The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. S A Levenson

Stephen Austin Levenson, of Taynuilt, east of Oban, Scotland was born on 31st March 1918, the son of Alexander Levenson and of Agnes Levenson (nee Fretwell).

He attended Cranleigh School from 1927-31. He joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his initial training on 29th June 1936.

He went to 10 FTS Ternhill on 5th September 1936 and moved to 9 FTS Hullavington on 14th April 1937, under training.

On 14th May 1937 Levenson, in Hawker Fury II K8220, crashed into the sea wall at Whitby after he had attempted to force land the aircraft on the beach after he became lost while flying in sea fog on a training flight from Thornaby. The aircraft stalled while he was making a steep turn to avoiding flying into the cliffs. He had many injuries including a broken leg.

He joined 66 Squadron at Duxford on 27th November 1937. He resigned his commission on 19th October 1938, possibly due to getting into debt.

Levenson joined the RAFVR about March 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

He married Margaret Macallum Melville in July 1939 in Kensington.

Levenson was called up on 2nd January 1940 and posted directly to 611 Squadron at Digby (photo below).

Back row standing: Sgt. Levenson, F/Lt. Macfie, Sgt. Burt, F/Lt. Scott -Malden, P/O CAT Jones, unknown, P/O DA Adams, Sgt. AS Darling, F/O B Heath, Sgt. EN Kelsey.

Middle sitting/crouching: F/Lt. DH Watkins, F/O WJ Jack Leather, F/O KM Stoddart, P/O PSC Pollard.

Front: P/O MP Brown.

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He claimed a Ju88 destroyed and a Me109 probably destroyed on 11th September 1940. On that day Levenson’s Spitfire, P7321, was severely damaged by return fire from a He111 engaged over Croydon. He crashed with a dead engine at Pendall Court, Bletchingley, unhurt.

On the 15th he claimed a Do17 destroyed and another probably destroyed. He was posted away to CFS Upavon on 22nd September for an instructors course.

Levenson returned to operations after undergoing training at 12 OTU Benson when he joined 214 Squadron at Stradishall on 7th July 1942 to operate in Stirlings. He was then a Warrant Officer.

Levenson was killed on his 13th operation, a raid on Essen on the night of 16th/17th September 1942. His aircraft, Stirling BU-T R9350, was shot down by a night fighter. It crashed SSE of Leuven, Belgium with five of the crew killed and the other two made PoWs.

F/Sgt. S Newcombe KIA
Sgt. GB Melton KIA
Sgt. WJ Davies KIA
Sgt. LC Tillin KIA
Sgt. GA Barrow PoW
Sgt. RJ Cox PoW

Levenson is buried in Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium.

Above image courtesy of Marcel Rosvelds.