Harbourne Mackay Stephen CBE, DSO, DFC*, AE (18 April 1916 – 20 August 2001) was a British flying ace of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) during the Second World War.

Called up for service in the Royal Air Force (RAF) on the outbreak of the Second World War, he was posted first to No.

Managing a number of newspaper titles for the next several years, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1985 for his services to the profession.

The squadron saw no action until 28 March 1940, when it intercepted a Heinkel He 111 medium bomber; Stephen's section leader engaged it but without success.

On 24 May he helped shoot down a Henschel Hs 126 reconnaissance aircraft near Dunkirk and was also involved in the destruction of a Dornier Do 17 bomber near Calais.

On 27 May, about 5 miles (8.0 km) from Dunkirk, he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter, and then, near Boulogne, helped destroy a Do 17.

12 Group for a rest period in mid-August and two weeks later Stephen was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

[2][6] The published citation for his DFC read: Since May, 1940, Pilot Officer Stephen has flown continuously with his squadron on offensive patrols, and taken part in numerous engagements against the enemy throughout the Dunkirk operations.

He has now destroyed a total of twelve enemy aircraft and has always displayed great coolness and determination in pressing home his attacks against the enemy.No.

[6] Stephen continued his run of success against the Luftwaffe, destroying a Junkers Ju 88 bomber and damaging a Bf 109 over London on 11 September.

At the start of the following month, he damaged a He 111 near Cromer, in Norfolk, and then on 5 October shared in the destruction of a Do 17 30 miles (48 km) from Harwich.

[5][8] It was also announced in The London Gazette that he had been awarded a bar to his DFC; the published citation read: One day in October, 1940, this officer was on patrol with his squadron when enemy fighters were sighted and attacked.

Pilot Officer Stephen fought four Messerschmitt 109s at 29,000 feet, causing the tail of one to break off, and destroying a second.

He has destroyed at least 13 enemy aircraft, and his courage and skill as a fighter pilot have been a great incentive to other pilots in his squadron.On 17 November Stephen shared in the destruction of a Bf 109 near Brighton and at the end of the month again shared in the shooting down of a Bf 109, this time near the Thames Estuary.

[2] The citation for the DSO, as published in The London Gazette, read: One day in November, 1940, Pilot Officer Stephen led a section of his squadron in an attack against, an escorted formation of enemy bombers, three of which he destroyed.

This success brought the number of aircraft destroyed by members of his home station to the magnificent total of 600, and, at the same time, increased his own score to nineteen.

His exceptional courage and skill have greatly enhanced the fine spirit shown by his squadron.Taken off operational flying on 11 January 1941, Stephen was posted to No.

[3][14] At the time, the squadron was based at Warmwell in Dorset and was regularly flying to France to attack radar sites and carrying out protective convoy patrols.

[5] Offered a permanent commission in the RAF after the war Stephen declined, preferring to return to the newspaper industry.

[14] In the 1985 Queen's Birthday Honours, Stephen was appointed a Commander in the Civil division of the Order of the British Empire for "services to the newspaper industry".