George R. Howsam
Encyclopedia
Air Vice Marshal George Roberts Howsam MC
(29 January 1895 –16 April 1988) was a Canadian
First World War
flying ace
, officially credited with 13 victories, who continued his military career with such success he became an Air Vice Marshal.
right out of high school, on 23 March 1916. He gave his home address as Rural Route 4, Port Perry, Ontario. He is described as being a Methodist, five feet six inches tall, blue eyed, with fair complexion. He served successively with the 116th (Ontario County) Battalion, CEF and the 182nd (Ontario County) Battalion, CEF
. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
in Spring 1917, while he was still in Canada; he trained at Deseronto and Camp Borden.
pilot. He barely made the 1917 scoring lists, destroying an Albatros two-seater over Zarren
, Belgium on 28 December 1917 for his first win. He repeated on 19 January 1918, sending the Albatros down out of control at Moorslede
, Belgium. Three days later, he flew three sorties, and scored every time. He destroyed an Albatros D.V
at 1245; his next sortie set an observation plane aflame at 1315; on his last sortie, he and Captain Frank Granger Quigley
cooperated in flaming one Albatros D.V and putting another down out of control. A victory apiece on the 24th and 25th, and Howsam ended January 1918 with eight wins. Another followed on 27 February. Howsam won a Military Cross, awarded 4 March. Within a week, he downed three more planes. On 24 March, he was wounded in action and withdrawn to Home Establishment. He would return to the front as a Flight Commander in 43 Squadron in October. Flying a Sopwith Snipe
, he set a Fokker D.VII
afire on 30 October to cap his career as an ace. His final total was eight German planes destroyed and five driven down out of control.
in 1930. During World War II, he served as Director of Training for the RCAF. He retired in 1945.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial combats. He has destroyed five enemy machines and driven down others out of control, showing splendid courage and initiative on all occasions.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(29 January 1895 –16 April 1988) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
, officially credited with 13 victories, who continued his military career with such success he became an Air Vice Marshal.
Early life and service
George Roberts Howsam's parents were George and Ida Cutting Howsam. The younger George Howsam joined the Canadian Expeditionary ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
right out of high school, on 23 March 1916. He gave his home address as Rural Route 4, Port Perry, Ontario. He is described as being a Methodist, five feet six inches tall, blue eyed, with fair complexion. He served successively with the 116th (Ontario County) Battalion, CEF and the 182nd (Ontario County) Battalion, CEF
182nd (Ontario County) Battalion, CEF
The 182nd Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Whitby, Ontario, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in Ontario County, Ontario. After sailing to England in May 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 18th Reserve...
. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
in Spring 1917, while he was still in Canada; he trained at Deseronto and Camp Borden.
World War I aerial service
Howsam joined 70 Squadron in Autumn 1917 as a Sopwith CamelSopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
pilot. He barely made the 1917 scoring lists, destroying an Albatros two-seater over Zarren
Zarren
-External links:*...
, Belgium on 28 December 1917 for his first win. He repeated on 19 January 1918, sending the Albatros down out of control at Moorslede
Moorslede
Moorslede is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Dadizele and Moorslede proper. On 1 January 2006, Moorslede had a total population of 10,618...
, Belgium. Three days later, he flew three sorties, and scored every time. He destroyed an Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
at 1245; his next sortie set an observation plane aflame at 1315; on his last sortie, he and Captain Frank Granger Quigley
Frank Granger Quigley
Frank Granger Quigley DSO, MC & Bar was a Canadian World War I flying ace who was credited with 33 victories. He was notable for scoring the majority of his victories against German fighter planes.-Early life and service:...
cooperated in flaming one Albatros D.V and putting another down out of control. A victory apiece on the 24th and 25th, and Howsam ended January 1918 with eight wins. Another followed on 27 February. Howsam won a Military Cross, awarded 4 March. Within a week, he downed three more planes. On 24 March, he was wounded in action and withdrawn to Home Establishment. He would return to the front as a Flight Commander in 43 Squadron in October. Flying a Sopwith Snipe
Sopwith Snipe
The Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe was a British single-seat biplane fighter of the Royal Air Force . It was designed and built by the Sopwith Aviation Company during the First World War, and came into squadron service a few weeks before the end of that conflict, in late 1918.The Snipe was not a fast aircraft...
, he set a Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
afire on 30 October to cap his career as an ace. His final total was eight German planes destroyed and five driven down out of control.
Post World War I
Howsam did not return to Canada until May 1921. He attended the RAF Staff CollegeRAF Staff College, Andover
The RAF Staff College at RAF Andover was the first Royal Air Force staff college to be established. Its role was the training of officers in the administrative, staff and policy apects of air force matters.-Foundation:...
in 1930. During World War II, he served as Director of Training for the RCAF. He retired in 1945.
Military Cross
T./2nd Lt. George Robert Howsam, Gen. List and R.F.C.For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial combats. He has destroyed five enemy machines and driven down others out of control, showing splendid courage and initiative on all occasions.