John Stevenson Stubbs facts for kids

Captain John Stevenson Stubbs was a brave English pilot during World War I. He was known as a "flying ace," which means he shot down 11 enemy aircraft. He was also a pioneer, meaning he was one of the first, to fly bomber planes. He became the top pilot using the British Airco DH.9 bomber. He even did something very unusual: he destroyed an enemy observation balloon using his bomber!

Early Life and School

John Stevenson Stubbs was born on September 24, 1894. His father, also named John, was a grocer. His mother was Jessie Stubbs. The family lived in Walton-on-the-Hill, England.

Young John went to Longmoor Lane School. Later, in 1910, he spent a year studying at St. Bees School.

World War I Service

When World War I began, Stubbs joined the 3rd Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment. In January 1916, he became a temporary lieutenant. A year later, in January 1917, he was made a Flying Officer.

Stubbs served in France with No. 27 Squadron RFC (which later became No. 27 Squadron RAF). He was wounded in May 1917 and sent home to recover.

After he got better, he became an instructor at a training base near Salisbury in September 1917. He helped teach other pilots. In October 1917, he was promoted to Acting Flight Commander.

Joining the RAF and First Victory

The Royal Air Force (RAF) was a new air force formed on April 1, 1918. John Stubbs was made a Captain in the RAF on April 21, 1918. On the same day, he joined No. 103 Squadron RAF as a pilot flying the Airco DH.9 bomber.

He went back to France in May 1918. His first aerial victory was very unusual. On May 20, 1918, even though he was flying a bomber, he and his observer destroyed an enemy observation balloon over Seclin. These balloons were used by the enemy to watch troop movements and direct artillery fire.

More Victories in the Sky

Stubbs continued to achieve victories. On June 6, 1918, he and his observer, along with two other RAF crews, helped set a German Fokker D.VII fighter plane on fire. They also sent another one crashing down.

On July 4, Stubbs and his observer forced a Pfalz D.III fighter plane out of control. Later that month, on July 31, with John Bernard Russell as his observer, Stubbs was credited with forcing two more enemy planes out of control.

On August 25, Stubbs and Russell again destroyed one Fokker D.VII and forced another one down. Five days later, Stubbs forced down another Fokker D.VII. He went on to destroy two more Fokker D.VIIs in September and October 1918. John Stubbs became the leading ace flying the Airco DH.9 bomber, even though it was not primarily designed for air combat.

Awards for Bravery

For his bravery and skill, John Stubbs received two important awards:

• The Air Force Cross, awarded on November 2, 1918.
• The Distinguished Flying Cross, also announced on November 2, 1918.

After World War I

After the war, John Stubbs continued to serve in the Royal Air Force for a short time. In October 1919, he was given a short-term commission as a Flying Officer. By January 1920, he was placed on the RAF's unemployed list, which meant he was discharged.

He was called back for temporary duty in April 1921 but returned to the unemployed list in June 1921. In May 1923, he joined the RAF Reserves. He later transferred to a different class of the reserves in June 1924.

Not much more is known about John Stevenson Stubbs after this time.