Flight Sergeant Robert Henry Cowley
Killed in Action in WW2
Date of Death:
Service Biography
Robert Henry Cowley was born at Bristol, Quebec, on 27 August 1915, the son of John Augustus Ellis and Edna Jane Cowley. He was educated in Ottawa and at Queen's University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Before the war he worked as a tester for E.B. Eddy Company and as a chemist with the British Supply Board at Valleyfield, Quebec. He had served with the Queen's University C.O.T.C. and the Non-Permanent Active Militia before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Ottawa on 24 November 1941 as R143634. Cowley trained as a pilot, rose to Flight Sergeant and served overseas with No. 295 Squadron, Royal Air Force. On 19 July 1943 his Halifax aircraft disappeared while returning from operations connected with the Allied airborne assault on Sicily. Extensive enquiries failed to locate the aircraft or those aboard. Cowley was later presumed dead for official purposes as of 19 July 1943. He was 27 years old.
General Information
Conflict:
WW2
Regimental No.:
R143634
Cause of Death (in war):
Killed in Action
Branch:
Air Force
Regiment:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Battalion:
No. 295 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Bristol, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
26 years 2 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
27 years 10 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
27 years 10 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Chemist
Next of Kin:
John Augustus Ellis Cowley (father), 220 Powell Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario
Address at Enlistment:
3 St. Helena, Valleyfield, Quebec
Religion:
Church of England
Place of Enlistment:
Ottawa, Ontario
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 7.5 in / 171 cm
Weight:
150 lbs / 68 kg
Chest:
35.0 in / 89 cm
Expansion:
3.0 in / 8 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
Yes
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Discharge Type:
Died in Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Presumed dead after being reported missing as a result of air operations on 19 July 1943.
Length of Service:
602 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Images
Service File photo of Robert Henry Cowley
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW2 |
Flight Sergeant |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 295 Squadron, Royal Air Force |
|
|
|
| Final substantive rank and operational squadron association confirmed. |
| WW2 |
Sergeant |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 15 Service Flying Training School / overseas training |
|
|
|
| Pilot Flying Badge awarded 6 Nov 1942. |
| WW2 |
Leading Aircraftman |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
Flying Training Establishments |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Aircraftman Second Class |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 2 Manning Depot / initial training |
|
|
|
Service Chronology
1915-08-27 — Born
1934–1939 — Attended Queen's University; earned Bachelor of Arts
1939–1940 — Served with Queen's University C.O.T.C.
1940–1941 — Served with N.P.A.M., 3rd Field Company, Engineers
1941-11-24 — Enlisted R.C.A.F. as Aircraftman Second Class
1942-04-25 — Reclassified Leading Aircraftman
1942 — Pilot training at Canadian flying-training establishments, including Calgary, Regina and Claresholm
1942-11-06 — Promoted Sergeant; Pilot Flying Badge awarded
1942-11-20 — Struck off strength No. 15 S.F.T.S. for overseas movement
1942-12-18 — Disembarked overseas
1942-12-19 — Taken on strength No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre
1943-03-23 — Struck off strength No. 3 P.R.C. to further flying/operational training; source unit abbreviation retained as written
1943-03-30 — Attached to '1516 Flt' as written in the service sheet
1943-04-08 — Further service-sheet posting/attachment entry; source abbreviation retained rather than expanded
1943-04-26 — Service-sheet entry transferring/attaching him to No. 295 Squadron
1943-05-06 — Promoted Flight Sergeant
1943-06-21 — Emplaned for North Africa
1943-06-29 — Departed by air on overseas operational movement
1943-07-19 — Halifax departed Ras el Ma, Algeria, for the United Kingdom at 0735 GMT after Sicily glider-towing operations and failed to arrive
1943-07-19 — Reported/believed missing as a result of air operations
1944-07-10 — Certificate of Presumption of Death issued; presumed dead effective 19 July 1943
Notes
Cowley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen's University after attending Cambridge Public School and Glebe Collegiate in Ottawa. Before enlistment he worked as a tester for E.B. Eddy Co. at Hull, Quebec, and in 1941 as a chemist for the British Supply Board at Valleyfield, Quebec. He had prior military experience with the Queen's University C.O.T.C. in 1939–40 and the N.P.A.M., 3rd Field Company, Engineers, in 1940–41. His recruiting interview described him as above average and suitable for commissioned rank, and noted that his brother 'Bill' Cowley was an all-star professional hockey player with the Boston Bruins. He played hockey, football, baseball and swam. Medical records give height 5 ft 7½ in, weight 150 lb, full-expiration chest 35 in with 3 in expansion, blue eyes and brown hair. He reported a fractured left clavicle in 1937 and wore glasses for reading only.
Additional Service Notes
Robert Henry Cowley enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Ottawa on 24 November 1941 as R143634. He entered as Aircraftman Second Class, was reclassified Leading Aircraftman on 25 April 1942, promoted Sergeant on 6 November 1942 and Flight Sergeant on 6 May 1943. He was awarded the Pilot Flying Badge on 6 November 1942. After pilot training in Canada, including No. 15 Service Flying Training School at Claresholm, he was struck off strength for overseas movement on 20 November 1942, disembarked in the United Kingdom on 18 December and was taken on strength of No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre on 19 December. His later service included further flying/operational training and service with No. 295 Squadron, Royal Air Force. On 21 June 1943 he emplaned for North Africa. On 19 July 1943 his Halifax aircraft, employed in the Sicily airborne operation, departed Ras el Ma, Algeria, for the United Kingdom at 0735 GMT and failed to arrive. Extensive investigations could not establish the fate of the aircraft, crew or passengers. Cowley was reported believed missing and was later presumed dead for official purposes effective 19 July 1943.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Cowley was single and had no children. His father was John Augustus Ellis Cowley and his mother was Edna Jane Cowley (née Bennett), both of 220 Powell Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario. His father was the recorded next of kin during service. Cowley's service will, dated 27 November 1941, left his estate to his mother, Edna J. Cowley, who was the sole beneficiary in the estate distributions.
Version: 4 Last modified: 2026-09-19 02:05:03
by: marc
