Owsley Franklin Charles

Name:

Franklin Charles Owsley

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

19056375

Unit:

549th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1944-02-21

State:

Colorado

Cemetery:

Alamosa Municipal Cemetery, Colorado

Plot:

Old Perm Block

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Comments:

Franklin Charles Owsley was born on May 27, 1910, in Grain Valley, Missouri. He was the son of Clarence Torrie Owsley and Emma Jennie Hague Owsley.

Franklin served in the 549th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner on the B-17 #42-37963 during World War II. On February 21, 1944, bombers were returning to the 385th Bomber Group's base at Great Ashfield, England, from a raid on targets in Germany. The pilot lost control of the plane in the clouds. He collided with another aircraft (B-17 #42-31370) in the formation; a bomber from the 550th Bomb Squadron. Both aircraft crashed into the marshes at Reedham, and all of the crew members of both airplanes were killed.

SSgt Owsley is now buried in the Alamosa Municipal Cemetery, Alamosa, Alamosa County, Colorado, USA.