Lt. Elisha T. "Smokey" Stover
 

He appears in "The Fighting Lady" (1944) and while flying with VF-5 is shot down. He later is identified as a POW.

Does anyone know more about this flier? He was a veteran of the Guadalcanal campaign (also with VF-5?).

best regards

Keith

Re: Lt. Elisha T. "Smokey" Stover
 

In 1942 Stover flew with VF-8 aboard Hornet at Midway and then transferred to VF-5, with which he participated in the Guadalcanal campaign.

When the new Yorktown was commissioned in 1943, Stover was assigned to the Radar Plot as a Fighter Director Officer. However, he pushed hard to be allowed back to his old squadron, VF-5, and eventually succeeded that December. On 17 February 1944, flying with VF-5 in an attack on Truk, his aircraft was shot down by AA, and though he managed to bail out and take to his raft, he was captured by the Japanese and executed.

Re: Lt. Elisha T. "Smokey" Stover
 

There is a book, "The Saga of Smokie Stover" from his diary and additional by naval historian Clark Reynolds. My father had a copy floating around his bookshelf, but I think one of my brothers made off with it when we were breaking thigs down.

It's probably worth a modest expenditure.

Re: Lt. Elisha T. "Smokey" Stover
 

Cheers Rich. Just found a paperback copy of the book on the internet. Price £56+. A bit too rich for my blood :)

Re: Lt. Elisha T. "Smokey" Stover
 

Hi Keith,


Here's one from the Yorktown Association for $7.95 U.S.


Mac

Re: Lt. Elisha T. "Smokey" Stover
 

Sorry Mac,

I can't open the site. My computer blocks it :(

Re: Lt. Elisha T. "Smokey" Stover
 

Loss (missing) of Lt. Stover recorded in War Diary Feb 1944 of USS Yorktown (CV-10) here: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/78620038?objectPage=8

F6F-3 Hellcat BuNo 08996.

Leendert