Maurice Michael Stephens Maurice Michael Stephens ( 20 October 1919 – 23 September 2004 ) was a British RAF flying ace of the Second World War . Stephens scored 17 kills , three shared kills , one probable kills and five damaged . Early life . Born in Ranchi , India on 20 October 1919 , the son of a British Army Officer , Stephens was educated at the Xaverian Colleges at Clapham and Mayfield , Sussex . After school he initially joined the Port of London Authority , before going to the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in 1938 . At Cranwell he excelled in boxing and rowing and was awarded his wings in 1940 . Second World War . Stephens ' first posting was to No . 3 Squadron RAF , with whom he fought during the Battle of France . He became the Flight Commander of B Flight during this battle , while still holding the rank of Pilot Officer . On his return from France he was awarded the DFC and Bar , which were gazetted at the same time ( and in fact on the same page of the London Gazette ) : Distinguished Flying Cross < br > This officer has destroyed four enemy aircraft in May , 1940 , and led his flight with courage and skill . Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross < br > This officer has continued to lead his flight against formations of enemy aircraft of much superior numbers with such good leadership that he rarely lost any members of his formation . In addition Pilot Officer Stephens brought down four more enemy aircraft recently , bringing his total to eight . After the fall of France , B Flt was posted to Scotland and reformed as No . 232 Squadron RAF , of which Stephens was Commanding Officer . No 232 Sqn formed part of No . 13 Group RAF during the Battle of Britain . He was promoted Flying Officer on 20 August 1940 , in the middle of the Battle . He next served North Africa where he joined No 274 Squadron and was sent to Turkey for eight months , during which he flew operational patrols along the Bulgarian border . He twice intercepted Italian S - 84 reconnaissance aircraft intruding across the border , and shot two down in a Turkish Hurricane , while wearing civilian clothes . In November 1941 he returned to the Western Desert to command No . 80 Squadron . He was shot down and wounded in both feet in December 1941 , receiving a DSO in January 1942 ; In December , 1941 , this officer led a bombing and machine - gun attack on enemy mechanical transport in the Acroma area . Following the attack , Squadron Leader Stephens observed the fighter escort in combat with a force of enemy fighters , but , whilst attempting to participate in the engagement , his aircraft was severely damaged by an enemy fighter pilot whose cannon fire exploded the starboard petrol tank which , with the oil tank , burst into flames . The same burst of fire wounded Squadron Leader Stephens in both feet and blew out the starboard side of the aircraft ' s cockpit . Squadron Leader Stephens then prepared to abandon aircraft but , when half - way out of the cockpit , he observed an enemy aircraft fly past him . He immediately regained his seat and shot down the enemy aircraft . Squadron Leader Stephens finally , left his crippled aircraft by parachute and landed safely on the ground where he beat out the flames from his burning clothing . Although he had landed within 300 yards of the enemy ' s lines , Squadron Leader Stephens succeeded in regaining our own territory within three - quarters of an hour . Throughout , this officer displayed great courage and devotion to duty . Previously , Squadron Leader Stephens led his squadron on operations which were of the greatest value during the battle for Tobruk . His leadership and example proved an inspiration . He then joined No . 229 Squadron flying Spitfires on Malta in October 1942 . He was shot down on 12 October and picked up by an air - sea rescue motor launch . In November we became Wing Commander , Flying of Hal Far airfield . He returned to the UK in 1943 and served in various staff positions , before becoming CFI at 3 OTU in January 1944 . Stephens ' final score in the war was 15 ( and 3 shared ) destroyed , 2 Unconfirmed destroyed , 1 probable and 5 damaged . Post - war career and personal life . Stephens continued to serve in the RAF until 1960 . After the War he was the first RAF Officer to join the newly formed NATO and had staff appointments with Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and in the Air Ministry , where he was involved in fighter operations . He joined the Rolls - Royce company soon afterward and based himself in Paris . He retired altogether in 1980 and lived in the South of France , only to return to Britain in 1992 . In 1942 he married Violet May Paterson , always known as " Blue " because she was given a blue ribbon when she was born to identify her from her twin sister ; the couple had a son and a daughter . Photographs of Stephens ' medals and damage to his aircraft appeared in the Daily Telegraph in June 2012 .