Lowry, Francis Brown
First Name
Francis
Middle Name
Brown
Last Name
Lowry
Service Branch
Army
Highest Rank
2LT
War or Action
World War I
Place Of Birth
Denver, Colorado
County
Denver
Biography

First Denver aviator killed in wartime. Son of manager of parks and improvements Walter Bingham Lowry and Mary Nell French Lowry. Member St. Mark's church. Flew in Salmson 2A2 as aerial observer in 91st Aero Squadron, Coast Artillery Corps. On morning of September 26, 1918 he with pilot Lt. Asher Kelty took off on his 33rd mission, an important photographic mission in support of the Meuse-Argonne offensive leading 5 planes. As the formation crossed enemy lines German anti-aircraft guns opened fire. According to Distinguished Service Cross citation "On 26 September while on a very important photographic mission, Lieutenant Lowry, with Lieutenant Kelty, pilot, realized the importance of the mission and chose to continue their course through a harassing anti-aircraft barrage. A shell made a direct hit on the plane, brought it down in fragments and instantly killed Lieutenant Lowry." Originally buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery at Romagne, France and transferred to Fairmount Cemetery in 1921. Lowry Field named for him in 1924. Lowry Air Force base named for him on March 11, 1938. VFW Francis Brown Lowry Post Number:501, Lowry neighborhood and Lowry Elementary School named for him.

Place Of Burial
Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Colorado
Place Of Death
Crepion, France
Circumstances
Killed In Action
Row Number
70
Column Number
4
Panel Number
1

Send Message