Wing Commander John Dowling (of Coventry Cathedral fame)
What a coincidence! John Dowling’s daughter recently joined my wife’s group that clean our local church. She didn’t know I was ex-R.A.F. until my wife mentioned it to her. She then revealed that she was John’s daughter and that he was involved with the introduction of helicopters into the R.A.F and his particular claim to fame was as the pilot of the Belvedere that placed the spire and sculpture on Coventry Cathedral in April 1962.
More about him here from his DT obituary:
Wing Commander John Dowling - Telegraph
Anne, John’s widow is still with us, 89-years old and physically rather frail, but mentally as bright as a button. She had tea with us two weeks ago and had fond memories of her and John’s time in the Far East at Seletar.
Some photos from John’s album: Copies of copies so not particularly clear, but passed on FWIW.
The Coventry Cathedral team:
L to R: Flt Lt J Martin, Wg Cdr John Dowling, Flt Lt R Salt.
The Spire and Sculpture are lowered onto the cathedral.
Rehearsals at Odiham
66 Sqn at Seletar
The pre-production Belvedere about to come to an untimely end whilst rehearsing for the 1961 SBAC Show at Farnborough.
And finally John in his later years:
