Stephenson, William Samuel 'Intrepid'

Prisoner of War 1918-07-28

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date

Born: Point Douglas, Winnipeg, Manitoba

William Hunter Stanger d.1901 & mothers name not found

Home: Pagets Parish, Tucker's Town, Bermuda

Enlistment: England

Enlistment Date: 1917-08-15

Decorations: KBE, CC, MC, DFC

Military Cross Distinguished Service Cross

Service

RAF

Unit

3 (F) Sqn- Squadron (RFC)

Base

France

Rank

Captain

Position

Captain

Service Numbers

Stephenson was born William Samuel Clouston Stanger on 1897-01-23.In January, !916, Stephenson, age 19, volunteered for service with the 101st Overseas Btn. (Winnipeg Light Infantry). He arrived in England on 1916-07-06 where, after numerous shuffles he ended up with the RFC. On 1917-08-15, Stephenson was officially struck off the strength of the CEF and granted a commission in the Royal Flying Corps. Posted to 73 Squadron on 1918-02-09, he flew the Sopwith Camel and scored 12 victories, becoming a 'double-ace' before he was shot down and crashed behind enemy lines on 1918-07-28. He was captured and made a POW, until escaping in October 1918. His RAF Service file indicates that he was repatriated from the Officer's Prison Camp, Holzminden, Lower Saxony on 1918-12-09.

Sopwith Camel

By unknown RAF photographer - gallery link image link, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8473883
RAF_Sopwith_Camel.jpg image not found

The Sopwith Camel became the most successful British fighter of the First World War. The Sopwith F.1 and 2F.1 Camel first went into operations on the Western Front in 1917 and then served in virtually every theatre of Royal Flying Corps (RFC), Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and Royal Air Force (RAF) service. Several Canadian aces used the Camel as their mount. The Camel was very manoeuvrable, and it could be tricky to fly in the hands of a novice pilot. For experienced pilots, however, the aircraft proved to be a superb fighter.

The Camel's machine-guns were mounted on the forward fuselage with their breeches enclosed in a faired metal cowling "hump" that gave the Camel its name. Several Camels were also shipped to Canada in the post-war period as part of an Imperial gift. Three registered Sopwith F.1 Camels entered service with the RCAF at Camp Borden in 1924. The following year, the RCAF purchased seven additional aircraft to provide further spares for the active aircraft. These latter aircraft were in fact 2F.1 models that had been "navalized" variants. Used primarily by wartime experienced fighter pilots for refresher training, the Camels lasted another five years before finally being scrapped.Wikipedia

YouTube Sopwith Camel

Wikipedia Wikipedia Sopwith Camel

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrel Publications Sopwith Camel - Kestrel Publications