The remarkable story of ‘Stevie’ Stevens

This is the remarkable story of Lancaster pilot Sidney ‘Stevie’ Stevens DFC AE*. After serving as an ARP Controller in London and witnessing his family home obliterated by German bombing during the Blitz, he vowed to become a Bomber Pilot, joined the RAFVR in April 1941, and completed his initial pilot’s training at Carlisle.

 In January 1942, Stevie was posted to America, and did his advanced flying training in California near Hollywood, rubbing shoulders with film stars. After gaining his Wings, he returned to the UK and learned to fly Lancasters. In May 1943 he was posted to 57 Squadron at RAF Scampton, in time to watch the Dambusters take-off on their historic mission.

 By the end of October 1943, when the survival rate among Bomber Command aircrew was one in five, Stevie had completed a full tour of Operations as the captain of a Lancaster, been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and met his future wife, WAAF Corporal Maureen Miller, who talked down Guy Gibson and his pilots from the control tower at Scampton on their return from the Dams raid.

 In 1947, after nearly four hazardous and eventful years instructing on Wellington bombers, Stevie left the RAF, settling in Norwich with Maureen and their son Adrian. He became an innovative and much-loved Maths teacher. When he and Maureen passed away after 74 years of marriage, they were both given lengthy obituaries in The Times.