SSgt. Edwin E. Cowgill Dies on Last Bombing Mission of the 401st Bombardment Group, 1945

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Edwin E. Cowgill was born on 5 November 1924, in Ashland, Ohio. His parents are John & Rella (White) Cowgill. Edwin had attended and graduated from Martel High School, Class of 1943. It appears Edwin’s father, John, had died prior to 1930. His mother remarried to Harry Gilmore. His mother died in May 1940. Edwin had listed his sister, Mary A. Reed, as his point of contact on his draft card. He had a brother, Cpl. John W. Cowgill, serving in the United States Marines.

Edwin E. Cowgill was drafted into service on 28 June 1943, in Columbus, Ohio. Edwin attended training at Camp Grant, Illinois; Sheppard Field, Texas, Amarillo, Texas; Las Vegas, Nevada and Drysburg, Tennessee. He attained the rank of Sergeant (Sgt.) and was in the Army Air Corps. Sgt. Edwin E. Cowgill was serving as a Top Turret Gunner aboard a B-17 Bomber. Sgt. Cowgill was assigned to the 613th Bomber Squadron, 401st Bombardment Group (Heavey). On 20 April 1945, he was aboard B-17 #43-39125, the “You All Right” aka ‘Der Grossarschvogel‘. His crew was part of a formation that was flying the last combat mission of the war for the 401st Bombardment Group. This was to be the last bombing mission into Germany, due to the dangers of hitting friendly troops. Allied ground forces had made their way into Germany at this point in the war.

613th Bomber Squadron Patch Drawn by Walt Disney

On this mission B-17 #43-39125, “You All Right,” was hit by flak. The mission was to bomb the marshaling yards in Brandenburg, Germany. The aircraft received a direct flak hit and fell out of the formation. The You All Right blew up on the way down. It had happened so quickly that the crew had no chance to bail out. Five of the ten crew members survived by being either blown free of the aircraft or falling out as it broke apart. The remaining five members were trapped in the wreckage and killed. Sgt. Edwin E. Cowgill was among those killed in action that day. The You All Right was the last ship lost in 401st. Bombardment Group to combat action. It appears that Cowgill was posthumously promoted to Staff Sergeant (SSgt.).

Among those who survived from the You All Right were the pilot, Lieutenant Aubrey Bradley and waist-gunner, Staff Sergeant Frederick C. Nachtigal . When Lt. Bradley reached the ground he was beaten very badly by German civilians. He was then rescued by members of the Luftwaffe. Also surviving was Staff Sergeant Frederick C. Nachtigal, Cleveland, Ohio. SSgt. Nachtigal was also rescued from an angry mob, by the Luftwaffe. They were taken to the nearest base. SSgt. Nachtigal tells of his experience in his book, “My Friend My Enemy.” While in captivity a German guard was ordered to take Nachtigal out and execute him. Instead the guard disobeyed the orders and assisted Nachtigal in escaping. After the war, Nachtigal would reevaluate his life. He went to college and later became a Catholic Priest, in Ashtabula, Ohio. Later, the German guard would come to Ashtabula, Ohio, to visit Nachtigal. Rev. Fred C. Nachtigal served as an Assistant Pastor, at St. Stanislaus Parish, in Youngstown, Ohio, from 1972-1981.

SSgt. Edwin E. Cowgill is buried at Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Liège, Liège, Belgium.

Edwin E. Cowgill is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

Crew of You All Right, B-17 #43-39125:
1st Lt. A. J. Bradley Jr. Pilot, Survived/POW
1st Lt. K. F. Carey Co-pilot, Survived
2nd Lt. M. W. Peterson Navigator, Survived
Sgt. W. K. Benson Bombardier, KIA
TSgt. A. Massa Radio Operator (614th Sqdn.), KIA
Sgt. E. E. Cowgill Eng./Top Turret Gunner, KIA
Sgt. W. T. Vaughn Jr. Ball Turret Gunner, Survived
SSgt. W. J. McKee Tail Gunner, KIA
SSgt. F. C. Nachtigal Waist Gunner, Survived/POW
SSgt. G. Toombs Radio Countermeasures Operator, K.I.A.

Pvt. Francis N. Long Dies in Service, 1918

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Francis N. Long was born on 22 November 1899. His parents are Mr. & Mrs. George Long. Francis N. Long was employed at the Abel Garage prior to being drafted.
On 24 June 1918, Long left Marion with 163 selects (draftees) for Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio. There he was to be trained and was serving as a Private (Pvt.).
Pvt. Francis N. Long became ill, while in camp. His mother was called to the camp and was with him until his death on 5 October 1918.
Pvt. Francis N. Long is buried in the Kirkpatrick Cemetery, Marion County, Ohio.
Francis Long is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio, and on World War One Honor Roll, located on the second floor of the Marion County Courthouse.

