Miracle on the Prairie

Bridgeport Leader December 30^th, 1943

Benjamin Joseph Gowen Jr, 30 and wife Ruth Cowen, were instantly killed when a plane from George Field crashed into their home. Their five-year-old daughter Jo was injured but not seriously. The pilot and copilot of the plane were also killed in the crash and fire that followed. The following release from the public relations office at George Field tells the story:

“An AT10 airplane crashed into a farmhouse one mile northwest of George Field at 12:30 AM on Thursday. Both the pilot and copilot of the plane and two civilian occupants of the house were killed instantly. The five-year-old daughter of the two civilians was injured.

“According to a statement issued by Colonel Edwin B Bobzien, Commanding Officer of George Field, the plane was returning from a combat training flight and was circling the field preparatory to landing when the accident occurred. Both the plane and the house burned following the crash.

“The pilot was Captain Harry C Arp, VanNuys CA; the pilot was aviation student Harry C Fricke, Philadelphia PA. The two civilians were Benjamin Joseph Gowen and wife. Jo Gowen, daughter of the couple, was injured.

“The daughter was taken to George Field hospital, and her condition is not serious. A qualified Board of Army Air Force officers is investigating the cause of the accident. Next of kin of all have been notified.”

Mr. Gowen formerly worked for Abel Brothers Case dealers in Bridgeport and resided in this community. He has been employed as a civilian mechanic at the George Field base for the past several months. He was more familiarly known as Benny Junior. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gowen are natives of the county having lived north of Lawrenceville.