He flew the F-100D Super Sabre and served in the 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 366 Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force. Stationed in Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam.
Body Found In Wreckage
Gower Dies From Viet Nam Action
The body of Air Force Capt. Billy Ray Gower has been found amid the wreckage of his F100 jet fighter somewhere in Viet Nam. Officials have notified relatives here the pilot died of "Multiple injuries from ground fire" sometime Friday while on his third combat mission. It was his first tour in Viet Nam. Details are still not available, but officials indicate the Randolph AFB, Tex., information office is preparing a report. The pilot, husband of Mrs. Carol McArthur Gower, Springfield, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Gower of Marshfield, is a brother of Mrs. Bill Anderson, 1110 Westview. His wife told The Leader and Press today her husband began his Air Force career as a radar observer before entering flight school. Capt. Gower became a B47 bomber pilot with the Strategic Air Command, where he remained from 1960 until last December when he was transferred to Luke AFB near Phoenix, Ariz., for fighter training in the F100. Gower, a graduate of Marshfield High School, was well known as an athlete, and had tried out with a Cincinnati Reds farm team before joining the Air Force. He is a former Southwest Missouri State College student. Capt. and Mrs. Gower have three children: a son, William Ray, Jr., *; and two daughers, Jolynn, *, and Dawn Rae, *. They moved to Springfield in July. A month ago tomorrow Capt. Gower left for Viet Nam. (The Leader & Press, Springfield, MO, Tuesday, August 2, 1966, Ages of children omitted for privacy)
Military Rites Slated Sunday For War Victim
MARSHFIELD (Special) - Funeral services for Capt. Billy Ray Gower, 31-year-old Marshfield resident who was killed in Viet Nam, will be here Sunday. Capt. Gower, who was on his third combat mission in Viet Nam, died of "Multiple injuries from ground fire" suffered when his F100 fighter plane was shot down July 29. His body was found in the wreckage of his plane. A full military service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in Barber-Edwards Chapel here by servicemen from Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Noster. Burial will be in Marshfield Cemetery. (The Leader & Press, Springfield, MO, Saturday, August 6, 1966)
See also the article in: The News-Leader, Springfield, MO, Monday, October 22, 2012, p. 9A, Col. 2-3, A Tribute: Summer day of tragedy has turned to day of honor.
Body Found In Wreckage
Gower Dies From Viet Nam Action
The body of Air Force Capt. Billy Ray Gower has been found amid the wreckage of his F100 jet fighter somewhere in Viet Nam. Officials have notified relatives here the pilot died of "Multiple injuries from ground fire" sometime Friday while on his third combat mission. It was his first tour in Viet Nam. Details are still not available, but officials indicate the Randolph AFB, Tex., information office is preparing a report. The pilot, husband of Mrs. Carol McArthur Gower, Springfield, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Gower of Marshfield, is a brother of Mrs. Bill Anderson, 1110 Westview. His wife told The Leader and Press today her husband began his Air Force career as a radar observer before entering flight school. Capt. Gower became a B47 bomber pilot with the Strategic Air Command, where he remained from 1960 until last December when he was transferred to Luke AFB near Phoenix, Ariz., for fighter training in the F100. Gower, a graduate of Marshfield High School, was well known as an athlete, and had tried out with a Cincinnati Reds farm team before joining the Air Force. He is a former Southwest Missouri State College student. Capt. and Mrs. Gower have three children: a son, William Ray, Jr., *; and two daughers, Jolynn, *, and Dawn Rae, *. They moved to Springfield in July. A month ago tomorrow Capt. Gower left for Viet Nam. (The Leader & Press, Springfield, MO, Tuesday, August 2, 1966, Ages of children omitted for privacy)
Military Rites Slated Sunday For War Victim
MARSHFIELD (Special) - Funeral services for Capt. Billy Ray Gower, 31-year-old Marshfield resident who was killed in Viet Nam, will be here Sunday. Capt. Gower, who was on his third combat mission in Viet Nam, died of "Multiple injuries from ground fire" suffered when his F100 fighter plane was shot down July 29. His body was found in the wreckage of his plane. A full military service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in Barber-Edwards Chapel here by servicemen from Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Noster. Burial will be in Marshfield Cemetery. (The Leader & Press, Springfield, MO, Saturday, August 6, 1966)
See also the article in: The News-Leader, Springfield, MO, Monday, October 22, 2012, p. 9A, Col. 2-3, A Tribute: Summer day of tragedy has turned to day of honor.
He flew the F-100D Super Sabre and served in the 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 366 Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force. Stationed in Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam.
