World War II Honoree

James L. Fowler

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Santa Barbara, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: First Lieutenant. A United States Marine Corps Pilot, who flew the Grumman Avenger TBF-1 Torpedo Bomber, with the Marine Bombing Squadron-233, VMTB-233 AKA: Bulldogs, MAG-11 and First Marine Air Wing. His unit was based at Piva Uncle Airfield, Bougainville Island Location: North Solomon Islands, Pacific Theater of Operations. Reporting missing in action lost at sea during a night-time combat mission February 14, 1944, destination Rabaul, New Britain Island. The Bomber loaded with one U.S. Naval aerial parachute-mine in the bomb-rack destined to be dropped in the Rabaul Simpson Harbor was shot down by Imperial Japanese Anti-Aircraft ground-fire. His name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. Later his missing in action status ultimately, to read killed in action February 15, 1945. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Air Medal and the Purple Heart. The Air Medal was awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight, and the Purple Heart for his ultimate sacrifice.