Bill Bower
Encyclopedia
William Marsh "Bill" Bower (February 13, 1917 – January 10, 2011) was an American
aviator
, U.S. Air Force Colonel
and veteran of World War II
. Bower was the last surviving pilot
of the Doolittle Raid
, the first air raid
to target the Japan
ese Home Island of Honshu
.
A native of Ravenna, Ohio
, Bower graduated from Ravenna High School
in 1934. He attended both Hiram College and Kent State University
from 1934 until 1936. Bower then joined the Ohio National Guard 107th Cavalry, based in Ravenna, from 1936 to 1938.
In 1940, Bower graduated from the U.S. Army Air Corps Flying School and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant, in the U.S. Air Force on October 4, 1940, with a rating of Army Aviator. In October 1940, Bower joined the 37th Bomb Squadron
, based at Lowry Field in Denver, Colorado
. He then transferred to the 17th Bombardment Group, headquartered at McChord Field in Washington state
, in June 1941.
In the months following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Bower volunteered for the first American aerial attack on Japan. The air raid, which came to be called the Doolittle Raid
, after Lieutenant Colonel
James "Jimmy" Doolittle
, took place on April 18, 1942. Bower piloted one of the sixteen B25B Mitchell medium bombers which took off from the USS Hornet
to attack cities on Honshu.
Bower and his five member crew bombed the city of Yokohama
during the raid. They parachute
d out of their B-25 over China
during the night, which was his first jump from an airplane. They were taken in by Chinese villagers until rescue by the Americans. His mother, Kathryn Bower, was informed by Lt. Colonel Jimmy Doolittle that Bower had survived the attack approximately one month later. Eleven members of the Doolite Raid were killed or captured. Bower and the other crew members were brought from China back to the United States
.
In June 1942, Bower and twenty-two other participants in the Doolittle Raid received the Distinguished Flying Cross
during a reception held at the White House
. The city of Ravenna, Ohio, declared July 3, 1942, as "Bill Bower Day." Bower married his wife, Lorraine Amman Bower, in the lobby of the Lady Lafayette Hotel in Walterboro, South Carolina
, on August 18, 1942. The couple had two sons and two daughters during their marriage.
Bower remained in the U.S. Air Force throughout World War II, achieving the rank of Colonel
. He commanded the 428th Bombardment Squadron
during the war and served in Africa
, including the allied invasion of North Africa
, and the European Theater, including Italy
, until September 1945. He became a U.S. Air Force accident investigator following the end of World War II. He also served as a commander of a U.S. Air Force transport organization in the Arctic
. Bower commanded Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta,Georgia. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal
and two Air Medal
s during his career.
He moved to Boulder, Colorado
, in 1966 with his wife, Lorraine Amman, and their four children. He constructed and lived in a home on Dennison Lane in south Boulder for the rest of his life.
Bower died at his home in Boulder, Colorado, on January 10, 2011, at the age of 93. He suffered from complications of a fall that occurred in June 2009. He was survived by his children – sons James and Bill and daughters Mary Brannaman and Mindy Bower – and six grandchildren. His wife, Lorraine, died in 2004. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family; he was predeceased by his sisters, Caroline Minnich (who died in 2010) and Mary Geyer, and brother, Ned Bower.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, U.S. Air Force Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
and veteran of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Bower was the last surviving pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
of the Doolittle Raid
Doolittle Raid
The Doolittle Raid, on 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese Home Islands during World War II. By demonstrating that Japan itself was vulnerable to American air attack, it provided a vital morale boost and opportunity for U.S. retaliation after the...
, the first air raid
Air raid
Air raid refers to an attack by aircraft. See strategic bombing or the smaller-scale airstrike.Air raid may also refer to:*Air Raid , by the improvisational collective Air...
to target the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese Home Island of Honshu
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
.
A native of Ravenna, Ohio
Ravenna, Ohio
* Chris Bangle; automobile designer* Bill Bower, last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raid* David D. Busch; best-selling author* William Rufus Day; U.S. Supreme Court justice* Calvin Hampton; Classical organist* Robert B...
