PHOTOS: 2nd Lt. William McGowan's military burial at Normandy American Cemetery
Photos from the burial with full military honors of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, of Benson, on July 9, 2022, at Normandy American Cemetery in France.
A cross marks the grave of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, of Benson. The plane he was piloting was shot down on D-Day, June 6, 1944, over France. His remains were recovered in 2018 and identified in 2019. He was buried with full military honors at the Normandy American Cemetery in France July 9, 2022.
Contributed / American Battle Monuments Commission
Photos from the burial with full military honors of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, of Benson, Minnesota, on July 9, 2022, at Normandy American Cemetery in France. McGowan was shot down on D-Day, June 6, 1944, over France. His remains were recovered in 2018 and identified in 2019.
Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, a Benson native, was killed on June 6, 1944, just miles away from the D-Day beach landings. His remains were recovered in 2018, and he was buried Saturday, July 9, 2022, in the Normandy American Cemetery in France.
Contributed / American Battle Monuments Commission
A cross marks the grave of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, of Benson. The plane he was piloting was shot down on D-Day, June 6, 1944, over France. His remains were recovered in 2018 and identified in 2019. He was buried with full military honors at the Normandy American Cemetery in France July 9, 2022.
Contributed / American Battle Monuments Commission
The family of 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan was able to lay him to rest Saturday, 78 years after the 23-year-old pilot's plane was shot down on D-Day. His remains were recovered in France in 2018 and identified in 2019.
The flag that draped the casket of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan is presented to his family at his burial with full military honors Saturday, July 9, 2022, at the Normandy American Cemetery in France. The plane McGowan, of Benson, was piloting was shot down on D-Day, June 6, 1944, over France. His remains were recovered in 2018 and identified in 2019.
Contributed / American Battle Monuments Commission
Paul Stouffer, nephew of 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, speaks at the burial of the U.S. Army Air Forces pilot whose plane was shot down on D-Day, June 6, 1944, over France. His remains were recovered in 2018 and identified in 2019. He was buried with full military honors at the Normandy American Cemetery in France July 9, 2022.
Contributed / American Battle Monuments Commission
A rosette has been placed next to the name of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, of Benson, at the Normandy American Cemetery in France, noting that his remains have been recovered and buried. McGowan was buried with full military honors July 9, 2022, at the cemetery. The plane McGowan was piloting was shot down on D-Day, June 6, 1944, over France. His remains were recovered in 2018 and identified in 2019.
Contributed / American Battle Monuments Commission
A rosette has been placed next to the name of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, of Benson, at the Normandy American Cemetery in France, noting that his remains have been recovered, identified and buried. McGowan was buried with full military honors July 9, 2022, at the cemetery. The plane McGowan was piloting was shot down on D-day, June 6, 1944, over France. His remains were recovered in 2018 and identified in 2019.
Contributed / American Battle Monuments Commission
Paul Stouffer, nephew of 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, holds a photo of McGowan as a pilot next to the Wall of the Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery in France. McGowan was shot down on D-Day, June 6, 1944, over France and was listed as missing. His remains were recovered in 2018 and identified in 2019. He was buried with full military honors at the cemetery July 9, 2022.
Contributed / American Battle Monuments Commission
Scenes from the burial of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, of Benson, on July 9, 2022 at Normandy American Cemetery in France. McGowan was shot down on D-Day, June 6, 1944, over France. His remains were recovered in 2018 and identified in 2019. He was buried with full military honors with his family in attendance.
Contributed / American Battle Monuments Commission
Scenes from the burial of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, of Benson, on July 9, 2022 at Normandy American Cemetery in France. McGowan was shot down on D-Day, June 6, 1944, over France. His remains were recovered in 2018 and identified in 2019. He was buried with full military honors with his family in attendance.
Contributed / American Battle Monuments Commission
Scenes from the burial of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, of Benson, on July 9, 2022 at Normandy American Cemetery in France. McGowan was shot down on D-Day, June 6, 1944, over France. His remains were recovered in 2018 and identified in 2019. He was buried with full military honors with his family in attendance.
Contributed / American Battle Monuments Commission
Scenes from the burial of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, of Benson, on July 9, 2022 at Normandy American Cemetery in France. McGowan was shot down on D-Day, June 6, 1944, over France. His remains were recovered in 2018 and identified in 2019. He was buried with full military honors with his family in attendance.
Contributed / American Battle Monuments Commission
Scenes from the burial of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, of Benson, on July 9, 2022 at Normandy American Cemetery in France. McGowan was shot down on D-Day, June 6, 1944, over France. His remains were recovered in 2018 and identified in 2019. He was buried with full military honors with his family in attendance.
Contributed / American Battle Monuments Commission
Scenes from the burial of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William J. McGowan, of Benson, on July 9, 2022 at Normandy American Cemetery in France. McGowan was shot down on D-Day, June 6, 1944, over France. His remains were recovered in 2018 and identified in 2019. He was buried with full military honors with his family in attendance.
Contributed / American Battle Monuments Commission
2nd Lt. William J. McGowan is shown in an undated photo from the World War II era.
Courtesy of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
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