If you were to look up the term; The Greatest Generation, in the dictionary, a photo of Jim “Red” Dowling would most likely be present. Our Editor had the privilege of meeting Dowling during the Memorial Day Parade in St. James this Summer, saying “the man puts his whole heart and spirit into a single handshake and makes you want hug him and never let go,” in reference to the very humble and lovable hero.
Jim Dowling began his life as an orphan when he was just three months old. Through the kindness of the Conklin family, he was cared for and raised in Smithtown during a time of great depression.
Dowling was a teenager when WWII was breaking out abroad. He was drafted in the army in 1943. Despite a knee injury, Dowling was one of the elite few to pass training for the US Air Force. He volunteered for the US Army Air Corps where he qualified for the Bombardier Navigator training. Dowling shipped off to war as a member of the 445th bomb group assigned to the 703rd squadron in the 8th US Army Air Corps as a Bombardier Navigator, with Jimmy Stewart as his Flight Leader. On September 27th, 1944, Dowling’s 11th mission, to hit a tank factory over germany’s military industrial complex, went sideways after the lead plane took a wrong turn. Although, Jim “Red” Dowling survived after his B-24 went down, he was captured as a POW and taken to Camp Barth in Germany. He endured prison life, with 16 men to a room all left in starving conditions, until liberated by Russian Troops. Dowling was taken to Lucky Strike Camp in France, after “Operation Revival”, a successful retrieval mission. Dowling was awarded the Purple Heart before returning home to Smithtown, to keep a promise to marry his High School Sweetheart, Dorothy.
The contribution that Jim Dowling has made to Smithtown is monumental and incomparable to all others. You can not drive through the hamlets of Smithtown without seeing Jim Dowling’s work present. He founded the first Little League, developed the foundation for our Highway system, drainage systems, snow removal and roadway recycling system. Today, Jim “Red” Dowling stays active in the lives of his eight children, his nearly 60 grand and great-grandchildren and still restores old Ford Moldel-A’s.
On Behalf of the team at Smithtown Today, We thank you for your service Jim Dowling!