COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:
CREW
2ND LT OWEN D. (COWBOY) ROANE P CPT 26 NOV 43 PARIS (flew one additional mission on Feb 29, 1944-Brunswick)
2ND LT ARTHUR C. "BUD" STIPE CP CPT 20 OCT 43 DUREN
2ND LT DANIEL L. SCHMUCKER NAV CPT 29 NOV 43 BREMEN
2ND LT CURTIS K. CAMPBELL BOM CPT 20 OCT 43 DUREN
T/SGT CLARENCE R. TOMB ROG CPT 16 NOV 43 RJUKAN, NORWAY
T/SGT ROBERT A. STUART TTE CPT 16 NOV 43 RJUKAN, NORWAY
S/SGT ROGER O. STROBLE BTG CPT 20 OCT 43 DUREN
S/SGT JAMES JARVIE RWG CPT 20 OCT 43 DUREN
S/SGT ARTHUR B. HAUGE LWG NOC X-FERRED TO BASE MP'S. Replaced by T/SGT RICHARD DETWEILER
S/SGT PATRICK J. HEALY TG CPT 20 OCT 43 DUREN
349th Sqdn.. Crew joined 100th in June 26, 1943 as one of the first replacement crews along with Lt Henry Henington, Lt John Justice and Lt "Big Chief" Walter Moreno. Cowboy came to the 100th BG as a Flight Officer and remained at that rank until he could get into london to be sworn in as a 2nd Lt. by the review board.
Repacments on Lt Roane Crew:
LT STIPE IS REPLACED ON THE CREW ON BY F/O REGINALD A. SMITH (TRANSFERRED FROM RAF) STARTING WITH 3 NOV 43 MISISON TO WILHEMSHAVEN. HE WOULD LATER TRANSFER TO THE 418TH BS AS A 2ND LT AND COMMAND HIS OWN CREW. LT REGINALD "SMITTY" SMITH WOULD BECOME A POW 20/2/44 ON THE MISSION TO POSEN & SETTIN
2ND LT DANIEL L. SCHMUCKER (NAV) MOVED TO 13TH CBW TO START TEACHING ABOUT RADAR NAVIGATION AND BOMBING. HE WAS REPLACED ON THE CREW BY 1ST LT OMAR "THE TENT MAKER" GONZALES (FORMER GROUP NAVGATOR) STARTING WITH 8 OCT 43 MISSION TO BREMEN.
1ST LT GONZALES IS REPLACED BY LT HOWARD BASSETT (FROM LT VICTOR REED CREW) FOR MISSONS OCTOBER 18-19, 1943, BOTH TO DUREN.
T/SGT RICHARD DETWEILER (FROM LT VICTOR REED CREW) REPLACES SGT HAUGE AFTER HE WAS TAKEN OFF FLYING STATUS FOR FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE FRIEND OR FOE. GUESS HE STITCHED ONE OF “COWBOYS” WINGMAN ONE TOO MANY TIMES. SGT. HAUGE IS TRANSFERRED TO THE BASE MP'S. T/SGT DETWEILER WOULD LATER BECOME TOP TURRET ENGINEER WHEN T/SGT STUART COMPLETED HIS MISSIONS.
LT OWEN D."COWBOY" ROANE
LEDGENDARY 100TH PILOT
ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN OF THE 100TH LONG LIST OF WELL KNOWN AVIATORS. COWBOY FOLLOWED GLEN DYE AS THE SECOND 100TH PILOT TO COMPLETE A TOUR.
EVERY 100TH VETERAN HAS A COWBOY ROANE STORY, RANGING FROM THE FAMOUS "DONKEY" TO ALL SORTS OF OTHERS. HE IS IMORTALIZED BY HIS FAMOUS RADIO TRANMISSION, "COMING IN WITH A FROZEN ASS", WHETHER IT OCCURRED OR NOT, PROBABLY ONLY HE KNOWS FOR SURE, IT IS A PART OF THE 100TH MYSTIC.
