Arthur Clowes | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Clowes, made by Cuthbert Orde in February 1941 | |
| Nickname(s) | 'Taffy' |
| Born | 16 August 1912 Sawley, Derbyshire, United Kingdom |
| Died | 7 December 1949 (aged 37) Ely, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom |
| Buried | Brampton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1929–1949 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Unit | No. 1 Squadron |
| Commands | No. 94 Squadron No. 601 Squadron No. 79 Squadron |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Distinguished Flying Medal Mention in Despatches |
Arthur Clowes, DFC, DFM (16 August 1912 – 7 December 1949) was a British flying ace who served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was credited with having shot down at least ten aircraft.
Born in Sawley, Derbyshire, Clowes joined the RAF in 1929 to train in ground crew duties. Qualifying as a metal rigger two years later, he subsequently trained as a pilot. Serving with No. 1 Squadron as a sergeant pilot at the time of the outbreak of the Second World War, he flew extensively during the Battle of France and the following aerial campaign over southeast England. During this time, he achieved several aerial victories and had been commissioned. After a period of instructing duties in mid-1941, he was given command of No. 79 Squadron. He later commanded fighter squadrons in Egypt and Libya but his operational flying career came to an end in September 1943 when he lost sight in one eye due to an accident. In the postwar period, he remained in the RAF in an administrative role but died of liver cancer in 1949, aged 37.