STEPHENSON, FS William Harry (R67059) - Distinguished Flying Medal - No.213 Squadron - Award effective 12 January 1943 as per London Gazette dated 22 January 1943 and AFRO 272/43 dated 19 February 1943. Born in Belleville, Ontario, 2 December 1917; home there (clerk); enlisted in Kingston, 22 July 1940. To Rockcliffe, 31 August 1940. To No.1 ITS, 13 October 1940; graduated and promoted LAC, 13 November 1940 when posted to No.12 EFTS; graduated 4 January 1941 when posted to No.9 SFTS; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 26 April 1941; to Embarkation Depot, 8 May 1941. To RAF overseas, 18 May 1941; commissioned 20 July 1942 (J15783). Shot down and taken prisoner, 21 October 1942. Promoted Flying Officer, 20 January 1943. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 20 July 1944. In captivity his picture was drawn by Robert Buckham (Canadian War Museum art collection). Reported safe in United Kingdom, 19 May 1945; repatriated 30 May 1945; released 9 August 1945 (to reside in Kingston, Ontario). Subsequently worked for the Royal Bank, Treasurer of Save the Children Fund as well as Toronto Parks Authority; fund raiser for Black Creek Pioneer Village. Died in Toronto, 27 February 2014. Award presented 18 October 1947. Photo PL-36544 shows him among a group of former Ontario-born Prisoners of War on ship back to Canada, 14 May 1945: Front Row - WO J.A. Armstrong (Kirkland Lake), F/L P.G. Chipman (Toronto), F/L W.H. Stephenson (Belleville), F/L G.H. Soper (Englehart), WO1 H.R. Trice (Hamilton), F/L E. Jack Bamford (Hamilton) - Back Row - F/L J.R. Gordon (Islington), F/L R.W. Dunn (sutton West), S/L F.F. Mills (Toronto), F/L D.J. Corcoran (Toronto), F/O L.W. Baines (London), WO1 A.J. Galuche (Toronto). Chris Shores, Those Other Eagles (Grub Street, London, 2004) provides a victory list as follows: 21 May 1942: one Ju.88 destroyed southeast of Burg el Arab and south of El Hamma (Hurricane BN133, AK-Y, shared with another pilot); 23 May 1942: one Ju.88 destroyed (Hurricane BM981, AK-G, shared with another pilot); 26 June 1942: one Ju.87 damaged, Mersa Matruh area (Hurricane BM128); 5 July 1942: one Bf.110 destroyed, El Alamein area (Hurricane BN136); 31 August 1942: one Ju.87B destroyed, east of El Alamein (Hurricane BP351, shot down immediately afterwards by Hans-Joachim Marseille but survived). This airman has always displayed exceptional keenness to engage the enemy and the highest resourcefulness and courage while in the air. His gallantry and devotion to duty have been a fine example to all members of his squadron. Flight Sergeant Stephenson has destroyed two enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of two others.