A Amazing KIA Navy Airman Engraved Medal Grouping
This amazing medal grouping was awarded to Lt. Russell Earl Bowen. This group is very interesting and can be researched. The Air Service Medal, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross are all engraved. The DFC is the most elaborately engraved ones I've ever seen. The Purple Heart is also the navy box version. His obituary is below the photos along with his photo and grave stone photo. When Lt. Russell Earl Bowen was returned and reburied in South Dakota one of his pallbearers was Medal of Honor winner Joe Foss who was also from Sioux Falls, SD.
From the Find a Grave web site:
NAVY USNR VETERAN- WW2- SECOND LT
The body of Lt. Russell E. Bowen, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl T.
Bowen, 239 North French Ave., and a former Augustana football star, will arrive
in Sioux Falls this afternoon. Lt. Bowen, a Navy flier, was returned to Sioux
Falls from the Philippines for services and reburial.
Lt. Bowen lost his life on Poro Island in the Philippines during a bombing
mission. He was pilot of a B-24 Liberator. He was reported
missing on October 26, 1944, but was later declared officially dead when his
body was recovered. He was 26 years of age when he lost his life.
Lt. Bowen was born December 27, 1918, at Decorah, IA., and came to Sioux Falls
as a boy. He attended schools here and was graduated from Augustana college in
1940. He was one of three Bowen brothers who played guard on Augustana football
teams.
The first flier in South Dakota to solo under the CAA flight program, he was
appointed an aviation cadet at Pensacola, Fla., on January 10, 1941. He was
commissioned an ensign on June 6, 1941, and went overseas in 1943. He was a
member of bombing squadron 101. In addition to the Purple Heart, he was awarded
the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. The latter award was
recommended Lt. Bowen for a single bombing mission which destroyed a medium
cargo ship, a torpedo plane, two luggers and a power boat. He was also given the
Navy Unit Commendation as well as several defense and campaign medals.
Surviving Lt. Bowen are his parents; a sister Alice, at home; and three
brothers, Francis of Gainesville, Fla., and Jean and Dale, both of Sioux Falls.
Francis and Jean were Navy and Marine fliers during
the war.
Services for the returned flier will be held at the Miller Funeral
home Thursday at 2 p. m. The Rev. A. R. Eschliman of the East Side Methodist
will officiate. Mrs. C. B. Van Ausdall will be organist with Mrs. Henry Saure as
soloist. Burial will be in the Hills
of Rest. The American Legion will conduct graveside services. Pallbearers will
be Barney Boos, Allen Bresee, Joe Foss, Duane Corning, Everett Zellers, Spence
Sandvig, Elliot Muxfelt and Le Roy Henning.