Owen A. Ayotte entered the military service in Michigan. He resided in Bay County, Michigan prior to the war. Owen served as a Sergeant and an Assistant Engineer on C-47 #43-15885, 2nd Squadron, 1st Combat Cargo Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

C-47 #43-15885, while on a cargo flight, their left engine exploded for an unknown reason. The pilot, 2nd Lt. Clyde C. Johnston, Jr., gave the order to bailout and the entire crew did. All crewmen returned to duty except for Owen who was never seen again, it was July 16, 1945. Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until July 17, 1946, 1 year and 1 day after he went missing as was the custom. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

Owen was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China but his surname is inscribed as Eyotte.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov