| Service number | 422751 |
|---|---|
| Ranks Held | Flight Lieutenant, Flying Officer |
| Birth Date | 1920-04-21 |
| Birth Place | Australia: New South Wales, Goulburn |
| Death Date | 1957 |
| Final Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Unit | No. 455 Squadron |
| Place | Goulburn |
| Conflict/Operation | Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Gazettes |
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1945-06-07 Published in London Gazette in 1945-05-29 Published in London Gazette in 1944-10-24 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1944-11-02 |
Flight Lieutenant Stephen Joseph Sykes
Description
Flight Lieutenant Steven Joseph Sykes enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 23 May 1942. He trained as a pilot in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom under the Empire Air Training Scheme, and went on to serve with 455 Squadron, based in the United Kingdom. With 455 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant Sykes participated in anti-shipping operations in the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Norway. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in October 1944 for his courageous participation in an attack on shipping at Den Helder, Netherlands, in September 1944. On 4 April 1945, Flight Lieutenant Sykes was leading his squadron in an operation in a Norwegian fiord when a shell burst on front of his aircraft, blowing open his cockpit. He sustained many injuries, including a badly broken arm. However, with the aid of his navigator, he flew to the Shetland Islands and made a safe landing. For this action, Flight Lieutenant Sykes received the Distinguished Service Order. He was discharged on 25 February 1946.
Rolls
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- No. 455 Squadron
- Conflict
- Second World War, 1939-1945
- Rank
- Flying Officer
- London Gazette
- 24 October 1944 on page 4867 at position 1
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 02 November 1944 on page 2455 at position 11
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Conflict
- Second World War, 1939-1945
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- No. 455 Squadron
- Conflict
- Second World War, 1939-1945
- Rank
- Flying Officer
- London Gazette
- 29 May 1945 on page 2713 at position 1
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 07 June 1945 on page 1263 at position 49
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Conflict
- Second World War, 1939-1945
Timeline
| Date of birth | 21 April 1920 | |
|---|---|---|
| Date of enlistment | 23 May 1942 | |
| Date of discharge | 25 February 1946 | |
| Date of death | 1957 |