Michael Bowyer, who has died aged 95, was the author of many aviation books as well as a dedicated primary school teacher. His encyclopedic knowledge and rigorous research enhanced his many popular publications.

His book on the RAF’s versatile Mosquito, co-authored with C Martin Sharp, was published by Faber in 1971 and became the standard work on the subject. Mike recalled the publishing house applying the principle insisted on by its former leading light, the poet TS Eliot, to “leave parentheses to the mathematicians”.