Frederick Sowrey

Group Captain Frederick Sowrey, DSO, MC, AFC (25 July 1893 – 21 October 1968) was a British aviator, military officer, and a flying ace of the First World War credited with thirteen aerial victories.

[2] He was one of three sons of John William Sowrey, Deputy Chief Inspector of Inland Revenue.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree there, and was completing his graduate study when the First World War began.

[5] After three months in hospital, he was invalided out, turned around, and joined the Royal Flying Corps in December 1915.

On the evening of 23 September 1916, Sowrey launched from Sutton Farm at 2330 hours in a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c to patrol toward Joyce Green.

[2] His final summary for the twelve victories other than the L32 tallied six enemy airplanes destroyed and six driven down out of control.

The citation for the award read: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in shooting down in less than two months two Albatross scouts and a Rumpler two-seater and a Fokker scout, and in two engagements flying very low and engaging and scattering hostile infantry.

[16] He received a permanent commission in the new Royal Air Force, with the rank of squadron leader, on 1 August 1919.