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Sir William Samuel Stephenson, C.C., M.C., D.F.C. ( January 11, 1896 - January 31, 1989) was a Canadian soldier, airman, businessman, inventor, spymaster, and the senior representative of British intelligence for the entire western hemisphere during World War II. Stephenson is best-known by his wartime intelligence codename of Intrepid.1 Early Life
Born January 11, 1896 at Point Douglas near Winnipeg, Manitoba, he attended high school in Winnipeg, leaving to volunteer for the
101st Regiment of the Canadian Army Engineers
at the outbreak of World War I and earning a field promotion to Sergeant in the trenches before he turned 19. While recovering from being gassed in 1916, Stephenson learned to fly and then transferred to the British Royal Flying Corps on August 16 1917. Posted to 73 Squadron on February 9 1918Events January January 8 President Woodrow Wilson announces his " Fourteen Points" for the aftermath of World War I. February February 3 The Twin Peaks Tunnel begins service in San Francisco as the longest streetcar tunnel in the world (11,920 feet long)., Stephenson flew the British Sopwith CamelThe Sopwith Camel was a British World War I single-seat fighter aircraft. The Sopwith Camel was first built in 1916 by the Sopwith Aviation Company. Approximately 6,000 Camels were produced. It featured a 150- hp (110- kW) Gnome nine-cylinder rotary engin fighter biplane and scored twelve victories before he was shot down and captured by the Germans on July 28July 28 is the 209th day (210th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 156 days remaining. Events 1493 Great fire in Moscow 1540 One of the most important political figures of the reign of Henry VIII of England, Thomas Cromwell, is exe 1918Events January January 8 President Woodrow Wilson announces his " Fourteen Points" for the aftermath of World War I. February February 3 The Twin Peaks Tunnel begins service in San Francisco as the longest streetcar tunnel in the world (11,920 feet long)..
By the end of WWI he had achieved the rank of Captain and earned the Distinguished Flying CrossThis article is about the award given in the United Kingdom; a separate article describes the award given in the United States. Source: Veterans AffairsCanada The Distinguished Flying Cross was founded during the First World War, on June 3, 1918 (the birt, the Military CrossThe Military Cross (MC) is awarded by the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada for distinquished and meritorious services in battle. It was originally awarded to commissioned officers of the substantive rank of Captain or below or Warrant Officers. The MC, the Croix de Guerre avec Palmes and the Legion d'Honneur. His medal citations perhaps foreshadow his later achievements, and read:
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When flying low and observing an open staff car on a road, he attacked it with such success that later it was seen lying in the ditch upside down. During the same flight he caused a stampede amongst some enemy transport horses on a road. Previous to this he had destroyed a hostile scout and a two-seater plane. His work has been of the highest order, and he has shown the greatest courage and energy in engaging every kind of target." - Military CrossThe Military Cross (MC) is awarded by the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada for distinquished and meritorious services in battle. It was originally awarded to commissioned officers of the substantive rank of Captain or below or Warrant Officers. The MC citation, Supplement to the London Gazette, June 22 1918
"This officer has shown conspicuous gallantry and skill in attacking enemy troops and transports from low altitudes, causing heavy casualties. His reports, also, have contained valuable and accurate information. He has further proved himself a keen antagonist in the air, having, during recent operations, accounted for six enemy aeroplanes." - Distinguished Flying Cross citation, Supplement to the London Gazette, September 21 1918
