On 18 November he shot down a Do 18 flying boat. On 14 February 1941, Burns was a member of the crew of a Blenheim which crashed on landing at Langham, Norfolk. The observer was killed, the pilot seriously injured and Burns suffered a broken collar bone.
After spending time on aerodrome control duties, Burns joined No 279 Squadron in December 1941, flying in Hudsons equipped with airborne lifeboats. Commissioned in February 1943, he became an instructor. He held staff appointments and left the RAF as a Flight Lieutenant in 1948.
Owen Burns worked as an area manager for Haig Whisky. In later life he was a keen supporter of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association and the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. He died on 30 June 2015, aged 99.
