Edward John LOWANS (1922-

Name:	*LOWANS, Edward John "Ted", DFM*
Nationality:	Canadian
Regiment/Service:	Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank:	Flight Lieutenant
Service No.:	J/18661
Unit Text:	No.49 Squadron
Date of Birth:	27 December 1922 - Toronto, York, ON

LOWANS, Flight Sergeant Edward John (R96467) - Distinguished Flying Medal - No.49 Squadron - Award effective 21 March 1943 as per London Gazette dated 2 April 1943 and AFRO 757/43 dated 30 April 1943. Born in Toronto, 27 December 1922; home in Gananoque (clerk); enlisted Ottawa 16 June 1941 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To Trenton, 15 July 1941. To No.1 ITS, 20 August 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 8 October 1941 when posted to No.1 AOS; to No.4 BGS, 31 January 1942; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 14 March 1942 when posted to No.2 ANS; graduated 14 April 1942 when posted to “Y” Depot. To RAF overseas, 30 April 1942. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 14 September 1942. Promoted WO2, 14 March 1943. Commissioned 26 July 1943. Promoted Flying Officer, 26 January 1944. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 5 August 1944. Repatriated 9 February 1945. To No.1 Air Command, 26 February 1945. To No.16 SFTS, 18 April 1945. To No.3 Release Centre, 7 May 1945. Retired 10 May 1945. Cited with Sergeant John Lamont Matthews. Also a Sergeant Sylvester and a Sergeant Tickler.

Public Record Office Air 50/187 has the following which seems to bear upon P/O (previous Flight Sergeant) B.L. Schauenberg and Flight Sergeant Edwin John Lowans on the night of 12/13 June 1943:

Aircraft: Lancaster ED625 “B”
Target: Mannheim
Time: 0155
Height: 19,000 feet
Position: 52.25 N 06.50 E.
Heading: 3,000 [sic] ?
Crew: Captain: F/L Munro; Flight Engineer, Sergeant Reddish; Navigator, P/O Harris; Wireless Operator: P/O Schaunberg [Schauenberg ?]; Bomb Aimer, Flight Sergeant Lowans. Mid-Upper Gunner, Flight Sergeant Wood (Gunnery School, Port Perry, Australia, No.29 OTU and Wigalsy Conversion Flight); Rear Gunner: Flight Sergeant Dreaver (Gunnery School, Levin New Zealand and Chakea, New Zealand and OTU, Old Sarrum).

Combat Report

Conditions: No clouds. No searchlights.

Sighted astern and above at 600 yards an enemy aircraft, unknown, twin engines. Corkscrew action was taken and the rear gunner opened fire, firing a four-second burst. The fighter closed in to 200 yards and pushed its nose down, last seen diving vertically. Rear gunner fired approximately 300 rounds. No return fire from enemy aircraft.