SSGT. Philip Yoder Downing served with the U.S. Army Air Corps. When he was a PRIVATE, he was assigned to the 309th Bombardment Group; 378th Bombardment Squadron; and was stationed at Columbia Army Air Field in South Carolina; in Training and Preparation for overseas combat duty.

His Hometown was Austin, Texas.

Tragedy struck its first blow at the squadron on August 4th when 2nd Lieutenants Neal Curtis and Charles Pattillo (actually Robert R. Pattillo) crashed to their deaths at the field. They had been but recently checked out. This was the first and only fatal landing accident the squadron has had.

A/C B-25D; serial No. 41-29658
(crash landed at Columbia Army Air Field, SC)

P Curtis, Neal Dow, 2Lt, pilot, 428th BS - DNB
CP Pattillo, Robert R., 2Lt, pilot, 428th BS - DNB
PAX Graves, Ray E., Pvt - DNB
PAX Shuman, Floyd H., Pvt - DNB
PAX Tooke, Alphie V., Pvt - DNB
PAX Streit, Benedict N., Pvt – survived, died 6 Aug 42
PAX Downing, Philip Y., Pvt – survived, status unknown
PAX None

PRIVATE Philip Y. Downing recovered from his injuries and was then assigned to the 340th Bombardment Group; 486th Bombardment Group; and was stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, (MTO). He attained the Rank of Staff Sergeant. He was awarded the Air medal with SIX Oak leaf Clusters.

Philip Y. Downing died on 02 April 1966.

Philip Y Downing