Lewis Paul Bowers World War II Collection

The Lewis Paul Bowers World War II Collection is comprised of photographs and textual materials, including military records, orders, certificates, and correspondence, primarily related to the World War II experience of Lewis Paul Bowers, a flight navigator on a Consolidated B-24 Liberator ("Rude Nude") of the 307th Bombardment Group, 13th Air Force. There are also some items related to post-war activities as well as personal and family materials. The bulk of the collection has been gathered by Bowers, but it is likely some items have been gathered by one of his sons, Barry A. Bowers. The collection has been arranged into two series, Military materials and Personal and Family materials. The military materials has been further divided into two subseries, World War II and Post-war. Materials are arranged chronologically within subseries.

Series I, Military materials, 1942-1945, 1974-2012, consists of two subseries: World War II materials and Post-war materials. The first subseries, World War II, 1942-1945, contains military records, orders, and certificates. There are also letters and v-mail (victory mail) to Bowers' mother, Mrs. Ora E. Bowers, written while Bowers was in training and on active military service. The letters start in January 1943 and run through May 1945. Note that there is a six-month gap from July 1944 through December 1944 that has no correspondence. Most of the letters are from Bowers himself, although some were written by his wife, Mary, and mostly discuss personal news, although some letters do touch on his military activities. There is one additional letter, to Bowers from Montano [illegible], in July 1945, asking for school supplies. It is assumed that Bowers met this person while serving in the Philippines.

Also included are 38 photographic prints. Images are a mix of snapshots and posed shots and range in size from 2x3" to 9x21". All but one are black-and-white. Some images include brief captions that contain identifying information, such as date, location, and names. There are six photographic portraits of Lewis Paul Bowers; one is hand-colored and includes his brother, Harold E. Bowers, with both depicted in their military uniforms. Twenty-one images depict aerial shots of Borneo and the Philippines. There are also five group portraits and six shots showing aircraft in flight and on the ground.

The bulk of the second subseries, Post-war materials, 1974-2012, is assorted documents, rosters, correspondence, clippings, and reunion and news publications related to the 307th Bombardment Group Association. There is also one partially blank Department of Veterans Affairs information release form for Lewis Paul Bowers, circa 2012.

Series II, Personal and family materials, 1932-1965, 2004, is comprised of a 1932 black-and-white group portrait of the "Register and Tribune Carrier Salesmen's Convention," a clipping from an unidentified publication about the 1942 death of Lewis's brother Harold E. Bowers, who died in a Navy aircraft crash, and a World War II ration book for Edna O. Bowers [possibly meant for Ora E. Bowers?]. There are also assorted military documents related to Lewis Paul Bowers' service in the California National Guard, 1949-1954, and one panoramic group portrait, which includes Bowers, of the 49th Division Artillery at Camp Cooke, California, June 1951. At the end of the collection is a 1965 seminar paper by Bowers and assorted ephemera, including a 2004 donor acknowledgement certificate for Bowers.

Digitized Materials: Materials related to Bowers' World War II service and select personal items have been digitized from this collection.

Please note that materials on TMOF: Digital Collections are presented as historical objects and are unaltered and uncensored. See our Disclaimers and Policies page for more information.