Personal info
- Name: John Noel DOWLAND
- D.O.B: 6th Nov, 1914
- D.O.A: 1st Jun, 1940
- D.O.D: 13th Jan, 1942
- Award: George Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Flight Lieutenant, Royal Air Force
Immingham and the Humber River, Lincolnshire 11 February 1940 and June 1940
11 February 1940 and June 1940
The Second World War 1939 - 40
On 11 February 1940 the steamship SS Kildare, a grain carrier, arrived at Immingham, North Lincolnshire. While at sea it had been attacked by a German plane. One bomb had exploded in its cargo and another, which had failed to detonate, had lodged in the afterdeck cabin. Civil Armament Instructor L H Harrison and Flight Lieutenant J N Dowland, both from RAF Manby, five miles east of Louth, and another civil instructor, W C Thompson, were sent to deal with it. Harrison and Dowland rendered the bomb harmless. Dowland performed a similar action on a trawler in the Humber in June 1940.
Citation
In February, 1940, Squadron Leader Dowland succeeded in removing an enemy bomb from a steamship. The bomb was extremely difficult to inspect and handle as it was wedged with its nose penetrating through the main deck. In June, 1940, this officer performed a similar duty with the same efficiency and promptitude on board a trawler. He has displayed conspicuous courage and devotion to duty in circumstances of exceptional danger and difficulty.