, Bower graduated from Ravenna High School
Ravenna High School (Ohio)
Ravenna High School a public high school located in Ravenna, Ohio, USA. It is the only high school in the Ravenna School District and serves students primarily in Ravenna and Ravenna Township...
in 1934. He attended both Hiram College and Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
from 1934 until 1936. Bower then joined the Ohio National Guard 107th Cavalry, based in Ravenna, from 1936 to 1938.
In 1940, Bower graduated from the U.S. Army Air Corps Flying School and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant, in the U.S. Air Force on October 4, 1940, with a rating of Army Aviator. In October 1940, Bower joined the 37th Bomb Squadron
37th Bomb Squadron
The 37th Bomb Squadron is part of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. It operates B-1 Lancer aircraft providing strategic bombing capability.-History:...
, based at Lowry Field in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. He then transferred to the 17th Bombardment Group, headquartered at McChord Field in Washington state
Washington State
Washington State may refer to:* Washington , often referred to as "Washington state" to differentiate it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States* Washington State University, a land-grant college in that state- See also :...
, in June 1941.
In the months following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Bower volunteered for the first American aerial attack on Japan. The air raid, which came to be called the Doolittle Raid
Doolittle Raid
The Doolittle Raid, on 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese Home Islands during World War II. By demonstrating that Japan itself was vulnerable to American air attack, it provided a vital morale boost and opportunity for U.S. retaliation after the...
, after Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
James "Jimmy" Doolittle
Jimmy Doolittle
General James Harold "Jimmy" Doolittle, USAF was an American aviation pioneer. Doolittle served as a brigadier general, major general and lieutenant general in the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War...
, took place on April 18, 1942. Bower piloted one of the sixteen B25B Mitchell medium bombers which took off from the USS Hornet
USS Hornet (CV-8)
USS Hornet CV-8, the seventh ship to carry the name Hornet, was a of the United States Navy. During World War II in the Pacific Theater, she launched the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo and participated in the Battle of Midway and the Buin-Faisi-Tonolai Raid...
to attack cities on Honshu.
Bower and his five member crew bombed the city of Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
during the raid. They parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
d out of their B-25 over China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
during the night, which was his first jump from an airplane. They were taken in by Chinese villagers until rescue by the Americans. His mother, Kathryn Bower, was informed by Lt. Colonel Jimmy Doolittle that Bower had survived the attack approximately one month later. Eleven members of the Doolite Raid were killed or captured. Bower and the other crew members were brought from China back to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In June 1942, Bower and twenty-two other participants in the Doolittle Raid received the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
during a reception held at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. The city of Ravenna, Ohio, declared July 3, 1942, as "Bill Bower Day." Bower married his wife, Lorraine Amman Bower, in the lobby of the Lady Lafayette Hotel in Walterboro, South Carolina
Walterboro, South Carolina
Walterboro is a city in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,153 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Colleton County.-History:...
, on August 18, 1942. The couple had two sons and two daughters during their marriage.
Bower remained in the U.S. Air Force throughout World War II, achieving the rank of Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
. He commanded the 428th Bombardment Squadron
428th Bombardment Squadron
The 428th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 310th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Shilling Air Force Base, Kansas. It was inactivated on 1 January 1962.-History:...
during the war and served in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, including the allied invasion of North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and the European Theater, including Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, until September 1945. He became a U.S. Air Force accident investigator following the end of World War II. He also served as a commander of a U.S. Air Force transport organization in the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
. Bower commanded Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta,Georgia. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
and two Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
s during his career.
He moved to Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, in 1966 with his wife, Lorraine Amman, and their four children. He constructed and lived in a home on Dennison Lane in south Boulder for the rest of his life.
Bower died at his home in Boulder, Colorado, on January 10, 2011, at the age of 93. He suffered from complications of a fall that occurred in June 2009. He was survived by his children – sons James and Bill and daughters Mary Brannaman and Mindy Bower – and six grandchildren. His wife, Lorraine, died in 2004. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family; he was predeceased by his sisters, Caroline Minnich (who died in 2010) and Mary Geyer, and brother, Ned Bower.