Major General Owen Herbert Mead, CBE, DSO (24 January 1892 – 25 July 1942) was an officer in the New Zealand Military Forces who served during the First and Second World Wars.

During the Second World War he commanded the Pacific Section of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, which was responsible for the defence of Fiji.

[3] Upon the outbreak of the First World War, Mead volunteered for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) which was being raised for service overseas.

[1] He was lightly wounded soon after the landings at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915 but was only out the lines briefly for medical attention before returning to the front.

The following month his rank was made substantive and he was appointed commander of the 1st Battalion of the 1st Infantry Brigade, which he led during the latter stages of Battle of Passchendaele.

[6] Mead's service with the NZEF ceased in 1920 but he chose to remain in the military, and subsequently joined the New Zealand Staff Corps.

[12] In July 1942, the American 37th Division relieved the New Zealand forces in Fiji and assumed responsibility for the defence of the island.

Mead stayed in Fiji to observe the American preparations for the Guadalcanal landings before leaving on 25 July in a Royal New Zealand Air Force Hudson aircraft for a final inspection trip to Tonga.