Earl E. Lehner – World War One Veteran

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Earl Ellis Lehner was born on 8 October 1898. His parents are John Lehner, Sr. & Maude F. (Waitley).
Pvt. Lehner was trained at Medical Officers’ Training Corps, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia to 9 July 1918; assigned Base Hospital No. 51, until 3 June 1919; Casual Company 623, to 9 June 1919; Camp Sherman, Ohio, to Discharge, as a Private First Class (PFC), on 1 May 1919. PFC Lehner had served in the St Mihiel, Defensive Sector.
Earl E. Lehner attained the rank of PFC and served during World War One, in France. PFC Lehner was assigned to Base Hospital No. 51.

Earl Lehner would return to Marion after the war. He was employed as a sign painter. He was married to Edith (Willmeth) in Marion, Ohio, on 25 April 1921. After his wife died, Earl left Marion and move to Arizona. He also moved to Los Angeles, California; and then made his home in Vancouver, Washington. It was in Vancouver that Earl became ill and died in a veterans hospital. He died on 4 February 1957.
Earl E. Lehner was buried in Chapel Heights Memory Gardens, in Marion County, Ohio.

I did not find much more about Earl, but we can recognize and remember his service to our country.

The author had discovered Earl Lehner’s grave marker completely buried. The marker was then uncovered, raised and cleaned.

Maker after pulling back some sod.
Marker with dirt removed.
Marker after being raised and cleaned.

Fireman First Class Paul G. Hough Killed Aboard the USS Kanawa, 1943

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Paul Glenn Hough was born on 25 May 1923, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are William “Bert” A. & Orpha M. (Temple) Hough. Paul G. Hough attended schools in Marion and Essex. After school he was employed with Hornel Ice Plant at the Erie Yards and at the Scioto Ordnance Plant. He was living in Marion with a brother, Lee.

Paul G. Hough entered service on 9 September 1942. Paul went to basic training at the U. S. Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois. He had attained the rank of Fireman Second Class (F2C). He left for overseas duty in January 1943. He was serving aboard the USS Kanawa (AO-1). The Kanawa was a refueling vessel. The Kanawa was serving in the Solomon Islands when she was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The vessel was towed to Tulagi where she eventually sunk.

USS Kanawa on Fire

USS Kanawha (AO-1) resumed fueling operations upon her return to Pago Pago 13 February 1943. For the next 2 months she serviced ships engaged in the struggle in the Solomon Islands. On 7 April a group of enemy “Vals” slipped through fighter defenses and zeroed in on USS Kanawha (AO-1) as she awaited an escort in Tulagi Harbor. At 1502, shortly after clearing the harbor, the slow and vulnerable oiler came under bomb attack. The first five planes hit an oil tank under the bridge, causing fires to spread rapidly along the deck. The tug USS Rail towed USS Kanawha (AO-1) on the west side of Tulagi where she was beached shortly before midnight However, she slid off into deep water and sank before daybreak 8 April. Nineteen of her crew were lost.

From: Naval History and Heritage Command

Nineteen of Kanawa’s crew were lost either to the explosions, fire or the sinking. On 7 May 1943, Paul G. Hough was reported as Missing in Action (MIA). He would be promoted to Fireman First Class (F1C). It was not until a year later that F1C Paul G. Hough was officially declared dead. His official date of death is 8 April 1943.

F1C Paul G. Hough’s remains were never recovered. He is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.
Paul G. Hough is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

For more about the wreck visit WRECKED IN MY REVO.

PFC Robert L. Smith Killed in Action, 1945

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Robert Lamar Smith was born on 1 December 1925, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Harry L. & Roxie (Burnette) Smith, of Marion, Ohio. Robert had two brothers serving during World War Two; Pfc. Charles L. Smith, serving in France; and later William P. Smith would serve during the same war, in the United States Navy. Brother, Charles was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

Robert L. Smith attended Harding High School, until his junior year. His family then relocated to Kent, Ohio. Robert then graduated from Kent State High School. While at Kent High School, Robert was an all-city football center and all-star team member, for the district basketball league. He went on to attend Kent State University, for two semesters, where he also played basketball. He then returned to Marion, with his family, and was employed with Smart & Waddell Shoe Store.

Robert L. Smith was inducted into the United States Army, on 28 July 1944. He went for training at Camp Wolters, Texas. Smith attained the rank of Private First Class (Pfc.). Pfc. Smith went overseas in January of 1945, and served in the 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division “Blood and Fire.” He was a veteran of the action at Saar Basin and the invasion of Germany. Pfc. was initially reported as Missing in Action on 3 April 1945. His family was later informed that he was killed in action on that date.

Pfc. Robert L. Smith is buried in the Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.
Robert L. Smith is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.