Bidspirit auction | WW2 Sqn Ldr Noel. R.

WW2 Sqn Ldr Noel. R. Stevens MBE Signed FDC. In Memory of Guy Gibson 1918 to 1994. Date stamped 1994, limited 24 of 41. Named in September 1940 in the November call-up for the Empire Air Training Scheme, Stevens returned to Sydney to enlist on 11 November in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He trained as a pilot in Australia and Britain and in December 1941 was posted to No. 457 Squadron, RAAF, on the Isle of Man. There he crashed in a Spitfire when the starboard tyre blew out while landing, hospitalising him for a week. On 15 February 1942 he was deployed to the Middle East, where he learned to fly Kittyhawks with No. 239 Wing, Royal Air Force. He commenced operational flying on 7 June 1942 when he joined No. 3 Squadron, RAAF, stationed at Gambut, Libya. The following month he flew dozens of short operations, experiencing a forced landing from a mechanical malfunction and being shot down twice. From October to December 1942 he increasingly led strafing and bombing raids on enemy positions; he shot down several enemy fighters: two German and one Italian (with more unconfirmed). In November 1942 he was commissioned. For his conduct and example to others, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in July 1943. In April 1943 the squadron moved to Tunisia. The next month Stevens was promoted to acting flight lieutenant and on 19 June to acting squadron leader, reported to have been the most rapid rise to that rank from sergeant pilot by an Australian airman. Concurrently, he was appointed to command the squadron. His primary focus became training pilots for the Allied invasion of Italy. The squadron was based in Malta from July. On 3 August he was again shot down by enemy ground fire, this time while flying over Sicily, and crashed near Mount Etna. In August he led a formation to the harbour of Milazzo, Sicily. Despite intense anti-aircraft fire, the squadron attacked and destroyed two ships, six barges, and a flying boat. For this operation and for his leadership, he was awarded a Bar to his DFC. Appointed as commanding officer of No. 451 Squadron on 29 August 1943, Stevens joined his new unit in Egypt. He assisted in the squadron's reformation, overseeing the replacement of Hurricanes by Spitfires. After learning that his wife was seriously ill, he applied for compassionate leave and returned to Australia in January 1944. He was posted to No. 2 Operational Training Unit, Mildura, Victoria, where he remained for the rest of the war training fighter pilots. The unit had no position for a squadron leader when he arrived, and he bore good-naturedly the indignity of reversion to his substantive rank of flying officer until a squadron leader's post became available in October 1944. Noted for his zeal and efficiency, he was credited as a good mentor who imparted his knowledge to pilots and those under his command. On 9 May 1944 he experienced another plane crash when the motor of his Spitfire failed, forcing him to land on a road. Good condition. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide.