- James C. Owens, Jr.
James C. Owens, Jr. (
5 December 1910 -4 June 1942 ) born inBatavia, New York , he was a naval aviator. He was appointed Naval Aviation Cadet, USNR,3 September 1935 .Following flight training at
Pensacola, Florida , he served on board "Lexington" (CV-2); and on 1 September 1941, he joined Torpedo Squadron 8 on board "Hornet" (CV-8). AppointedLieutenant 6 January 1942 , Owens was with this squadron when it pressed home a courageous and determined attack against Japanese carriers 4 June during theBattle of Midway . Without the protection of fighters or accompanying dive bombers, the pilots exposed themselves to overwhelming firepower; and every plane of thesquadron was shot down. By forcing the enemy ships to maneuver radically and eliminating Japanese air cover, the "stark courage and relentless drive" of the torpedo pilots, such as Lieutenant Owens, made possible the American victory that followed. For extraordinary heroism in the face of overwhelming danger, Lt. Owens received theNavy Cross and thePresidential Unit Citation (US) posthumously.Namesake
The USS "James C. Owens" (DD-776) was named in his honor.
References
:DANFS
External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j1/james_c_owens.htm history.navy.mil: USS "James C. Owens"]
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