With the 14th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bomb Group in the ACC, WWII. He was Emmett "Rosie" O'Donnell's radioman on B-17 #3061 and the "Flight of Nine" that set out from Hickam Field to the Philippines via Midway, Wake, New Guinea and Australia September 5, 1941. A week later all nine of the B-17s landed at Clark Field, Manila. This was the first mass flight of land planes to cross the western Pacific from Hawaii to the Philippines. Much of the flight was over uncharted waters and under radio silence over Japanese occupied territories.
Stephens was a Communications Chief, expert aerial gunner, proficient in code and radar. He had graduated from the Air University. He retired after 24 years with the Air Force to work with RCA in the Space Program at Canaveral in Florida.
Stephens was a Communications Chief, expert aerial gunner, proficient in code and radar. He had graduated from the Air University. He retired after 24 years with the Air Force to work with RCA in the Space Program at Canaveral in Florida.
With the 14th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bomb Group in the ACC, WWII. He was Emmett "Rosie" O'Donnell's radioman on B-17 #3061 and the "Flight of Nine" that set out from Hickam Field to the Philippines via Midway, Wake, New Guinea and Australia September 5, 1941. A week later all nine of the B-17s landed at Clark Field, Manila. This was the first mass flight of land planes to cross the western Pacific from Hawaii to the Philippines. Much of the flight was over uncharted waters and under radio silence over Japanese occupied territories.
Stephens was a Communications Chief, expert aerial gunner, proficient in code and radar. He had graduated from the Air University. He retired after 24 years with the Air Force to work with RCA in the Space Program at Canaveral in Florida.
Stephens was a Communications Chief, expert aerial gunner, proficient in code and radar. He had graduated from the Air University. He retired after 24 years with the Air Force to work with RCA in the Space Program at Canaveral in Florida.
Gravesite Details
MAJOR USAF
