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Garrett Patrick "Mac" McGowan, Pilot, Captain, Distinguished
Flying Cross, Air Medal
Bomb Group: 323rd Bomb Squadron: 455th
Years in service: 3+
Graduation Class: 43-F, June 22, 1943
Class Location: Marfa Air Base, Texas
I have my father's pilot log, in which he recorded each and every flight, from training; ferrying his Martin B-26 Marauder to Europe; his first combat mission on June 2, 1945; his promotion to group lead on his 50th mission; his last combat mission on April 17, 1945; and his return home to the U.S. as co-pilot on a Consolidated B-24 Liberator. Your detailed descriptions of the air campaign align and bring added perspective to his own log entries including success in bombing objectives, the loss of a B-26 wingman from flak, encounters with German Me 262 fighters, and bringing his ship safely home on a single engine or missing a wing tip.
I offer this summary of my father's experiences for others whose family members may have followed a similar course as his:
My dad was first a farm boy, helping to sustain the family's small ranch in Chinook, MT with apparently little thought given to the challenges presented by life on the Montana Hi-Line during the 1920's and 30's. At a young age, he was taken "under the wing" of a local barnstormer and contract pilot, Chauncey Flynn. My dad spent every minute he could steal away to absorb whatever his aeronautic mentor would share - on the ground and in the cockpit.
When he enlisted in the Army, he was quick to volunteer his rudimentary flight experience, and the Army Air Force sent him to Ryan Army Airfield, Hemet, CA where he began his formal primary training on December 7, 1942 in a Ryan PT-22 Recruit. He trained there almost daily for two months until he logged 60 hours primary flight time in PT-22s on February 2, 1943.
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Ryan PT-22 Recruit
He began his basic flight training on February 11, 1943 at Gardner Army Airfield, Taft, CA where he trained in a Voltee BT-13A Valiant, with additional time in Link Trainers. He completed 83 hours of basic training on April 10, 1943.
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Voltee BT-13A Valiant
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Lieutenant Garrett P. "Mac" McGowan during basic flight training
at Gardner Army Airfield, Taft, CA standing in front of a Voltee BT-13A Valiant
My dad was then transferred to Marfa Army Air Base, Advanced Flying School, TX.
There he completed 88 hours advanced training in a Cessna AT-17 Bobcat and Link
Trainer between April 19 and June 21. He graduated from Marfa in Class 43-F on
June 22, 1943.
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Cessna AT-17 Bobcat
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Lieutenant Garrett P. "Mac" McGowan during advanced flight training at Marfa Army Air Base, TX standing beside a Cessna AT-17 Bobcat
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Invitation
From Marfa, he was transferred to Laughlin Army Airfield, Transition Flying School, Medium Bombardment, Del Rio, TX. He began training there on July 1, 1943 for three days in a Link Trainer before being introduced to the cockpit of a Martin B-26 Marauder B-4 on July 8. He began left-side takeoffs and landings on flight day 10. Formation training occurred at altitudes from 500' to 19,000'. Variant designations flown during his 128 hours training at Laughlin included B-26 (3700 hp), B-26-B-4, B-26-B-10, and B-26-B-20. His training there concluded on September 4, 1943.
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Martin B-26 Marauder "Bat-outa-Hell II", Tail 131643 - the ship my dad most identified with
His final training occurred at Barksdale Army Air Base, Bossier City, LA, where he resumed his cockpit training in a B-26-C-30 on October 4, 1943. This was his longest station during his enlistment, extending six months. It was also where he met his future wife (my mother).
The training emphasis at Barksdale shifted to capabilities required for successful combat operations. These included instrument (IFR) flight, cross-country navigation, night-time operations, celestial navigation, beam navigation, Lorenz-aided landings, Norden bombing, low-altitude bombing, skip bombing at 50', and gunnery practice. His last day of training at Barksdale was on March 6, 1944.
One week later, on March 15, 1944, he was assigned a newly delivered B-26-F-1 at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, GA. He and his crew spent the single day at Hunter conducting instrument calibration and shakedown of the new ship in preparation for immediate ferry to Europe.
