• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Date of birth:

1922 (Herne Bay/Kent, Great Britain)

Date of death:

March 15th, 1945 (Zuidlaren, The Netherlands)

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Grave General Cemetery Zuidlaren
Plot: 1. Row: E. Grave: 12.

Service number:

126036

Nationality:

British

Leslie Fowler was educated at King's College, Wimbledon and joined the RAF in 1941, being trained in Canada.
Between 31 December 1942 and the middle of June 1943 Fowler flew 23 operations with No. 199 Squadron in Vickers Wellington bombers.
After retraining on B17's he was posted to No. 214 Squadron.
On 24 February 1945 Fortress III HB805 took off from RAF Oulton with on board Leslie Fowler and eight other crew members. The bomber was shot down at 20.08 hrs - 20-30 km West of Dusseldorf airfield by Oblt. Kurt Matzak of Stab IV/NJG1 - a Luftwaffe night fighter ace with 19 kills to his score. Fowler got injured during the attack but apparantly managed to bail out, taken PoW and hospitalized yet died mid March of his wounds. In total seven crew members were killed. Air Gunner Flight Sergeant Jennings D.F.M was taken PoW and survived the war.
It is unknown why Fowler is buried in Zuidlaren, while his plane crashed near Ittenbach. Zuidlaren is over 300 km to the north of Ittenbach.

Promotions:
11 July, 1942: Pilot Officer (probation)
11 January, 1943: Flying Officer (probation/war sub)
1 July, 1944: Flight Lieutenant

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Flight Lieutenant

Unit:

No. 199 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

September 10th, 1943

Citation:
"This officer has completed many operational missions over enemy territory, including attacks on main targets such as Cologne and Essen and mine laying operations in enemy waters.
At all times Flight Lieut Fowler has displayed navigational abilities of a high order which has contributed much to the success of these sorties. This officer possesses a fine fighting spirit, which has inspired confidence in his crew."

LG 36165/4012
Periodical or non-immediate award

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

With "FRANCE AND GERMANY" clasp.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo: Dawn Holloway
• - Dawn Holloway
  - The London Gazette Publication date:2 March 1943 Issue:35927, Page 1076
  - The London Gazette Publication date:7 September 1943 Issue:36165, Page 4012
  - The London Gazette Publication date:25 July 1944 Issue:36629, Page 3518
  - Allied World War II Casualties in The Netherlands Remembered
  - Aircrew Remembered
  

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Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress