LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer John Bede Polding STEVENS
Service No: 412742
Born: Dubbo NSW, 7 November 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 July 1941
Unit: No. 31 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 31 Operational Training Unit Hudson aircraft EW873), Gulf of St Lawrence, 29 August 1943, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward John and Mary Stevens; husband of Mary Bernadette Lorraine Stevens, of Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Roll of Honour: Dubbo NSW
Remembered: Panel 3, Column 1, Ottawa Memorial, Ontario
Remembered: Panel 133, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Dubbo Memorial Drive and Rose Garden, Dubbo NSW
Hudson EW 873 took off at 0115Z hours on 28 August 1943 on a night training flight from Nova Scotia, Canada. At 0125 hours a signal from the aircraft said “Aircraft at 100 feet” and at 0158 hours a further signal was received saying “changing frequency to Y3.” At 0210 hours a message from the aircraft requested its signal strength. They were advised that it was strength 2 and very weak. EW 873 replied that station signal was being received at strength 3. EW 873 was called again at 0230 hours and thereafter repeatedly but nothing further was heard from the aircraft, and it did not return to base. The navigation route of EW 873 approximately one hour after leaving base, would position the aircraft over the Gulf of St Lawrence. It was later recorded that the missing crew had no known grave.
The crew members of EW873 were:
Sergeant Cyril Bertram Crummey (798658) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Frank Eric Impey (151501) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant Stanley John Oakley (15877167) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Pilot Officer John Bede Polding Stevens (412742) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 32/4/231
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line