HIS FLYING SKILLS WERE GREATLY ADMIRED BY HIS CREW AND OTHERS WHO FLEW WITH THE 100TH. LEADER OF SEVERAL DIFFICULT MISSIONS THAT INCLUDE THE 100TH TRIP TO SCHWEINFURT ON 14 OCT 43, "BLACK THURSDAY" AND THE ATTACK ON HITLER'S HEAVY WATER PLANT AT RJUKAN, NORWAY. IN HIS BOOK, THE STORY OF THE CENTURY, JOHN NILSSON ERRONEOUSLY CREDITS THIS MISSION LEAD TO SAM BARR, WHILE THE INTREPID MISSISSIPIAN LED SEVERAL OTHER 100TH MISSIONS, THIS NEAR PERFECT ONE WAS
LED BY THE "COWBOY". HIS MISSION LOG THAT FOLLOWS INCLUDES THE TOUGH TARGETS OF REGENSBURG, BREMEN, SCHWEINFURT, HAMBURG AND OTHERS.
HE IS AN EYE WITNESS TO RICHARD SYNDER'S ("THE MAN ON THE WING") GALLANT BID TO EGRESS 42-5860, COMMANDED BY LT CURTIS. R. BIDDICK, ON THE 17 AUG 43 REGENSBERG MISSION. AFTER RETIRING FROM THE USAF HE PERSUED A SECOND CAREER IN EDUCATION, BECOMING A PROMINENT FIGURE IN HIS AREA.
DR.ROANE IS THE SITTING PRESIDENT OF THE 100TH BOMB GROUP ASSOCITATION (1991-1993) AND THUS WAS THE SPEAKER AT THE DEDICATION OF THE CURTIS LEMAY MEMORIAL AT THORPE ABBOTTS IN JULY 1992. HE WAS ALSO MAYOR OF HIS HOME TOWN, VALLEY VIEW. TEXAS.
MISSION LOG OF CAPT OWEN D. "COWBOY" ROANE:
04 JUL 43 La PALLICE
10 JUL 43 La BOURGET
14 JUL 43 LA BOURGET
17 JUL 43 HAMBURG
24 JUL 43 TRONDHEIM
25 JUL 43 WARNEMUNDE & KIEL
26 JUL 43 HANOVER
29 JUL 43 WARNEMUNDE
12 AUG 43 WESSELING
15 AUG 43 MERVILLE & LILLE
17 AUG 43 REGENSBURG
24 AUG 43 BORDEAUX-MERIGNAC
31 AUG 43 MEULAN Les MEUREAUX
02 SEP 43 KERLIN-BASTARD
03 SEP 43 PARIS & BEAUMONT La ROGER
06 SEP 43 STUTTGART
07 SEP 43 WATTEN, V-WEAPONS
09 SEP 43 BEAUVAIS-TILLE
08 OCT 43 BREMEN*
14 OCT 43 SCHWEINFURT* (BLACK THURSDAY)
18 OCT 43 DUREN
20 OCT 43 DUREN
03 NOV 43 WILHEMSHAVEN
05 NOV 43 GILSENKIRCHEN
07 NOV 43 DUREN
11 NOV 43 MUNSTER-RECALL (LEAD CREW WITH COL CHICK HARDING AS COMMAND PILOT) COWBOY MAKES 1ST LIEUTENANT
16 NOV 43 RJUKAN, NORWAY (HEAVY WATER) LEAD CREW WITH COL JOHN BENNETT AS COMMAND PILOT
26 NOV 43 PARIS
29 FEB 44 BRUNSWICK
*CREW THAT FLEW WITH COWBOY ON BREMEN AND SCHWEINFURT MISSIONS
2ND LT OWEN D. (COWBOY) ROANE P CPT 26 NOV 43 PARIS
2ND LT ARTHUR C. STIPE CP CPT 20 OCT 43 DUREN
1ST LT OMAR GONZALES NAV POW 5 NOV 43 GELSENKIRCHEN
2ND LT CURTIS K. CAMPBELL BOM CPT 20 OCT 43 DUREN
T/SGT CLARENCE R. TOMB ROG CPT 16 NOV 43 RJUKAN, NORWAY
T/SGT ROBERT A. STUART TTE CPT 16 NOV 43 RJUKAN, NORWAY
S/SGT ROGER O. STROBLE BTG CPT 20 OCT 43 DUREN
S/SGT JAMES JARVIE RWG CPT 20 OCT 43 DUREN
T/SGT RICHARD DETWEILER LWG CPT 13 FEB 44 NO-BALL
S/SGT PATRICK J. HEALY TG CPT 20 OCT43 DUREN
STARTING 3 NOV 43 2ND LT OWEN D. "COWBOY" ROANE IS A LEAD PILOT. HIS CREW CONSISTS OF:
2ND LT OWEN D. (COWBOY) ROANE P
F/0 REGINALD A. "SMITTY" SMITH CP/FORMATION OFFICER (TRANSFERRED FROM RAF) POW 20/2/44 POSEN & SETTIN
CAPT. JOSEPH H. "BUBBLES" PAYNE NAV (FROM CAPT. EVE BLAKELY CREW)
CAPT. ROBERT K. PEEL BOM (CAME OVER WITH ORIGINAL CADRE, LEAD BOMBARDIER)
T/SGT CLARENCE R. TOMB ROG (ORIGINAL COWBOY CREW MEMBER)
