[Dave Homewood]

Roy McGowan - Battle of Britain pilot, Guinea Pig RIP
I've just been informed this evening that Battle of Britain pilot Roy Andrew McGowan of Tauranga, NZ, passed away last night.

Roy was born in Bristol, UK, in 1917, and joined the Royal Auxiliary Air Force before the war. When war came he was in the thick of action flying Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain. He was shot down on the 15th of September 1940 and forced to bale out , being badly burned on the face and hands.

He spent some time recovering under the care of Archibald Mcindoe and was then attached to New Zealand to the RNZAF HQ, to help them establish their own fighter squadrons and setting up Fighter Operations Control, in 1942. He served all over New Zealand visiting and advising units.

He returned to England in 1943. He perfomed more staff roles at various schools through 1944 and in 1945 went back to operations in Italy till after the wars' end.

After demobilistaion from the RAF in 1945 he Joined BEA and then in 1954 became the Asia/Pacific Regional Director of IATA, based in Singapore.

After retirement in 1980, he and his wife Mary whom he'd met in Singapore came to NZ to live, first in Kerikeri, latterly in Tauranga.

Funeral details yet to be advised, but probably on Friday. RIP