Fred Stovin-Bradford

Captain Frederick Stovin-Bradford CBE DSC&bar (1919-1974) was a British Commanding Officer in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy, involved in the sinking of Italian submarine Iride, one of the youngest officers to be promoted to the rank of Captain since Nelson, 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.

Captain Stovin-Bradford joined the Royal Navy in 1938 following an education at Bedford Modern School. As a World War II fighter pilot he was engaged in much aerial combat in the defence of England and Europe including, as a Sub-Lieutenant, the sinking of Italian submarine Iride. According to his obituary, he was one of the youngest officers to be promoted to the rank of Captain since Nelson. Following World War II he was Staff Officer to the Flag Officer of Home Air Command in England.

In 1959, Captain Stovin-Bradford went to Australia on an exchange program where he was Chief Staff Officer to the then Flag Officer in charge of East Australia, Rear-Admiral Harries. On his retirement, he returned to Australia to live in Sydney and to enjoy his wider interests. He was a fine musician who composed Flying Stations (1963), a special march for the Fleet Air Arm. He was also an avid follower of Rugby union who had represented England as a schoolboy and went on to become a First Grade Referee during his retirement in Sydney.

Captain Stovin-Bradford died in Sydney in 1974 and was survived by his wife and four children.