Godfrey "Goff" Bowles : Chief Pilot
Sadly we have heard the Goff passed away, aged 95, on the 31st January 2025. My sincere condolences go out to his wife Moira, family, friends and former colleagues.
Goff joined Air Charter in 1953, and during his BCal time he had been a Training Captain on 1-11s, a DC10 Captain flying many inaugural DC10 routes for BCal, DC10 Fleet Manager, then a spell on the A310 before becoming BCal's Chief Pilot.
A photo to the right of Goff in 1976 when he was part of the DC10 Project Team
Goff joined Air Charter in 1953, and during his BCal time he had been a Training Captain on 1-11s, a DC10 Captain flying many inaugural DC10 routes for BCal, DC10 Fleet Manager, then a spell on the A310 before becoming BCal's Chief Pilot.
A photo to the right of Goff in 1976 when he was part of the DC10 Project Team
Goff Remembered
From Tony Realff
A very sad loss. Goff and his wife Moira are close neighbours in Cowbeech. Goff was a “ Village Treasure ”, liked by all and his invaluable help in providing the musical accompaniment to the annual village pantomime was the welcome bright light in the performance. A delightful man, great company and a gentleman. He will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with Moira and the family.
From Nigel Dale: Lovely guy, remember him well on Brits and VC-10's!!
From Peter Smith: Sad news. I liked Goff
From Tony Cocklin
Very sad news, indeed. I remember Goff well as BCAL's Chief Pilot. He was obviously highly qualified and super competent, but also a true gentleman. One of the best.
From Trevor Warburton: Another sad passing
From Jim Will: RIP Captain Godfrey.
From Anne Lindup: RIP
From Roger Warren: RIP Godfrey
From Christina Selmes: RIP Captain, it was a honour to have worked with you.
From David R Holder
Sadly the loss of another great aviation gentleman, Goff was such a pleasant man and i feel honoured to have known and worked with him in our great airline. RIP Captain Goff
From Brian Dawson: Forever grateful for your confidence in me Goff. RIP
From Jean Carlyle-Lyon: What a lovely man. flew with him often.
From Sally Simmonds: RIP, Captain.
From Riaz Butt: RIP Captain
From John Simpson: Very sad news to hear that Goff has left us. He was an extremely talented and pleasant man. RIP Goff.
From Sue Jackson-Page: Sad to see this. A real gentleman and loved flying with him. RIP Goff
From Jacki Venables Kyrke: How sad, flew with him many times when we had just taken delivery of the DC10s. RIP lovely man
From David Heal: Goff was a gentle man and a gentleman of the highest integrity. He will be sorely missed.
From Jerry Ball
Goff was a good friend & colleague to my Dad (Vic). I first met Goff when he was the Captain on a BCal 707 to LAX in 1974. Absolute gentleman.
From Ian Corby: Deepest Condolences to Goff's family. Always a pleasure to fly with. RIP Goff!
From Cos Shiels: RIP Goff, a true gentleman
From Fee Flee: So very sorry. Fly Free
From Mike Jeffs
My sincere condolences to his family and friends. Goff was a wonderful man to work with and a superb airman. RIP Goff
From Victor Attwood
When I first meet Goff, he was a captain on the DC-6s and was a regular on the Africargo service down as far as Jo'burg
From Coreen Wilcox
So sorry to hear this…a well respected and true gentleman. My thoughts and prayers are with Moira and family. Rest in peace Captain Goff
From Hasu Jethwa: RIP
From Bob Millichap
I was so sorry to learn of Goff’s passing who was always a great help to us in the Press Office whenever newsworthy technical matters, such as the long DC-10 grounding, came to public attention. A true gentleman and consummate professional who will be sorely missed.
From Hugh Cowan
I knew Geoff Bowles well and had the pleasure of flying with him on DC10 test flights and had discussions with him on various technical issues. Always a pleasure to meet talk. What a gentleman he was!
From Chris Scott
In 1975, after I'd moved (as a co-pilot) from the VC10 to the B707, Goff checked me out on North American and polar routes on a trip to Edmonton and LAX, returning several days later from Oakland. Real gent to fly with. Don't remember him in 1984-86 on the A310 (on which John Vetch was Fleet Manager), but as Chief Pilot of all fleets. Greatly liked and respected. Fly high, Goff..
From Mike Thrower
So sorry to see this…….. a wonderful man who everyone loved working for…….. the best conversion course I ever did was either Goff in Brussels…… in the Sim between midnight and 0400 with a debrief in the all night bar before sleep/ eat/repeat !!! Thank you Goff for everything you did for me ….. blue skies and tailwinds RIP
From Frank Brejcha: Sad news as it was thanks to an interview with Goff and Gerry Moore that I actually got into BCAL.
From Peter Hamilton-Box
Goff taught me, in part, to fly after he retired, particularly with RT (radio work). He was a kind and considerate man. I did an aerobatic air display for him once a few years ago…Condolences and best wishes
If you would like to leave a message in remembrance please drop me a line anytime at BCalatribute@outlook.com
Condolences were extended by:
Dave Thaxter, Phil Bowell, Susan Buckley, Don Passmore, John Morgan, Stella Bullman, Riaz Butt, Judi Beasley, Seona Craig, Brian Russell, Valerie Edwards, Peter Durran, Trevor Warburton, Ruskie Dee, Dorothy Flower, Lindsay Smith, Christine Jegu, Susie Douglas-Smith, Frances Taylor, Alan Reeves, Richard Blackwell, Pat Cresswell, Nick Washington-Jones, Kris Massie, Bob Hewitt, Liz Tiley, Julie Hourigan, Graham Waters, Tricia Riley, Tina Harvey, Jenny Thomas, Mel Sanders, Jacqui Byrne, Bernice Priestnall, Janet Willis, Jackie Hebert Hayes, Sylvia Murphy, Doug Ledingham, Susie Gaskell, Cos Shiels, David Phillips, Mike Jeffs,
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From Tony Realff
A very sad loss. Goff and his wife Moira are close neighbours in Cowbeech. Goff was a “ Village Treasure ”, liked by all and his invaluable help in providing the musical accompaniment to the annual village pantomime was the welcome bright light in the performance. A delightful man, great company and a gentleman. He will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with Moira and the family.