Befitting his Irish namesake, he and his crew initiated the first leg of their ferry on Saint Patrick's Day, March 17, 1944. They departed Hunter Army Airfield for their first stop at Homestead Army Airfield, FL. The twelve-leg flight along the southern route consumed 34 days, with stops at: Borinquen Field, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; Atkinson Field, Georgetown, British Guiana (Guyana); Belem (Val de Cans) Airport, Brazil; Fortaleza Airport, Ceara, Brazil; Natal Airport, Brazil; Ascension Island Airfield; Roberts Field, Liberia; Rufisque Airfield, French West Africa (Yoff, Senegal); Marrakesh, French Morocco (Morocco) [20-day layover]; St. Mawgan Airfield, England; and final destination Grove Airfield, England, with arrival April 19, 1944.
A single orientation flight was recorded at Toome Army Airfield, Ireland before transfer to forward airfield Earls Colne, England on May 31, 1944. He had logged 670 hours flight time.
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Alongside Martin B-26 Marauder "Bat-outa-Hell II": Standing left, Garrett P. "Mac" McGowan, Pilot; Standing center right, Russell P. Hall, Jr., Bombardier/Navigator; Others not known
Then 2nd Lieutenant McGowan flew his first combat mission from Earls Colne on June 2, 1944, bombing the Coastal Battery Merville, Ouistreham, France (4,000# bombs at 11,000', No flak, No fighters). Second mission before D-Day was bombing a bridge over the River Seine, Mantes-Gassicourt on June 3 (4,000# bombs, Moderate-accurate flak, 12 holes in ship, Lost one engine on return to base).
His first mission on D-Day, June 6, was bombing Cherbourg "Utah" Beachhead (4,000# bombs at 3,000', Light flak, 3 hits on ship, Witnessed B-24 flame out). His second mission on D-Day, was bombing cross-roads at Caen combined with low-level ground support and strafing, (4,000# bombs at 3,500', Light flak, Witnessed B-26 flame out).
Subsequent missions flown from Earls Colne into France included the following:
June 7, 1944: Railroad marshaling yard at Caligny (4,000# bombs
at 2,200', Good bombing, No flak);
June 10, 1944: Tank concentration and fuel depot at Balleroy (4,000# bombs, Good
bombing, Engineer/Gunner hit by flak);
June 11, 1944: Aborted mission on undisclosed objective at Touligny (4,000#
bombs, Low ceiling, No flak, No fighters);
June 15, 1944: Tank refueling depot at Valognes (4,000# bombs, Moderate-accurate
heavy flak, 1 hole in ship);
June 21, 1944: Aborted first Pathfinder (PFF) mission on V-1 launch site at
Saint-Omer (4,000# bombs, No ball);
June 21, 1944: PFF on V-1 launch site at Frevent (4,000# bombs, No ball,
Overcast, No flak);
June 22, 1944: Railroad marshaling yard at Armentieres (4,000# bombs at 11,000',
Moderate-accurate flak, Burst rattled off nose of ship);
June 23, 1944: PFF on V-1 launch site at Bernaville (4,000# bombs, No ball);
June 24, 1944: PFF on V-1 launch site at Crecey Forest (4,000# bombs at 11,000',
No ball, No flak); and
June 26, 1944: Fuel supply dump at Senonches (4,000# bombs at 11,700', No flak).
Transfer of bases from Earls Colne to Beaulieu, England occurred on July 21. Missions flown from Beaulieu into France included the following:
July 23, 1944: PFF on munitions depot at La Neuve-Lyre (28 x
100# demolition bombs at 12,000', No flak, No fighters);
July 25, 1944: Close support of troops at Saint-Lo (16 x 260# fragmentation
bombs, No flak, No fighters);
July 25, 1944: Bridge over Seine at Mantes-Gassicourt (8 x 500# general purpose
bombs, Moderate-accurate light flak, First encounter noted with German fighter
aircraft);
July 30, 1944: PFF on undisclosed objective at Saint-Amand (20 x 100# general
purpose bombs at 12,000', Moderate-accurate light flak, No hits, No fighters);
July 31, 1944: Aborted mission on undisclosed objective at Rouen (no remarks);
July 31, 1944: Undisclosed objective at Rouen, diverted on return to Lasham
Airfield, England (4 x 1000# demolition bombs at 12,700', Moderate-accurate
heavy flak, 2 hits on ship, No fighters);
August 9, 1944: Ammo depot at Caudebec-en-Caux (16 x 250# demolition bombs at
7,000', Night bombing, No flak, No fighters);
August 13, 1944: Fuel dump at Flers (16 x 250# demolition bombs at 7,500', Night
bombing, No flak, No fighters); and
August 17, 1944: PFF on bridge over Risle at Beaumont-le-Roger (4 x 1000#
demolition bombs at 11,000', No flak, No fighters).
