Kowalski, Ellwood David

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Kowalski, Ellwood David ‡ ⇗
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Serial Number	O-793416 ‡
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #70 dated 11 March 1943, effective 11 March 1943.
Duty	Pilot
MOS	1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date	12 June 1943
Results	Killed In Flying Accident Final Resting Place or Memorial: Calvary Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 2 March 1917 Killed in flying accident while landing at Grafton Underwood after a training mission in aircraft 42-30036. Pilot (Lt E Kowalski) executed a pull-up maneuver upon observing red light from control tower and struck aircraft 42-30131 (pilot Lt F Witt) which was just above. All five crew aboard Kowalski's aircraft were killed: crew aboard Lt Witt's aircraft survived uninjured. Aircraft 42-30036 was not following established traffic pattern prior to collision.
Related Documents	Accident Report # 43-06-12-502⇓ (29.679 MB)
Photo Album:	Crew Photo Album⇗

Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384^th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER	POSITION	RESULTS
2nd Lt. Kowalski, Ellwood David	Pilot	KIFA
2nd Lt. Bell, Joseph W⇗	Co-pilot	CT
2nd Lt. Eggers, Samuel Andrew, Jr⇗	Navigator	KIFA
2nd Lt. Murphy, Leo Ambrose⇗	Bombardier	KIFA
S/SGT. Blaise, Jean LeRoy⇗	Radio Operator / Gunner	KIFA
S/SGT. Bossinger, George Alpheus⇗	Engineer / Top Turret Gunner	EV
SGT. Penick, Eugene Walker⇗	Ball Turret Gunner	POW
SGT. Majors, Hugh David⇗	Tail Gunner	TR
SGT. Hardin, David Jackson⇗	Flexible Gunner	KIA
S/SGT. McKnight, Harry Alvin⇗	Flexible Gunner	POW

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 0 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
--	12 June 1943	None Non-combat sortie	Pilot	42‑30036⇗	Crashed due to a collision with aircraft 42‑30131 on short final while landing at Grafton Underwood after a training mission. Pilot (2Lt Ellwood Kowalski) executed a pull-up maneuver upon observing red light from control tower and struck aircraft 42‑30131 (pilot 2Lt F Witt) which was just above. All five crew aboard Kowalski's aircraft were killed: crew aboard Lt Witt's aircraft survived uninjured. Aircraft 42‑30036 was not following established traffic pattern prior to collision. Sortie Report⇗

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