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Personal info

Full name
STEVENS, Gordon Sefton
Date of birth
27 August 1919
Age
25
Place of birth
Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina
Hometown
Johnston County, North Carolina

Military service

Service number
O-792651
Rank
Captain
Function
Pilot
Unit
63rd Fighter Squadron,
56th Fighter Group
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
18 September 1944
Place of death
Thürnich, Grube Fürstenberg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 2 20

Immediate family

Members
Leon G. Stevens (father)
Ethel (Sefton) Stevens (mother)
Leon G. Stevens Jr. (brother)
Marcia Stevens (sister)
Ethel Stevens (sister)
William A. Stevens (brother)
Harold L. Stevens (brother)
Thomas B. Stevens (brother)
Lee A. Stevens (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-19730
Data
Type: P-47D
Destination: Tilburg, the Netherlands
Mission: Strafing
MACR: 8993

More information

Capt Gordon S. Stevens graduated from Smithfield High School in 1935. After one year at Wofford College, he transferred to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and graduated in 1939.

He enlisted in January, 1942 at Maxwell Field, Alabama.

He was stationed in North Africa as a B-24 pilot in the 44th Bombardment Group. He took part in the raid on the oil fields at Ploesti, Rumania. After completing the 25 missions required for rotation, Capt Stevens transferred to a squadron flying P-47 Thunderbolt fighters.

Shot down by flak.

Capt Stevens is remembered at Riverside Cemetery in Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina with a memorial marker.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Nigel Julian (www.56thfightergroup.co.uk), Richard Wiggs

Photo source: www.56thfightergrpoup.co.uk, Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com, University of North Carolina