BOWLIN, Wiklliam Milton - Putnam

Richmond, Ind – Sept 12 – Word has been received here that a native Hoosier will be a member of Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd’s new Antarctic expedition.  William Milton Bowlin, who was born in Roachdale in 1898, and who formerly lived here will be relief pilot and mechanic. The expedition is to sail September 25 from Boston.

Much more on that and other parts of his life here : LCDR William Milton Bowlin (1899-1973) - Find A Grave Memorial  

Source: Honolulu Star, Hawaii Mon 31 Aug 1925 p 35

William M. Bowlin, Aviation Machinist Mate in PN-9, No. 1, was born at Roachdale, Indiana March 19, 1899.  After spending the great part of his boyhood around Richmond he enlisted in the US Navy May 13, 1918 and entered the aviation service in July 1918. He received his prelinary aviation training at Great Lakes, Illinois and later became a qualified pilot at Pensacola, Florida. From Pensacola he was ordered to the USS Wright where he was a member of the VT Squadron 1. Bowlin’s total time in the air is 300 hours. His home is at Richmond, Indiana.

Source: Indianapolis Star 3 Sept 1925 p 1

With tears of anxiety dimming her eyes, Mrs. Sarah Bradshaw, an elderly woman over whose had many winters have passed yesterday taught  her one-year-old grandson Robert to walk, while she anxiously awaited news from another grandson, William M. Bowlin, lost somewhere on the Pacific ocean.  Mrs. Bradshaw who is living with her daughter, Mrs. David Shannon, 1630 Central Avenue, is the grandmother of the Richmond Ind boy who was one of the crew of the ill-fated navy plan PN-9. No word had been received by Mrs. Bradshaw as to the fate of her grandson late yesterday evening.  “I just received a letter from him today,” said Mrs. Bradshaw. “The letter was dated at San Francisco, Aug 27. He had come to that city the preceding Sunday and was living at an army air field.”  According to the letter, Mr. Bolin who was a machinist’s mate had been working on planes destined for a flying test. He said that he did not know where he would go from San Francisco.  “Milton surely didn’t know that he was going on the trip of he would have told me about it, “Mrs. Bradshaw said. “He always wrote to me and told me what he was going to do.  The children are sure he will be all right, but I’m just as sure that we will never see him again,” declared Mrs. Bradshaw. The children meant her two daughters, Mrs. Shannon and Mrs. Raymond Green of Franklin, Ind, aunts of Mr. Bowlin.  He has another aunt, Mrs. Ernest Orr of Richmond at whose home he had lived for a short time preceding his enlistment in the air service.  Three years ago Bowlin graduated from the flying school at Pensacola, Fla Mrs. Bradshaw said. Mrs. Bradshaw continued to tell how “her boy” was born at Roachdale, in Putnam County and how she had seen to his education.  “I was just telling Robert my little grandson today that it hadn’t been very long ago that I was teaching Milton to walk.”  Mrs. Bradshaw expressed the opinion that she would receive another letter from Mr. Bowlin today or tomorrow telling of his intention to make the trip which turned out so unfavorably.  Eagerly she is watching and waiting for new of “her boy.”

Source: Same

Richmond, Ind Sept 2 – Mrs. EE Orr, 600 Pearl Street tonight was anxiously waiting to hear whether the navy seaplane PN-9 No 1, missing since yesterday afternoon on which her nephew, William H. Bowlin of this city was machinist, had been found. Since Bowlin was 12 years old he had made his home with his aunt here. Born at Roachdale, Ind March 19, 1898 (sic) Bowlin was left an orphan at an early age.  He lived with his grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Bradshaw, 1630 Central Avenue, Indianapolis for a fe years and when he was 12 Mrs. Orr took him into her home. After attending grade school at Franklin he became a pupil in the Garfield School in Richmond and later employed here by the Chenoweth Electric Company, dealers in electric automobiles and accessories.  In this capacity he developed a strong liking for mechanics and on March 13, 1918, entered the US Aviation Service at the Great Lakes training station in Chicago.  He was discharged in 1919 and after a visit of six months here with his aunt he reenlisted in the same branch of service. His last visit to Richmond was in December 1924 when he visited his aunt for 15 days. Upon his return he was ordered to report to attend the maneuvers in the Pacific.

Terre Haute Sept 2- Mrs. Teresa Stantz, wife of It is Gilbert Stantz, Terre Haute boy, who is aboard the missing PN-9 No 1, somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, bravely expressed confidence that her husband would turn up all right in due time, when she was seen at the home of her father, Joseph Weber today. “I am sure Otis is all right,” said Mrs. Stantz: they have a very seaworthy plane and even if they are forced down they will be able to stay afloat unless some serious accident happens. Of course we all have to take our chances, but I am confident we will hear from them very shortly and that they will be all safe.”

Source: Indianapolis Star Wed 13 sept 1933 p 5

Richmond, Ind Sept 12 – Word has been received here that a native Hoosier, a former resident of this city will be a member of Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd’s new Antarctic expedition. William Milton Bowlin, who was born in Roachdale in 1899 will be relief pilot and mechanic on the Byrd Expedition relatives here have been advised.  The expedition is to sail Sept 25 from Boston. Bowlin was left an orphan and was reared by his grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Bradshaw and an aunt, Mrs. EE Orr of Richmond. He attended public schools here and at Franklin. Bowlin has had an adventurous career since his enlistment in the US Navy Aviation Corps in 1918. He was a member of the crew of the PN-9 No 1 when that ship was forced down on a Pacific flight in 1925. He and other members of the crew were adrift in an open boat for 10 days before found by researchers. He has obtained a two-year leave of absence from the navy in order to accompany the Byrd expedition.

From Findagrave – obit

Source: The Palladium-Item (Richmond, Indiana) – September 7, 1973

Contributor: Scott McEntee (49217321 FAGrave)

Word has been received here of the death of Lt. Cmdr. William Milton Bowlin, 74, former Richmond resident on Aug. 7 in Lemon Grove, suburb of San Diego, Calif.

Bowlin grew up in Richmond and attended Richmond schools. A native of Roachdale, Ind., he was orphaned when young & grew up in the house of his uncle and aunt, the late Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Orr.

He was a navy career man, joining in 1917 and re-enlisting in 1919. He attended the United States Naval Training School and qualified for a navy pilot in 1923.

He was the only Indiana man with Admiral Richard Byrd on his scientific exploration to the South Pole and Little America. For his services with Byrd, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Bowlin was pilot or assistant pilot on all but one of the important flights he made during the expedition.

In 1925 Bowlin was one of a crew to make the first military flight across the Pacific to Hawaii. Their plane was downed when almost in reach of their goal and was an object of several days hunt by air and sea before found.

Bowlin is survived by his widow, Mrs. Mary Bowlin, one son, John, of Fair Oaks, Calif., and two grandchildren. Services were held Aug. 10 in Lemon Grove with burial in El Camino Memorial Park at San Diego. Cousins of Cmdr. Bowlin include Mrs. Virginia Orr Litton, Economy, Mrs. Dorothy Orr, Marion and William Orr, Indianapolis. He had been employed in the early 1920s by the Richmond Electric Company and later the Chenoweth Electric.