Edgar C. Downing, age 91 years, died in the VA Medical Center in Brockton, Massachusetts on Monday, July 23, 2012. Born in Scott, New York on January 13, 1921, he was the son of the late Lester G. and Grace L. (Landphier) Downing. He graduated from Scott High School and later graduated from Morrisville College. He attended Cornell University before serving his country in the United States Air Force. He was a career officer, retiring in 1963. He served as a pilot during both World War II and the Korean War. During World War II he was captured and was a Prisoner of War in Germany. Once he retired from the Air Force, Mr. Downing owned and operated his own company, Downing Supply in Cazenovia, NY, for 30 years. He had been a resident of North Ft. Myers, FL for 30 years and Glen Haven, NY for 50 years. Mr. Downing was a member of the Free Masons in the Homer, NY Lodge #352 for 65 years. He enjoyed boating, hunting, fishing, and traveling. Most of all, he loved spending time telling stories to his grandchildren. He was the beloved husband of the late Dorothy Y. Downing. He is survived by his son, Douglas Downing and wife, Sandra of Nashua, NH; daughter, Donna Deacon and husband, Howard of Falmouth, MA; son, Ross Downing of Renton, WA; granddaughters, Melissa Delisle and husband, Tom of Grosse Point Woods, MI, Amanda McDonough and her husband, Michael of N. Salem, NY, Sonja Downing of Renton, WA, Carrie Ann Wood and her husband, Josh of Niceville, FL; grandson, Jeremy Downing of Renton, WA; great-grandchildren, Cameron Downing, Kylie Wood, Kasey Wood, Jackson Wood, Owen Delisle, and Ryan McDonough; brother of Christine Parmiter of Cortland, NY, June Spencer of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and the late Olivia Hamilton. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend the funeral service that will be held in the John Wesley Methodist Church, 270 Gifford Street, Falmouth, MA on Monday, July 30, 2012 at 11 a.m. Visiting hours are omitted at the request of the family. Interment will be in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA. In lieu if flowers, donations may be made to the Dorothy Young Downing Memorial Scholarship Fund at Sherburne-Earlville Central School, 15 School Street, Sherburne, NY 13460, ATTN: Treasurer.

Published in Syracuse Post Standard from July 26 to July 27, 2012
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***NOTE***

He was the pilot on B-17F that ditched in the North Sea, 29 Mar 1944. The aircraft was called "Sir Baboon McGoon" and was SN# 42-3506 which was featured in the June 1944 issue of Popular Science magazine.

Statement of eyewitnesses:

At 1445 Hours, A/C B-17 #42-3506, was forced out of formation due to E/A, number 4 engine feathered and unable to keep up with formation. It went down to the deck, keeping on the same course as our formation but lagging behind, It was last seen at 1500 hours about 30 minutes before we reached the Zuider Zee.
Missing in Action 4m Waggum 29/3/44 with Edgar Downing, Co-pilot: Leon Tannenbaum, Navigator: Chris Allison, Bombardier: Stan Sadlo, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Chas Heck, Radio Operator: Andy Hrenkerich, Ball turret gunner: Lloyd Smith, Waist gunner: Bill McKee, Waist gunner: Curtis Campbell, Tail gunner: Tom Mast (10 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft KO'd #3 & #4, ditched off Dutch coast, 50 miles W of Ijmuiden, Hol, picked up by German flotilla boat; Missing Air Crew Report 3473. SIR BABOON McGOON.
'Sir Baboon McGoon' was forced to ditch in the North Sea off Ijmuiden after fighter attacks disabled one engine on a mission to Brunswick, GR on 29 Mar 1944. No loss of life. Entire crew in 2 life rafts during a snow storm. Picked up by German Navy. Prisoner of War (POW).

Source: MACR 3473