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name
OWEN, Harold M - Date of
birth
April 1912 -
Age
31 - Place of
birth
York, Livingston County, New York -
Hometown
Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32144044 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
423rd Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
26 November 1943 - Place of
death
St. Nicolaasga, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 2 | 30 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Charles E. Owen (father)
Mindrel A. Owen (mother)
Earl V. Owen (brother)
Paul E. Owen (brother)
Leon L. Owen (brother)
Elva A. (Pendleton) Owen (wife)
Sandra G. Owen (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30603 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Las Vegas Avenger
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 1329
More information
S/Sgt Harold M. Owen was employed as a cost accountant in the Rochester branch of the International Business Machines Corp.He enlisted in Rochester, New York on 22 August 1942. He was sent overseas in September 1943.
About 40 miles west of the target the pilot pulled his plane out of formation and dropped its wheels. The plane had two engines feathered because of mechanical problems and had its controls shot out in a pass by German fighters.
Six crew members survived ans were taken prisoner, four men were killed. They were first buried at the Dutch Reformed Churchyard of St. Nicolaasga.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.306thbw.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1920/1925/1940 Census / WWII Enlistment Record / Headstone and Interment Record, www.teunispats.nl, www.newspapers.com - Democrat and Chronicle
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.306bg.us, www.newspapers.com - Democrat and Chronicle