Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War 1943 Liberator Navigator’s ‘Immediate’ D.F.M. group of six awarded to Flight Sergeant, later Flying Officer, B. J. McOwan, 178 Squadron, Royal Air Force, for successfully carrying out a mine-laying operation over Candia Harbour, Crete, 18/19 November 1943, despite being held by six searchlights and having the entire harbour defences ranged against them. McOwan was killed in a flying accident when his Lancaster crashed at Burnley Rushes, Rutland, 3 October 1945

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1330732. F/Sgt. B. J. McOwan. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for display, generally very fine or better (6) £1600-1800

D.F.M. London Gazette 17 December 1943 (jointly listed with his pilot Flight Lieutenant P. G. Brown):

‘This officer and airman were pilot and navigator respectively of an aircraft detailed for a mine-laying mission one night in November, 1943. When approaching the target the aircraft was illuminated by several searchlights and the harbour defences opened fire with great intensity. Defying the barrage, Flight Lieutenant Brown flew on and released his mines with accuracy. Throughout the operation, Flight Sergeant McOwan displayed exceptional coolness and his skilful efforts were of great assistance to his pilot. In hazardous circumstances Flight Lieutenant Brown and Flight Sergeant McOwan displayed a high degree of courage and determination.’

The original recommendation states:

F/Sgt. McOwan was detailed to fly as Navigator/Bomb Aimer to F/Lt. Brown on the night of 18/19th November 1943. The aircraft was detailed to mine the entrance to Candia harbour. Approaching the target the aircraft was picked up and held by six searchlights and came under intense and accurate L.A.A. fire. The Captain of the aircraft took the most violent evasive action possible but in spite of this F/Sgt. McOwan tracked him over the required dropping point on the correct bearing so that the mines were released with great accuracy. It is considered that F/Sgt. McOwan’s coolness and skill in the face of exceptionally severe opposition was largely responsible for the success of this operation.’

Bruce John McOwan was born in Redhill, Surrey, in December 1921. He served during the Second War as Navigator with the Royal Air Force. McOwan flew operational sorties with 178 Squadron (Liberators), Terria, Libya from October 1943. The Squadron was primarily engaged in heavy bombing during the North African and Italian campaigns. As well as bombing targets in North Africa, Sicily, Crete, the Aegean Islands, Italy and the Balkans it also laid mines in enemy waters. Crewed with Flight Lieutenant P. G. Brown, McOwan flew in repeated sorties to Calato Aerodrome, Rhodes; Heraklion Aerodrome; Maritza Aerodrome; Antimachia and mine-laying missions to Candia and the Salamis Straits.

McOwan was commissioned Pilot Officer in 1943, and was posted to No. 22 P.T.C. in December 1943. He had advanced to Flying Officer by 1945, and was serving at No. 11 O.T.U. in October 1945. McOwan was killed, with the rest of his crew, in a flying accident when Lancaster Mk.I EN.274 crashed at Burnley Rushes, Rutland, 3 October 1945.