John J. Cowell, (1889 – 30 July 1918) was an Irish soldier, airman and flying ace of the First World War. He was credited with sixteen aerial victories; fifteen of these were gained as an observer/gunner and one as a pilot, before he was killed in action.
Early life and background Cowell was born in Limerick, one of ten children of Michael and Kate Cowell.
First World War Cowell first served in the 12th Field Company of the Royal Engineers, where on 27 October 1916 Sapper (Acting Corporal) Cowell was awarded his first Military Medal.
Cowell then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, joining No. 20 Squadron as an observer/gunner during Bloody April 1917. He manned the guns of a F.E.2d fighter for such other aces as Richard M. Trevethan, Cecil Roy Richards, Reginald Condon, and Oliver Vickers. Between 5 May and 28 July 1917, Cowell gained fifteen victories, destroying a German two-seater reconnaissance aircraft and five German fighters, and driving down nine more German fighters out of control. He was promoted to sergeant, and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, which was gazetted on 17 July 1917. His citation read:
On 14 September 1917 Cowell received a Bar to his Military Medal. He then returned to the Home Establishment for flight training, rejoining No. 20 Squadron as a pilot in mid-1918.
On 29 July 1918, while flying a Bristol F.2b, Cowell drove down a Fokker D.VII, his last, and only aerial victory as a pilot. He was killed in action the following day, shot down by Friedrich Ritter von Röth of Jasta 16. Cowell is buried in Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery, Saint-Omer, France.
List of aerial victories +Combat recordNo.Date/TimeAircraft/Serial No.Opponent Result Location Notes1 5 May 1917@ 1710 F.E.2d(A6400) Albatros D.III Out of control Poelcapelle Pilot: Second Lieutenant Reginald Conder2 13 May 1917@ 1040 F.E.2d(A6412) Two-seater Destroyed Rekkem Airfield Pilot: Second Lieutenant M. P. Scott3 20 May 1917@ 0920 F.E.2d(A6412) Albatros D.III Out of control Menen Pilot: Second Lieutenant Reginald Conder4 25 May 1917@ 0850 F.E.2d(A6415) Albatros D.III Out of control Wervik Pilot: Second Lieutenant Reginald Conder5 26 May 1917@ 1030 F.E.2d(A6415) Albatros D.III Out of control Comines Pilot: Second Lieutenant Reginald Conder6 26 May 1917@ 2010 F.E.2d(A6415) Albatros D.III Destroyed in flames South-east of Ypres Pilot: Second Lieutenant Reginald Conder7 2 June 1917@ 0945 F.E.2d(A6415) Albatros D.III Destroyed Gheluvelt Pilot: Second Lieutenant Richard M. Trevethan8 29 June 1917@ 1610 F.E.2d(A6376) Albatros D.V Out of control Becelaère Pilot: Second Lieutenant Oliver Vickers9 12 July 1917@ 1700–1715 F.E.2d(A6376) Albatros D.V Destroyed East of Ploegsteert Wood Pilot: Second Lieutenant Oliver Vickers10 Albatros D.V Out of control11 17 July 1917@ 1945–1950 F.E.2d(A6468) Albatros D.V Destroyed in flames Polygon Wood Pilot: Lieutenant Cecil Richards12 Albatros D.V Destroyed 28Q 2813 20 July 1917@ 0955 F.E.2d(A6376) Albatros D.V Out of control Wervik Pilot: Second Lieutenant Oliver Vickers14 22 July 1917@ 1650 F.E.2d(A6376) Albatros D.V Out of control Menen—Wervik Pilot: Second Lieutenant Oliver Vickers15 28 July 1917@ 1845 F.E.2d(A6376) Albatros D.V Out of control East of Messines Pilot: Second Lieutenant Oliver Vickers16 29 July 1918@ 2010 Bristol F.2b(E2471) Fokker D.VII Out of control North-west of Wervicq Observer: Corporal Charles William Hill
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