Lt David W Howe USAAF

[Chris Goss]

A photo of the above was found with other photos of 401 Sqn pilots in 1943. He moved to the 334th FS/4 FG in June 1943 but can anyone confirm he flew with 401 Sqn prior to that?

[Laurent Rizzotti]

The ORB of 401 Sqn is online but I have not the time to check it.

Google found some pages with data on your guy:
http://www.crash-aerien.news/forum/l...28936-630.html (with a picture and a date of death in 1955).

https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/5...vid-wayne-howe (with the same day and month of death but in 1995). See attached documents and you will see official papers showing that he served in USAAF from 3 June 1943 to 4 August 1945 (https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/5...hoto=270197496), and that he was a member of RCAF before joining USAAF (https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/5...hoto=270197426, his date of foregin service is listed from 7 Dec 1941 to 4 May 1945, but he probably joinded RCAF before 7 Dec 1941)

https://americanarchive.iwm.org.uk/a...david-w-howe-0 (he earned his wings of pilot in RCAF on 8 October 1942, confirmed death date in 1995)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2536...1862008399858/ (enlisted in RCAF 22 Sep 1941, earned wings 2 Oct 1942)

[Laurent Rizzotti]

I have checked the ORB of 401 Sqn for April, May and June (only F540 for this month, 540 and 541 for the others). No mention at all of Howe in the ORB that is very detailled (mentionning people being posted in and out, even for a short period, and the Form 541 has all flights, including liaison, training, administrative and so on).

The ORB also reports people visiting the squadron and says that on 5 June 1943 Maj Don Blakeslee, former 401 pilot, "blew in in his big Thunderbolt for a visit". On the 19tho of the same month, F/O Don P. Kelly, of New York City (so I assume another American), returns to the squadron after one year in Canada and one month with 416 Sqn.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Laurent but i have looked at the F540 already and seen the links. Just puzzled why his photo was in this batch I have of 401 pilots unless he went through training with one of them