Hugh Bowen-Morris was born in Dorset on 17th February 1920 and brought up in Bath and then Coventry. He joined the RAFVR in June 1939 and began flying training at 9 E&RFTS Ansty.
Bowen-Morris was called up on 1st September 1939, went to 3 ITW at Hastings and then to 3 FTS Hamble in November. He undertook further training at 14 FTS Kinloss and FTS Cranfield.
In August 1940 Bowen-Morris went to 7 OTU Hawarden and after converting to Spitfires he joined 66 Squadron, then 610 Squadron and finally went to 92 Squadron at Biggin Hill on 12th September.
He shared a Ju88 on the 27th and crashed on landing back at Biggin Hill, damaging Spitfire R6760.
Stuka J9 + BK of 2./StG1 was shot down just outside Manston airfield on 5th February 1941. Lt. E Schimmelpfennig and OberGf. H Kaden were killed.
L to R: P/O CH Saunders, Sgt. CA Ream, Sgt.H Bowen-Morris, Sgt. RH Fokes.
He destroyed a Me109 on 12th May 1941 and another on 16th June.
Bowen-Morris was shot down during a convoy protection sortie off France on 23rd June 1941 in Spitfire V R6761. A cannon shell exploded in the cockpit and rendered his right arm useless. He was able to carry out a force-landing before losing consciousness. He was taken to the Luftwaffe Hospital at St. Omer where his right arm was amputated. In an exchange of prisoners in October 1943 Bowen-Morris was repatriated by the Red Cross via Sweden. He was discharged from the RAF on 9th June 1944 as a Warrant Officer.
Bowen-Morris returned to his pre-war position as an accountant, subsequently serving as a director of John Brown Shipbuilders.
In retirement in Gloucestershire he suffered from heart disease which culminated in his death on 9th February 1991.
Photos and text courtesy of Battle of Britain Monument website
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