World War II Honoree

Richard S. Dowell, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Muskogee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1942. AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF BOMBARDIER SCHOOL, WAS AWARDED HIS SILVER BOMBARDIER WINGS AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. SERVED AS A BOMBARDIER OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER DURING THE WAR. FLEW ON 33 MISSIONS AND WAS CONSIDERED A 'LUCKY CHARM' BY HIS FELLOW CREWMEMBERS BECAUSE HIS AIRCRAFT RETURNED FROM MISSIONS WITHOUT BATTLE DAMAGE. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. AFTER A BREAK IN SERVICE, HE RETURNED TO ACTIVE DUTY AND SERVED IN THE U.S. AIR FORCE UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF MAJOR.