Sgt. Willard Lafayette Lowman was born on 18 December 1921 in Dekalb County, Alabama, the son of James Martin Lowman and Mertie Velma Ragsdale. Brother of
Address at time of death 2221 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN
Willard Lafeyette Lowman was the son of James Martin and Mertie Lowman , brother of Jack Dempsey Lowman and Jerry E. Lowman. His brother James Douglas Lowman died on 28 January 1944.
He is buried at the American War Cemetery Ardennes, Grave number Plot B, Row 37, Grave 1
Aircraft B-24H with serial number 41-28720 was on a combat mission to Berlin in Germany.
Crew members
Pilot, John David Adamson
Co-Pilot, John Joseph Berrio
Navigator, Jesse Herbert Lack
Bombardier, Charles Sylvester Daskam
Radio Operator, Jake Joseph Tamburrello
Top Turret Gunner, Elmer Peter Moe
Ball Turret Gunner, Harold Clarence Rabideau
Right Waist Gunner, Willard L. Lowman
Left Waist Gunner, Henry John Forbes
Tail Gunner, Billy Lynn Freeman
Biography –
Provided by Jerry Lowman, a Brother:
Letters to my mother Willard’s Mother and Sgt. Freeman’s mother from some of the crew sent after being released from POW camps said that both Sgt. Lowman and Sgt. Freeman were killed by the fighter attacks aboard the aircraft. I believe all the other crew members bailed out and were captured. Willard remained MIA until 1946.
Source of information for the following is from the Biography at the American War Cemetery, Ardennes:
We were hit by flak near Hannover. The oil pressure on No. 4 engine began to drop. Near Berlin the turbo on No. 2 engine went out and we were forced to salvo our bomb load. As we were leaving the formation, I called Lt. Lack and asked for a course back to England. He gave me a course. I heard him talk to FO Daskam. I called later while we were under attack, but they never answered. Fighter protection was called for, but never came. The enemy fighters, ME-210’s, I believe picked us up and made numerous attacks to our tail and waist [areas]. When the plane caught fire, Lt. Adamson told me to give the order to bail out. When I left the plane, Lt. Adamson was standing with his parachute on. The plane crashed about 200 feet from where I landed and there was one chute wrapped around the tail. The crash took place on the outskirts of Finsterwalde, Germany.
According to Sgt. Forbes, Sgt. Freeman was hit in the first attack.
Source of information www.458bg.com
- Rank: Sergeant
- Date of birth: 18 December 1921
- Date of death: 8 March 1944
- County: Hamilton
- Hometown: Chattanooga
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 755th Bomber Squadron, 458th Bomber Group, Heavy
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Burial/Memorial Location: Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré (Neuville-en-Condroz), Belgium
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XI, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Willard L. Lowman
Image Gallery
Click a thumbnail below to view at full size.
