Distinguished Flying Cross awarded as per London Gazette dated 15 September 1939, via Hugh Halliday

Distinguished Flying Cross awarded as per London Gazette dated 15 September 1939, via Hugh Halliday

Distinguished Flying Cross awarded as per London Gazette dated 15 September 1939, via Hugh Halliday

Distinguished Service Order awarded as per London Gazette dated 15 September 1939. Born in New Zealand, 15 February 1910; educated there. Commissioned as Provisional Pilot Officer, 13 April 1928, training at No.3 Flying Training School. Posted to No.111 Squadron, 2 April 1929. Confirmed in rank, later promoted to Flying Officer, 13 October 1929. Attended Aircraft engineering Course, Home Aircraft Depot, 5 August 1931. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 June 1934. Promoted Squadron Leader, 1 February 1938. To command No.33 Squadron, 3 September 1938. Mentioned in Despatches on 15 September 1939 as well as award of DSO. To Staff, Deputy Directorate of Repair and Servicing, 30 January 1940. To be Commanding Officer, No.213 Squadron, June 1940. To Special Planning Staff, 1941; Mentioned in Despatches 1 January 1942. And 11 June 1942. To be Officer Commanding, Tangmere Sector,1942. Promoted Wing Commander, date uncertain. Promoted Group Captain, 1 September 1942. To be Deputy Director, Operations, Intelligence and Plans, Headquarters Mediterranean Air Command, 5 May 1943; appointed Deputy Director, Operations, Intelligence and Plans, Headquarters Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, 10 December 1943. Promoted Air Commodore, 1 January 1944; Mentioned in Despatches 14 January 1944; appointed Air Officer Commanding, Air Headquarters Levant, 25 November 1944. Awarded CBE, 14 June 1945; awarded United States Legion of Merit (Officer), 9 October 1945. Reverted to Group Captain, 1 October 1946. Attended Imperial Defence College, 1947; to Air Staff, Air Ministry, 1948; appointed Member, NATO Standing Group Staff, Washington, 1950. Appointed Air Officer Commanding, No 2 Group, 18 June 1951 and promoted Air Commodore, same date. Awarded CBE, 1 June 1953. Director of Guided Missile Development, Ministry of Supply, 1953. Promoted Air Vice-Marshal, 1 July 1954. Assistant Controller, Aircraft, Ministry of Supply, 1956; to be Chief of Staff (Air Defence), Headquarters SHAPE, 1957. Promoted Air Marshal, 30 July 1959 on appointment as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Fighter Command. Awarded KCB, 1 January 1960. Appointed Commander, United Kingdom Air Defence Region, 1 May 1962; to be Commander-in-Chief, Far East Air Force, 31 May 1962. Retired 27 September 1964. Afterwards he was the Chairman of the New Zealand News Consultative Board. Died 11 April 1973. No citation other than “For gallant and distinguished services in connection with the operations in Palestine during the period 1st November 1938 to 31 March 1939.”

via Hugh Halliday

Distinguished Flying Cross awarded as per London Gazette dated 10 October 1939. As Pilot Officer, posted to No.97 (Bomber) Squadron, Leconfield, 20 March 1937. . Award for work with No.110 Squadron, this was one of the first gallantry awards of the Second World War (see also A. McPherson). Awarded for the Kiel Raid on 4 September 1939.

Early in September 1939, this officer led an attack against an enemy cruiser. In face of heavy gun fire and under extremely bad weather conditions he pressed home a successful low attack with great determination.

via Hugh Halliday

Distinguished Flying Cross awarded as per London Gazette dated 10 October 1939. Posted to RAF Depot, Uxbridge, 19 October 1936 on appointment to a Short Service Commission as Acting Pilot Officer. To No.9 Flying Training School, Thornaby, 31 October 1936. Award made for service in No.139 Squadron; this was one of the first gallantry awards of the Second World War (see also K.C.Doran). Made first reconnaissance of German fleet, 3 September 1939.

This officer carried out reconnaissance flights early in September 1939. On one occasion he was forced by extremely bad weather conditions to fly close to the enemy coast at very low altitudes. These flights made possible a successful raid on enemy naval forces.

via Hugh Halliday

British Empire Medal (Meritorious Service) awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Reported in Flight, 16 November 1939. via Hugh Halliday

Distinguished Flying Cross awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939, via Hugh Halliday

Distinguished Flying Cross awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939, via Hugh Halliday

Distinguished Flying Medal awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Operations in Waziristan, 16 December 1937 to 31 December 1938. See also DFC entry to F/O George Edward Jackson. Awarded BEM, 11 June 1942 as Flight Sergeant. Later commissioned. Medals offered at auction by Christies 22 March 1988; catalogue gave following recommendation.

Corporal Cowan was serving in No.5 (Army Cooperation) Squadron, No.3 Indian Wing. His flight was detached to operate from Miranshar during the Waziristan Operations in March 1938 against the Fakir of Impi.

Late one evening he and his pilot were despatched to locate a party of South Waziristan Scouts who, during a withdrawal action, had become cut off from their main body.

They had sustained heavy casualties, their commander was killed and that they were saved from this desperate situation was due to the actions of Flying Officer [G.E.] Jackson and Corporal Cowan who carried out repeated low-flying attacks using front and rear guns, and dropped ammunition and supplies to the encircled picket. At dawn the following morning, they recommenced their sorties and continued to assist the Picket to hold out, until they were relieved by aircraft of No.20 (Army Cooperation) Squadron, when the enemy retired and the Picket was able to regain their main body.

