World War II Honoree

Orvil Leroy Owens

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Beaumont, California

Honored By

Steven and Pamela Owens

Relationship

Children

He was the Left Waist Gunner on Crew 12 in U.S. Navy Bombing Squadron VB-104 in The South Pacific, stationed at Carney Field on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Their Squadron, 'The Buccaneers of Harry Sears' was the most decorated unit of WWII, having received two Presidential Unit Citations. Their Commander was Harry E. Sears. He was awarded the following: The Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Gold Star in Lieu of Second Air Medal, and Gold Star in Lieu of Third Air Medal. He was also awarded a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in a fierce air battle on November 4, 1943 with eight Japanese planes that resulted in badly damaged Hydraulic gear, port aileron and rudder caused by nearly 200 shots which destroyed left side of their plane. Because of the expertise of their pilot, the plane was safely landed on the island of Munda. To keep the plane from crashing into the Pacific, the crew threw out everything that they did not need.