Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant The superb 1943 D.F.C. group of fourteen awarded to Wing Commander P. J. T. Paddy Stephenson, Royal Air Force One of a handful of gallant Fighter Pilots to hail from the Emerald Isle, Stephenson cut his teeth in the Hurricanes of No. 207 (County of Durham) Squadron during the Battle of Britain; these weekend flyers pulled no punches and he fearlessly ran head-on into a swarm of Do215s on the most critical day of all - 15 September 1940 (Battle of Britain Day) - his attack didnt require the cannon and Stephenson shed both the wings on his aircraft when ramming two enemy bombers destined for London; despite being wounded on the way in and going into a wingless inverted dive, he downed both and took to his parachute to save his life Having been painted by Cuthbert Orde, Stephenson wangled his way back into a combat role by taking a demotion; it was rewarded when he downed an Me109E over La Havre in December 1941 Thence transferred to the Far East, Stephenson rose to the command of No. 607 Squadron during further scores of Ops in Burma - adding a further probable to his tally when downing an Oscar II in January 1944; he was again wounded and shot down in a huge action when a combined force of fighters engaged at least 40 enemy aircraft Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated 1943; 1939-45 Star, clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, Atlantic; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953; Air Efficiency, G.VI.R. (Act. Sqd. Ldr. P. J. T. Stephenson. R.A.F.V.R.); France, Republic, Legion of Honour, silver and enamel; International, Military Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, breast Badge, with rosette upon riband; France, Republic, Legion of Honour, gilt with bronze Palme upon riband, reverse dated 1939; France, Republic, Cross of Former Combatants of Europe; Malta, Order of Merit of the Sovereign Military Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, neck Badge, by A. Casazza, Rome, in case of issue; International, Military Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, neck Badge, the first twelve mounted court-style as worn by Spink & Son, traces of lacquer, good very fine (14)
