Graham Pitchfork - The Sowreys: A Unique and Remarkable Record of One Familys Sixty-Five Years of Distinguished RAF Service

Writing this book about the remarkable Sowrey family has been immensely stimulating, rewarding and enjoyable. My thanks go to many people who have helped bring the project to fruition.

First I want to thank Professor Sir Laurie Martin for his eloquent foreword, which sets the perfect tone for what follows, and for his advice.

Without the enthusiastic support of Sir Freddie Sowrey, writing this book would have been very difficult. He has never spared himself to travel to London to meet me in the RAF Club and when I have visited his lovely home he and his wife Ann have been wonderful hosts offering me a warm welcome and generous hospitality. He has given me access to his records, personal papers, letters, logbooks and photographs in addition to allowing me to tape record his memories and views. He has checked all the chapters and offered corrections together with additional invaluable comments and anecdotes. I also thank Sir Freddies son and daughter, Peter and Susan. The whole Sowrey family have given me great assistance and I am very grateful to the Countess Fortescue for her hospitality and patience and for allowing me access to her grandfathers and fathers logbooks, diaries and photographs. Elizabeth Boof Edge, Heather Sowrey, Lorna Sowrey, Mandy Sowrey, Carol Sowrey Thorpe and Gavin Stewart have all been a great help in offering advice and lending me notes and photographs.

Much of the military research has been carried out at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Watchfield, where the head librarian, Chris Hobson MBE, gave me a very great deal of help and advice and full access to the colleges excellent library where he allowed me to spend many hours. I am also grateful to the Air Historical Branch where the head of the branch, Sebastian Cox, and Graham Day have been most helpful.

At the RAF Museum, Hendon, Air Vice-Marshal Peter Dye OBE, the director, and Peter Elliot have responded to all my requests and allowed me access to the Sowrey Archive which is lodged at the museum. I am also indebted to the keeper of the National Archives at Kew where I consulted a wide variety of sources, the major documents being listed in the bibliography. Tim Pierce at the RAF College Cranwell library could not have been more helpful and Diana Manipud helped me at Kings College London. I also thank Air Vice-Marshal Nigel Baldwin CB, CBE and Air Vice-Marshal Tony Mason CB, CBE for their valuable advice.

Anne Barrett at Imperial College, London, Dr Reg Bryan at the Tangmere Military and Aviation Museum, Tim Kershaw at the Jet Age Museum, Group Captain Min Larkin CBE, Halton Aircraft Apprentices Association, Wing Commander Paul Moss and Flight Sergeant Barry Dobson of 8 Squadron, Squadron Leader N. Short at the Central Flying School, David Walsh at Tonbridge School, Squadron Leader Richard Willis and Sergeant Mark Brewster at RAF Northolt have all provided valuable information and help.

Many individuals have given me specialist advice and I want to thank them all. Group Captain Chris Morris OBE and Wing Commander Jeff Jefford MBE have been an immense help providing much information and checking parts of the narrative. Others who have made significant contributions are Eric Absolon, Bill Brown DFC, Julie Burgess, Phil Butler, Peter Green, Alastair Goodrum, Norman Franks, Trevor Henshaw, Tony Holmes, Wally Kahn MBE, Mike OConnor, Ray Rimell, John Scott, Peter Stratten, Andrew Thomas and Tony Vivian. I am grateful to all of them.