Allan W. Lowry
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

On 4 March 1943, First Lieutenant Allan W. Lowry was serving was serving with the 324th Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force in the European Theater of Operations.

On that day, 1LT Lowry was Co-Pilot of B-17F bomber S/N 41-24464 'Excalibur' on a bombing mission over German-occupied continental Europe. 1LT Lowry's aircraft was attacked by a force of German fighter aircraft and was shot down over the North Sea by a Me-110 after a long fight. The number 1 engine was destroyed; the #3 engine was losing all its oil; and the #4 engine was feathered, so the pilot, 1LT Brill, was forced to put the aircraft down on the North Sea, 40 miles west of Texel Island in North Holland and the plane broke in two. Putting the lives of the crew first, 1LT Lowry remained at his post and helped other crew members exit the airplane; sacrificing his own chance to escape. 1LT Lowry's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism helped save the lives of other crew members and earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

[First Lieutenant Allen Brill (Honoree Record ID 54916), 1LT Lowry's Pilot on this mission, also received a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross for his role in this mission.]

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Forces Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Allan W. Lowry (ASN: 0-661513), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Co-Pilot of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 324th Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission over enemy occupied continental Europe on 4 March 1943. The airplane in which Lieutenant Lowry was serving was attacked by a force of enemy fighter aircraft and was forced down on the North Sea after a long and gallant flight. In utter disregard for his own safety, Lieutenant Lowry remained at his post and aided other crew members to leave the airplane; in so doing, he sacrificed his own chance for escape. By his devotion to duty and complete disregard for his personal welfare Lieutenant Lowry helped to save the lives of other crew members, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the armed forces of the United States.

Memorialization

First Lieutenant Allan W. Lowry's remains were lost at sea. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England.

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