T/SGT ROBERT A. STUART TTE (ORGINAL COWBOY CREW MEMBER)
T/SGT RICHARD DETWEILER LWG (CAME FROM LT VICTOR REED CREW)
? BTG
? RWG
S/SGT RICHARD TANGRADI TG (FROM LT AMIERO CREW)
Crew on 16/11/43 RJUKAN MISSION-100TH BOMB GROUP LEAD:
COMMAND PILOT: MAJ.JOHN M. BENNETT
LEAD PILOT: LT OWEN "COWBOY" ROANE
CP/FORMATION OFFICER: F/O REGINALD A. "SMITTY" SMITH (FLEW IN TAIL)
LEAD NAVIGATOR: CAPTAIN JOSEPH "BUBBLES" PAYNE
LEAD BOMBARDIER: CAPTAIN ROBERT PEEL
TOP TURRET ENGINEER: T/SGT ROBERT A. STUART
RADIO OPERATOR GUNNER: T/SGT CLARENCE R. TOMB
BALL TURRET GUNNER: ?
LEFT WAIST GUNNER: T/SGT RICHARD DETWEILER
RIGHT WAIST GUNNER: ?
TAIL GUNNER: S/SGT RICHARD TANGRADI (BUMPED FROM CREW, CP FLEW AS FORMATION OFFICER ON THIS MISSION)
From the 349th March 1944 Squadron Diary.
March 3: This was the day when nine of our ships (the 349th) went out to bomb Berlin -- the first time an actual start was made by U.S, day bombers towards this greatest and most perilous target, it was cancelled because of weather after the planes were loaded and primed. Cowboy (Owen D.) Roane, who came to us in July 1943 as a Flight Officer, left for the States today, wearing well deserved Captain's bars. The diminutive Texan had proved in twenty-six missions (he flew one extra in February, after
completing his requisite tour of twenty-five in November, 1943) to be one of the ablest, most calm, fearless and daring of all our great pilots; and his personality endeared him to all of us who came in contact with him, from KP's to Colonels.
REFLECTION ON COWBOY ROANE'S LAST MISSION:
HI MIKE Since were going to get 8 to 12 inches of snow tonight this will be a good time to give you some good stuff.I was turning some pages in my CONTRAILS,when I came across these facts you mite be interested in. On page 88 theres agood shot of my ole crew mate S/SGT. J. KORMAN.You wanted to know if I drank in the HALF MOON pub?No but we did frequent the KINGS HEAD PUB.I see the GOOD PULL INN over on the left,now tell me MIKE how did we ever miss that place!!!!!! Came across shot of COWBOY and crew with MOE, and I know Mike your going think this guy has lost his marbles!!!! This is the GODS honest truth.Im not sure but I think JOE RAFF traded a sheet or blanket with an ARAB for a COM/FHOOT like in boot. Which is a PORCUPINE OR hedgehog! I know,it sounds goofy MIKE but we did bring that animal back to the base. Tell me Im not nuts !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rich Tangradi, TG 2/11/2006 (originally with Lt Amiero Crew,then gunners pool. Flew missions with Henington and Cowboy
MEMO 2:
PHOTOS:
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Oct 14, 1943 Schweinfurt: upon return, the crew took this photo: Standing from left, Curtis Campbell, Owen “Cowboy” Roane, Omar "The Tent Maker" Gonzales, Arthur C. "Bud" Stipe, A. Hauge, James Jarvie;
Kneeling center row from left: Robert A. Stuart,Roger O. Stroble, Patrick J. Healy, Clarence Tomb and Richard Detweiler.