Ferrying of aircraft from Beaulieu to Airstrip #A-20, Lessay, France occurred on August 25 and 26. Missions flown from Lessay within France included the following:
September 3, 1944: Aborted mission on undisclosed objective at
Brest (No flak, No fighters);
September 6, 1944: Gun emplacement at Brest (4 x 1000# demolition bombs at
8,500', No flak, No fighters, Knocked tip off right wing);
September 9, 1944: Aborted mission on undisclosed objective at Nancy (28 x 100#
general purpose bombs, Inaccurate flak, 7 holes in ship, No fighters); and
September 16, 1944: Aborted mission on undisclosed objective at Metz (No flak,
No fighters).
Ferrying of aircraft from Lessay to Chartes, France occurred on September 21. One mission was flown from Chartes within France before his first mission flown into Germany on September 29. These included the following:
September 26, 1944: Aborted mission on undisclosed objective at
Forest du Prez, France (Two ships flak damaged, No fighters);
September 29, 1944: Troop concentration at Bitburg, Germany (16 x 250# bombs at
7,000', Moderate-accurate light flak, 1 hole in ship, No fighters);
October 2, 1944: Aborted mission on undisclosed objective at Ubach (No flak, No
fighters);
October 7, 1944: Supply depot at Euskirchen (4 x 1000# demolition bombs,
Moderate-accurate heavy flak, 3 holes in ship, Flak shell pierced horizontal
stabilizer leaving 12-inch hole); and
October 8, 1944: Railroad bridge at Euskirchen (4 x 1000# demolition bombs,
Meager inaccurate heavy flak).
Ferrying of aircraft from Chartes to Laon, France occurred on October 13. Camera bombing, Pilot's Directional Indicator (PDI), and auto-pilot practice acknowledged for the first time. Missions flown from Laon into Germany and Belgium included the following:
November 4, 1944: Mission on undisclosed objective at Eschweiler
(No bombs, Accurate heavy flak, 5 holes in ship);
November 9, 1944: Barracks area at Eschweiler (No flak);
November 26, 1944: PFF on ordinance dump at Bergzabern (No flak, No fighters);
December 2, 1944: Aborted PFF on undisclosed objective at Saarlautern
(Inaccurate light flak);
December 5, 1944: Aborted undisclosed objective at Saarlautern (First #4
mission);
December 6, 1944: Aborted mission on undisclosed objective at Unknown (no
remarks);
December 23, 1944: PFF on undisclosed objective (railroad bridge?) at Eller (4 x
1000# bombs, Inaccurate heavy flak, German fighter aircraft in area);
December 24, 1944: Undisclosed objective (railroad bridge?) at Trier (Lead 4
ships, 323rd Bomb Group awarded Presidential Unit Citation, 4 x 1000# bombs,
Good bombing, Moderate inaccurate heavy flak, 2 holes in ship, No fighters);
December 25, 1944: Undisclosed objective at St. Vith, Belgium (Lead 6 ships, 4 x
1000# bombs, Good bombing, Moderate-accurate heavy flak, 2 holes in ship, No
fighters);
December 27, 1944: Undisclosed objective at Hahnweiler (Lead 3 ships, 4 x 1000#
bombs, Meager inaccurate flak, No fighters);
January 2, 1945: Aborted mission on undisclosed objective at Unknown (No
fighters);
January 16, 1945: PFF on undisclosed objective at Keilberg (Lead 6 ships on
visual run, 8 x 500# bombs, Meager inaccurate flak);
January 29, 1945: PFF on undisclosed objective at Rheinbach (Lead 6 ships on
visual run, 16 x 250# bombs, No flak, No fighters);
February 2, 1945: PFF on undisclosed objective at Unknown, Germany (Lead 6
ships, 4 x 1000# bombs, Moderate-inaccurate heavy flak, No fighters); and
February 8, 1945: Aborted undisclosed objective at Cleve, Holland (Lead 6
ships, 10/10 undercast, 3 runs, No flak, No fighters).
