William Howard Owens
MilitaryHe flew on William J. Casey crew. Reported to group on 17-Jan-43. He was transferred to the 367th BS on 7-Apr-43. He completed 15 missions. On 17-Apr-43 was the leading A/C of the 367th low squadron on a mission to Bremen in B-17 41-24488 'Banshee II'. Fighters attacked the plane. Left with one engine they headed back toward land. Another fighter raked the plane and killed 5 crewman in the back of the plane. The remainder of the crew bailed out in the Frisian Islands. All were captured. Owens received flak wounds in his right arm and shoulder. Owens became a Prisoner of War (POW) at Stalag Luft 3 and was moved to Nuremburg 49-11.
Awards: AM (OLC). PH, POW, EAME, WWII Victory.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33122529
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16036790
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-410335
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16039362, 794042
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35040634
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner / Radio Operator / Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Banshee II
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Tullahoma, Tennessee | 29 May 1921 | BornTullahoma, Tennessee |
|
Prisoner of war Prisoner of War (POW) |
Stalag Luft III, Zagan, Poland | 17 April 1943 - 1 May 1945 | Prisoner of War (POW)Stalag Luft III, Zagan, Poland |
|
Buried |
Rose Hill Memorial Gardens Tullahoma, Tennessee | 3 April 1991 | InterredRose Hill Memorial GardensTullahoma, Tennessee |
|
Died |
Nashville, Tennessee | 31 May 1991 | DiedNashville, Tennessee |
Revisions
306th BG Association Directory, 1 September 1999 Edition; MACR 15445, Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 p. 105 by Bishop and Hey, First Over Germany pp. 86-88 by R. Strong, 306th BGA Collection, Russell Strong Index Cards, / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.306bg.org/crewphotos/Crew%20Pictures%20Adam-Rector/Crew%20Pi…
