John H. Stevens DSO

Andrew · 23 June 2006, 10:15 AM

I am seeking access to the details of John H. Stevens short service with the 147th Aero Squadron in France 1918. He was shot down and killed on July 30, 1918.
The more details the better I can find about him is preferred. Does any know where I can information on Stevens' record? How many kills did he have? Which German shot him down?
Please email me at a_mowatt@yahoo.com. Thanks

Andrew

Graeme · 23 June 2006, 01:39 PM

Andrew

As far as I can make out Stevens made a single claim, sharing in the destruction of a Fokker DVII on 2 July 1918.

The Sky Their Battlefield shows him being lost on 31 July 1918; no matching German claim is noted. I have no record of him receiving the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

Graeme

JoaoMVM · 25 June 2006, 02:42 AM

He was probably one of the pilots who fell in enemy lines with lack of fuel, in the same fight where John McArthur was killed no? The germans only made two claims( i think) but the Americans lost more than that, because some of them had to ditch their aircraft, and not shot down.

Am i right?

Regards João

Graeme · 25 June 2006, 03:20 AM

Joao

McArthur, 27th Pursuit Squadron, was lost on 20 July 1918, Stevens, 147th Pursuit Squadron, on 31 July.

Graeme

JoaoMVM · 26 June 2006, 07:42 AM

U are right Graeme, my mistake!

Andrew · 27 June 2006, 06:46 AM

Thank you for the responses. Can you give me any further details about Stevens crashing? There was a letter that was sent to the family indicating his aeroplane was found with bullet holes. Was this possibly a polite cover-up for him chasing Germans behind the lines and running out of petrol?

Stevens was awarded a DSO in 1921 for his efforts in mid July 1918. Apprently he assisted a fellow flyer who had engine trouble, who was carrying recon information, by landing next to fallen flyer and taking the recon info back to HQ.

Graeme · 28 June 2006, 09:52 AM

Andrew

Do you have a source for the award of the DSO? I've gone through my lists up to 1924 and not come across his name. I'm intrigued that a non-British officer in a non-British service was awarded a very high award (in terms of gallantry, second-only to the Victoria Cross), posthumously, three years after his death.

Graeme

Andrew · 28 June 2006, 12:47 PM

Very good point. He was awarded the American Distinguished Service Cross not the DSO after the war. You see what a little information can do to flush out the facts?