Education
In 1912 he attended the Central Flying School and in 1914 he was given command of the seaplane carrier HMS Empress.
In 1912 he attended the Central Flying School and in 1914 he was given command of the seaplane carrier HMS Empress.
Bowhill started his career as a midshipman in the merchant navy in 1896. He became Officer Commanding Number. 8 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service in 1915 and Station Commander at Royal Naval Air Service Felixstowe in 1918.
Later that year he commanded Royal Naval Air Service Killingholme.
After the war Bowhill was not to rest for long from operational service. He went on to be Officer Commanding the Royal Air Force Depot in Egypt in 1925, Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Royal Air Force Iraq Command in 1928 and Director of Organisation and Staff Duties at the Air Ministry in 1929.
In 1931 he was appointed Air Officer Commanding the Fighting Area of the Air Defence of Great Britain and in 1933 he became Air Member for Personnel. He served in World World War II initially as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Royal Air Force Coastal Command, then as Air Officer Commanding Royal Air Force Ferry Command, in which capacity using his knowledge of the sea he properly identified the likely position of the German battleship Bismarck using a Catalina flying boat allowing it to be sunk.
His last appointment was as Air Officer Commanding Royal Air Force Transport Command in 1943 before retiring in 1945.
Grand Cross of the.
Royal Geographical Society.