Regiment: R.A.F..
Died: 12 March 1943 aged 20 in Germany. Killed in action.
Battle: Bomber Command. Cemetery: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery 10. B. 13.
Son of Christopher and Phyllis Clare Owen, of Lustleigh, Devon, and Annfield, Dickoya, Ceylon.
106 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The squadron flew Lancaster bombers with W/Cmd Guy Gibson being with the squadron for a year whose last sortie was on the 11th March 1943, before being put in charge of 617 Squadron and being awarded the Victoria Cross for the Dam-Busters raid on 16–17 May 1943. On 16 January 1943, Gibson took the BBC's war correspondent, Richard Dimbleby on a sortie to Berlin.
Sgt Owen was killed on a bombing raid on Essen on the 12th March 1943 with F/Sgt McDonald as the Pilot. The other 11 aircraft in the squadron managed to return and the operation was deemed a success with accurate bombing in the 'face of very fierce opposition'.
March 1943 Operations AIR 27/833/5
and AIR 27/833/6
Combat report
Richard Dimbleby