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1930. He entered the Air Corps as a Flying Cadet in 1931, receiving his wings as a Pursuit Pilot at Kelly Field in 1932. He served 2 years extended active duty in the 94th Pursuit Sq. at Selfridge Field during the period 1932 to 1935. In 1935, he enlisted in the Air Corp at Maxwell Field and was commissioned there as a 2nd Lt., Air Corps, in Oct. 1936. While assigned at Maxwell, he was a member of the "Skylarks," the official Air Corps Stunt team of that era. In 1938, he was transferred to Kelly Field as an instructor in the Pursuit Section where he remained until 1941. After a short tour of duty at Foster Field, Victoria, Tex., he was ordered to Hq USAAF and sent overseas with the 12th AF in Oct. 1942. After a short stay in N. Africa as a staff officer in the 12th AF Hq, he assumed command of the 319th BG (B-26) which he commanded until 4 July 1943. On this particular day, he failed to return from a mission and was a guest of the Third Reich until 4 April 1945. On this date, he escaped and joined up with the American Ground Forces on 18 April and was returned to the U.S. Since that time, he served as Base Commander, Greenville, S.C., Dep. CO, 47th BG, Lake Charles, La. He was a student in the first class of the AWC, and has been a member of the AWC faculty until the present time. He is under orders for the 1950 class of the NWC. His hobbies are golf and hunting. His wife Vivian is from Columbus, O. He has two children, Nick (7) and Tim (3). 

LLESLIE W.C. BOWER, GROUP CAPTAIN, RAF, 26130

"Les" was born 11 July 1909 in County Cork, Eire. He was educated at Harvey School, Folkestone, and entered the Royal Air Force Cadet College in January 1928. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the General Duties Branch of the Royal Air Force on 14 December 1929. Before the war he saw service in India and Malta, as well as in the United Kingdom. In January 1941 he was appointed to command No. 217 Torpedo Bomber Squadron. In May 1942 he was promoted to Group Captain and was lent to the Royal Canadian Air Force where he served for eighteen months as Director of Operational Training in Ottawa. In October 1943 he returned to the United Kingdom and was given command of No. 138 Night Interdiction Wing equipped with Mosquito aircraft. Early in 1944 he was awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross, and in 1945, the Distinguished Service Order. After VE Day he relinquished his command to attend the Royal Air Force Staff College. At the end of the course he was appointed a Deputy Director in the Department of the Air Member for Personnel. In 1947 he was sent in exchange to Headquarters, Air University and has been there for three years, during which he completed the Air War College Course, served on the planning staff of the Air University Headquarters, and for the last year was on the faculty of the Air War College. His future assignment is to the planning staff of Fighter Command. Les' hobbies are golf, squash, and cricket. His wife, Phylls (Bill), is from Utica, New York State. 

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