Hubert Layton Stewart

Military
media-18047.jpeg UPL 18047 Fl Lt Hubert Layton Stewart 334th FS, 4th FG, 8AF USAAF, formerly of 71 and 121 Eagle Sqn's RAF in the cockpit of his Spitfire.

Object Number - UPL 18047 - Fl Lt Hubert Layton Stewart 334th FS, 4th FG, 8AF USAAF, formerly of 71 and 121 Eagle Sqn's RAF in the cockpit of his Spitfire.

Born 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

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Units served with

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

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

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated images under collection Bert Stewart's Albums to reflect their personal collection of photos

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3725
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caine.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Hubert Layton Stewart: Gallery (31 items)