Geoffrey Hilton Bowman
| Geoffrey Hilton Bowman | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Beery |
| Born |
2 May 1891 Manchester, Lancashire |
| Died | 25 March 1970 (aged 78) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army Royal Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1914–1934 1939–1941 |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Unit |
|
| Commands held |
|
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Military Cross and Bar Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Other work | Director of Heston Aircraft Co. |
Group Captain Geoffrey Hilton "Beery" Bowman DSO MC* DFC (2 May 1891 – 25 March 1970) was an English 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.
Bowman was born in Manchester, England, the son of Dr. George Bowman, a physician, and his wife Mary. He was educated at Haileybury College and Trinity College, Cambridge.
Having served in the Officers' Training Corps Bowman was commissioned as a probationary second lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment on 15 August 1914. After serving with his regiment in France, on 20 March 1916 Bowman was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps. He was awarded the Royal Aero Club's Aviator's Certificate No. 7977 on 27 June, and was appointed a flying officer in the RFC two days later.
He joined No. 29 Squadron on 7 July 1916, based at Abeele, flying the Airco DH.2. His first victory was against a Roland C.II two seater, with which he unintentionally collided on 3 September; 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 victory, on 27 September, was a run-away German observation balloon which he downed after finding it drifting over the lines; however he crashed while trying to land alongside the balloon wreckage on Mount Kemmel. On 1 January 1917 he was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain, receiving promotion to the permanent rank of captain on 1 April 1917. On 11 May he was posted to No. 56 Squadron as a flight commander, flying S.E.5. By July he had claimed another five victories. On 23 September Bowman was one of the eight British aces who fought and shot down German ace Werner Voss. Bowman was awarded the Military Cross on 14 September, and a bar on 26 October. On 9 February 1918 he was posted to command of No. 41 Squadron. Awarded the Distinguished Service Order in March 1918, his final tally at the end of the war in November was one aircraft shared captured, one balloon destroyed, 15 aircraft destroyed and 15 driven 'out of control'. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 30 May 1919, and the Croix de guerre from Belgium in July 1919.
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