Edgar Lee Bowdoin, aged 22, was born on September 12, 1922 in Geneva County, Alabama. He was the son of Robert, Redmon Bowdoin and Rosalie A. Heath Bowdoin. He resided in Geneva County, Alabama prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on July 2, 1943 at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Farm Hand and also as Single, without dependents. Edgar served as a Corporal and Radio Operator on C-46A #42-101119, 3rd Transport Squadron, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

C-46A #42-101119 took off, with a crew of 3, from Sookerating, India to pickup some cargo from Chanyi, China. After takeoff they were not heard from nor seen again. The entire crew of 3 was lost, it was April 29, 1945. Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until October 30, 1946. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

He was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov