Cowen, John Robert
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | John Robert |
Surname | Cowen |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 23-11-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Ruth Cowen, of Whitby, North Yorkshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | JB218 |
Markings | OF-Y |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 146. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 149 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1036940 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 97 (Straits Settlements) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of the Holy Spirit, RAF Coningsby, Coningsby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window |
Memorial Text | A stained glass window remembering 97 Sqn in the Church of the Holy Spirit, RAF Coningsby |
Miscellaneous Information
Date of birth 4 Aug 1920. He was known as Bobby. Place of birth Whitby, North Yorkshire. Trained RAF Padgate, Warrington. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/767/22 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/767/21 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-11-1943 |
End Date | 24-11-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Bourn |
Day/Night Raid | Night (15% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 764 aircraft- the largest raid on Berlin so far and the last to include Stirlings which had not fared well in recent raids on the city. Bad weather again kept the night-fighters at bay and as a result 26 aircraft were Lost (3.4%). The target was completely cloud-covered but despite the weather, this was the most successful raid on Berlin of the war. An unseasonably dry spell led to several firestorms and there was an immense area of destruction. At least 3000 houses were destroyed along with 23 industrial premises. 175000 people were bombed out and the list of municipal buildings damaged or destroyed is too long to include. The famous Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was hit this night- it is a famous landmark in Berlin to this day because it was deliberately only part-restored. Five Siemens factories and the Alkett tank works were destroyed, the latter having been moved to Berlin from the Ruhr after its destruction earlier in the conflict. |
Reason for Loss |