Garland Owens
S/Sgt 18155256 613th
Texas
1918 - 1944
Radio Operator aboard 42-31033 (Pee-Tey-Kuh)
Sabinal Cemetery, Sabinal, Texas
Garland was born Mar 1, 1918, Del Rio, Val Verde, Texas, later moved to Precinct 5, Bexar, Texas.
In Aug 17, 1942 he enlisted to the air corps.
In 1943 he arrived in England to join the 401st BG
His last mission, Jan 11, 1944, Target: Oschersleben, the plane was attacked by 2 enemy fighters.
He was last seen Standing by waist escape hatch...
Owens refused to jump before Biggs.
Biggs tried to push him out but Garland grabbed ahold of the ammo box.
They struggled awhile and Biggs jumped as the ship was losing altitude.
He was awarded with an Air Medal and a Purple Heart Medal
T/Sgt Garland Owens was found dead.
He was buried in cemetery of Wehnde , Row 1 , Grave 4 on 13 Jan. 44.
In 1944, when Garland died on the age of 25 he left behind his family :
His father, Garland Owen, age 61
His mother, Minnie S Owen, age 61
His sister, Lois Owen, age 32
His brother, William C Owen, age 30
His sister, Audrey Owen, age 27
His sister, Bettie Jane Owen, age 17
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Mission to Oschersleben, germany, near Hildesheim a fire in No.3 engine was started and blew up.
PEE-TEY-KUH
Individual casualty questionaire
Told by S/Sgt. Donald William Ogborn , Left Waist Gunner.
- Name of crew member : Owens , Garland
- Rank : S/Sgt.
- Serial number : 18155256
- Position : Radio Operator.
- Did he bail out ? : I dont know.
- If not, why not ? : I was the second to bail out. Owens seemed OK when I left.
- Last contact just prior to loss of plane ? : Lt. Nason asked Garland to crank open bomb doors.
He said he didnt know how , I said I'd go and do it.
- Was he injured ? : He might have been burned a little.
- Where was he last seen ? : Standing by waist escape hatch..
- Any heresay information ? : German interrogation officers showed my crewmember Owens's dog tag.
- Source : Lt. Jack A. Duce , Navigator.
- Any explanation of his fate ? : He asked waist gunner Biggs to buckle on his chute. Biggs did.
Owens refused to jump before Biggs. Biggs tried to push him out but Owens
grabbed ahold of the ammo box.
They struggled awhile and Biggs jumped as the ship was losing altitude.
- Total number of missions of above crew member ? : Approx. 7.
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