James C. Owens Jr.: Difference between revisions
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'''James C. Owens Jr.''' (5 December 1910 in [[Batavia, New York]] – 4 June 1942), he was a naval aviator. He was appointed Naval Aviation Cadet, [[United States Navy Reserve|USNR]], 3 September 1935. |
'''James C. Owens Jr.''' (5 December 1910 in [[Batavia, New York]] – 4 June 1942), he was a naval aviator. He was appointed Naval Aviation Cadet, [[United States Navy Reserve|USNR]], 3 September 1935. |
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Following flight training at [[Pensacola, Florida]], he served on board [[USS Lexington (CV-2)|''Lexington'' (CV-2)]]; and on 1 September 1941, he joined [[VT-8|Torpedo Squadron 8]] on board [[USS Hornet (CV-8)|''Hornet'' (CV-8)]]. Appointed [[Lieutenant]] 6 January 1942, Owens was the squadron Executive Officer and led the second division of [[TBD Devastator]] torpedo bombers when it pressed home a courageous and determined attack against Japanese carriers 4 June during the [[Battle of Midway]]. Without the protection of fighters or accompanying dive bombers, the pilots exposed themselves to overwhelming firepower; and every plane of the [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] was shot down. By forcing the enemy ships to maneuver radically |
Following flight training at [[Pensacola, Florida]], he served on board [[USS Lexington (CV-2)|''Lexington'' (CV-2)]]; and on 1 September 1941, he joined [[VT-8|Torpedo Squadron 8]] on board [[USS Hornet (CV-8)|''Hornet'' (CV-8)]]. Appointed [[Lieutenant]] 6 January 1942, Owens was the squadron Executive Officer and led the second division of [[TBD Devastator]] torpedo bombers when it pressed home a courageous and determined attack against Japanese carriers on 4 June during the [[Battle of Midway]]. Without the protection of fighters or accompanying dive bombers, the pilots exposed themselves to overwhelming firepower; and every plane of the [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] was shot down. By forcing the enemy ships to maneuver radically, thereby delaying Japanese preparations for a second strike, 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 the [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]] and the [[Presidential Unit Citation (US)]] posthumously. |
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==Namesake== |
==Namesake== |
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Revision as of 00:34, 9 November 2018
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2008) |
James C. Owens Jr. (5 December 1910 in Batavia, New York – 4 June 1942), 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). Appointed Lieutenant 6 January 1942, Owens was the squadron Executive Officer and led the second division of TBD Devastator torpedo bombers when it pressed home a courageous and determined attack against Japanese carriers on 4 June during the Battle of Midway. Without the protection of fighters or accompanying dive bombers, the pilots exposed themselves to overwhelming firepower; and every plane of the squadron was shot down. By forcing the enemy ships to maneuver radically, thereby delaying Japanese preparations for a second strike, 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 the Navy Cross and the Presidential Unit Citation (US) posthumously.
Namesake
The USS James C. Owens (DD-776) was named in his honor.
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
External links
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