Front row; B.G. Woodie Woodward, George Kennedy, Ray C. Morton - Crew Chief, J, E. Baggett.
Fred Lehman is not pictured.
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Moe, shown here with the Roane Crew, back at Thorpe Abbotts after the Regensburg Shuttle of 17 Aug 43 (100th Photo Archives) |
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"LADEN MAIDEN" in which the Roane Crew flew their first 16 missions. (100th Photo Archives) |
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From left: Robert K. Peel, "Smithy" Smith, Cowboy Roane, Joseph "Bubbles" Payne at that time the 100th's Lead Navigator, and Rich Tangradi. (100th Photo Archives) |
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From left: Patrick Healy, Curtis Campbell, Bud Stipe and James Jarvie - all from the Cowboy Roane Crew (100th Photo Archives) |
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From Left: Joseph H. "Bubbles" Payne, Owen D. "Cowboy" Roane, and Smithy Smith, photograph taken 26 Nov 43 (100th Photo Archives |
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A-2 Jacket of Lt. Arthur C. "Bud" Stipe, CP on the Owen D. "Cowboy" Roane crew. Photo courtesy of Simon Davies |
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Front of Arthur C. "Bud" Stipe jacket. |
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Cowboy Roane at the completion of his tour, 26 Nov 43, the flak damage to the wing occurred over Paris on the crew's final mission. Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives) |
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From left: Patrick Healy, Curtis Campbell, Bud Stipe and James Jarvie - all from the Cowboy Roane Crew (100th Photo Archives) |
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Owen D. "Cowboy" Roane photographed in june/july 1943 Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives) |
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Cowboy Roane, wearing the rank of Captain at the end of his combat tour. He is still at Thorpe Abbotts and had been appointed Office in Charge of the Link Training Section. Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives) |
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Owen D. (Cowboy) Roane crew just back from the Schweinfurt mission Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives) |
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A-2 jacket belonging to Arthur C. "Bud" Stipe, CP on the Owen D. "Cowboy" Roane crew. Detailed Information Photo courtesy of Simon Davies |
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Clarence R. Tomb and Robert "Red" Stuart. ROG and TTE respectively on Cowboy Roane Crew. |
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Front Row: Patrick Healy & James Jarvie
Back Row: Curtis Campbell & Bud Stipe
all from the Cowboy Roane Crew |
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Cowboy Roane at the completion of his tour, 26 Nov 43, the flak damage to the wing occurred over Paris on the crew's final mission. (100th Photo Archives) |
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Owen D. "Cowboy" Roane photographed in early October 1943 (100th Photo Archives) |
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Cowboy Roane, wearing the rank of Captain at the end of his combat tour. He is still at Thorpe Abbotts and had been appointed Office in Charge of the Link Training Section. (100th Photo Archives) |
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Cowboy Roane in Advanced Flight School at Stanford, Texas 1942 (100th Photo Archives) |
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Owen D. "Cowboy" Roane entering Flight Training in 1941 Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives) |
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Moe, shown here with the Roane Crew, back at Thorpe Abbotts after the Regensburg Shuttle of 17 Aug 43 Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives) |
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From left: Robert K. Peel, "Smithy" Smith, Cowboy Roane, Joseph "Bubbles" Payne at that time the 100th's Lead Navigator, and Rich Tangradi. (100th Photo Archives) |
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Owen D. "Cowboy" Roane and unknown. Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives) |
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Owen C. "Cowboy" Roane Detailed Information Photo courtesy of Betty Roane |
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Regensburg Donkey article. (Courtesy of Matt Mabe) |
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Cowboy Roane visiting Thorpe Abbotts (from the photo collection of John Luckadoo). |
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can someone confirm this is "Cowboy" Roane on this pic ?
