Lone Wolf: The Remarkable Story of Britain's Greatest Nightfighter Ace of the Blitz—Flt Lt Richard Playne Stevens DSO, DFC & BAR

Andy Saunders · Terry Thompson

Jan 2020 · Casemate Publishers

About this ebook

This thrilling WWII biography tells the incredible true story of one of the Royal Air Force’s greatest flying aces.

During the Second World War, Flight lieutenant Richard Playne Stevens had an extraordinary career as a Royal Air Force nightfighter. His contemporaries called him Cat’s Eyes for his rare ability to see in the dark, but after achieving a record-breaking fourteen victories in the skies—all without the aid of radar or another crew member—he earned the moniker Lone Wolf. He was also awarded a distinguished Service Order and a Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar for his service.

Flt. Lt. Stevens achieved his legendary status through skill, instinct and innate marksmanship. Sir Archibald Sinclair, the Secretary of State for Air during the war, called him “one of the greatest nightfighter pilots who ever fought in Fighter Command.” Now his incredible story is told in full thanks to decades of research by military aviation historian Terry Thompson.

About the author

Andy Saunders has been involved with historic aviation for over thirty-five years and is well known in the aircraft preservation and restoration field. His specialist area of interest is in the air war over Europe, 1939-1945. One of the co-founders of Tangmere Aviation Museum, and its first curator, Andy is also respected as a serious researcher, author, and editor and is a prolific contributor to the aviation press. He is passionate about flying and history, regularly travelling in search of historic aircraft and artefacts. He also acts as adviser or consultant to film and television companies and was past editor of Britain at War.