Wednesday 21 March 2012

James Basil Cowan - Crash Photo



I have been sent this amazing photo by Craig Moffatt, a relative of Lt.James Basil Cowan. Under the photo it says

The above shows how Lieut James B. Cowan of the 47th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, with the right wing of his aeroplane almost completely shot away by German gunfire, returned to his aerodrome after a successful bombing raid on a German Ammunition Dump, Inglemunster, N.E. of Coustiai. However he accomplished the ??? was the wonder of his fellow airmen for weeks.


Would be interesting to discover who the observer was that was flying with him that day. I know of three crashes involving Cowan. On one occasion my Grandfather was the observer and on two other occasions he was with Lt.Ludlow Jones.

I was told that the propellor base from this crash was used to for the making of a mantle clock. There is also family story that James was hosted at a special family gathering of his UK relatives prior to his final mission at which they arranged for a model aeroplane to fly around the room. Ominously the plane crash landed into James' bowl of soup.

Thanks to Craig for sharing this photo and information.

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