Squadron Leader Reginald Sawrey-Cookson DFC, DSO by Eric Kennington, pastel on paper

This pastel portrait is one of many made by Eric Kennington during his two-year full-time Official War Artist commission with the Air Ministry through the War Artists' Advisory Committee. A renowned portraitist, he was tasked with portraying high-ranking men in the RAF.

Reginald Sawrey-Cookson was an illustrious bomber pilot, commanding No. 149 Squadron during the Battle of Britain until 1941. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Distinguished Service Order for his achievements with this squadron, which were praised in the London Gazette: ‘his gallantry and devotion to duty have been outstanding’. In 1942 he commanded No. 75 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force but was killed by enemy fire on a raid over Cologne that year. From the Air Ministry allocation of works from the War Artists' Advisory Committee, 1947. Original accession number: LD736. On loan from the RAF Air Historical Branch. Copyright: Crown (expired) / RAF Museum.