Gordon Count Owens

This story and photo is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Pete Colley, Curator, Wickenby Museum.

Remembering Gordon Count Owens, aged 24, from Llanhilleth, Wales, husband of Gladys and father of baby Gloria Anne. He was killed on the 11th August on his 25th mission. The squadron had been sent to lay mines at La Pallice in the mouth of the Gironde. According to one of the survivors of the crash, the aircraft suffered damage to a fuel tank during the mission which resulted in a shortage of fuel. It crashed at 03:30 near Aston Down airfield, Gloucestershire when attempting to land. Five of the crew were killed.

The South Wales Gazette of Friday 25 August 1944 published an article about his funeral.

"...during the committal ceremony, a Royal Air Force aeroplane hovered overhead as a last tribute to the dead airman. Aged 24, Flight Lieut. Owens was a young man who in four years had studied hard and gained his promotion entirely on his own merits. He had carried out many raids on German targets, and at the time of his death was due home for a well earned spell of leave, and was later... to have taken up ground duties in the training of new aircraft crews. The deceased lost his life in this country when his plane crashed on landing.
The remains were brought to Llanhilleth for burial. He was a native of Mountain Ash, and is survived by his wife and a daughter....A firing party was provided by "D" Company of 8th Mon. Battalion, H. G. (Home Guard)and the customary volleys were fired over the grave. The "Last Post" and "Reveille" were sounded by Bugler W. Clarke...A number of R.A.F. Officers from Newport were present to apy a last tribute to their deceased colleague. They spoke very highly of highly of his work in the R.A.F. "