Geoffrey Hilton Bowman
Encyclopedia
Group Captain
Geoffrey Hilton "Beery" Bowman DSO
, MC
and Bar
, DFC
(2 May 1891 – 25 March 1970) was a World War I
fighter ace
credited with 32 victories. After attaining the rank of Major
in the Royal Flying Corps
, he later became a Group Captain
in the Royal Air Force
.
, England
, Bowman was commissioned as a lieutenant
in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment early in the war and was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
on 20 March 1916. After pilot training, he joined No. 29 Squadron
on 7 July 1916, flying Airco DH.2
aircraft.
His first claim was over a Roland C.II two seater with which he unintentionally collided on 3 September 1916; he turned into its attack, firing away, and the German plane tore away his aileron kingpost. Bowman "babied" his crippled craft home despite its lack of lateral control.
His second win, on 27 September 1916, was a run-away German observation balloon
he downed after finding it drifting over the lines; however he crashed while trying to land alongside the balloon wreckage on Mount Kemmel.
In May 1917 he was posted to No 56 squadron as a Flight Commander, flying Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
aircraft. By July he had claimed another five victories. He was awarded the Military Cross
in September 1917 and the bar in October.
In February 1918 he was posted to command No. 41 Squadron
. His final score was one aircraft shared captured, one balloon destroyed, 15 aircraft destroyed and 15 'out of control'.
After the war in 1919 he served in Russia
, and joined HQ, 23 Group in 1934, retiring the same year and joining the Royal Aircraft Establishment
.
He died in March 1970.
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
Geoffrey Hilton "Beery" Bowman DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(2 May 1891 – 25 March 1970) was a World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
fighter ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with 32 victories. After attaining the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, he later became a Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
.
Involvement in World War I
Born in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Bowman was commissioned as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment early in the war and was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
on 20 March 1916. After pilot training, he joined No. 29 Squadron
No. 29 Squadron RAF
No. 29 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was first raised in 1915, and is one of the world's oldest fighter squadrons. The second British squadron to receive the Eurofighter Typhoon, it is currently the Operational Conversion Unit for the RAF's newest fighter.-Service in World War I:This unit was...
on 7 July 1916, flying Airco DH.2
Airco DH.2
|-DH.2 aces:Distinguished pilots of the DH.2 included Victoria Cross winner Lanoe Hawker , who was the first commander of No 24 Squadron and ace Alan Wilkinson. The commander of No. 32 Squadron, Lionel Rees won the Victoria Cross flying the D.H.2 for single handedly attacking a formation of 10...
aircraft.
His first claim was over a Roland C.II two seater with which he unintentionally collided on 3 September 1916; he turned into its attack, firing away, and the German plane tore away his aileron kingpost. Bowman "babied" his crippled craft home despite its lack of lateral control.
His second win, on 27 September 1916, was a run-away German observation balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
he downed after finding it drifting over the lines; however he crashed while trying to land alongside the balloon wreckage on Mount Kemmel.
In May 1917 he was posted to No 56 squadron as a Flight Commander, flying Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. Although the first examples reached the Western Front before the Sopwith Camel and it had a much better overall performance, problems with its Hispano-Suiza engine, particularly the geared-output H-S...
aircraft. By July he had claimed another five victories. He was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in September 1917 and the bar in October.
In February 1918 he was posted to command No. 41 Squadron
No. 41 Squadron RAF
No. 41 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is currently the RAF's Test and Evaluation Squadron , based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Its official title is "41 TES". The Squadron celebrates its 95th anniversary in 2011, and is one of the oldest RAF squadrons in existence.-First World War, 1916–1919:No...
. His final score was one aircraft shared captured, one balloon destroyed, 15 aircraft destroyed and 15 'out of control'.
After the war in 1919 he served in Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, and joined HQ, 23 Group in 1934, retiring the same year and joining the Royal Aircraft Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
.
He died in March 1970.
Reference
- Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0948817194, 9780948817199.
- Pusher Aces of World War 1. Jon Guttman, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Pub Co, 2009. ISBN 1846034175, 9781846034176.
External links
- The Aerodrome - Geoffrey Hilton Bowman