It was due to the action and initiative shown by Flying Officer Jackson and his air gunner, Corporal Cowan that this party of South Waziristan Scouts were saved from annihilation.

via Hugh Halliday

Distinguished Flying Medal awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Operations in Waziristan, 16 December 1937 to 31 December 1938.

via Hugh Halliday

Mention in Despatches awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Reported in Flight, 16 November 1939. via Hugh Halliday

Mention in Despatches awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Reported in Flight, 16 November 1939. via Hugh Halliday

Mention in Despatches awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Reported in Flight, 16 November 1939. via Hugh Halliday

Mention in Despatches awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Reported in Flight, 16 November 1939. via Hugh Halliday

Mention in Despatches awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Reported in Flight, 16 November 1939. via Hugh Halliday

Mention in Despatches awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Born in Wilkie, Saskatchewan, 28 June 1914; Able Seaman in RCN Reserve, Saskatoon; 27 December 1933 to 11 April 1945; discharged as unable to attend drills; reported on 11 April 1935 as having gone to England some time earlier to obtain an apprenticeship in Merchant Marine. Appointed Acting Pilot Officer on Probation, RAF, 18 May 1936. Confirmed in appointment and graded as Pilot Officer, 23 March 1937 with effect from 23 March 1936; Flying Officer, 23 October 1938; promoted Flight Lieutenant, 3 September 1940; promoted Squadron Leader, 1 December 1941; promoted Wing Commander, 1 July 1944. At Civil Flying School, Hamble, 23 March to 18 May 1936; at RAF Depot, Uxbridge, 18 May to 20 June 1936 (supernumerary, short discipline course); at No.11 Flying Training School, 20 June 1936 to 10 January 1937; with No.220 Squadron, 10 January to 11 February 1937 (flying and ground gunnery course); at No.3 School of Technical Training, 18-23 January 1937 (parachute course); No.27 (B) Squadron, India, 11 February 1937 to 8 January 1940 (flying North-West Frontier Patrol operationsbombing and proscriptive action in Wapiti, Lysander, Hart and Valentia aircraft); with No.5 Flight, Indian Air Force, 9 January to 1 July 1940 (to command flying operations from Cochin); Senior Officers Naval Liaison Course, 10 June to 1 July 1940; with Headquarters, No.2 Group, India, 1 July 1940 to 5 February 1941 (SASO and administrative duties); with No.5 Squadron, India, 5 February to 18 August 1941 (flying air gunnery course); with No.2 Group Headquarters, India, 18 August to 8 December 1941 (flying, SASO, DC-2 and DC-3 aircraft); with No.2 (Fighter) Wing, Bengal and Burma, 8 December 1941 to 23 February 1942 (flying and SASO during operations against Japanese including evacuation from Burma); No.20 Squadron, 23 February to 30 July 1942 (commanding, Blenheims and Lysanders); with No.110 (H) Squadron, 30 July 1942 to 8 March 1943 (commanding; Vengeance dive-bombers in Bengal and Burma); No.1 PDC, 8 March to 18 March 1943 (supernumerary pending posting to Britain); No.12 (P) AFU, 22 June to 10 August 1943 (conversion training); No.54 OTU, 8 August to 12 October 1943; No.141 Squadron, 12 October 1943 to 26 January 1944 (flight commander, intruder operationsSerrate, Beaufighters and Mosquitos); No.515 Squadron, 26 January 1944 to 19 January 1945 (Mosquito intruding, special bombing and flak attacks); awarded DFC, 4 August 1944 and DSO, 12 January 1945. At Station Twinwood Farm, 19 January to 17 May 1945 (commanding). Confirmed as Flight Lieutenant, 3 September 1940; confirmed as Squadron Leader, 1 December 1941; confirmed as Wing Commander, 1 July 1944. Transferred to RCAF, 1 March 1945 (C89587); repatriated to Canada, 14 May 1945 and assigned to Eastern Air Command; served in Interim Force and then joined the Regular Force, 1 October 1946 (service number 20078). Commanding Officer, Station Torbay, December 1945 to April 1946; Director of Intelligence, AFHQ, May 1946 to November 1948; Senior Air Staff Officer, No,1 Air Defence Group Headquarters, December 1948 to October 1949; Senior Air Staff Officer, No.12 Air Defence Group, Vancouver, August 1950 to October 1951; attended Aircraft Controller Course, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, November 1951 to January 1952; Commanding Officer, No.2 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (later No.21 ACW Squadron), Chatham, New Brunswick, February 1952 to January 1953; Exchange Officer with USAF (Staff Officer, Directorate of Plans and Requirements, Northeast Air Command, Pepperell AFB, Newfoundland), January 1953 to February 1955; Intelligence Staff Officer, No.1 Air Division Headquarters, France, February 1955 to January 1956; Staff Officer, Intelligence Division, Allied Air Forces, Central Europe, France, January 1956 to March 1960; Director of Intelligence, Northern NORAD Headquarters, St.Hubert, March 1960 to August 1961; on rehabilitation leave, 19 December 1961 to 16 June 1962 (released). Wing Commander throughout his RCAF service. Retired to England where he died 10 August 1998. Awarded Croix de Guerre with Vermilion Star (France), as per Canada Gazette dated 20 September 1947 and AFRO 710/48 dated 3 December 1948. No citation to Mention in Despatches other than via Hugh Halliday

Mention in Despatches awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Reported in Flight, 16 November 1939. via Hugh Halliday

Mention in Despatches awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Reported in Flight, 16 November 1939. via Hugh Halliday

Mention in Despatches awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Reported in Flight, 16 November 1939. via Hugh Halliday

Mention in Despatches awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Reported in Flight, 16 November 1939. via Hugh Halliday

Mention in Despatches awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Reported in Flight, 16 November 1939. via Hugh Halliday

Mention in Despatches awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Reported in Flight, 16 November 1939. via Hugh Halliday

Mention in Despatches awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1939. Reported in Flight, 16 November 1939. via Hugh Halliday