Fred Trowern

[Wholigan]

I have just heard that Fred died last weekend. I have no details of the funeral arrangements yet.

Quite one of the very finest of gentlemen I have known in the whole of my career. A very sad loss.

[ex-fast-jets]

A Great Man.

A pleasure to have known him - and flown with him.

Your assessment of him is spot on, Rog.

He was the man who stopped me dropping LGB's on a retreating Argentinian army from Sapper Hill at the end of the Falklands, by telling me - in very simple words which I understood - to go home! We didn't have secure radio, but his instructions from the ground were very clear and concise, and not open to misinterpretation. Unsure what the Spanish equivalent is!

RIP Fred.

[Null Orifice]

Sad news indeed. Strapped Fred in/saw him off while at Chivenor in the early 60s.
Blue skies,Sir!

[Warmtoast]

Fred Trowern is mentioned in an earlier post of mine when he passed out as a member of 5 FTS (RAF Thornhill, S. Rhodesia) No. 6 Pilots' Course that passed out on 6th May 1952
see here:
https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/454937-raf-funerals-earlier-era-2.html
post#39

[Bill Macgillivray]

A great loss!! A total gentleman and fine pilot. Worked with him for a time - an absolute joy!

I am told that there will be a memorial service on Wed. 27 March 2019, 1430 hours at "All Saints Church", Upper Clatford, near Andover. Funeral service family only.

Bill

[diginagain]

So sad to hear of Fred's passing. He was one of two instructors I had to impress in order to be accepted for the Army Pilots Course, we spent most of the time flogging around in a Chipmunk discussing the Falklands.

[sharpend]

Oh dear. Dear Fred. My boss on the Jaguar OCU. A lovely man. It has been a bad week or so, First Dick Bealer (notified here), then Dion Hickin (also here), now lovely Fred. I did not know a great deal about him, but we did fly together sometimes. Interestingly, Fred was one of the first the fly the Harrier and was on the Tripartite Sqn at West Raynham. I think that was the Kestrel. No doubt many others will amplify my comments. Anyway RIP and blue skies.

[kenparry]

Very sad news. I knew of Fred for years before I met him, but did know him for most of the '70s. I had the privilege of working for him in a staff post at Upavon - he was my last RAF boss. He was very understanding; I was aiming to leave and go civil flying, and he would allow me to go away to fly anything as long as my work was up to date.

Thanks again, Fred.

[Fixed Cross]

They just do not come any better. The best boss (8(F) Sqn) I ever had. Restored my faith in the Air Force.

[X767]

I learnt, by his last Christmas card, that he was about to "slip the surly bonds of Earth", but he was his normal cheerful self, saying he had had a good innings.
I first met him when I was on 54 Sqn at West Raynham, when he and Porky Munro were on the Tripartite Kestrel Sqn.
Many years followed, until we came together again when he took over from John Walker as boss of the Jaguar OCU, and I was boss of 1 Sqn Jag Ocu.
After a final tour on 41 Sqn, I joined him again for my first, and only, ground tour at 38 Gp, where he was in charge of the OS corridor.
A real Christian gentleman, whose leadership skills, immaculate bearing and superb flying skills were hard to beat.
Blue skies, Fred - it has been a privilege.

[Wholigan]

Needless to say, I would be very grateful to anybody who posts confirmation of details of Fred’s funeral arrangements. I shall post if I hear first.

Many thanks.

[Bill Macgillivray]

Wholigan,

See post # 5. This info. is from his brother! Funeral is family only, memorial service as stated.

Bill

[Wholigan]

Just to clarify; the funeral is family only at a time not known to us, and there is a memorial service that we can go to at the time, date and place stated in your post?

Does anybody need to be told that we will be at the memorial service?

Thanks, Roj.

[Vampiredave]

For those interested in Fred Trowern’s formation display career:

1958: Four Provost T.1 of No.2 FTS, Syerston, “The 2 FTS Piston Provost Team”.

Flt Lts F A Trowern, R Gayer, W D P Jones and Master Pilot J McTavish.

1959: Four Provost T.1s of No.2 FTS, Syerston, “2 FTS Piston Provost Team”.

Flt Lts F A Trowern, R Gayer, W D P Jones and Master Pilot J McTavish.

1963: Five Hunter F.6s of No.229 OCU, Chivenor, “The Black Dragons”.

Sqn Ldr R C Wood, Flt Lts R V A Munro, F A Trowern, P Tate and C J Strong.

