James C. Owens Jr., Date of Birth, Date of Death
TweetJames C. Owens Jr.
Recipient of the Navy Cross
Date of Birth: 05-Dec-1910
Date of Death: 04-Jun-1942
Profession: military officer
Nationality: United States
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius 
About James C. Owens Jr.
- James C.
- Owens Jr.
- (5 December 1910 in Batavia, New York – 4 June 1942), he was a naval aviator.
- He was appointed Naval Aviation Cadet, USNR, 3 September 1935. Following flight training at Pensacola, Florida, he served on board Lexington (CV-2); and on 1 September 1941, he joined Torpedo Squadron 8 on board Hornet (CV-8).
- Appointed Lieutenant 6 January 1942, Owens was the squadron Executive Officer and led the second division of TBD Devastator torpedo bombers when it pressed home a courageous and determined attack against Japanese carriers on 4 June during the Battle of Midway.
- Without the protection of fighters or accompanying dive bombers, the pilots exposed themselves to overwhelming firepower; and every plane of the squadron was shot down.
- By forcing the enemy ships to maneuver radically, thereby delaying Japanese preparations for a second strike, the "stark courage and relentless drive" of the torpedo pilots, such as Lieutenant Owens, made possible the American victory that followed.
- For extraordinary heroism in the face of overwhelming danger, Lt.
- Owens received the Navy Cross and the Presidential Unit Citation (US) posthumously.
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