Hubert Layton Stewart
MilitaryBorn January 15, 1913 in Johnston County, North Carolina. Hubert L 'Bert' Stewart left North Carolina in 1939 determined to fly and fight Hitler and so he enlisted in the RCAF, after flight school, by Oct 40 he was assigned to be an instructor at and to remain in New Brunswick, Canada.
Having met some ‘Eagles’ in transit he went AWOL, stowing away aboard a troopship to England. In spite of Canada's attempts to punish him for desertion "toward the enemy," England was facing the Battle of Britain, so the RAF put him through an OTU and into a Spitfire in 121 Sqn RAF as a Flight Sgt and later commissioned him a Flying Officer mid Aug 41. Transferred to 71 Sqn RAF as a combat replacement 21-9-41.
He met an Australian newspaper reporter, Elaine Howells, during the Blitz of London - starting a lifetime marriage. After Pearl Harbor, he and most of his Eagle Squadron brethren changed uniforms and became the experienced core of America's newly formed 4th FG - destroying more enemy aircraft than any other during the war.
After VE Day, tour expired, Bert went to the Pacific Theater and flew fighters against the Empire of Japan until their surrender. He left the Air Force as a Major, and moved his family to California. His 4 sons all became involved in aviation.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Mascot
- Nationality: American
- Role/Job: Mascot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: Headquarters Squadron (6th Fighter Wing)
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot, Commander
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Johnston County, NC, USA | 15 January 1913 | Son of Charles Patrick and Bertha Zelema [Raynor] Stewart. |
Other Transferred |
Kirton in Lindsey, Gainsborough, North Lincolnshire DN21, UK | 21 September 1941 | Transferred to 71 [Eagle] Sqn RAF as a combat replacement 21-9-41. |
Other Transferred |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 14 September 1942 - 15 January 1943 | Transferred to 334th FS, 4th FG, 8AF USAAF 14-9-42. |
Other Transferred |
Atcham, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK | 16 January 1943 - 8 April 1945 | Transferred to 109th Obs Sqn 67th Obs Grp at Atcham. |
Other End Tour of Duty (ETD) |
Ie Shima | 8 April 1945 - 15 August 1945 | After VE Day, tour expired, Bert went to the Pacific Theater and flew P-47 fighters against the Empire of Japan until their surrender. |
Died |
Pensacola, FL, USA | 10 May 2003 | Died 10th May 2003. Pensacola, Florida, USA. |
Buried |
Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL | 15 May 2003 | Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Florida, USA. |
Other Enlisted RCAF / pilot training |
New Brunswick, Canada | Enlisted in the RCAF, after flight school, he was assigned as an instructor and to remain in New Brunswick, Canada. | |
Other Shipped Overseas [Stowaway] |
Merseyside, UK | Met some ‘Eagles’ in transit, he went AWOL, stowing away aboard a troopship to England. | |
Other Charged with Desertion |
London, UK | Caused high level political rumpus as Canada attempted to punish him for desertion "toward the enemy". | |
Other Operational training |
Great Britain, United Kingdom | Operational training at OTU. conversion to Hurricane and Spitfires. | |
Other Assigned |
Martlesham Heath, Martlesham, Suffolk, UK | Assigned to 121 [Eagle] Sqn RAF. Fl/Sgt pilot. | |
Other Commissioned |
Kirton in Lindsey, Gainsborough, North Lincolnshire DN21, UK | Commissioned Flying Officer. | |
Other Married |
Warwick Rhode Island, USA | Met an Australian newspaper reporter, Elaine Howells, during the Blitz of London - starting a lifetime marriage. | |
Other Retired USAF |
Hill Field, Utah | Retired from the USAF as a Major. | |
Raleigh, NC, USA | Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. | ||
Other Promoted |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | Promoted 1st Lt, Dec 42. | |
Other Marriage |
Warwick, RI | Married Dorothy Elaine Howells. |
Revisions
Associated images under collection Bert Stewart's Albums to reflect their personal collection of photos
http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3725
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caine.
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/334_s…
http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3725
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caine.
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/334_s…
http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3725
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caine.