World War II Honoree

Wayne J. Cowgill

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Rupert, Idaho

Honored By

Robert Michael Rumsby & James R. Martin

HE SERVED WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 2ND AIR DIVISION, 2ND BOMBARDMENT WING, 453RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 734TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON. HE WAS THE PILOT ON A B-24 NAMED 'OUR BABY'. HE FLEW 10-1/2 MISSIONS WITH THE CREW. HE BAILED OUT AND BECAME A PRISONER OF WAR ON JULY 21, 1944, WHEN THE 'DIANA-MITE' COLLIDED WITH THE 'OUR BABY' IN MID-AIR OVER GERMANY. HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, AIR MEDAL, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL. HIS LAST RANK WAS 2ND LIEUTENANT.