World War II Honoree

Kenneth Lee Owens

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Charlotte, North Carolina

Honored By

Jason Owens

Relationship

Grandson

SERVED FROM 1942 TO 1945 AS AIRPLANE ARMORER AND GUNNER ON B-24 AIRCRAFT IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH FOUR OAK LEAF CLUSTERS. HIS 718TH SQUADRON CREW FLEW ON BOTH OF THE 449TH BOMB GROUP PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION MISSIONS. THEY HAD TO BAIL OUT OF 'THE INHOOMIN CRITTER' OVER YUGOSLAVIA ON THE JULY 9, 1944 MISSION. AFTER BAILING OUT, THEY TOOK TO THE MOUNTAINS OF YUGOSLAVIA. THEY SUBSEQUENTLY EVADED CAPTURE. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CHETNIKS THEY WERE RETURNED TO ITALY ON AUGUST 10, 1944.