Flt.Sgt. James Edward Steventon
Royal Air Force 101 Squadron
from:Fighting Cocks, County Durham
My father James Steventon was a Flight Engineer on Lancasters of 101 Sqadron, RAF, during WW2 and flew from RAF Ludford Magna. 101 Squadron were a special duties squadron who flew at intervals in the Bomber Stream as early ECM/ESM aircraft as well as a full load of weapons. They would jam radios with noise and also use their German speaking special operator to try and spoof the night-fighters into going places other than as directed by the controllers. Their aircraft were easily recognisable due to the two large aerials on the top and one on the bottom under the nose, as seen in the side view I have added. During the bomber campaign against Germany 101 Squadron flew on more raids than any other bomber squadron but suffered the highest casualties of any RAF unit in the war, losing 1176 aircrew killed in action.
I recall Dad telling me of one occasion when their "operator" was having a row with the night-fighter controller as to where the bomber stream was and he told me that their man won because he knew more German swear words than the controller!
