Bob Dowling, a veteran of WWII, was a pilot in the Canadian Air Force.

He says his experiences were all in Canada, except for a stint in Newfoundland, which was considered overseas at that time.

At 17, Dowling got his parents’ permission to sign up for the Air Force.

“I was 15 when the war started,” he recalls. “And I tried to sign up, but I was told to go home and grow up first.”

Dowling recalls his reasoning behind joining the Air Force.

“I was 17 and nesting to win the war,” he smiles. “That was typical of the youth of the day, we were excited to be involved in combat.”

Fortunately, Dowling never saw action of that nature. He says if he had, he probably wouldn’t be here today.

Dowling would join the 418th Squadron, based in Edmonton, where he would go through a training program, eventually flying aircraft for the Canadian Air Force.

“After we went through a training program, we moved forward [on the list to be called into combat] as the casualty list grew,” he remembers. “We would receive the casualty lists often, with the names of Albertans printed in heavy type. It was an exciting time, but a very sad time, the number of casualties in certain areas were staggering.”

When queried as to why he joined the Air Force, Dowling smiles, saying he became a pilot after a love affair with planes as a small child.

“When I was a kid, small planes were a hot commodity and I was captivated by flying,” he says, recalling an instance where, at age five, he and a chum saw a plane coming to land in a nearby field and they ran across the field to the plane hoping to get a better look.

Dowling would get his chance after training to become an Air Force pilot, flying all types of aircraft.

“The largest plane I ever flew was a B-25 Mitchell,” he says with a far away look on his face, perhaps remembering the feeling of the flight.

Dowling recalls the sparse training he received before his first flight.

“I had less than six hours of flying time,” he says. “Flying was so new back then and all the things that are now regulated, were not even considered.”

He recalls a sad memory of fellow pilots that were killed during training, saying that his service was quiet compared to other men in WWII.

“Most of the time it was just myself and the crew on patrol of some kind, nothing dramatic,” he smiles.

Of his fondest memories during his service, Dowling recalls the day he graduated training to enter the Air Force.

“My father was a major and when I graduated, he pinned on my wings,” he says.

After his time serving, Dowling would go to university in Edmonton, where he remained as a reserve member of the 418th Squadron.

“It was very difficult to get out of the Air Force,” he says. “I volunteered to go to Japan, but was never called up, so I joined the reserve, which was mandatory, and stayed with them until I was honourably discharged.”

Dowling, his wife and business partners would move to Jasper in 1958. They bought a drugstore together and having to take the long trip to Edmonton for business, Dowling bought his own small plane and would fly back and forth all the time. He never lost his passion for flying.

When discussing Remembrance Day and its significance, Dowling becomes serious. 

“It used to be that the businesses would close and put on major displays in their windows on Nov. 11,” he recalls. “Gradually, it is becoming less significant [to do so].”

He says he would like to see all businesses close their doors on Nov. 11, at least until after 11 a.m., out of respect for those that have and are fighting for our freedoms.

“None of us would be here without their sacrifices.”

As part of his commitment to remembering, Dowling has been heavily involved in the Legion throughout the years and he and his wife took on the Poppy Campaign here some years ago.

“It’s important for people to remember that Nov. 11 is just that: A time to remember. And those sacrifices go on and on. It is still happening today in Afghanistan,” he says with earnest. “I have a great regard for anyone who makes a sacrifice of any kind.”