Lt. Elisha T. "Smokey" Stover

[keith A]

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

[twocee]

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.

[R Leonard]

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.

[keith A]

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

[Jim MacDonald]

Hi Keith,


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


Mac

[keith A]

Sorry Mac,

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

[Leendert]

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