Electrical engineer and war hero;
Born: 1922; Died: May 14, 2012.
John Dow, who died this month at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Dundee, was first and foremost a devoted husband, caring father and delightful grandfather. By profession he was an electrical engineer, but he was also a decorated member of Bomber Command.
Born in Kilmarnock and educated at the local academy, Dow’s career as an electrical engineer began with an apprenticeship in his father’s plumbing and electrical business. Like most of his generation, however, any life plans he might have had at the time were interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War.
Aged just 17, he volunteered for the Royal Air Force, initially serving as a wireless operator. For the duration of the conflict, he would remain with 97 Straits Settlement Squadron, a Pathfinder Squadron of Bomber Command which laid the flares to guide bombers to their targets. The chances of Pathfinders being shot down were considerable; the survival rate for one tour (30 missions) was estimated to be just 16%, while surviving two tours was rated at just 3%. Remarkably, Mr Dow successfully completed three three tours of duty, taking part in 98 operations — he volunteered for more operations than he was officially rostered to perform. In the process, he amassed some 978 hours in the air, including missions to targets such as Oslo, Milan, Paris, St Valery, St Nazaire and Berlin itself.
In retrospect, it seems somewhat bizarre that, while acting as wireless operator, Dow’s duties also included looking after two homing pigeons that — in theory at least — would be released and fly back to base if the plane had to be ditched in the sea. On several occasions, it’s been reported that his crew even flew missions with a pet spaniel on board. Typical of the RAF’s insistence on proper procedure, the dog had its own log book.
As a Flight Sergeant, Dow was awarded a Distinguished Flying Medal in 1944. He later took a commission, serving 65 of his missions as a Pilot Officer (33 in a Blind Marker Crew). In recognition of his valour and courage while flying against the enemy, Dow — by then a Flight Lieutenant — was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by King George VI, during a ceremony held at Buckingham Palace in June 1945. Subsequently he also received a Commendation for Meritorious Service with the Royal Air Force.
He remained in the RAF until 1953, returning for a time to the family business. He later moved to Hamilton, where he met his future wife Margaret (nee Barr); subsequent career moves took him to Motherwell and then Dundee, where he worked for the Hydro Board as an electrical engineer.
Officially retiring in 1987, he and Margaret chose to settle in Invergowrie, where the pair became active and prominent members of the local parish church. Dow in particular served on its mission committee, helped with the parish newsletter and, just a few weeks before his death, was still volunteering to drive less mobile members of the congregation to church on Sundays.
Every Remembrance Sunday Mr Dow would join two fellow veterans to proudly lay a wreath at the local war memorial in tribute to their many fallen comrades.
A keen hill walker and Munro “bagger”, Mr Dow took up jogging on his retirement and completed numerous half and full marathons. At the age of 72, he cycled from Land’s End to John o’ Groats for charity — characteristically starting every day wearing a fresh shirt and tie.
John Dow was predeceased by his daughter Janice, and is survived by his wife Margaret, daughter Louise, and granddaughters Jennifer and Katie.
First published by The Herald, 31 May 2012.
