Oliver Stewart

{{about||the member of the Illinois House of Representatives|Oliver W. Stewart}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}  {{Infobox military person | name =Oliver Stewart | image = | caption = | birth_date = 26 November 1896 | death_date = 1976 | burial_label = | burial_place = | birth_place =London, England | death_place = | burial_coordinates =  | nickname =Stewpot | allegiance ={{UK}} | branch =Aviation | service_years = | rank =Major | unit =Middlesex Regiment, No. 22 Squadron RFC, No. 54 Squadron RFC | commands = | battles = | awards =Military Cross, Air Force Cross | relations = | other_work =Aviation journalist and author }} Major '''Oliver Stewart''' MC AFC (1896-1976) was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.<ref name="Oliver Stewart">{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/stewart2.php |title=Oliver Stewart |website=www.theaerodrome.com |access-date=9 February 2010}}</ref> Post war, he had a long and distinguished career as a writer.<ref>{{cite book |title= Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 |page= 353 }}</ref> His parents were Thomas Gibson Bowles and Rita Shell.<ref name="NAM">{{cite web |title=Lieutenant Oliver Stewart |url=https://ww1.nam.ac.uk/stories/lieutenant-oliver-stewart/ |website=National Army Museum, London |access-date=6 September 2024}}</ref>

==Early life== Stewart was educated at Copthorne School, Bradfield College, and the Royal College of Music.<ref name=WWW>[https://doi.org/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U159937 "Stewart, Major Oliver (26 Nov. 1895–22 Dec. 1976), CompRAeS; writer and broadcaster"], ''Who Was Who'' published online 1 December 2007, accessed 1 January 2026 {{subscription}}</ref>

==First World War== Stewart was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Middlesex Regiment in October 1914. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1915.<ref name=WWW/> After a brief time with 22 Squadron, he moved on in 1917 to 54 Squadron to fly a Sopwith Pup. He gained a flight commandership, a nickname (Stewpot), five victories, and a Military Cross while with the squadron. The victories came between 6 April and 25 September 1917; the MC came on 17 September.<ref>{{cite book |title= Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 |page= 353 }}</ref>

He then returned to England, was promoted to major in June 1918, and given command of the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment. He received an Air Force Cross for his efforts.<ref>{{cite book |title= Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 |page= 353 }}</ref>

==Post war== He retired from service in 1921, to begin a new career as an aviation journalist. From 1939 through 1962, he was the editor of ''Aeronautics'' magazine.<ref>{{cite book |title= Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 |page= 353 }}</ref> His books included ''Aerobatics: A Simple Explanation of Aerial Evolutions'', ''Of Flight and Flyers'', and his autobiography, ''Words and Music of a Mechanical Man''.<ref name="Oliver Stewart"/>

==Sources of information== {{reflist}}

==References== ''Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920.'' Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. {{ISBN|0-948817-19-4}}, {{ISBN|978-0-948817-19-9}}.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stewart, Oliver}} Category:1896 births Category:1976 deaths Category:Royal Flying Corps officers Category:English autobiographers Category:Middlesex Regiment officers Category:People educated at Copthorne Preparatory School Category:British World War I flying aces Category:Recipients of the Military Cross Category:Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) Category:Military personnel from London Category:British Army personnel of World War I Category:People educated at Bradfield College