Following a flying accident in March 1963, Flt Lt A J Park became No.3, Flt Lt E Powell became No.4 and Flt Lt F A Trowern moved to No.5 position.

1965: Four Kestrel FGA 1s of the Kestrel Evaluation Squadron Demonstration Team, West Raynham, Sqn Ldr F A Trowern, Flt Lt RVA Munro AFC, Major J A Johnson DFC, US Army and 1st Lt V Suhr, Luftwaffe.

With the official disbandment of the KES in November 1965, the renamed Kestrel Evaluation Demonstration Team operated two Kestrel FGA 1s and a Hawker P.1127 flown by Sqn Ldr F A Trowern, Flt Lts R V A Munro and D J Mcl Edmondston.

Fred Trowern was also the RAF Chivenor solo display pilot in 1962 / 1963

1986: Eight Chipmunk T.10s of the EFWF, AAAC, Middle Wallop, "The Grey Owls".
First section led by J Cant and consisting R Snell, I Hawkins and H Rigg;
second section led by B Gunn and consisting R Hargreaves, L Naile and B Ibson.

1987: No details

1988: Five Chipmunk T..10s of the EFWF, AACC, Middle Wallop, "The Grey Owls",
J Cant, H Rigg, F Trowern, M Kelson and R Duke.

1989: Five Chipmunk T.10s of the EFWF, AACC, Middle Wallop, "The Grey Owls",
F Trowern, H Rigg, M Kelson, P Jennings and C Boyack.

1990: Five Chipmunk T.10s of the EFWF, AACC, Middle Wallop, "The Grey Owls"
F Trowern, H Rigg, M Kelson, P Jennings and C Boyack.

1991: Five Chipmunk T.10s of the EFWF, AACC, Middle Wallop, "The Grey Owls"
F Trowern, H Rigg, M Kelson, P Jennings and C Boyack.

1992: Five Chipmunk T.10s of the EFWF, AACC, Middle Wallop, "The Grey Owls"
Trowern, H Rigg, M Kelson, P Jennings and C Boyack.

1993: Five Chipmunk T.10s of the EFWF, AACC, Middle Wallop, "The Grey Owls"
F Trowern, H Rigg, M Kelson, P Jennings and C Boyack.

1994: Five Chipmunk T.10s of the EFWF, AACC, Middle Wallop, "The Grey Owls"
F Trowern, H Rigg, M Kelson, P Jennings and C Boyack.

1995: Five Chipmunk T.10s of the EFWF, AACC, Middle Wallop, "The Grey Owls"
F Trowern, H Rigg, M Kelson, P Jennings and C Boyack.

1996: Five Chipmunk T.10s of the EFWF, AACC, Middle Wallop, "The Grey Owls"
F Trowern, H Rigg, M Kelson, P Jennings and C Boyack.

1997: Five Chipmunk T.10s of the EFWF, AACC, Middle Wallop, "The Grey Owls"
F Trowern, R Hargreaves, M Kelson, P Jennings and C Boyack.

Fred Trowern once told me that the team’s routine was accompanied with the tune ‘As Time Goes By’ and that it was “...as exciting as watching paint dry”





__._,_.___

[diginagain]

Grey 3 to Grey 1 in a season. ISTR every one of 312 APC sat and watched the rehearsals each evening. Fred and Dickie Duke did my grading, and although I didn't fly with either of them during BFW, they each found time to chat.

[JW411]

I can remember bringing him back to Bahrain from Sharjah one afternoon (in an Argosy). He had just been told that 8 Squadron was going to have to hand in their Hunters and replace them with Shackletons. I think it would be fair to say that he was somewhat shell-shocked.

[RAFEngO74to09]

I didn't know Fred Trowern personally but, as I happened to come across this Rank video about the tripartite Kestrel Evaluation Squadron a few weeks ago, I thought I would post it so that anyone who might recognize the gentleman could enjoy the memory if he appears in it. Of the 10 aircrew from 3 nations, there were 4 from the RAF - including a wing commander, a squadron leader and a flight lieutenant - so there is a good chance he is in it somewhere. Those must have been interesting and exciting times trying out field operations for the first time along with NATO partners from the US and Germany.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJiYH57qRi4

[sharpend]

Here is the only photo I have of Fred . Happy days.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x582/28_b3fdfeaf8eee38fbfc10b1ac9b05343d2af6d5b5.jpeg

[OldBonaMate]

8 Sqn Aden. RIP Boss.

[Bill Macgillivray]

Wholigan,

You've got it, and the answer to your query is that all who knew Fred are welcome at the memorial service!

