I had the honor to fly with Rowe Bowen in a B-24J Liberator. Mr. Bowen was a B-24 pilot who flew 30 missions in B-24's and he received the distinguished Flying Cross for his efforts with the 445th Bomb Group. He was 89 years old when I shot this video in November of 2007.
Rowe climbed into the pilots seat of the Collings B-24 and took over the controls. It had been 64 years since he had flown a B-24 and it was like he had just flown one yesterday. He flew that B-24 better than I will ever be able to. What an experience to see him do just what he did so long ago.
Thank you Mr. Bowen for the honor of flying next to you. Thank you Pappy for this experience and of course thanks to the Collings Foundation for letting us all be a part of your wonderful organization.
Additionally, please understand that the writer made several mistakes. Jim Goolsby (Pappy) was the pilot of the B-24 who met Rowe and let him into the pilots seat. I was flying as the co pilot that day. The article also says that Vintage Aircraft flies the aircraft around the country which is not true. The B-24 belongs to the Collings Foundation they just let me fly it on occasion for which I am very grateful. I was just a lucky guy in the right seat that day to witness what Pappy set up. Thanks go to Pappy and to the Collings Foundation for letting Mr. Bowen fly their B-24.
Here are some photos that I shamelessly took from the article above:
It saddens me to say that Mr. Bowen passed away June 21st, 2009 at the age of 91. Here is a link to his obituary.
Should you have any stories, photos or other information about Mr. Bowen that would be appropriate to add to this web page please contact me at the e-mail below.