Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Peter Stevens was born on 22nd October 1919 in Albany, Western Australia. When he enlisted into the RAAF in Perth on 21st July 1941 he was working as a school teacher. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on 30th April 1942 and left Australia in June 1942 by ship. On arrival in the UK he trained at 1 (O)AFU begining 18th September 1942, 27 OTU begining 1st October 1942 and was promoted to F/O on 20th October 1942. He then trained at 1656 CU begining 18th February 1943 before being posted to 460 Squadron on 14th March 1943. All of the crew involved in the flak incident on 21st April 1943 were posted to 156 Squadron the next day, he first flew operationally with them on 4th May 1943 and up until 20th December 1943 he had flown 37 operational flights with them. He was awarded the DFC for service with 156 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th October 1943 and later was awarded the Bar to the DFC for further service with 156 Squadron, Gazetted on 11th February 1944. After a Tour with 156 Squadron he was posted to 97 Squadron as navigation leader on 17th January 1944. He was on board Lancaster NE121 on 30th July 1944 in support of the recent D-Day landings when the aircraft was hit by flak and was partly abandoned before it crashed, he survived and was made a PoW. He was in the rank of Acting S/Ldr at the time having been promoted to F/Lt on 20th April 1944.

Source:  https://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/york43/w4332b.html