thanks by advance (from Class book for pilot class 42-H at the Stamford Flying School, Stamford, Texas) (aaf collection website) Daniel Baron |
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Article on Cowboy Roane (courtesy of Laura Shivers) |
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Owen "Cowboy" Roane, Dale Lane, Charles "Hong Kong" Wilson, and Grant Fuller in Houston, Texas in 1991 (from the collection of Grant Fuller) |
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Grant Fuller, Gene Bankston, Charlie Beck, Owen Roane, and Paul West in 1994 |
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Mike Faley, Owen Roane, Curtis & Eva Wilson, and Grant Fuller in Austin, Texas, 1999 (from the collection of Grant Fuller) |
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From left: Calloway C. Gammill, Ralph S. Krebbs, "Cowboy" Roane, and Lyman A. James in the Link Trainer area at Thorpe Abbotts (100th Photo Archives) |
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Four 100th B-17s over the Alps, top "Cowboy" Roane in "LADEN MAIDEN," 2nd from top (smaller image) Henry Henington in "HORNY," center Bob Wolff in "WOLFF PACK, lower "Bucky" Egan and "Crankshaft" Cruikshank in "MUGWUMP". Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives) |
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Regensburg 17 Aug 43, 349th aircraft of the 100th High Squadron in light flak. The lead aircraft in the center, B-17F Laden Maiden 25861 XR-J flown by Owen "Cowboy Roane" ,the next aircraft Is The WAAC Hunter XR-F was flown by Lt Henry Shotland, plane in lower right is not positively identified. (100th Photo Archives) |
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100th aircraft in Africa LD-U - 42-30066 Mugwump - Charles Cruikshank/ John Egan, EP-A, Thomas Murphy & Beirne Lay Jr (Foreground) this is the famous "PICADILLY LILLY," 42-5864, XR-J 25861 Cowboy Roane - "LADEN MAIDEN," XR-D,230611 Henington - "HORNY" (100th Photo Archives) |
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Complete Richard C. King Crew photographed in 1943 before overseas assignment. Standing from left: Heber Hogge, Jr., Donald E. Wise, Trafford L. Curry, Barney Sutton (Assigned to an Aviation Cadet Class after six missions), Rudolph H. Harms: Kneeling from left: Ernest Anderson, Edward H. Hovde, Richard C. King, and the legendary Owen "Cowboy" Roane, who received his own crew prior to overseas assignment. It fell to Roane to witness his old crew going down at Paris September 3, 1943 - resulting in the death of five, King, Brykalski (who replaced Roane on the crew), McKnight, Harms, and Wise. In 1993 on the 50th anniversary of the mission, Roane told Paul West and Charles M. Beck it was then and remains one of the saddest days of his life. Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives) |
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349th's "LADEN MAIDEN" The Milton E. Neer Collection. |
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42-30148 Del Cheyenne 17/4/43; Smoky Hill 24/4/43; Walla Walla 30/4/43; Smoky Hill 21/5/43; Dow Fd 2/6/43; Ass 8AF.... c/l Lt Staughton 12/6/43 w/f/o Owen "COWBOY" Roane) ; Sal NBD 14/7/43. THE BIGASSBIRD |
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"LADEN MAIDEN" Squadron Commander William W. Veal's plane, named after his pregnant wife. R. C. Morton was crew chief. (100th Photo Archives) |
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From left, Magee C. Fuller, Neil B. Harding, Owen D. "Cowboy" Roane, and Robert "Red " Stuart |
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Hong Kong Wilson, Tex Leonard, Cowboy Roane, Gene Bankston, Bruce Alshouse, Dewey Christopher, Bill Hoffman, Dwight Chiles, and Butch Goodwin at the 100th BG mini reunion in 1997 (from the collection of Grant Fuller) |
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Photo taken at Wendover Dec 42 with Lt Hovde, Lt Richard King, F/O Owen Roane. |
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SERVED IN:
- ROANE, Owen D. - P
- SMITH, Reginald A. - CP/P
- STIPE, Arthur C. - CP
- SCHMUCKER, Daniel L. - NAV
- CAMPBELL, Curtis K. - BOM
- STUART, Robert A. - TTE
- TOMB, Clarence R. - ROG
- STROBLE, Roger O. - BTG
- HAUGE, Arthur B. - WG
- JARVIE, James - WG
- HEALY, Patrick J. - TG
