Dr Robert Owen

Dr Robert Owen is an aviation historian, author and experienced Travel Editions tour expert whose research focuses particularly on Bomber Command and No. 617 Squadron. He is the Official Historian of the No. 617 Squadron Association and a former Chairman of the Barnes Wallis Foundation, roles that reflect more than four decades of detailed study into the aircraft, operations and people associated with the squadron.

Robert completed his doctorate in 2015 with a thesis examining the development of No. 617 Squadron between 1943 and 1945. His work looks beyond the famous Dams Raid to explore how the squadron’s role, tactics and specialist weapons evolved during the remainder of the Second World War.

He is the author of Henry Maudslay: Dam Buster, a biography of one of the pilots lost during Operation Chastise, and was a lead contributor to Dam Busters: Failed to Return. His most recent book, Breaking the German Dams: A Minute-by-Minute Account of Operation Chastise, reconstructs the events of 16 and 17 May 1943 in remarkable chronological detail. Robert has also contributed to numerous aviation publications, museum projects and television documentaries, and has advised organisations including the Royal Air Force and RAF Museum.

For Travel Editions, Robert leads aviation and wartime history tours exploring the aircraft, command centres and operations that shaped the conflict. These include visits connected with the Lancaster, the de Havilland Mosquito, the Battle of Britain and the Dambusters, where his specialist knowledge adds valuable context to the machines and historic sites encountered.

An experienced and enthusiastic lecturer and guide, Robert combines rigorous research with clear, accessible storytelling. His thoughtful commentary reveals the human experiences behind celebrated operations, helping guests understand the courage, ingenuity and sacrifice of those who served in the air and on the ground.