Captain Frederick Stovin-Bradford CBE, DSC* (19 June 1919 – 23 September 1974) was a Royal Navy officer and aviator in the Fleet Air Arm. During his career, Stovin-Bradford was involved in the sinking of the Italian submarine Iride, was one of the youngest officers to be promoted to the rank of captain since Nelson's time, and served as Staff Officer to the Flag Officer of Home Air Command in England and later Chief Staff Officer to the Flag Officer in charge of East Australia. His obituary in The Times described him as one of the most colourful personalities in the Fleet Air Arm.
Early life and education
Stovin-Bradford was born in Hendon, Middlesex, and was educated at Bedford Modern School.
World War II
He joined the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy as a midshipman on 21 November 1938, and was posted to HMS Hermes at HMNB Devonport for training, eventually completing the observer's course at HMS Excellent in August 1939, just prior to the declaration of war against Germany.
Stovin-Bradford first served in 824 Naval Air Squadron flying in Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers aboard the carrier HMS Eagle from October 1939, and seeing action in the Mediterranean; at the Battle of Calabria in July 1940, and in the sinking of the Italian submarine Iride and three other vessels in the Gulf of Bomba on 23 August, for which he was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
He was promoted to sub-lieutenant on 5 November 1940, with seniority from 19 June. After a period of time posted to the Admiralty at the end of 1941, he was promoted to lieutenant on 1 February 1942. After completing an Air Signaller's course, he was posted to 700 Naval Air Squadron in July 1942 to serve aboard the battleship HMS King George V, flying in Supermarine Walrus reconnaissance aircraft, and taking part in Russian convoys in May, in the landings in North Africa in November, and during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. He was posted to the escort carrier HMS Vindex in September 1943 to serve as Operations Officer, taking part in hunter-killer operations in the Atlantic and on Arctic convoys, then served as a Liaison Officer on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches Admiral Sir Max Horton from September 1944. Stovin-Bradford commanded 825 Naval Air Squadron from its reformation at RNAS Rattray in July 1945, and from 28 December 1945 commanded 735 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Burscough.