Robert Emrys Owen RAF – 103 Squadron - 1918 – Observer.
DH9 of the type flown by Robert Owen
Robert Owen was born in 1899 in Anglesey so would be 18 or 19 at the time he wrote the letter set out below to his friend R R Roberts at Dinorwig posted 28 August 1918 He was clearly a young man who relished his big adventure and describes this in the language and style of an educated young man of that period.
The letter was written in Welsh and was translated by Iwan Hughes. A copy was sent to me by the Patrick Russell-Jones webmaster of the outstanding 103 Sq WW1 site. The letter was used as part of a TV documentary on WW1 shown on the Welsh language TV channel S4Croeso in November and I am grateful to all concerned for allowing us to use this fascinating little item and also the accompanying notes from Patrick which add enhance this item considerably.
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Tuesday, 27th.
My dear Friend,
Here I am at last getting down to sending you a brief word hoping that you are getting better.
The time has strangely flown by and I have been in this country five weeks
There is no comparison at all between the flying here and flying in England. There we’d have fun of just scraping over villages and waving at the girls. Here we hover out of the sight of man – mainly at around 15000ft.
This is a day bombing squadron and it’s a very good one too and has been extremely lucky lately. However I’ve had several rather hot scraps since being here.
I won’t forget one trip when twenty-five enemy scouts attacked seven of us. We had a very hot time. There were about twelve behind me and the bullets were whistling past my ears. And me firing as fast as I could. Even if I didn’t shoot them I kept them away. To make things worse some were diving through the formation. However we all came back safely, but Fritz was two short. Our wings and the planes were all bullets. Also on Saturday ten of them attacked five of us, but we got three of them down in flames. That’s the stuff – isn’t it!
The Hun will never attack unless he has three to our one. Also he’ll never come across the lines during the day. Anyway, three came over last Friday, but only one of them was able to escape back. Our scouts are more than a match for them. The weather is rather unfavourable this afternoon – too many clouds around so we’re having a holiday. There is a quite a jolly gang here and so it isn’t boring here. We’ve got one great advantage over the Infantry. We’ve got a comfortable place to come to after being on a show. Cosy huts and everything extremely convenient. Also there is far more fun had here. When Huns are met in the sky one doesn’t think of the danger at all – it’s taken more as a kind of game. It’s quite a strange scene around the lines – the ground all holes from shells and bombs with towns and villages shattered – the odd flash to be seen here and there and that’s the only thing we can see from the air to let us know that there’s any sort of life in the place.
After going a bit further we know immediately that we are in Hunland as Archie shells are bursting around us.
It’s interesting to watch the bombs falling. Here we can see the objective – some station or aerodrome or the enemy’s billets – then there is a tug on the toggles and the pills fall, fall – lower and lower. And become smaller until at last they disappear but after a few seconds the burst is seen often to have ignited a good fire, or has blown up a railway or siding. And of course a few have to fall into a nearby field. After reaching the lines on the way back I take control of the machine to bring it home (apart for the landing) and I’m getting quite good at it.
My pilot is a Yankee and quite a good one he is too. After coming back I have to write a report on what we have seen etc etc. Then a wash and a change and we can enjoy a good meal.
I received a word from Gwilym from home today. I wouldn’t mind a few days leave either.
Well I have nothing more to add this time but my warmest regards to you all there.
Your faithful friend,
R. Emrys.
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Owen was flying with Lt L K Weaver on 11, 12 and 25 August so I assume he was the American to which Robert Owen refers.
11 Aug the Squadron bombed Peronne - 6 aircraft led by Capt Dowding (the famous Hugh Dowding's brother of Battle of Britain fame ) reached the target and were attacked by 10 enemy aircraft.
12 Aug the Squadron bombed Wavrin - 5 aircraft led by Capt Sparks. No enemy aircraft encountered.
25 Aug the Squadron bombed Lomme - 12 aircraft led by Capt Sparks were attacked by 10 enemy aircraft and Owen is recorded as having fired 100 rounds. 5 claims were made by returning aircraft.
18 Sep Owen took part in his final sortie but with Lt Phillips as pilot. Phillips was another Welshman from Swansea.
The Squadron were bombed Harbourdin in a formation led by Capt Darroch.
103 Sqn Diary -18 Sep 1918 mentions 2 enemy Fokkers over Lille one of which was claimed by Lt Russell. The 103 Sqn mission was flown at 0950 to 1200 and The Sky Their Battlefield records show the time of Owen and Phillips' demise at 1140. “D5572 Lt TM Phillips 2Lt RE Owen both KIA LILLE”
DH9 with Pilot and Observer showing the lose proximity of the two crew members which was a great advantage in combat
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18/09/1918 – Haubourdin - DH9 – D5572 – FTR – Combat and aircraft crashed. 2 killed
2Lt Thomas Martin Phillips RAF – Pilot – 24 – 103 Sqn - Son of Howell and Hannah Phillips, of 87, Manselton Rd., Manselton, Swansea – Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, France
2Lt R E Owen RAF – Observer – 103 Sqn - Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, France
Haubourdin France under attack by 103 Squadron - 17th Oct 1918
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They are thought to have been an Anti Aircraft victim and 2Lt Butters suggests this in his notes written at the time. The Jasta War Chronology however records a German fighter claim at 1135 over Lille by OfStv Otto Sowa of Jasta 52. The victim is not linked to any specific Sqadron and just stated as a DH9. It is thought to be the same aircraft. Note however that the difference between the British and German “War Times” makes this slightly confusing. There is also a suggestion that the Germans gave the credit for this kill to an AA battery in the vicinity.
Compiled by David Fell. Photos from my archive
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