The Royal Air Forces Association Stone and District Branch, in conjunction with Christ Church, Stone, has arranged a Service of Commemoration on Sunday, the 26th of February, to mark the 80th anniversary of the death of Flight Lieutenant Richard Noel Stubbs.
He was born on 4th December 1920, the son of Noel and Rachel Stubbs of the then well-known local firm of Stubbs & Co (Corn Millers and Merchants). In 1940 Richard Stubbs volunteered to join the RAF. On completing his tour of 30 operations flying Wellington bombers with No 75 Squadron, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal – the DFM.
Following a tour as an instructor at No. 20 Operational Training Unit in Scotland, he was called back to operations in 1942 with No. 9 Squadron. During his time with them, he converted from the Wellington to the Lancaster bomber and went on to complete another 30 dangerous operations, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross – the DFC.
Now waiting to receive his DFC from King George VI, Stubbs was posted to the Air Fighting Development Unit. In February 1943, the Lancaster he was flying to demonstrate evasive tactics suffered a partial structural failure and, having managed to get the crew to bale out, the failure became complete, and he died in the subsequent crash. He was just 2 months past his 22nd birthday.
The Service will start at 3 pm in the presence of the Mayor of Stafford Borough and the Town Mayor of Stone. Music will be provided by the Quintet of the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment, and the Address will be given by Air Vice Marshal the Venerable Ray Pentland CB.
Everyone is welcome to attend this commemorative event.