Bill

[Hueymeister]

Here is the only photo I have of Fred . Happy days.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x582/28_b3fdfeaf8eee38fbfc10b1ac9b05343d2af6d5b5.jpeg
I'd forgotten you were Jagmate..you would have had your many pints in the Colt O'Mess Bar poured by my late grandfather...

[flyinkiwi]

So sad to hear of Fred's passing. He was one of two instructors I had to impress in order to be accepted for the Army Pilots Course, we spent most of the time flogging around in a Chipmunk discussing the Falklands.

Here's his brief appearance in the 1990's BBC documentary about Army Pilot training.

https://youtu.be/4GTRlNkEkKY?t=145

[kenparry]

RAFEng:

Fred is in your video at 8:35 in characteristic pose with a pint.

[RodfjH]

What sad news. I worked with Fred at Chivenor and Lossiemouth. R.I.P.

[Deneb]

So sad to hear. He was my instructor on Basic Fixed wing at Middle Wallop and I could not have had a finer instructor and gentleman. No one came close to him thereafter! RIP Fred...

[AARON O'DICKYDIDO]

I remember “Boss” Trowen from Strike Wing at Khormaksar (8 Sqn). Perhaps my memory is playing tricks but didn’t he eject ‘through’ the canopy of a Meteor on 2 occassions without suffering serious injury? The only person to do so.

Aaron.

[chopper2004]

So sad to hear of Fred's passing. He was one of two instructors I had to impress in order to be accepted for the Army Pilots Course, we spent most of the time flogging around in a Chipmunk discussing the Falklands.

Never had the pleasure of meeting this gentleman but did watch Flying Soldiers and I like what he says "I see ten happy smiling faces here, in six weeks time when I have done your final handling test, there be ten happy smiling faces."

ATB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GTRlNkEkKY

[Fixed Cross]

Did anyone attend Fred's memorial Service? On my way I ran into a mega M25 traffic jam and spent 2 hours crawling out. By then the Service would have been almost through and I was still an hour away from the church.

[Bill Macgillivray]

Fixed Cross,

Yes, I attended Fred's memorial service. I would not like to estimate the number there but the Church was full for the service, as was the Village Hall afterwards! A first class turn out for a first class guy!

RIP Fred.

Bill

[Fixed Cross]

Thanks Bill,- I was devastated not to be there.

By the way,were you at CFS on the QFI course in mid 64?

Regards

FC

[Bill Macgillivray]

FC,

Yes, 223 Course (Apr - Aug. 64) Then UBAS.

Bill

[Wholigan]

https://digitaledition.telegraph.co.uk/editions/edition_QzhJs_2019-04-03/data/639598/index.html?share=1&WT.mc_id=tmgapp_inar_share&utm_source=tmgapp&utm_medium=inar&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=tmgapp_inar_share&Expires=1556665200&Signature=Ei6aox7u109xnwzG9WO6L2Wj5-ZPdZRD0GeF6Kl1R7wehYHr3bWVtp7q1x3rDw-ggeLYprbuXd9sWLsn1svr3AEklxdzQZ~0P~RrplxNDzaC-nOKObl83K3SPGfqUXsFwhjmkMp8MTllLeNpohQI-Q-DN6ACYEYHYaDbabFs0EGzcmNUhUVnk8N4VaZs21U0OywH0DOpRcIjhxatbSb uuYmA4NarZE2Utf2BGtix4bikOFrlz~w1pq59wrvSIgNT-sOnF6r2mhZVPCVeBBOoH0Y8eKTWBGPeKE-eS2iClAtsm4kocMzdOZ3BzEU5ssKkbVPYDxr02ze-R9tMWmasRw__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLCEPDGCTPVKXNOA

[Null Orifice]

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/891x737/black_dragons_chivenor_1963_e10e425d37552e5c461feea4c299b4fe 2c3b9be8.jpg
Known to us ground crew as the Frantic Five.

[Ewan Whosearmy]

Trowern (OCU CO?) briefing the flight of a BBC reporter:

Facebook Video from BBC

Edit: Well, looks like I can't post a link!

You could instead go to the BBC archive page on FB and search for "1977: Nationwide: Diane Does It - Jaguar Pilot Flight"