John Stevenson Stubbs
Encyclopedia
Captain John Stevenson Stubbs DFC
AFC
was an English First World War flying ace
credited with 11 official victories. He was a pioneering bomber pilot who was the war's leading ace for the British Airco DH.9
. He also carried off the rather unusual feat of destroying an enemy observation balloon with a bomber.
The younger John Stevenson Stubbs attended Longman Liver School, followed by a year's enrollment at St. Bees School
for 1910.
with orders to remain seconded from the Garrison Battalion, Liverpool Regiment.
Stubbs was posted to 103 Squadron as an Airco DH.9
pilot by early 1918. He scored his first aerial victory–a highly unusual one– on 20 May 1918; despite flying a bomber, he and his observer destroyed an enemy observation balloon
over Seclin
.
On 6 June 1918, Stubbs and his observer, along with two other Royal Air Force air crews, set a German Fokker D.VII
fighter aflame and sent another down out of control southwest of Ham
. On 4 July, Stubbs and his observer drove a Pfalz D.III
fighter down out of control. On the 31st, with John Bernard Russell
manning the observer's guns, Stubbs was credited with driving down two more enemy planes out of control.
On 25 August, Stubbs and Russell repeated the feat of destroying one Fokker D.VII and driving another down out of combat. Five days later, Stubbs drove down one more Fokker D.VII. He would go on to destroy two more Fokker D.VIIs, on 6 September and 30 October 1918. Stubbs had succeeded in becoming the ranking ace on the lightly regarded Airco DH.9 bomber.
On 2 November 1918, Stubbs was awarded the Air Force Cross. On that same day, his Distinguished Flying Cross was gazetted:
in the Royal Air Force. On 13 January 1920, he transferred to the RAF's unemployed list, which was tantamount to discharge. On 15 April 1921, he was restored to the active list for temporary duty. On 4 June 1921, he returned to the unemployed list after completion of temporary duty.
On 29 May 1923, he was granted probationary commission as a Class A Flying Officer in the RAF Reserves. On 19 June 1924, he transferred from Class A of the reserves to Class C.
Nothing more is known of John Stevenson Stubbs after that.
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
was an English First World War flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with 11 official victories. He was a pioneering bomber pilot who was the war's leading ace for the British Airco DH.9
Airco DH.9
The Airco DH.9 - also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 - was a British bomber used in the First World War...
. He also carried off the rather unusual feat of destroying an enemy observation balloon with a bomber.
Early life
John Stevenson Stubbs was born on 24 September 1894. He was named after his father, who was a grocer. His mother was Jessie Stubbs. They were living at 225 County Road, Walton on the Hill, Lancashire, England at the time the child was christened.The younger John Stevenson Stubbs attended Longman Liver School, followed by a year's enrollment at St. Bees School
St. Bees School
St. Bees School is a co-educational independent school in the West Cumbrian village of St Bees. Founded in 1583 by the then Archbishop of Canterbury Edmund Grindal as a boys' "free grammar school", today it is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference with around 300 pupils aged...
for 1910.
World War I
Stubbs enlisted in the 3rd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment to serve in World War I. On 26 January 1916, he was promoted to temporary lieutenant. On 4 January 1917, he was appointed a Flying OfficerFlying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
with orders to remain seconded from the Garrison Battalion, Liverpool Regiment.
Stubbs was posted to 103 Squadron as an Airco DH.9
Airco DH.9
The Airco DH.9 - also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 - was a British bomber used in the First World War...
pilot by early 1918. He scored his first aerial victory–a highly unusual one– on 20 May 1918; despite flying a bomber, he and his observer destroyed an enemy observation balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
over Seclin
Seclin
Seclin is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole.Ghana national football team footballer Andre Ayew was born in Seclin.-Twin towns — Sister cities:...
.
On 6 June 1918, Stubbs and his observer, along with two other Royal Air Force air crews, set a German Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
fighter aflame and sent another down out of control southwest of Ham
Ham
Ham is a cut of meat from the thigh of the hind leg of certain animals, especiallypigs. Nearly all hams sold today are fully cooked or cured.-Etymology:...
. On 4 July, Stubbs and his observer drove a Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
fighter down out of control. On the 31st, with John Bernard Russell
John Russell (aviator)
Second Lieutenant John Bernard Russell was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.-References:...
manning the observer's guns, Stubbs was credited with driving down two more enemy planes out of control.
On 25 August, Stubbs and Russell repeated the feat of destroying one Fokker D.VII and driving another down out of combat. Five days later, Stubbs drove down one more Fokker D.VII. He would go on to destroy two more Fokker D.VIIs, on 6 September and 30 October 1918. Stubbs had succeeded in becoming the ranking ace on the lightly regarded Airco DH.9 bomber.
On 2 November 1918, Stubbs was awarded the Air Force Cross. On that same day, his Distinguished Flying Cross was gazetted:
Post World War I
On 24 October 1919, Stubbs was granted a short service commission as a Flying OfficerFlying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
in the Royal Air Force. On 13 January 1920, he transferred to the RAF's unemployed list, which was tantamount to discharge. On 15 April 1921, he was restored to the active list for temporary duty. On 4 June 1921, he returned to the unemployed list after completion of temporary duty.
On 29 May 1923, he was granted probationary commission as a Class A Flying Officer in the RAF Reserves. On 19 June 1924, he transferred from Class A of the reserves to Class C.
Nothing more is known of John Stevenson Stubbs after that.