Oliver Stewart

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Oliver Stewart
Nickname(s)Stewpot
Born26 November 1896
London, England
Died1976
AllegianceFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Service/branchAviation
RankMajor
Unit Middlesex Regiment, No. 22 Squadron RFC, No. 54 Squadron RFC
Awards Military Cross, Air Force Cross
Other workAviation journalist and author

Major Oliver Stewart MC AFC (1896-1976) was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. [1] Post war, he had a long and distinguished career as a writer. [2] His parents were Thomas Gibson Bowles and Rita Shell. [3]

Contents

World War I service

Stewart was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Middlesex Regiment in October 1914. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1915. After a brief stint with 22 Squadron, he moved on in 1917 to 54 Squadron to fly a Sopwith Pup. He gained a flight commandership, a nickname (Stewpot), five victories, and a Military Cross while with the squadron. The victories came between 6 April and 25 September 1917; the MC came on 17 September. [4]

He then returned to England, was promoted to major in June 1918, and given command of the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment. He received an Air Force Cross for his efforts. [5]

Post war

He retired from service in 1921, to begin a new career as an aviation journalist. From 1939 through 1962, he was the editor of Aeronautics magazine. [6] His books included Aerobatics: A Simple Explanation of Aerial Evolutions, Of Flight and Flyers, and his autobiography, Words and Music of a Mechanical Man. [7]

Sources of information

  1. ↑ "Oliver Stewart". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  2. ↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 353.
  3. ↑ "Lieutenant Oliver Stewart". National Army Museum, London. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  4. ↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 353.
  5. ↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 353.
  6. ↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 353.
  7. ↑ "Oliver Stewart". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 9 February 2010.

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References

Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN   0-948817-19-4, ISBN   978-0-948817-19-9.


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