Raymond Thomas's Story.
Raymond Thomas Bowen was born in Harlesden on 10 October 1920 to Thomas Lewis and Lily Maud Bowen. (Thomas Bowen was a Locomotive Fitter & Turner). The family moved to Welling in 1929 and Raymond was educated at Shooters Hill Secondary School. After leaving school he was employed at The Road Transport Insurance Company and then the Southern Railway (Continental Section). He was a server at East Wickham Church and had been a member of the choir.Raymond joined the RAFVR in July 1940. After initial training in the UK, Raymond was selected as a Navigator and sent to Canada to complete his training.
Navigator training course class photo. Ronald is in back row 6th from left
On his return to the UK he received his commission as a Pilot Officer (General Duties Branch)(Emergency Commission) on 5 Aug 1941. He served with 214 and 215 Squadrons of Bomber Command.He was promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant in August 1942.
Raymond married Joan Rayson at RAF Bassingbourne in Cambridgeshire on 31 December 1941.
Ronald's Wedding
Ronald and Joan Bowen
Family records indicate that he completed 70 operational flights including into Germany and Italy.
He transferred to 12 Operational Training Squadron based at Chipping Walden, Northamptonshire in March 1943 as a Navigation Instructor.
On 13 September 1943 he was onboard Wellington BJ664 engaged in a navigational exercise with seven other personnel onboard. The plane was caught is a severe thunderstorm and the pilot lost control and crashed at Aston on Chun, 9 miles northwest of Ludlow. All onboard were killed.
Announcement in local newspaper
Account of accident
Wellington BJ664 flying from 12 OTU RAF Chipping Warden, on the 13th September 1943 on a map reading exercise and trip to a local bombing range after arriving at Conway North Wales the crew flew south into ever poorer weather until over the Church Stretton area a large thunderstorm was encountered after a large flash the plane was seen to be in trouble loosing height it crashed into trees and disintegrated with the loss of all crew
Recent photo of crash site. Remains of damaged trees are the only indication that a crash occured
The accident report suggests that the pilot did not follow instructions to avoid flying into the storm.
Accident Report 1
Accident Report 2. Note Ronald is incorrectly listed as R.E. Brown but his service number is correct.
Accident Report 3
Accident Report 4
Raymond is buried at Chester (Blacon) Cemetery together with three others who were killed in the crash.
Ronald's funeral at Blacon attended by his wife and parents
Acknowledgment
https://www.ewt.org.uk/memorial-names/bowen/