Ferrying of aircraft from Laon to Airstrip # A-83, Valenciennes, France occurred on February 8, 1945. First specific mention of C-1 auto-pilot practice bombing. Promoted to Captain in late February / early March near his 50th combat mission. Missions flown from Valenciennes into Germany included the following:
February 14, 1945: Troop concentration at Xanten (First box
lead, #3 ship lost in low flight, Bombed at 900', Moderate-accurate flak);
February 22, 1945: Railroad chokepoint bombed, and strafed marshaling yard at
Altenbeken (Initiation of "Operation Clarion," Box lead, 8 x 500# bombs,
Reported "Superior" 54' C.E. [Circular Error Probable?], Meager inaccurate
flak);
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Mission photo
"Superior" 54' C.E. bomb drop on railroad marshaling yard at Altenbeken, Germany, February 22, 1945
February 23, 1945: PFF on undisclosed objective at Horrem (Box 2
lead, Pathfinder lost, bombed undisclosed secondary on Gee, Moderate-accurate
flak);
February 25, 1945: PFF on undisclosed objective at Horrem (50th combat mission,
Box 2 lead, Left wingman lost, 8 x 500# bombs, Good formation and bombing,
Moderate-accurate heavy flak);
March 3, 1945: PFF on undisclosed objective at Remagen (Box 2 lead, 2 x 2000#
bombs, Poor bombing, No flak);
March 5, 1945: PFF on undisclosed objective at Altenhundem (Box 2 lead, 8 x 500#
bombs, Good bombing, No flak);
March 11, 1945: PFF on undisclosed objective at Nidda (Group lead, Good mission,
No flak, No fighters);
March 14, 1945: Railroad junction at Hager (Group lead, Visual run,
Moderate-accurate flak, Unable to contact fighters);
March 19, 1945: Railroad marshalling yard at Wuppertal (Group lead, Visual run,
forced off run by bomber flight at 1040', Moderate-accurate flak, No fighters);
March 23, 1945: Strong point at Dinslaken (Group lead, Visual run, 25 x 100#
bombs, Good bombing, Moderate inaccurate flak, No fighters);
April 4, 1945: PFF on undisclosed objective at Ellwangen (Bombed secondary on
Gee, No flak, Encountered two Me 262 fighters, Shot down one man);
April 10, 1945: Marshalling yard at Poessneck (Secondary objective, Reported
"Excellent" 110' C.E., No flak, No fighters);
April 13, 1945: Aborted undisclosed objective at Unknown (Flight Lead Co-pilot &
observer);
April 16, 1945: Marshalling yard at Gunzenhausen (Acting Command, Box, No
fighters); and
April 17, 1945: Area bombing at Magdeburg (Mission #61, 500' on SMPI, No flak,
No fighters).
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Final combat mission of Captain Garrett P. McGowan at Magdeburg, Germany, April 17, 1945
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Martin B-26 Marauder "Bat-outa-Hell II", Tail 131643 - a battle-tested and trustworthy ship.
Ferrying of aircraft from Valenciennes to Eindhoven, Holland (Netherlands) occurred on April 9, 1945. Ferrying of aircraft from Valenciennes to Verdun, France occurred on April 26. Ferrying of aircraft from Valenciennes to Kelz Airfield, Germany occurred on May 3.
Captain McGowan left his combat crew members on May 6 and 7, 1945 in Valenciennes, ferrying to Stanstead, England. He had recorded 61 combat missions and 300 hours flight time in the European Theater of Operations.
Records for the remainder of May are incomplete. In June, he was co-pilot on a Consolidated B-24 Liberator ferrying from Meeks Airfield, Iceland to Goose Bay, Labrador.
His next record piloting a B-26 was on August 21 at Laughlin Field, Del Rio, Texas. On August 24 he piloted a Douglas A-26 Invader. His last recorded flight of a Martin B-26 Marauder C-40 was on September 6, 1945 at Laughlin.
In 1946 and 1947, he recorded several flights at Barksdale Air Force Base in a North American AT-6 Texan and a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan. His last recorded flight of an Air Force ship was an AT-6 on August 29, 1947 at Barksdale.
He returned to the skies years later as a civilian pilot on September 6, 1965 in a Cessna 172 flying out of Downtown Shreveport Airport, LA. He continued regular flights in various single-engine civilian aircraft through September 22, 1983 - about 50 years after his introduction to flight back in Chinook, MT by his barnstorming mentor, Chauncey Flynn, who no doubt always had his wing. He had recorded 1,130 hours flight by that time.
Crew members known:
Garrett Patrick "Mac" McGowan, Pilot
Max Guthrie, Co-Pilot
Byrd Moore, Co-Pilot
Russell P. Hall, Jr., Bombardier/Navigator
Suspected co-pilots based on names recorded:
Krueser (March 13, 1945)
Sauer (April 15, 1945)