GOWEN FIELD, THE EARLY YEARS

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This page takes approximately 42 seconds over a 56K modem to download.  Click on photos to enlarge.  Many are in .jpeg format and take time to completely download.)

Pictured here are photos taken at Gowen Field in the early 1940s and in 1954.  

 
 WWII     1954

 

WWII


  GF41C.gif (1915252 bytes)   Gowen Field, March 1941

 

Photo courtesy of Maxwell AFB.   

  GF42C.gif (549944 bytes)Gowen Field, April 28, 1942

Photo courtesy of Maxwell AFB.   

Building T-303 

    "The morale office"

"The morale office, also known as the athletic and recreation office, was opened in January of 1942 and was located in Building T-303."

Bld T-303 [top center of photo] was the first home of the Idaho Military History Museum.  Unfortunately, it was torn down in 2005 due to lack of funding to preserve it. 

 

 

First Lieutenant Paul R. Gowen

For whom Gowen Field was named.


On July 23, 1941, the Statesman announced "Gowen Field" as the new title for the "Boise Air Terminal". The name honored First Lieutenant Paul R. Gowen, a former Caldwell resident, who died in a plane crash on July 11, 1938, near Panama after a motor in his twin-engine bomber failed. 

An exhibit on him was recently unveiled and can be viewed on the Attraction page.

Click here to read his story - 3rd Quarter 2003  (This is a 2003 newsletter article)
 

Photo courtesy of Maxwell AFB.   

 

 

Original Main Entry Gate to Gowen Field

The Main Gates original stone pillars, which date back to WWII, were moved in July 2003 to the Idaho Military History Museum!  They were located about a mile outside the boundaries of the current Gowen Field.

Click here for pictures of the move.  File is in Adobe Acrobat.

 

 

GFPostCard.JPG (30786 bytes)

"GREETINGS FROM GOWEN FIELD"

Post Card purchased at Gowen Field in the early 1950s.

Special thanks to Jim Kelly for sending us this photo.  

 

B17Crew12.jpg (55747 bytes)

B-17 CREW #12 YANKEE DOODLE

The crew was assembled in Sept. 1942 at Gowen Field and flew B-17E's.  After leaving Gowen Field and for their 50 missions, they flew B-17F’s.  The crew was together all through the 3 months of training in the States and were together until Sept 11th, 1943.  On July 5, 1943, they flew their 26th mission.  Their participation in this mission helped earn the 99th Bomb Group a Presidential Unit Citation. 

 Back row:  (Left to Right):

Robert M. Carlton, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Arthur B. Cozine, Bombardier/Gunner
William E. Humes, Co-Pilot
 Dean W. Shields, Pilot
 James S. Flex, Navigator/Gunner
 

Front row:  (Left to Right):

Irvin L. ‘Bud’ Herrmann, Right Waist Gunner
 Almus W. Shively, Radio Operator/Gunner
 James E. Richardson, Tail Gunner
James A. Burkhardt, Ball Turret Gunner
 

This photo is now on display in the Gowen Field Section of the Museum. 

Special thanks to Arthur Cozine for donating this photo. 
Click here to read part of his story - 4th Quarter 1998  

   

 

B24Crew34.jpg (280164 bytes)B-24 Crew #34 

Front row:  (Left to Right):

George G. Ronnenkamp - Engineer
 John C. Baldwin - Radio Operator
 Grady B. Yawn - Nose Gunner
 James E. Kincheloe - Ball Gunner
James T. Pleak - Waist Gunner
 Sidney Bergman - Tail Gunner

Back row:

William H. Drumm - Pilot
 Thomas J. Massey - Co-Pilot
 George D. Iseminger - Navigator
Robert V. Bertram - Bombardier

Crew #34 trained at Gowen Field from December 1944 to March 1945 prior to being sent to the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations.  They were Number #1 Crew in their Class at Gowen Field.  

 Special thanks to William H. Drumm for sending us this photo.  

This actual  photo helped reunite two of the crew members.  Click here to read the incredible story!  Article is entitled, A Webpage Reunion.     

B-17 Crew at Gowen Field, Nov 7, 1944

 

 

Officers standing Left to Right.

Lt. Wilson N. Waarvick - Pilot
 Lt. Jerome N. Glogher - Co-pilot
 Lt. K.E. Paxton - Navigator
 Lt. (Red) Slaughten - Bombadier

Corporals - Left to Right

Cpl. Clyde C. Matthews - Eng. Left Waist Gunner
 Cpl. Everett K. Brooke - Ass't Eng. Upper Gunner
 Cpl. Maximillian A. Jakel - Ass't Radio Man - Nose Gunner
 Cpl. June McPherson - Ass't Armorer - Tail Gunner
 Cpl. Everall E. Morris - Radio Man - Right Waist Gunner
 Cpl. Keith R. Nelson - Armorer
 - Ball Gunner Absent During Picture

Special thanks to David Nelson, son of Keith Nelson, for sending us this photo.  

B24Crew57.jpg (58650 bytes)B-24 Crew #57 

Richard P. Hinz (front row, 2nd on the left) is the father of Chris Brinkley who sent us this photo.  The photo was autographed by the crew but some of the names are not legible.  If you can help identify any of these crew members, please e-mail us.  

Back row:  (Left to Right):

Unknown
F/O Stephen E. Ar___________, Statin Island, NY
2nd Lt. Kay Spencer, Middleburgh, NY
Walter C. Crump, Dover, Missouri - Bombardier

Front row:  (Left to Right):
Cpl Orville Anderson, Saturn, South Dakota - Engineer
 Richard P. Hinz - Radio Operator and Aerial Gunner
 PFC Ronald Christison(?), Canyon City, Colorado - Ball Gunner
 CPL Tolburn Henderson, [Greenbay Wisc?] Armore Nose
Unknown
Unknown

 

  Click the poster to read a short history of Gowen Field.

 

To learn about the WASP's at Gowen Field  Click here
(This is a 1998 newsletter article)

 


1954

In October 1954, Airman 3rd Class Lowell Ueland from the MNANG, attended the Air National Guard Gunnery Meet at Gowen Field.  He was part of a Crash/Rescue detachment, below are some of the photos he took.   

    EMBarracks54.gif (1409251 bytes)  Home Sweet Home, Enlisted Barracks - WWII Era  EMBarracks254.gif (1404785 bytes) 

   cr ops @ gowan fld - 1954.gif (157232 bytes)  CrashRescue154.gif (1633843 bytes)Crash Rescue Operations at Gowen Field in October 1954

F-86 and 0-10 Crash Rescue Truck 

 



      fltline21954.jpg (24788 bytes)     fltline31954.jpg (41891 bytes)   Fltline41954.jpg (177690 bytes)
POL Operations and Flightline Photos

    1954bldg.gif (1427728 bytes)                                                                   
Flightline Buildings                          Maintenance Hanger Photos

lowell uelandcrash rescue.jpg (61493 bytes)
Airman 3rd Class Lowell Ueland 
 
If you enjoyed these photos, you'll enjoy the WWII photo collection on display at the Museum.
You may also enjoy the books

Entertaining Strangers: Boise's WWII Love Affair With The Soldiers of Gowen Field.

and

Images of Aviation; Gowen Field

Click either book to go to the gift shop.

 
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Page last updated: Thursday, May 22, 2008