Robert Sidney Bowen, R.A.F.
English: Robert Sidney Bowen, Jr. Second Lieutenant, R.A.F. Identifier: NewEnglandaviatVol2Tick (find matches) Title: New England aviators 1914-1918; their portraits and their records Year: 1919 (1910s) Authors: Ticknor, Caroline, 1866-1937, ed Subjects: Biography Aeronautics World War, 1914-1918 Publisher: Boston, New York, Houghton Mifflin Company Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries View Book Page: Book Viewer About This Book: Catalog Entry View All Images: All Images From Book Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book. Text Appearing Before Image: ROBERT SIDNEY BOWEN, Jr. Second Lieutenant, R.A.F. Son of Robert Sidney and Catharine Sinclair (Fenton) Bowen; was born at Allston, Mass., Oct. 4, 1900. He was educated in the public schools of Newton, Mass., and was prominent in track athletics at the Newton High School. He went overseas as an ambulance driver in the American Field Service, and was serving in France when the U.S. took over this organization, and returned him to this country as under military age. He enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps (British) in New York City, in Oct., 1917. He received his training at Toronto University; at Camp Mohawk, Deseronto, Can.; at Camp Leaside, Beamsville, Can.; and at Camp Taliaferro, Fort Worth, Tex. He was ordered overseas in July, 1918, and trained at Herts, Eng., until called into active service as scout Pilot in France, where he joined the 84th Squadron a short time before the Armistice was signed. He was commissioned 2d Lieut, in the Royal Air Force in July, 1918. Since the Armistice, Lieut. Bowen has been on special service in England; in active service in France and Belgium; also attached to the 80th Squadron serving in France and Egypt. On Nov. 12, the day after the signing of the Armistice, Lieut. Bowen sent home a vivid account of his unofficial downing of two enemy machines a few days previous to that date; his letter closed with the words: "I reported my flight, but it was hard lines for me because I have no idea where the German planes went down and therefore they can't be credited as official. . . . My bus has 33 bullet holes in it and three in my flying suit, which shows I was in some close action. Grandfather in Service — Charles F. Bowen, served in 5th Mass. Regiment in Civil War. (p. 90) Text Appearing After Image: * ALFRED THEODORE WYMAN Second Lieutenant, R.A.F. Killed in airplane accident, May 27, 1913. Son of Alfred A. and Flora M. Wyman; was born at Fitchburg, Mass., Dec. 28, 1892. He was educated at the Fitchburg High School, and at M.I.T., from which he graduated with the degree B.S. in June, 1916. He was a member of the class relay team at M.I.T., class treasurer in 1913; class president in 1914, and a member of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity, Osiris, the Institute Committee, and the Architectural Society. In June, 1916, he received the Medal of the American Institute of Architects for General Excellence in Architecture, and the Rotch Prize of two hundred dollars. He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps, at Toronto, Can., from Fitchburg, Mass., in Sept., 1917. He received provisional appointment as 2d Lieut., Cavalry, U.S.A., as a result of the examination which he passed earlier in Sept., but did not accept because he was already a member of the R.F.C. He was trained as a cadet at various flying schools Note About Images Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original work.