Body Found In Wreckage
Gower Dies From Viet Nam Action
The body of Air Force Capt. Billy Ray Gower has been found amid the wreckage of his F100 jet fighter somewhere in Viet Nam. Officials have notified relatives here the pilot died of "Multiple injuries from ground fire" sometime Friday while on his third combat mission. It was his first tour in Viet Nam. Details are still not available, but officials indicate the Randolph AFB, Tex., information office is preparing a report. The pilot, husband of Mrs. Carol McArthur Gower, Springfield, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Gower of Marshfield, is a brother of Mrs. Bill Anderson, 1110 Westview. His wife told The Leader and Press today her husband began his Air Force career as a radar observer before entering flight school. Capt. Gower became a B47 bomber pilot with the Strategic Air Command, where he remained from 1960 until last December when he was transferred to Luke AFB near Phoenix, Ariz., for fighter training in the F100. Gower, a graduate of Marshfield High School, was well known as an athlete, and had tried out with a Cincinnati Reds farm team before joining the Air Force. He is a former Southwest Missouri State College student. Capt. and Mrs. Gower have three children: a son, William Ray, Jr., *; and two daughers, Jolynn, *, and Dawn Rae, *. They moved to Springfield in July. A month ago tomorrow Capt. Gower left for Viet Nam. (The Leader & Press, Springfield, MO, Tuesday, August 2, 1966, Ages of children omitted for privacy)
Military Rites Slated Sunday For War Victim
MARSHFIELD (Special) - Funeral services for Capt. Billy Ray Gower, 31-year-old Marshfield resident who was killed in Viet Nam, will be here Sunday. Capt. Gower, who was on his third combat mission in Viet Nam, died of "Multiple injuries from ground fire" suffered when his F100 fighter plane was shot down July 29. His body was found in the wreckage of his plane. A full military service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in Barber-Edwards Chapel here by servicemen from Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Noster. Burial will be in Marshfield Cemetery. (The Leader & Press, Springfield, MO, Saturday, August 6, 1966)
See also the article in: The News-Leader, Springfield, MO, Monday, October 22, 2012, p. 9A, Col. 2-3, A Tribute: Summer day of tragedy has turned to day of honor.
Body Found In Wreckage
Gower Dies From Viet Nam Action
The body of Air Force Capt. Billy Ray Gower has been found amid the wreckage of his F100 jet fighter somewhere in Viet Nam. Officials have notified relatives here the pilot died of "Multiple injuries from ground fire" sometime Friday while on his third combat mission. It was his first tour in Viet Nam. Details are still not available, but officials indicate the Randolph AFB, Tex., information office is preparing a report. The pilot, husband of Mrs. Carol McArthur Gower, Springfield, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Gower of Marshfield, is a brother of Mrs. Bill Anderson, 1110 Westview. His wife told The Leader and Press today her husband began his Air Force career as a radar observer before entering flight school. Capt. Gower became a B47 bomber pilot with the Strategic Air Command, where he remained from 1960 until last December when he was transferred to Luke AFB near Phoenix, Ariz., for fighter training in the F100. Gower, a graduate of Marshfield High School, was well known as an athlete, and had tried out with a Cincinnati Reds farm team before joining the Air Force. He is a former Southwest Missouri State College student. Capt. and Mrs. Gower have three children: a son, William Ray, Jr., *; and two daughers, Jolynn, *, and Dawn Rae, *. They moved to Springfield in July. A month ago tomorrow Capt. Gower left for Viet Nam. (The Leader & Press, Springfield, MO, Tuesday, August 2, 1966, Ages of children omitted for privacy)
Military Rites Slated Sunday For War Victim
MARSHFIELD (Special) - Funeral services for Capt. Billy Ray Gower, 31-year-old Marshfield resident who was killed in Viet Nam, will be here Sunday. Capt. Gower, who was on his third combat mission in Viet Nam, died of "Multiple injuries from ground fire" suffered when his F100 fighter plane was shot down July 29. His body was found in the wreckage of his plane. A full military service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in Barber-Edwards Chapel here by servicemen from Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Noster. Burial will be in Marshfield Cemetery. (The Leader & Press, Springfield, MO, Saturday, August 6, 1966)
See also the article in: The News-Leader, Springfield, MO, Monday, October 22, 2012, p. 9A, Col. 2-3, A Tribute: Summer day of tragedy has turned to day of honor.
Inscription
IN LOVING MEMORY
WILLIAM RAY GOWER
NOV. 19, 1934
JULY 29, 1966
WILLIAM RAY GOWER
MISSOURI
CAPTAIN 615 TAC FTR SQ AF
VIETNAM
NOV 19 1934 - JULY 29 1966
Family Members
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