Stannus joined the Australian Militia Reserve in 1938, at 16. Four years later, he enlisted in the RAAF and was trained as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme in Canada and then East Anglia. In 1943 he completed his training and was assigned to RAF 149 Sqn at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk.

Stannus, along with fellow Guinea Pigs William Holmes and Thomas C. F. Smith, was flying a Special Op. to drop supplies near the French/Swiss border on the night of 5 July 1944. There was no reception committee and as they climbed to fly back, they crossed an airfield and were shot at - it took out the port engines, damaged the petrol tanks and set fire to the port wing root, though Smith was able to extinguish that. They managed to make it back to Britain and had to crash land on Thorney Island, Kent. Holmes made a landing on the plane's belly, before sparks caused a fire. Smith pushed Holmes out of the pilot's escape hatch, resulting in severe burns due to the delay in getting himself out.

(B) - Bomber
SSQ - Station Sick Quarters