From Nigel Dale: Lovely guy, remember him well on Brits and VC-10's!!
From Peter Smith: Sad news. I liked Goff
From Tony Cocklin
Very sad news, indeed. I remember Goff well as BCAL's Chief Pilot. He was obviously highly qualified and super competent, but also a true gentleman. One of the best.
From Trevor Warburton: Another sad passing
From Jim Will: RIP Captain Godfrey.
From Anne Lindup: RIP
From Roger Warren: RIP Godfrey
From Christina Selmes: RIP Captain, it was a honour to have worked with you.
From David R Holder
Sadly the loss of another great aviation gentleman, Goff was such a pleasant man and i feel honoured to have known and worked with him in our great airline. RIP Captain Goff
From Brian Dawson: Forever grateful for your confidence in me Goff. RIP
From Jean Carlyle-Lyon: What a lovely man. flew with him often.
From Sally Simmonds: RIP, Captain.
From Riaz Butt: RIP Captain
From John Simpson: Very sad news to hear that Goff has left us. He was an extremely talented and pleasant man. RIP Goff.
From Sue Jackson-Page: Sad to see this. A real gentleman and loved flying with him. RIP Goff
From Jacki Venables Kyrke: How sad, flew with him many times when we had just taken delivery of the DC10s. RIP lovely man
From David Heal: Goff was a gentle man and a gentleman of the highest integrity. He will be sorely missed.
From Jerry Ball
Goff was a good friend & colleague to my Dad (Vic). I first met Goff when he was the Captain on a BCal 707 to LAX in 1974. Absolute gentleman.
From Ian Corby: Deepest Condolences to Goff's family. Always a pleasure to fly with. RIP Goff!
From Cos Shiels: RIP Goff, a true gentleman
From Fee Flee: So very sorry. Fly Free
From Mike Jeffs
My sincere condolences to his family and friends. Goff was a wonderful man to work with and a superb airman. RIP Goff
From Victor Attwood
When I first meet Goff, he was a captain on the DC-6s and was a regular on the Africargo service down as far as Jo'burg
From Coreen Wilcox
So sorry to hear this…a well respected and true gentleman. My thoughts and prayers are with Moira and family. Rest in peace Captain Goff
From Hasu Jethwa: RIP
From Bob Millichap
I was so sorry to learn of Goff’s passing who was always a great help to us in the Press Office whenever newsworthy technical matters, such as the long DC-10 grounding, came to public attention. A true gentleman and consummate professional who will be sorely missed.
From Hugh Cowan
I knew Geoff Bowles well and had the pleasure of flying with him on DC10 test flights and had discussions with him on various technical issues. Always a pleasure to meet talk. What a gentleman he was!
From Chris Scott
In 1975, after I'd moved (as a co-pilot) from the VC10 to the B707, Goff checked me out on North American and polar routes on a trip to Edmonton and LAX, returning several days later from Oakland. Real gent to fly with. Don't remember him in 1984-86 on the A310 (on which John Vetch was Fleet Manager), but as Chief Pilot of all fleets. Greatly liked and respected. Fly high, Goff..
From Mike Thrower
So sorry to see this…….. a wonderful man who everyone loved working for…….. the best conversion course I ever did was either Goff in Brussels…… in the Sim between midnight and 0400 with a debrief in the all night bar before sleep/ eat/repeat !!! Thank you Goff for everything you did for me ….. blue skies and tailwinds RIP
From Frank Brejcha: Sad news as it was thanks to an interview with Goff and Gerry Moore that I actually got into BCAL.
From Peter Hamilton-Box
Goff taught me, in part, to fly after he retired, particularly with RT (radio work). He was a kind and considerate man. I did an aerobatic air display for him once a few years ago…Condolences and best wishes
If you would like to leave a message in remembrance please drop me a line anytime at BCalatribute@outlook.com
Condolences were extended by:
Dave Thaxter, Phil Bowell, Susan Buckley, Don Passmore, John Morgan, Stella Bullman, Riaz Butt, Judi Beasley, Seona Craig, Brian Russell, Valerie Edwards, Peter Durran, Trevor Warburton, Ruskie Dee, Dorothy Flower, Lindsay Smith, Christine Jegu, Susie Douglas-Smith, Frances Taylor, Alan Reeves, Richard Blackwell, Pat Cresswell, Nick Washington-Jones, Kris Massie, Bob Hewitt, Liz Tiley, Julie Hourigan, Graham Waters, Tricia Riley, Tina Harvey, Jenny Thomas, Mel Sanders, Jacqui Byrne, Bernice Priestnall, Janet Willis, Jackie Hebert Hayes, Sylvia Murphy, Doug Ledingham, Susie Gaskell, Cos Shiels, David Phillips, Mike Jeffs,
Close this page
.
Service Information
As per Goff’s wishes there will not be a funeral service. A remembrance for close family and friends was held on 20th Feb.
As per Goff’s wishes there will not be a funeral service. A remembrance for close family and friends was held on 20th Feb.
