Biographical data

Biographical Data
Bowman, Irvin Lawrence Photo Credit: Unknown

Biographical Data

Bowman, Irvin Lawrence

Photo Credit: Unknown

Title	Lieutenant-Commander (P) (RCN)
Official Number	(nk)

Birth	19/12/1922	Death	03/07/2006
Place	Lloydminster	Place	Victoria
Area	SK	Area	BC
Country	Canada	Country	Canada

Titles
Honours
Awards
Qualifications	D.O.

Biography
After his naval service he joined Highland Helicopters in Calgary AB 1960. He decided to go to University for a Doctorate in Optometry at the University of the Pacific at Forest Grove, Oregon. During the summer months he flew Helicopters in Northern B.C. to earn money for his education. He attended Optometry School at Pacific University in Oregon. He practiced Optometry in Victoria BC to 1991. After graduation, he took on the practice of Dr. Blythe in Victoria as well as establishing a practice at Royal Oak and at Port Hardy where he visited and cared for patients once a month. He either traveled the logging roads or took the ferry from Sayward to Beaver Cove before the highway was built. He and his good friend Dr. Robert Grundison subsequently worked together until his retirement in 1991.

Biography

After his naval service he joined Highland Helicopters in Calgary AB 1960. He decided to go to University for a Doctorate in Optometry at the University of the Pacific at Forest Grove, Oregon. During the summer months he flew Helicopters in Northern B.C. to earn money for his education. He attended Optometry School at Pacific University in Oregon. He practiced Optometry in Victoria BC to 1991. After graduation, he took on the practice of Dr. Blythe in Victoria as well as establishing a practice at Royal Oak and at Port Hardy where he visited and cared for patients once a month. He either traveled the logging roads or took the ferry from Sayward to Beaver Cove before the highway was built. He and his good friend Dr. Robert Grundison subsequently worked together until his retirement in 1991.

Military Service
He was appointed as a AC/2 RCAF (With seniority dated 01/02/1943). He served in RCAF Edmonton for Introductory Flight Training School. He served in RCAF Aldergrove for Elementary Flight Training School. He served in RCAF MacLeod for Service Flying Training School. He was Awarded Wings 1944. (CFR). He was appointed as a Pilot Officer RCAF (With seniority dated 01/11/1944). (Transferred to Civilian Reserve). He worked on Aircraft Repair at Vancouver BC. (Transferred to RN 01/07/1945). He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant (P) RN (With seniority dated 01/07/1945). He served in RNAS Bootle for H.M.S. Macaw 1945. He served in the Royal Naval College Greenwich for Canadian Legion Leave Course 1945, (Short Service Commission 1946). He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant (P) (SSA) RN 1946. He served in RAF Ternhill for AFU 1946. He served in RNAS Henstridge for Instrument Flying School 1946. He served on the Motorcycle Despatch Rider's Course 1946. He served in RNAS Lee-on-Solent for Sea Otter Conversion Course 1946. He served in RNAS Eglinton for Air Sea Rescue 1946. He served in RNAS Gosport for 720 RN Photo Squadron 1949. He served in RNAS Lee-on-Solent for 781 RN Communication Squadron 1949, (Selected for permanent commission 01/05/1949). He was appointed as a Lieutenant (P) RN. He served in H.M.S. Vengeance as Air Sea Rescue Pilot 1949. He was qualified with Deck Landing Qualifications 1950. He served in RNAS Lossiemouth for OFS 1950. He served in RNAS Culdrose for Ground Attack Course 1950. He served in H.M.S. Theseus for 807 RN Squadron (Korean War Service) 1950. He served in H.M.S. Ocean for 898 RN Squadron 1951. (He was shot down behind enemy lines in Korea, and rescued by USN helicopter from USS Manchester 1951.) He served in RNAS Stretton for LSO Course 1953. He served in RNAS Culdrose for Jet Conversion Course 1953. He served in H.M.S. Eagle as LSO 1953. He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander (P) RN (With seniority dated 03/05/1955) (On Loan from the RN to the RCN). He served in HMCS Shearwater for VU-32 Squadron as Senior Pilot 1955. He served in HMCS Shearwater for VU-32 Squadron as Executive Officer 1957. He served in RNAS Lee-on-Solent for Helicopter Conversion Course 1957. He served in H.M.S. Ark Royal for 728 RN Squadron C Flight (For Special Duty With Royal Marine Commando) 1958. He served in H.M.S. Ceylon for Special Duty With Royal Marine Commando Group 1958. (He resigned 01/12/1959.)

