James Bowie was credited with shooting down three enemy aircraft in aerial combat during World War II.
James Bowie was credited with shooting down three enemy aircraft in aerial combat during World War II.
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The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade James Montfort Bowie (NSN: 0-176879), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Fighter Pilot in Fighting Squadron THIRTY-ONE (VF-31), against enemy forces as the pilot of a single-seater carrier-based fighter plane. On 24 September 1944, in the vicinity of the Philippines, he made a pre-dawn takeoff from his carrier for the purpose of making a bombing-strafing attack against enemy shipping located at the absolute maximum combat radius for this type of fighter plane. Upon arriving over the target he made a perilously low-altitude strafing bombing attack, despite the fact that a barrage of anti-aircraft fire was being thrown up by the screening destroyers and gunboats, and scored a direct hit on a large, fully-loaded enemy oiler. The tanker became enveloped in flames and sank in less than thirty minutes. In addition he strafed two large enemy freighters, one of which he set on fire and the guns on which he succeeded in silencing. His unusual skill as a fighter pilot, his great courage and coolness under fire contributed materially to the success of this engagement, and were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade James Montfort Bowie (NSN: 0-176879), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Fighter Pilot in Fighting Squadron THIRTY-ONE (VF-31), under fire on 19 June 1944. During the invasion of the Marianas he was a member of a four-plane fighter division which was vectored out to assist some of our own fighters over Guam. They encountered a group of eight to ten Japanese fighters and despite these odds he courageously attacked the enemy planes, shooting one down in flames, while his division accounted for a total of six planes, seriously damaging his prop and starboard wings. Disregarding the dangerous condition of his plane, he went to the assistance of a friendly fighter who was under attack and succeeded in driving the enemy plane off, although only two of his guns were firing. Upon returning to his base he made a successful carrier landing without flaps, with no airspeed indicator and with no oil pressure. His skill, courage and determination in this action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.