Stephens, Arthur Francis
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Arthur Francis |
Surname | Stephens |
Gender | M |
Age | 25 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 22-06-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Francis Sydney and Nellie Stephens, of Birmingham. Husband of Joyce Mary Stephens, of South Yardley, Birmingham. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | BK815 |
Markings | LS-V |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Schoonselhof Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Joint grave II. F. 2. |
Epitaph | REMEMBRANCE, A GOLDEN CHAIN THAT LINKS US TILL WE MEET AGAIN, MY DARLING |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 247 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1576447 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 15 (XV) |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of St. John, Beck Row, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet on rear external wall of Church |
Memorial Text | In remembrance of all who served at RAF Mildenhall and associated aerodromes in the cause of freedom, 1939-1945 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/203/60 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/203/59 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 21-06-1943 |
End Date | 22-06-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Mildenhall |
Day/Night Raid | Night (80% moon) |
Operation | Krefeld. 705 aircraft, 44 losses (6.2%) with night-fighters counting for most of the losses (the night was moonlit). PFF marking was near-perfect (using Oboe). A large fire in the centre of Krefeld raged unchecked for many hours. Over 5500 houses destroyed, 1056 people killed and 72000 bombed out of their homes. |
Reason for Loss | Believed to have been shot down by flak and crashed near Melsele, Belgium |