Frederick Sowrey
| Frederick Sowrey | |
|---|---|
| Born |
25 August 1893 Twigworth, Gloucestershire, England |
| Died | 21 October 1968 (aged 75) Eastbourne, Sussex, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1940 |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Unit |
Royal Fusiliers No. 39 (Home Defence) Squadron RFC No. 37 (Home Defence) Squadron RFC No. 19 Squadron RFC |
| Commands held | No. 143 Squadron RAF |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Air Force Cross |
| Relations | Air Marshal Sir Freddie Sowrey (son) |
Group Captain Frederick Sowrey, DSO, MC, AFC (25 July 1893 – 21 October 1968) was a British officer began his career as a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories. He was most noted for his first victory, when he shot down Zeppelin L32 during its bombing raid on England. Having risen rapidly in rank during the war, he remained in service until 1940.
Frederick Sowrey was one of three sons of John Sowrey, Deputy Chief Inspector of Inland Revenue. Young Frederick was home schooled until he was thirteen. He then won a scholarship to King's College School, Wimbledon. He earned a BS degree there, and was completing his graduate study when World War I began. He immediately volunteered for military service; on 31 August 1914 he was appointed as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers. He went to France as an infantry officer, and was wounded at the Battle of Loos in 1915. After three months in hospital, he was invalided out, turned around, and joined the Royal Flying Corps in December 1915.
He was posted to 39 Squadron on 17 June 1916; he was duly appointed a Flying Officer. It was during this assignment that he scored his first and most notable victory. On the evening of 23 September 1916, Second Lieutenant Sowrey launched from Sutton Farm at 2330 hours in a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c to patrol toward Joyce Green. Flying at 13,000 feet, he spotted Zeppelin L32 at about 0110 hours and closed with it. He fired three drums of incendiary ammunition into the belly of the gasbag before it exploded into flame. There were no survivors from the aircrew; most of the bodies recovered were charred and burned. The burning wreckage at Billericay drew enormous crowds. Sowrey received the Distinguished Service Order for his feat, which was gazetted on 4 October 1916. That same day, Temporary Second Lieutenant Sowrey was nominated for a regular commission in the Fusiliers. Shortly thereafter, on 1 December 1916, he was appointed a Flight Commander with the accompanying rank of Temporary Captain. Sometime in late 1916, he transferred to 37 Home Defence Squadron.
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