Rowney, Ford Died
Personal Information
| Rank | Sgt |
| Forename(s) | Ford |
| Surname | Rowney |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 23 |
| Date of Death | 09-09-1941 |
| Next of Kin | Son of Herbert and Minthia Elsie Rowney, of Arley. Husband of Edna May Rowney. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Handley Page Hampden I |
| Serial Number | AD854 |
| Markings | VN- |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Arley (St. Wilfrid) Churchyard |
| Grave Reference | S.E. of church. |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 1 |
| Panel Number | 93 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | 745849 |
| Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
| Group | 5 |
| Squadron | 50 |
| Squadron Motto | Sic fidem servamus (Thus we keep faith). Sqn badge shows "From Defence to Attack". |
| Trade | Pilot |
| Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
| Location | Horsepool Lane, Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque attached to Public Footpath Sign |
| Memorial Text | As you walk along this path,you will pass a point on your left some 200 yards further on where during WW2. in the early hours of 9th September 1941, a British Bomber crashed in flames killing Sgt Ford Rowney aged 23 & Flight Sgt Tony Barker aged 20. The other two members of the crew , Sgt E Morgan & Sgt J Mitchell survived by bailing out and landed close to this spot. As you pass by please remember these two young airmen who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country and our future. |
| Location | In front of the mess esplanade, Mailly-le-Camp, 10 - Aube Prefecture |
| Country | France |
| Memorial Type | Stone memorial sculpture, inscribed marble tablets and inscribed metal plaque |
| Memorial Text |
En souvenir des heros de la RAF. Qui ont participe au bombardment du camp de Mailly. Unites de la RAF engagees dans le raid sur Mailly-le-Camp, la nuit du 3 au 4 May 1944. N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617- 619-625-626-627-634
Translation "In memory of the RAF heroes who took part in the bombing of Mailly Camp. RAF units engaged in the raid on Mailly-le-Camp, the night of 3-4 May 1944. Squadrons that took part: N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617-619-625-626-627-634" |
Miscellaneous Information
| The Coventry Telegraph on September 15th 1941 reported his burial: ‘The funeral of Sergt Pilot Rowney, 23 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Rowney of 8, Spring Hill, Arley took place at the parish church of St. Wilfred’s on Saturday. Educated at Anstey and the Coventry Technical College he joined the RAFVR before the war and took his pilot's certificate. The coffin draped with the Union Jack had rested in the church since the previous day and as the cortege of mourners made their way to the church a guard of Honour of the local Home Guard and the ATC lined the approaches to the church and a Wellington machine circled slowly overhead. Representatives of ex-servicemen’s and other parochial bodies were present at the servive which was fully choral. The Rector Canon M. J. G. King officiated’. |
Casualty Pack Number Find Out More
| AIR 81/8950 (P362138/41) |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/486/17 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/486/17 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Barker T A (F/S) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 08-09-1941 |
| End Date | 09-09-1941 |
| Takeoff Station | Swinderby |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (90% moon) |
| Operation | Kassel |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Ran out of fuel and crashed near Woburn, Bedfordshire |