James C. Owens, Jr.

James Charles Owens, Jr. (December 5, 1910—June 4, 1943) was an American naval aviator.

James Owens was born in in Batavia, New York, on December 5, 1910, to James Charles Owens and Edith Ernestine who were married on 19 Jan 1910 in Rome, New York.

Owens was an all-city athlete at Los Angeles High School where he was the captain of the football team and a track star. In 1928, he and seven teammates set a new world interscholastic record in the mile relay.

After graduating from Los Angeles High School in June 1930, Owens entered the University of Southern California, graduating in May 1934.

In July 1935, Owens enlisted in the US Navy Reserve Pilot Training Program (V-5). He completed the elimination phase of his training at the Long Beach Naval Reserve Aviation Base in August. He was appointed Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD), USNR, on 19 September 1935 (date of rank was 13 Sep 1935) and ordered to flight training at the Naval Air Station (NAS), Pensacola, Florida. He completed flight training at Pensacola, and he was designed naval aviator #4922 in Sep 1936. He was commissioned an Ensign A-V(N) on 1 November 1936.

On November 1, 1939, he was promoted to Lieutenant (Junior Grade). He served on board the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-2) followed by flight instructor duty in Pensacola and Norfolk, VA. On September 1, 1941, he joined Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8) and was to be assigned to USS Hornet (CV-8) upon her commissioning on 20 October 1941 at the Norfolk Naval Station.

Appointed Lieutenant on January 6, 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 and eliminating Japanese air cover, 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, he received the Navy Cross and the Presidential Unit Citation (US) posthumously.

In 1940, Owens married Helen Marie Ross, also a University of Southern California graduate. Helen was born in Iowa to Jesse Clifford and Edna Frances (Hendry) Ross.

Owens received two battle stars for World War II service and two for the Korean War.

The USS James C. Owens (DD-776) was named in his honor.