Group Captain Geoffrey Hilton "Beery" Bowman, DSO, MC & Bar, DFC (2 May 1891 – 25 March 1970) was an English First World War fighter ace credited with 32 victories.
[2] 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.
[3][4] After serving with his regiment in France, on 20 March 1916 Bowman was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC).
[7] 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.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 30 May 1919,[12] and the Croix de guerre from Belgium in July 1919.
[18][19] On 9 August 1929 Bowman was assigned to Headquarters, Inland Area, for Air Staff duties.
[20] In June 1931 he competed in a race at the annual Hendon Air Show, flying an Armstrong Whitworth Siskin.
1 Armament Training Camp at RAF Catfoss, Yorkshire, from 1 March 1932,[7] and on 15 November was assigned to the Experimental Section at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, for flying duties.
From 16 October 1933 he was Commanding Officer of RAF South Farnborough, home of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, the School of Photography, and No 4 (Army Co-operation) Squadron.
[24] Bowman was recalled for active service on 1 September 1939, and served until 15 December 1941 before retiring for a second time.