Richard Stevens (RAF officer)

Richard Stevens
Portrait of Stevens, entitled 'Night Flyer at Readiness' and painted by official war artist Eric Kennington, 1941
Nickname(s)	Cat's Eyes
Born	1909 Tonbridge, United Kingdom
Died	15 December 1941 Hulte, Netherlands
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	Royal Air Force
Rank	Flight Lieutenant
Unit	No. 151 Squadron No. 253 Squadron
Battles / wars	Second World War The Blitz
Awards	Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar

Richard Stevens DSO, DFC & Bar (1909–15 December 1941) was a British flying ace of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He is credited with the destruction of fifteen aircraft.

From Tonbridge, Stevens was an airline pilot when he was called up to serve in the RAF on the outbreak of the Second World War. Initially he carried out army cooperation duties but then trained as a fighter pilot. Posted to No. 151 Squadron in late 1940, he flew Hawker Hurricane fighters during The Blitz the following year, becoming one of the RAF's most successful night fighter pilots and twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Towards the end of the year he was posted to No. 253 Squadron. On 15 December 1941, just days after receiving the Distinguished Service Order, he was killed flying a sortie to the Netherlands, aged 32.