Targets: |
|
Yawata, Anshan, Palembang, Okura, others |
| |
| Awards/Decorations: |
|
Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters |
| |
| Service Schools Attended: |
|
Radio School Jan-Jun 1943 |
| |
| Military Specialty(ies): |
|
MOS 757-Radio Operator-Mechanic-Gunner, AAF |
| |
| Rank Upon Discharge: |
|
Staff Sergeant |
| |
| Crew Type: |
|
Flight crew |
| |
| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
|
42-6262 Round Trip Ticket, The Avenger (unknown serial number) |
| |
| Were you a POW? |
|
No |
| If so, where? |
|
|
| |
| Were you interned? |
|
No |
| If so, where? |
|
|
| |
| Date Transferred from the 58th: |
|
March, 1944 |
| |
| Date Discharged from the 58th: |
|
December, 1945 |
| |
| Post-WWII Military Service: |
|
|
| |
| Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
|
After the war, he enrolled at Michigan State University, enjoying success as a pole vaulter while earning a B.S., M.S. and teaching certificate. In 1946, he met Ruth Ann Sattler at MSU, and the two were wed the following year. After graduating, Mike left East Lansing with his wife to begin his career as a teacher and coach in Houghton Lake, where the young couple started to grow their family.
Mike enjoyed a successful career as a teacher and athletic coach for two decades, leaving Redford Union High School in 1969 to enter the tool and die business with LaSalle Machine Tool and Acme Cleveland Corporation. In 1979 his family ventured up from Highland Township to Traverse City, where he would eventually retire. Mike was an avid fisherman, sportsman and farmer who loved being out on the water as much as he enjoyed having his hands in the soil.
|
| |
| Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing: |
| Greatest experience I ever had. |
| |
| Comments: |
|
We lost an engine going overseas and Major Blackwell landed our B-29 on a steel mat in the Azores where we changed a 16 cylinder head from the spare engine we carried in the bomb bay.
Mr. Bowerman passed away on April 6th 2012.
|
|
