Sgt. Donald Joseph Bowen
Royal Air Force No. 150 Squadron
from:Belfast
(d.14th May 1940)
My uncle, Donald Bowen (born in 1918), was an observer in Fairey Battle K9483 which was shot down on 14th of May 1940 just south of Bulson in France. They took off from Ecury-sur-Coole at 15:18 on a mission to destroy bridges in Sedan on the river Meuse but were met by a Bf109, piloted by Willi Ghesla. All three crew were lost. The youngest at 18 years old was Norman V. Vano RAF 630788 the gunner, and Pilot Arthur F. Posselt RAF 41319 aged 21.
The other Fairey Battle that took off at the same time on the mission was L4946, and on board was a William J. Nolan RAF 613363 from Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, so I have no doubt that Donald and William knew each other. But telephone books do not exist anymore so I can not call every Nolan in that area to make enquiries. Perhaps there is a photo of the group somewhere? My research has brought me to the death of Donald, but now I am looking to go back in his life and find any information I can. My dad, his brother, died when I was three years old, so missing in action was all we knew then.
