Sergeant Thomas Charles Stevens (9452) served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War Two. He was the son of John Thomas Stevens and Janet Stevens and husband of Margaret Elva Jean Stevens of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
The 26-year-old was the Navigator and Bomb Aimer on Bristol Beaufort AW277. The plane came down on Colin Mountain, Co. Antrim on 29th March 1943 while returning from a non-operational, night navigation exercise with RAF No. 5 Operational Training Unit. The Beaufort’s last recorded point was less than 20 miles from the aerodrome at RAF Maghaberry, Co. Antrim.
Shortly before 0400hrs, the plane signaled X257 for approximately 3 minutes. It then collided with electrical cables and came down killing all crew members including the Royal Australian Air Force Navigator.
Remembering the crew of Beaufort AW277
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinley | William Alexander | Sergeant | Pilot | RAF. |
| Stevens | Thomas Charles | Sergeant | Navigator and Bomb Aimer | RAAF. |
| Stephens | Edward Francis Hunter | Sergeant | Wireless Air Gunner | RAF. |
| Ryder | Peter Henry | Sergeant | Wireless Air Gunner | RAF. |
Thomas Charles Stevens’ grave is in Glenalina Extension, Section AS, Grave 11 of Belfast City Cemetery, Belfast, Co. Antrim. His name is on Panel 130 of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia. His headstone in Belfast bears the inscription:
To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. Duty nobly done.