Page History: Leaders

Harold W. Bowman

Colonel (later General) Harold W. Bowman was Commanding Officer of the 401st Bombardment Group from June 1943 until December 1944.  He led the 401st through its training in the States, its trip overseas, and 175 combat missions during 13 months in the European Theater of Operations.

Colonel Bowman completed 12 missions with the 401st.  He received the Silver Star for gallantry in action while leading the Eighth Air Force to Leipzig on a mission 20 February 1944 and for which the 401st Bomb Group was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation.

William T. Seawell

Colonel (later General) William T. Seawell was Commanding Officer of the 401st Bomb Group from December 1944 through its deactivation in 1945.

As a Captain, he was one of the original members of the 401st, and was the first Commanding Officer of the 615th Squadron. Colonel Seawell completed 26 combat missions (three of them as the 94th Wing Air Commander) and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with three Oak Leaf Clusters, as well as the Air Medal, the Distinguished Unit Citation, and the Croix de Guerre with Palm.

Harris E. Rogner

Colonel Harris E. Rogner was the original Deputy Commander of the 401st Bombardment Group. He completed ten missions as Group Air Commander and was the 94th Wing Air Commander on the 29 April 1944 mission to Berlin, described as "the biggest blow ever struck on the Reich capitol."

On 8 October 1944, Colonel Rogner was appointed Commanding Officer of the 457th Bomb Group (a sister group of the 401st in the 94th CBW), where he served with distinction in that capacity through the end of the War.

Delwyn E. Silver

Lt. Colonel Delwyn E. Silver, nicknamed "Hi-Ho", began combat as pilot of a lead crew and flew virtually all of his 33 missions (two tours) as Group Leader or Leader of the Wing or Division.

His first position was Assistant Group Operations Officer, becoming Group Operations Officer in August 1944, succeeding Colonel Brooks. In March 1945, Colonel Silver was promoted to Deputy Group Commander and Air Executive.

Edwin W. Brown

Lt. Colonel Edwin W. Brown was the original Commanding Officer of the 613th Squadron and flew numerous Group leads, including the Group's first mission to Berlin on 6 March 1944 (mission number 32 for the 401st).

Colonel Brown succeeded Colonel Seawell as Deputy Group Commander and Air Executive in December 1944 and served in that capacity until called to Washington on special assignment in March 1945.

Julius Pickoff

Major Julius Pickoff, known to most as simply "Pick", was chosen to be Group Bombardier by Colonel Bowman while the Group was in training, and remained in that position until V-E Day. He flew 24 missions as Lead Bombardier, including a number of Wing and Division leads, and directed the training and assignment of the Group's bombardiers.

Major Pickoff repeatedly distinguished himself for bombing accuracy, and was a member of the 94th CBW's exclusive "100" Club, for placing 100 percent of a formation's bombs within 1000 feet of an assigned target.

James F. Eagan

Major James F. Egan was Group Navigator through most of the Group's combat tour. He flew as lead navigator on a number of important missions and directed the training and assignment of navigators.

Donald G. McCree

Major Donald G. McCree became 612th Squadron Operations Officer in January, 1944, and succeeded Major Maupin as Commanding Officer of the Squadron in March, 1944. He flew a number of missions as Squadron Leader and Group Air Commander.

Edwin W. Brown

Lt. Colonel Edwin W. Brown was the original Commanding Officer of the 613th Squadron and flew numerous Group leads, including the Group's first mission to Berlin on 6 March 1944 (mission number 32 for the 401st).

Colonel Brown succeeded Colonel Seawell as Deputy Group Commander and Air Executive in December 1944 and served in that capacity until called to Washington on special assignment in March 1945.

Eric T. de Jonckheere

Lt. Colonel Eric T. de Jonckheere succeeded Lt. Colonel Edwin Brown as commander of the 613th Squadron in December, 1944 when the latter was promoted to Deputy Group Commander. He flew 28 missions, serving as Group Air Commander on 15 occasions, and leading the Division or Wing on serveral missions.

I. Wayne Eveland

Lt. Colonel I. Wayne Eveland was the original Commanding Officer of the 614th Squadron and led the Squadron in training and into combat.

On the Group's tenth mission (Cognac), flown on 31 December 1943, the B-17 in which Colonel Eveland was flying was shot down by fighters. Six members of the crew, including Colonel Eveland, parachuted to safety and subsequently escaped from France by walking over the Pyrenees mountain range to Spain.

Alvah H. Chapman

Major Alvah H. Chapman flew 37 combat missions as a Lead Pilot and Air Commander. On one mission (20 February 1944, target - Leipzig) he zigzagged his B-17 "Battlin' Betty" back to Deenethorpe at tree-top level on two engines. Members of the crew later remarked that the trip home was like "touring Europe in a sightseeing bus."

After serving as Operations Officer of the 614th Squadron, he succeeded Colonel Garland as Squadron Commander in March, 1945.

Carl C. Hinkle

Lt. Colonel Carl C. "Hub" Hinkle was an original member of the 401st, serving as Operations Officer of the 613th Squadron. When Major Eveland was shot down over France, Colonel Hinkle succeeded him as commander of the 614th Squadron, completing 25 missions, all but one as Group, Wing or Division Air Commander.

Upon returning from leave in the United States, Colonel Hinkle moved to the 351st Bomb Group (Polebrook) as Group Operations Officer. While there, he flew six more missions.

He was promoted to Group Operations Officer in March, 1945.

William C. Garland

Lt. Colonel (later Major General) William C. Garland, known as 'Judy' by his 401st friends, was assigned as Operations Officer of the 614th Squadron in January, 1944, and became Squadron Commander in July of that year, succeeding Colonel Hinkle.

Colonel Garland led the Group, Wing and Division on a number of occasions, including the Group's 200th mission on 28 January 1945 (target - Cologne).

He was promoted to Group Operations Officer in March, 1945.

Ralph J. White

Lt. Colonel Ralph J. White succeeded Colonel Seawell as Commanding Officer of the 615th Squadron in June, 1944, having served as Squadron Operations Officer prior to that time. He lead the Group on a number of missions and returned to the Group after having served a complete tour.