Air Vice Marshal Leigh Forbes Stevenson, CB (24 April 1895 – 3 March 1989) was a senior commander in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Early in the First World War he served in the trenches on the Western Front before becoming a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps. After the war he joined the fledgling Canadian Air Force. Stevenson remained in Air Force service when in 1924 the Royal Canadian Air Force was founded and served throughout the inter-war years.

Leigh Stevenson
Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
In office
1946–1952
ConstituencyVancouver-Point Grey
Personal details
Born24 April 1895
Richibucto, New Brunswick
Died3 March 1989(1989-03-03) (aged 93)
Vancouver, British Columbia
Political partyCoalition
SpouseLilian Myrtle Comber
NicknameStevie
Military service
AllegianceCanada
United Kingdom
Branch/serviceCanadian Expeditionary Force
Royal Flying Corps
Royal Canadian Air Force
Years of servicec.1915–1919
1921–1945
RankAir Vice Marshal
CommandsWestern Air Command
RCAF Overseas Headquarters
Camp Borden
RCAF Station Winnipeg
Battles/warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath[1]
Mentioned in Despatches
Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)

On 16 October 1940 Stevenson was appointed Air Officer Commanding the RCAF in Great Britain (changed to Air Officer-in-Chief the RCAF in Great Britain on 6 November) at the RCAF Overseas Headquarters in London. In 1942 he returned to Canada to take command of Western Air Command. In 1946, he was elected to represent Vancouver-Point Grey in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as a member of the Coalition government; he served until 1952.[2] He died at his home in Vancouver in 1989.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "No. 36310". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1943. p. 49.
  2. ^ "Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage". 1973.
  3. ^ Obituary
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Military offices
Preceded by
G V Walsh
Air Officer Commanding the RCAF in Great Britain
Air Officer-in-Chief from November 1941

October 1940 – November 1941
Succeeded by