Stephenson, Basil Noel

Date of birth:: March 15th, 1924
Nationality:: Australian

Biography

Photo taken on the wing of 'his' Lancaster TL-N (PB 364) in the last days of his WWII service with 35 Squadron at RAF Gravely (Copyright Frazer Stephenson).

Basil Noel Stephenson was enlisted on April 2nd 1942 and was discharges on January 15th 1946.
As a Target Illuminator & Master Bomber; having flown over 63 operational sorties; F/O Stephenson returned his crew and aircraft to safety after a raid on Bremen on 22/4/1945. Here they received over 30 Flak holes to his aircraft. He landed with hydraulics shot away, bomb bay doors damaged and bomb/flare payload still onboard. F/O Stephenson was recommended for award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) by CO 35 (PFF) Sqn, GCAPT Good. At an un-official 'ceremony' in the Mess, he was presented with the DFC ribbon by the OC of "B" Flight, on 15 JUN 1945. On return to Australia at the end of WWII, no record of his award recommendation or confirmation was held by the Australian Authorities. F/O Stephenson's DFC has never 'officially' been awarded.

Postings:
No 1 ITS Somers, No 11 EFTS Benalla, No 6 SFTS Mallala, No 1 ED, No 1 SFTS Pt Cook, 11 PDRC Brighton. 6(P) AFU Little Rissington, (satellite) Chipping Norton, 12 OTU Chipping Warden, 6(P) AFU Chipping Norton, 21 OTU Moreton in Marsh, 6 GRBS Dalton, 1664 HCU Dishforth, 462 Sqn Driffield, 640 Sqn Leconfield, NTU Warboys, 35 Sqn Gravely.

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