Fred Stovin-Bradford | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Stovin-Bradford in 1942 byWilliam Dring | |
| Born | (1919-06-19)19 June 1919 Hendon,Middlesex, England |
| Died | 23 September 1974(1974-09-23) (aged 55) Sydney, Australia |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1938–1965 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 824 Naval Air Squadron 700 Naval Air Squadron 812 Naval Air Squadron |
| Commands | 825 Naval Air Squadron 735 Naval Air Squadron 810 Naval Air Squadron 17th Carrier Air Group RNAS Brawdy |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Cross& Bar |
Frederick Stovin-Bradford (19 June 1919 – 23 September 1974) was aRoyal Navy officer and aviator in theFleet Air Arm.[1] During his career, Stovin-Bradford was involved in the sinking of theIride, was one of the youngest officers to be promoted to the rank ofcaptain since Nelson's time, and served as Staff Officer to theFlag Officer of Home Air Command in England and later Chief Staff Officer to theFlag Officer in charge of East Australia.[2][3] His obituary inThe Times described him as one of the most colourful personalities in theFleet Air Arm.[1]
Stovin-Bradford was born inHendon,Middlesex,[4] and was educated atBedford Modern School.[2][5]
He joined theFleet Air Arm of theRoyal Navy as amidshipman on 21 November 1938, and was posted toHMS Hermes atHMNB Devonport for training, eventually completing theobserver's course atHMS Excellent in August 1939,[4] just prior to the declaration of war against Germany.
Stovin-Bradford first served in824 Naval Air Squadron flying inFairey Swordfishtorpedo bombers aboard the carrierHMS Eagle from October 1939,[4] and seeing action in the Mediterranean; at theBattle of Calabria in July 1940, and in the sinking of theIride and three other vessels in theGulf of Bomba on 23 August,[6][7] for which he was subsequently awarded theDistinguished Service Cross.[8]
He was promoted to sub-lieutenant on 5 November 1940, with seniority from 19 June.[9] After a period of time posted to theAdmiralty at the end of 1941,[4] he was promoted to lieutenant on 1 February 1942.[10] After completing an Air Signaller's course,[6] he was posted to700 Naval Air Squadron in July 1942 to serve aboard the battleshipHMS King George V, flying inSupermarine Walrus reconnaissance aircraft, and taking part inRussian convoys in May, in thelandings in North Africa in November, and during theinvasion of Sicily in July 1943.[6] He was posted to theescort carrierHMS Vindex in September 1943 to serve as Operations Officer, taking part inhunter-killer operations in the Atlantic and on Arctic convoys, then served as a Liaison Officer on the staff of theCommander-in-Chief, Western Approaches Admiral SirMax Horton from September 1944.[4][6] Stovin-Bradford commanded825 Naval Air Squadron from its reformation atRNAS Rattray in July 1945,[11] and from 28 December 1945 commanded735 Naval Air Squadron based atRNAS Burscough.[4]
In 1946 Stovin-Bradford qualified as a pilot, and served in812 Naval Air Squadron flying theFairey Firefly Mk. VI,[12] as part of 14th Carrier Air Group (14 CAG), also completing courses in fighter combat, ground attack and reconnaissance at the School of Naval Air Warfare.[6]
He was promoted to lieutenant-commander on 1 February 1948,[13] and served as Commanding Officer of810 Naval Air Squadron (17th Carrier Air Group), and was the first British pilot to land on theArromanches,[6] eventually commanding 17 CAG aboardHMS Theseus from September 1950[4] during theKorean War.[6] He was promoted to commander on 31 December 1950,[14] and for his "distinguished service in operations in Korean waters" he was awarded a bar to his Distinguished Service Cross on 29 June 1951.[15][16]
From 1951 he served as Commander (Air) at the Naval Fighter School atRNAS Culdrose, and then from 1954 was a Staff Officer (Air) to the Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers,[6] (HMS Glory andHMS Albion)[4] receiving promotion to captain on 31 December 1955.[17] According to his obituary, he was one of the youngest officers to be promoted to the rank of captain since the time of Nelson.[2] From 31 July 1956[4] he was the Commanding Officer ofRNAS Brawdy, Pembrokeshire West Wales,[18] and from July 1958 to September 1960 was 'on loan' to theRoyal Australian Navy, serving as Chief Staff Officer to Flag Officer-in-Charge, East Australia Area, based atHMAS Kuttabul.[4]
From June 1962 he was the Chief of Staff to Vice-AdmiralJohn Graham Hamilton, Flag Officer Air (Home), based atRNAS Lee-on-Solent.[4][19] Stovin-Bradford retired from the Navy on 30 July 1965,[20] being made aCommander of the Order of the British Empire in the1966 New Year Honours.[21]
He then returned to Australia to live inSydney, and to enjoy his wider interests. He was a fine musician, who composedFlying Stations, a special march for theFleet Air Arm,[2] which received its first public performance at theRoyal Tournament at Earls Court in 1963.[19] He was also an avid follower ofRugby Union, having served as President ofBarbarian F.C., became a First Grade referee, and was serving as Vice-President ofEastwood Rugby Club at the time of his death.[2]
Stovin-Bradford died in Sydney in 1974 and was survived by his wife and four children.[2]