Wireless Operator. In the passing-Out examination he attained ninth place among 159 entrants, and he was described in the report on this examination as a "very satisfactory pupil who has worked well throughout and obtained highly satisfactory results in all subjects" and "an outstanding boy in his entry.'
The Commanding Officer's comments, "An excellent report. Hi should do very well in the service," seemed to be well on the way to fulfilment, for Owen was promoted sergeant in May 1940, just after his 18th birthday, When conveying this news to his parents he suggested that the promotion made him "one of the youngest senior N.C.O's. in the R.A.F, if not the youngest," and add-m just a few more steps higher, but still a long way from the top,' indicating that his goal was ever onward and upward.
A letter from his Commanding Officer records that he was "particular: ly popular with. all his brother N.CO's" He was one of a party of five who went for an operational flight over Germany on the night of July 1/2 in a Hampden plane which has not been heard of since.
Owen's elder brother Douglas, who was also a Cathedral School be; serving with the Royal Artillery in England.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.