Darwin Eugene “Gene” Bowman was born in Kingsport, Tennessee. He was the son of John Henry Bowman and Mary Augusta Hammer.
Staff Sergeant Darwin E. Bowman served in the US Army Air Force. A Finding of Death was declared on 29 April 1943. He is listed on the Tablets of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial, Hawaii.
Stationed at New Caledonia
13th Air Force
Aircraft B-24D with serial number 42-40523 departed from Hamilton Field at 0343, 29 April 1943 with destination Hickam Field. First radio position reported was made at 0800 GCT. Second radio report at 0911 GCT, giving approx. position of 31 10 degrees N and 135 W. Weather was given by pilot as fog. Fast wind, temp. 180 degrees, visibility 1000 yards. ETA 1844 GCT. This was the last report received from the aircraft. Air and sea search stated on 30 April and ended 11 May, failed to reveal any evidence of wreckage. The aircraft was the second plane of the group of three and one of eight that was dispatched from Hamilton. Navy vessel reported 6 planes passed overhead after 0900 GCT in the vicinity of 31 degrees 04 N, 135 degrees W.
Crew members
Pilot, 1st Lt Frederick L. Gossel
Co-Pilot, F/O Lloyd W. Paulson
Navigator, 2nd Lt Theodore Samek
Bombardier, 2nd Lt Jack V. Brown
Engineer, T/Sgt Byron B. Cromartie
Radio Opeartor, T/Sgt A. Louis Graner
Aerial Engineer, S/Sgt Clement R. Temple
AR, S/Sgt John S. Hottle
Gunner, S/Sgt Rutledge P. Fuller
Air Gunner, S/Sgt Darwin E. Bowman
The Erwin Record, September 2, 1943
No further word has been received concerning Lt. Darin Eugene Bowman, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Bowman, who was reported missing in action several weeks ago. Eugene enlisted from Unicoi County, and his parents lived here until a year or two ago when they moved to Bristol. It is said that Lt. Bowman was en route by plane on a mission to Aleutian Islands. His aunt, Mrs. Dan Hammer, and brother Charles Bowman live in Erwin.
The Bristol Herald Courier, May 14, 1944
The War department has notified Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Bowman of 1101 Broad street that their son, Staff Sergeant Darwin E. (Gene) Bowman, of the U.S. Army Air Corps, missing since April 29, 943, on a flight from Hamilton Field in California to Hickam Field, Hawaii, is officially presumed to be dead. An extensive search has been conducted for the missing B-24 on which Staff Sergeant Bowman was the tail gunner, but no trace has been found either of the plane or members of the crew, the War department reported. Sergeant Bowman, who was 19 years of age at the time he was reported missing attended high school in Erwin, Tenn., where his family was located prior to moving to Bristol two years ago, and, entered the air corps July 22, 1942. He took his basic training at Atlantic City and received his wings at Fort Myer, Fla. He was transferred to Hamilton Field in California as tail gunner on a heavy bomber and it was this point that his plane took off on April 29 for Hickam Field in Hawaii. The bomber failed to reach its destination and on July 6 last year the War department notified Mr. and Mrs. Bowman that their son was missing. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman have two other sons in service. First Lieutenant Harold J. Bowman is with the airborne engineers in the South Pacific war theatre and Technical Sergeant Daniel W. Bowman is an instructor in aerial gunnery at Drew Field, Tampa, Fla. Since coming to Bristol, Mr. Bowman has been manager of the meat market at the Little Store in Pennsylvania avenue.
- Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Date of birth: 12 December 1923
- Date of death: 29 April 1943
- County: Sullivan
- Hometown: Bristol
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 13th Air Force
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVIII, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Darwin E. Bowman
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