John Ryburn Bowden: 1929 - 2011

It is with mixed emotions that I must report the passing of my father John Ryburn Bowden. He has made is final flight toward the heavens and will be missed by all who knew him. Missed for his kind spirit, his love of aviation, and for the way he generously shared that passion with others. Yet we are relieved that he will no longer suffer through his courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease and other illnesses.

Many aviation enthusiasts have fond memories of attending one of the annual fly-ins hosted by my Dad and Mom over a span of 14 years from the late 1970's through the early 1990's. Some of those years, there were two (2) fly-ins. Attended by folks from all over the United States, these events grew to include over a hundred planes and several hundred visitors and participants. This was Dad's way of contributing and sharing in the promotion of grassroots aviation, antique airplanes, and sport flying.

We are so very proud of dad and all of the ways he taught us and cared for us. He lived life to its fullest and made every day a new adventure. His aviation accomplishments alone are marveled by many. Yet these were only small chapters in a life of countless achievements. One newspaper account of his life stated, "Many of us dream of doing things. John Bowden did them." This is an understatement.

Such a story is impossible to tell, short of a biography book. Perhaps one day this will happen. but for now, we will hold to his memory and be thankful for the time we spent with John R. Bowden.

View Obituary Here

View Photo History Here

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John Ryburn Bowden
December 19, 1929
February 19, 2011


We would love for you to share your memories and comments about dad below.

What the heck is "Dry Rigging"

I don't know if it is the correct terminology or not, but Dad always considered one of the most important steps in aircraft restoration to be the "Dry Rigging" check. What is this you ask? Well before you go to the trouble of covering your airplane with fabric, you take the opportunity to fully assemble the airplane and make sure everything aligns, fits, and works properly. You'd hate to find out after your fabric finishing job that the N-struts no longer align in their mount holes because of those newly built lower wings. Seriously, you can do all of your preliminary rigging of the wing wash-out/wash-in, landing gear alignment, control cable function etc. It will save a lot of headaches in the latter stages of the rebuild.

This step in the process is also a good emotional boost as you transition into the final stages of work. Once you see that whole airplane coming together, you can't help yourself from making engine noises and picturing yourself lifting off the grass on your very first takeoff.

1918 "Flyin' Frolic" Love Field, Dallas TX

The end of WW 1 was celebrated Texas style on November 12 and 13, 1918 in Dallas Texas at Love Field Air Corps Training Depot. This event, dubbed "Flyin' Frolic" was attended by thousands. Aerial exhibitions were enjoyed as well as other technological marvels of the day.

Here are a few photographs from a collection given to my dad in the 1970's by a friend Charles "Uncle Charley" Dawson. Some of these photos were placed in the Air Power Museum back in the 1970's by dad.
Click on the images to enlarge...

Lt. William T Campbell and the Curtiss Jenny
in which he performed 169 consecutive Loops

Historical Records:

This DallasNews.com article by Robert Miller (Jan.16,2008) gives an excellent overview of the event and also highlights the artwork of Walter Matt Jefferies and the subject exhibit placed in the Frontiers of Flight Museum, by Matt's brother, Richard Jefferies.

Copies of the beautiful "Flyin' Frolic" images painted by Matt Jefferies for display at the Pentagon may be acquired through Richard Jefferies at this webpage dedicated to the works of Matt Jefferies.

In 2005, the University of Texas at Dallas featured a lecture by Dr. Erik D. Carlson called: “The Flyin’ Frolic: U.S. Military Aviation, Love Field and the End of World War I,”. This webpage details the lecture event.

Some more photographs from this event are on file at the Dallas Municipal Archives. Go to their related website here.

The book, "Winning Causes: World War Stories" by John Gilbert Thompson and Inez Bigwood also covers this topic with a unique Aerial Parachute Photograph available here.


Prologue:

As time permits, I plan to work at getting better quality scans of these photos. But for now, these are the best I have. I think most of this blog's readers will enjoy these.

Notice the American flags flying off each airplane's left wingtip.









I counted 53 Jennys in this photograph!!

Wow!