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O V Burns BofB WOP/AG 235 Sqn
Just heard Owen has died, short of making the 75th Anniversary of The Battle of Britain.
An Air Gunner with 235 Sqn (Blenheim 1F fighter) during 1940/41. Having survived the Battle, on Valentines Day, evening, 1941, Owen Burns survived a landing accident, when his Blenheim crashed into a tree, sadly killing the Observer. On final approach, whilst attempting to land at Bircham Newton after a patrol across the North Sea, the airfield flarepath was suddenly extinguished due to an enemy aircraft in the vicinity. Redirecting to RAF Langham, the lights there too were suddenly turned off, plunging the Blenheim into sudden darkness, resulting into the collision with the tree. Joseph Chamberlain, the Pilot, survived with serious injuries and Owen Burns escaped with a fractured collarbone. Both would live into old age, Joseph passing in sept 2011.
May he rest in peace, - the last surviving 235 Battle of Britain Veteran that I'm aware of.
Andy Bird
235 Sqn Registrar
Author - Coastal Dawn
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