John Stevenson Stubbs – 103 Squadron – 1918/19
Top scoring ace on DH9s
John Stevenson Stubbs ( pictured above ) born in Walton-on-the Hill, Lancashire in September 1894, was to become the highest-scoring ace to fly the DH9
Jack (or, later, “Stubby”) Stubbs initially joined the R.N.V.R. and was present at Antwerp in 1914 with the Royal Naval Division (although not entitled to a clasp to his 1914 Star). Early in 1915 he transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Prince of Wales’s Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) and was promoted on probation to 2nd Lieutenant on 5 June 1915 which was confirmed, following training at Liverpool, on 21 January 1916; a week later he was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant.
Early in 1917 Stubbs became a Flying Officer seconded from the Garrison Battalion, Liverpool Regiment and served in France with No. 27 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. On 9 May 1917 he was wounded, requiring repatriation; upon recovery he was posted to No. 2 Training Depot at Lake Down (near Salisbury), where he was a Flying Instructor from 19 September 1917 to 24 March 1918. In December 1917, by which time Stubbs was Acting Flight Commander, he was posted initially to No. 107 Squadron and, following the official formation of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918, was appointed a Captain in No. 103 Squadron (on 21 April), and ordered to France.
Within a month of his return to the Western Front piloting the two-man Airco DH.9 bomber, Stubbs and his Observer, 2nd Lt. C.C. Dance, scored their first victory. Improbably enough for a bomber such as the D.H.9 they succeeded in destroying an enemy observation balloon at Seclin, Pas-de-Calais. On 6 June, together with two other crews, they shared one Fokker D.VII destroyed by fire and another sent down out of control. The pairing of Stubbs and Dance also scored a Pfalz D.III out of control at La Bassée on 4 July.
With 2nd Lt. J.B. Russell in the Observer’s seat there were four further victories in July and August (and their joint recognition in the D.F.C. citation). With Dance as Observer once more, another Fokker D.VII was sent down out of control on 30 August while Stubbs was to destroy two further D.VIIs with 2nd Lt. C.G. Bannerman as his Observer.
On 24 October 1919, Stubbs was granted a short service commission as a R.A.F. Flying Officer but transferred to the unemployed list in January, 1920. Following a brief period back on active service in 1921, he joined the R.A.F. Reserves in 1923.
In July 1924 he moved to Rawalpindi where he worked for the Attock Oil Company before joining the Indo-Burma Petroleum Co. Ltd., where he remained until retirement in 1954. He died in 1963.
Extracts from Log Book March 1918, second 25 March-7 November 1918
27 Squadron – Martinside Elephant
4-3-17 2.30 to 6.00. Defensive Patrol-1st show, plenty of archie, damn good shooting.’
‘8-4-17 12.40 to 3.25. Bombing Aulnoye-bombs wouldn’t drop. 2/112 lbs archied all way home. Prop. hit, engine renewed.
9-5-17 12.30 to 2.45. Boné-Bombing 2-112 bombs, wounded in 2 places. Machine collapsed after landing, engine ran for one hour with little water, petrol tank and radiator burst. Rudder, elevator & 2 longerons shot through.
(Following this incident he was grounded until 20 September, when he renewed his flying with No. 2 Training Depot Station, Lake Down, Salisbury, where he remained until his return to France 9 May 1918.)
103 Squadron - DH9
6-6-18 2.50 to 5.05. Ham-2-112lb bombs, m/c shot by Hun, Hun down in flames. 30 Huns chased formation but did not attack.
7-6-18 5.00 to 7.05. Nesle-2-112lb bombs OK’s 15 Trip’s chased formation. Running fight.
‘8-6-18 10.00 to 12.15. Fresnoy-Les-Roy- 2-112lbs on billets in town.
9-6-18 6.15 to 7.25. Hainvillers -2-112lb bombs. Roving commission dropped bombs on transport. Then 20 mins. Ground strafing. Had a really good time but very hot while it lasted. Huns advanced 3 miles from Montdidier to Lassegny.
10-6-18 6.35 to -7.45. Roving commission. 1 bomb blew up small battery dump, one on horse transport. More firing at ground, not so many targets as previous show. Huns advanced still further. Extending gains from Montdidier to Noyon.
11-6-18 10.20 to 11.20. Another roving commission, more transport blown up. Firing on troops & transport. Saw preparations for counter attack. Some battle! French troops pouring up to front in battle formation, followed by numbers of tanks. The barrage was terrific from the French guns. Huns throwing over liquid flame. Watched all this from 400 to 800 feet (later) French regained a good deal of ground. McGee and Thompson went west’
Citations
D.F.C.: London Gazette, 2 November 1918 (Lt. (T./Capt.) John Stevenson Stubbs (S. Lancs. R.) and 2nd Lt. John Bernard Russell):
“Captain Stubbs is a fine leader and a skilful tactician who during the last few months, has led fifty-one reconnaissances and raids over enemy lines with marked success, frequently extricating his formation, when attacked by large numbers of scouts, by his coolness and judgment. One evening this officer, with Lt. Russell as Observer, in company with another machine, encountered ten enemy aeroplanes.
Regardless of their superiority in numbers, he at once attacked and shot down one. By skilful manoeuvring he enabled his Observer to bring down another; the remainder of the enemy were driven down to their lines; he then completed his reconnaissance and returned home.
Leaving the other machine behind, he again crossed the enemy lines; he bombed a train and attacked some mechanical transport at 1,500 ft. altitude. This particular exploit is highly creditable to both these officers, the machine in which they flew being unsuitable for low bombing attacks; moreover, they were subjected to very heavy anti-aircraft and machine-gun fire.”
A.F.C.: London Gazette, 2 November 1918 (i.e. the same date as the D.F.C.)
John Stubbs on right with his Observer Charles Dance
Another photo of the “Aviators par exellence “
Compiled by David Fell with info and photos provided by Janet Lovekin. Many thanks indeed for that.
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