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Owens, Robert L.

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: June 3, 1924 - April 8, 2017

Biography

Robert L. Owens, from Sanger, California, served aboard the submarine USS Growler (SSG-577), first as executive officer, then as commanding officer, from February 1960 to December 13, 1963. Owens began his submarine service during WWII aboard the USS Tinosa. After the war, he pursued his education, and then returned to the Navy, this time in the reserves. Owens became involved in the Regulus Program, switched from the reserves to regular Navy, and eventually joined Growler. After decommissioning Growler at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Owens continued his naval career, returning to COMSUBPAC Staff as the Polaris Targeting Officer, commanding the fast attack boat Sea Leopard, and joining CINCLANT as part of the team that would send the go-message to the Polaris boats. He was then the Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations for SubFlot 6, received orders to the Pentagon for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he was the Submarine Officer attached to the Chairman’s SALT negotiation team, and ended his 28 years in the submarine service as the 688 Project Officer. After his career in the submarine service, Robert Owens returned to Sanger, California, where he ran his family’s plumbing business.

Chronology:
1943
Start of Military Service (WWII)
1946
End of Military Service (WWII)
1952
Start of Military Service
February 1960
Start of Service Aboard Growler
December 13, 1963
End of Service Aboard Growler
1975
End of Military Service

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

John "Andy" Anderson Oral History

 Item
Identifier: OHP 112
Scope and Contents John “Andy” Anderson served aboard Growler from August 1961 to May 1963, as a fire control technician (missile guidance systems) third class and was the torpedo fire controlman aboard Growler. Anderson began his interview by stating that his father served aboard German submarines during World War I, which influenced his decision to join the Navy and serve aboard submarines. He then briefly discussed his childhood before explaining why he joined the Navy. Anderson continued, describing his...
Dates: September 14, 2016

Robert L. Owens Oral History (Second Interview)

 Item
Identifier: OHP 126
Scope and Contents Robert L. Owens served aboard Growler, first as executive officer, then as commanding officer, from February 1960 to December 13, 1963. He began his second interview by recalling his early Navy career when he was drafted during World War II. Owens stated that he attended boot camp in Farragut, ID, and electrician school, before volunteering for submarine service and completing five war patrols on Tinosa. After discussing his experiences in the submarine service during World War II, Owens...
Dates: March 14, 2017

Filtered By

  • Subject: Russia (nation) -- Kamchatskiy Kray (kray) -- Kamchatka (peninsula) X
  • Subject: Vacuum -- High Vacuum X

Additional filters:

Subject
Celebrations -- Holidays -- Christmas 1
Commanding Officer 1
Communications Technicians, CTs 1
Damage Control 1
Decommissioning, May 25, 1964 1
∨ more
Discipline 1
Education -- Training -- Military Training -- Naval Training -- Submarine Training 1
Education -- Training -- Military Training -- Naval Training -- Submarine Training -- Qualifying 1
Engineering -- Marine Engineering -- Shipbuilding 1
Engines -- Heat Engines -- Internal Combustion Engines -- Compression Ignition Engines -- Diesel Engines 1
Executive Officer 1
Fire Control Technician (Missile Guidance Systems) Petty Officer 3rd Class, FTG3 1
Food -- Cake 1
Growler -- crew's quarters 1
Growler -- missile hangar(s), port missile hangar, starboard missile hangar 1
Growler -- officer stateroom 1
Growler -- wardroom 1
Guided Missiles -- Cruise Missiles -- Regulus 1 1
Humor -- Practical Jokes 1
Hygiene 1
Intelligence -- Military Intelligence 1
Lieutenant Commander, O-4 1
Ordnance -- Ammunition -- Antiship Ammunition -- Torpedoes 1
Ordnance -- Fire Control Systems -- Fire Control System Components -- Fire Control Computers -- Torpedo Data Computers 1
Petty Officer 3rd Class, E-4 1
Recreation 1
Russia (nation) -- Kamchatskiy Kray (kray) -- Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy (inhabited place) 1
Russia (nation) -- Primorskiy Kray (kray) -- Vladivostok (inhabited place) 1
Social Sciences -- Psychology -- Social Psychology -- Human Relations -- Race Relations 1
Strategy -- Deterrence 1
Tubes -- Torpedo Tubes 1
United States (nation) -- California (state) -- Ventura (county) -- Point Mugu (cape) -- Naval Air Station Point Mugu (air base) 1
United States (nation) -- Connecticut (state) -- New London (county) -- Groton (inhabited place) -- Naval Submarine Base New London (submarine base) 1
United States (nation) -- Hawaii (state) -- Honolulu (county) -- Oahu (island) -- Pearl Harbor Naval Reservation (defense installation) 1
United States (nation) -- Midway Islands (possession) 1
∧ less