Air Marshal Sir Frederick Beresford ‘Freddie’ Sowrey, KCB CBE, AFC (1922- )
Frederick Beresford ‘Freddie’ Sowrey was born at a Grantham nursing home.
His father was Group Captain Frederick Sowrey, at the time commanding officer of 100 Squadron based at RAF Spitalgate
Freddie was educated at Charterhouse, a public school in Godalming, Surrey.
He served as Director of Defence Policy at the Ministry of Defence from 1968 to 1970, and Commandant of the National Defence College from 1972 to 1975.
He was commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve General Duties Branch in 1941 as a pilot officer on probation (emergency).
He received his pilot training in Canada and joined No. 26 Squadron RAF in 1942 flying P-51 Mustangs. He was promoted to flying officer (war substantive.
From 1942 to 1944, he undertook aerial reconnaissance in the European theatre of war and in 1943, was promoted to flight lieutenant (war substantive). He served with the First Allied Airborne Army in 1945.
Following World War II, on 1 July 1946, he was granted a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force as a flight lieutenant.
From 1946 to 1948, he served with No. 615 Squadron RAF. He attended the Fighter Gunnery School from 1949 to 1950.
He was promoted to squadron leader in 1951 and appointed Officer Commanding of No. 615 Squadron RAF in 1951.
In 1954, he attended RAF Staff College, Bracknell and promoted to Wing Commander in 1956.
He served as Director of Defence Policy at the Ministry of Defence from 1968 to 1970, and Commandant of the National Defence College from 1972 to 1975.
Sowrey married Anne Margaret Haviland in 1942, the widow of Pilot Officer Richard Haviland who had died in a flying accident two years earlier.
He was awarded the Air Force Cross in the 1954 New Year Honours and appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1965 Queen’s Birthday Honours,).
In the 1968 New Year Honours, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).
Just heard that Sir Freddie has passed away, aged 97. From Grantham, he came from a distinguished family and had an equally distinguished career in the Royal Air Force.
RIP Sir.