Military Service

He was appointed as a AC/2 RCAF (With seniority dated 01/02/1943). He served in RCAF Edmonton for Introductory Flight Training School. He served in RCAF Aldergrove for Elementary Flight Training School. He served in RCAF MacLeod for Service Flying Training School. He was Awarded Wings 1944. (CFR). He was appointed as a Pilot Officer RCAF (With seniority dated 01/11/1944). (Transferred to Civilian Reserve). He worked on Aircraft Repair at Vancouver BC. (Transferred to RN 01/07/1945). He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant (P) RN (With seniority dated 01/07/1945). He served in RNAS Bootle for H.M.S. Macaw 1945. He served in the Royal Naval College Greenwich for Canadian Legion Leave Course 1945, (Short Service Commission 1946). He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant (P) (SSA) RN 1946. He served in RAF Ternhill for AFU 1946. He served in RNAS Henstridge for Instrument Flying School 1946. He served on the Motorcycle Despatch Rider's Course 1946. He served in RNAS Lee-on-Solent for Sea Otter Conversion Course 1946. He served in RNAS Eglinton for Air Sea Rescue 1946. He served in RNAS Gosport for 720 RN Photo Squadron 1949. He served in RNAS Lee-on-Solent for 781 RN Communication Squadron 1949, (Selected for permanent commission 01/05/1949). He was appointed as a Lieutenant (P) RN. He served in H.M.S. Vengeance as Air Sea Rescue Pilot 1949. He was qualified with Deck Landing Qualifications 1950. He served in RNAS Lossiemouth for OFS 1950. He served in RNAS Culdrose for Ground Attack Course 1950. He served in H.M.S. Theseus for 807 RN Squadron (Korean War Service) 1950. He served in H.M.S. Ocean for 898 RN Squadron 1951. (He was shot down behind enemy lines in Korea, and rescued by USN helicopter from USS Manchester 1951.) He served in RNAS Stretton for LSO Course 1953. He served in RNAS Culdrose for Jet Conversion Course 1953. He served in H.M.S. Eagle as LSO 1953. He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander (P) RN (With seniority dated 03/05/1955) (On Loan from the RN to the RCN). He served in HMCS Shearwater for VU-32 Squadron as Senior Pilot 1955. He served in HMCS Shearwater for VU-32 Squadron as Executive Officer 1957. He served in RNAS Lee-on-Solent for Helicopter Conversion Course 1957. He served in H.M.S. Ark Royal for 728 RN Squadron C Flight (For Special Duty With Royal Marine Commando) 1958. He served in H.M.S. Ceylon for Special Duty With Royal Marine Commando Group 1958. (He resigned 01/12/1959.)

Vessels Owned	Kolus;
Aircraft Flown	Total Flying Hours: 5,206. Fixed Wing Deck Landings: 353. Service Aircraft Flown: Cornell, Harvard, Anson, Tiger Moth, Barracuda, DH Dominie, Expeditor, Firefly Trainer, Firefly, Sea Fury, Sea Fury Trainer, Oxford, Sea Otter, Master, Meteor 7, Vampire, Attacker, Sea Hornet, Skyraider, Hiller Dragonfly, Whirlwind. Civil Aircraft Flown: Mu-13 (sailplane), Grunau Iib (sailplane), Kirby Kite (sailplane), Tutour (sailplane), SG38 Primary glider, Kranich 2-seater (sailplane), Olympia (sailplane), Hiller 12E, Hughes 269 A, Bell 47-G2 & G2A & G3
Named Features

Anecdotes

References
MacFarlane, John and Robbie Hughes (1997); http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CAN-BC-OBITS/2006-07/1152970421; Personal Communication (Hazel Bowman - John MacFarlane 2015);
Last update
2016-01-22 00:00:00

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Biographical Data

Bowman, Irvin Lawrence