Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

Hi chaps

Does anyone know if there is a published history/info on the largely forgotten RAF nightfighter ace Richard Playne Stevens of 151 Sqn?

Merry Xmas

Austin

Re: Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

No, but a friend of mine, Terry Thompson, has been working on one for many years and has a vast amount of detail.

Re: Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

Hi,
there was a pretty good two part article on him in Flypast a few years ago

Cheers

Bruce Lander

Re: Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

Any one have a photo or information on his planes that he used?
Thanks Rick

Re: Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

Hi Rick,
the articles in Flypast have two photo's of Stevens, a colour profile of his Hurricane ( DZ-F , Serial V6934 with a red ? on the front cowling and 5 red swastika's under the cockpit ) also a photo of Steven's crashed Hurricane.
Cheers
Bruce Lander

Re: Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

There was also some very elaborate nose-art on the cowling, depicting a very large dragon.

Re: Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

Thank you guys.Any idea which issues?
Will look for them thats for sure.
Rick

Re: Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

rpeck 350,

I've just stumbled across the "12 o'clock high" website so forgive me if I'm a bit late with this info but the articles on Stevens in Flypast are entitled "The Eagle of Wittering"; issues, Sept 1996 and Dec 1996. I haven't come across any book specifically written about Stevens but he features in several books I have including Johnnie Johnsons "Wing Leader", Eric Kenningtons "Drawing the R.A.F", and I'm sure he is referred to in two others I have but can't put to hand at the moment; "Night Fighter-Fighter Pilots" by CF Rawnsley/R. Wright and "Through the Eyes of the Worlds Fighter Aces" by R. Jackson. Hope this is of use to you.

Steve

Re: Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

Thank you Steve.
Will look for those Issues.

Regards
Rick

Re: Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

Hi Steve

Thanks for that info

Much appreciated

Austin

Re: Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

I have spent some time with Terry Thompson these last couple of weeks and I can tell you that work is well underway for a very detailed biography of R P Stevens. Terry has been collecting material for well over twenty years and has a vast amount of detail, interviews, photographs etc. The work will be extremely comprehensive but obviously he is loathe to release information from his archive at this stage which will form the basis of his eventual work.

Re: Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

Hi Andy and all,
My understanding is that he will not be included as a BoB participant in Wynns future book release.
I believe he now has proof that he never flew operationally during the required period and will therefore be omitted.
Gerry

Re: Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

Indeed so, Gerry.

Terry Thompson was talking about this to me today and was satisfied from his research going back 25 years that R P Stevens was not a Battle of Britain "accredited" pilot. I may have misunderstood, but I think that his Record of Service failed to show an issue of the BofB bar thus indicating that the powers-that-be never considered him to be B-of-B either. Terry did mention saomething about "another R Stevens" on 151 Squadron and this is where the confusion arose. If so, it seems that this "other" R Stevens is not on the list. Should he be? Whoever he is...!!

Re: Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

Hi Andy,
Interesting one this.
I have a record showing a Sergeant Stevens (No first initial) of 151 Squadron promoted to Flight Sergeant on April 18th 1940. However I can find no further mention of him in any of the 151 Squadron records.
There is an entry in North Wealds ORB on the 2nd July '40 that states:
P/O Alexander and P/O Hunt reported for duty with 151 Sqdn.
P/O Stevenson and F/O Timmins reported to SHQ.
I wonder if the Stevens mentioned earlier is an accidental corruption of Stevenson?
Best wishes
Gerry

Re: Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens - Nightfighter Ace
 

Gerry

The June 1940 Air Force List has the following options for a Plt Off Stevenson:

J S (78903)
J W B (42158)
P C F (33521)
R (40760)
R W H (36230)
S A (77474)

However, in view of the fact that the Stevenson you mention goes to Station HQ I do rather doubt that he was a Generel Duties (flying) officer.

The key might be to unravel who the Sgt Stevens was who gets promoted to Flt Sgt on 18 April 1940.