A member of the original cadre sent to England in World War II to organize the Eighth Air Force, Kermit D. Stevens established the almost legendary reputation of the famed 303rd Bomb Group (H), the famous "Hells Angles." As commander of this B-17 unit, he completed 31 combat missions, including the historic Aug 17, 1943 raid over Schweinfurt, Germany. Other missions included the initial raids on Hamburg, Bremen, Berlin, Cologne, and Wilhelmshaven.

A native of Roseburg, Oregon, he received his B.S. degree in economics from the University of Oregon. In 1935 he entered flying training at Randolph, receiving his wings and commission a year later at Kelly Field, Tex. He was then assigned to the 90th Attack Squadron, becoming its commander in 1940.

After completing his combat tour in Europe, he held assignments as commander of Fairchild AFB, Washington; Professor of Air Science at the University of Minnesota, and Vice Commander of the Thirteenth Air Force at Clark Field, Philippines.

In addition to the Legion of Merit, his decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Unit Citation. He has also been awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm.

Chronology of Colonel Stevens' service:

1908, Dec. 16: Born, Roseburg, Oregon; Reared, Eugene, Oregon

1933: Grad., University of Oregon, B.S. Economics

1933-1935: Union Oil Company, Portland, Oregon, marketing/sales

1935-1936: United States Army Air Corps Training Center. Primary Flying School, Randolph Field, Texas. Advanced Flying School, Kelly Field, Texas. Graduated as airplane pilot/flying cadet

1936-1942: United States Army Air Corps, Headquarters, 3rd Attack Group, 3rd Wing, GHQ Air Force, 90th Attack Squadron, Barksdale Field, Louisiana
Flying Cadet (one year)
- School for Bombardiers, trained Norden Bomb Sight
- 13 pilots ferried A-20s to Panama, Canal Zone

1942-1944: MIGHTY EIGHTH AIR FORCE
- Hq. & Hq. Squadron (original cadre), Savannah (Hunter) Air Base, Georgia
- European Theatre of Operations, Hq Bomber Command, Bolling Field, Washington, D.C.
- VII Fighter Command, Predannack, England, dispatched aircraft invading North Africa
- 8th Bomber Command, longest serving Commander of 303rd Bomb Group (H), Molesworth, England

1945-1946: 2nd Air Force
- Commander, 246th Army Air Force Base Unit, Pratt, Kansas
- 17th Bombardment Training Wing, Commander 240th Army Air Force Base Unit, Sioux City, Iowa - - Commander, 231st Air Force Base Unit, Alamogordo, New Mexico

1946: Air University, Air Command & Staff School, (1st class), Maxwell Field, Alabama

1947: Headquarters Army Air Force, Washington, D.C, Chief, Special Training Branch

1948-1951: Strategic Air Command
- Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.
- Commander, 3902nd Air Base Group, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
- 92nd Bomb Wing, Commander, 92nd Air Base Group, Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Washington

1951-1955: University of Minnesota, Detachment #415, Minneapolis, MN, Professor of Air Science & Tactics

1955-1957: Deputy/Vice Comma nder, 13th Air Force, Clark Air Force Base, Philippine Islands

1957-1964: United States Air Force Air University
- Deputy Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio
- 1958 - Jet Qualification Course, Craig AFB, Alabama
- Retired 1 February 1964

Died 21 November 2004