Maurice Michael Stephens, DSO, DFC & Two Bars (20 October 1919 – 23 September 2004) was a Royal Air Force flying ace of the Second World War.
After school he initially joined the Port of London Authority, before going to the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in 1938.
In addition Pilot Officer Stephens brought down four more enemy aircraft recently, bringing his total to eight.After the fall of France, B Flight was posted to Scotland and reformed as No.
He twice intercepted Italian S-84 reconnaissance aircraft intruding across the border, and shot two down in a Turkish Hurricane, while wearing civilian clothes.
The citation read:[6] In December, 1941, this officer led a bombing and machine-gun attack on enemy mechanical transport in the Acroma area.
The same burst of fire wounded Squadron Leader Stephens in both feet and blew out the starboard side of the aircraft's cockpit.
Squadron Leader Stephens finally, left his crippled aircraft by parachute and landed safely on the ground where he beat out the flames from his burning clothing.
Although he had landed within 300 yards of the enemy's lines, Squadron Leader Stephens succeeded in regaining our own territory within three-quarters of an hour.
After the Second World War he was the first RAF officer to join the newly formed NATO and had staff appointments with Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and in the Air Ministry, where he was involved in fighter operations.