Then a 2nd Lt., Gordon S. Stephens obtained his pilot rating on 14 August, 1941 in Stockton, CA. He was transferred to the 42nd Bomb Group, 75th Bomb Squad that month. He flew the B-18 (Bolo medium bomber) as well as the new B-26 Marauder bomber, logging 155:30 hours.

He was transferred to the 77th Bomb Squad in December, 1941. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, his unit was rushed up to Alaska to defend against a feared Japanese attack on the Aleutian Islands.

On 16 January, 1942, Lt. Stephens was pilot of a B-26 being deployed to Ladd Field, outside of Fairbanks, AK.

In the course of the flight from Edmonton, Alberta to Ladd Field he and four other aircraft ran into trouble. In heavy snow, low visibility and with a lack of navigational aids, the relatively inexperienced pilots began running low on fuel and options. They were forced to crash land or ditch in the heavy snow surrounding Watson Lake. No one died in the mishap, though there were several injuries. It took three days to evacuate the crews, who made do by building shelters under the wings of their wrecked aircraft and living off the land.

After arriving at Ladd, Lt. Stephens flew a B-26 in combat, helping to repel a Japanese air attack on Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands.

The records show that Lt. Stephens died 29 July, 1942 from injuries suffered the day before in a training accident in Cold Bay, AK. The exact circumstances of his death are not known at present, but are being researched. A picture of his gravesite can be found on "FindaGrave.com" he is buried at Sitka National Cemetery in Sitka Borough, Alaska.

My interest in Lt. Stephens stems from the fact that my uncle, Victor Fiala was on the plane as navigator when it crash landed at Watson Lake. Victor later served as a captain and Aircraft Commander of a B-29, flying raids against Tokyo out of Saipan. We will be happy to share what we know about the Aleutian campaign with any of Lt. Stephens family members who may be interested.

Gordon S Stephens