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| Click Here For Full Artist Print Indexes | Aviation History Archive |
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Aviation Art Prints  Pilot Signatures World War Two Signatures UK and Commonwealth S  Stevens, Steve |
Flight Lieutenant Steve Stevens DFC, AE | Flight Lieutenant Steve Stevens DFC, AE Was unable to join the RAF because he was too young when war broke out, but he carried out voluntary duties as an ARP Controller. Reporting for duty one night in 1941 he was told that his own house had been bombed abd the following morning stood among the wreckage and swore to become a bomber pilot nd exact his revenge. His sole possessions were now one pair of Scout shorts and a battered school prize, so he had little to lose. Steve trained in both England and at a small British Flying Training School in California. May 1st 1943 found him reporting to 57 Squadron at Scampton and after a few days he was given a brand new Lancaster ED946 identified as DXE. He loved it from the first - it was a super aircraft. His crew and the ground crew were busy equipping it for its combat duties. A few snags were discovered and corrected before they were ready for battle. On 12th May he did a single raid on Duisberg as second pilot. On May 16th he waited for some 617 Squadron aircraft to take off before he could fly, and that night saw 617 Squadron do its first raid and become the Dambusters. The Battle of the Ruhr was now under way and 23rd May saw his first operation against Dortmund followed by several Ruhr trips. These were followed by the Battle of Hamburg and he saw the first firestorm with its massive column of smoke about five miles high. Three raids on Italy included the longest flight made by Bomber Command. Steve completed his tour on October 20th. During that time his gunners had fought off several night fighter attacks including one in which one of his engines was severely damaged and the fighter was shot down. They sustained some light flak damaged and once a large hole was made in the underside of the fuselage causing considerable trouble - 669 of their aircraft had been shot down over enemy territory during Flight Lieutenant Stevens tour.
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| Flight Lieutenant Steve Stevens DFC, AE - Signed Aviation Art Prints, Paintings and Drawings |
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