Elisha Smokey Stover Self Portrait

Photograph

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

Name/Title

Elisha "Smokey" Stover Self Portrait

Description

Smokey Stover's self-made portrait in pilot's headgear. The photograph was taken in the cockpit of his Hellcat fighter.

Context

Elisha Terrill "Smokey" Stover was a F4F Wildcat pilot with VF-8 on the USS Hornet (CV-8) and VF-5 aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3) and later at Guadalcanal in 1942 where he downed 4 Japanese planes earning the Air Medal. Transferred aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-10) as a Fighter Director Officer in CIC in 1944, he appeared in scenes of "The Fighting Lady" and later returned to flight status with VF-5 when he was shot down over Truk Atoll on February 16, 1944.

Collection

Smokey Stover Collection, USS Yorktown CV-10

Acquisition

Accession

2001.00012

Source or Donor

Steve F. Ewing

Acquisition Method

Produced by Staff

Made/Created

Artist

Elisha Terrill "Smokey" Stover

Date made

Sep 11, 1942

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Location

Back of Photograph

Transcription

Elisha Terrill Stover (Smokey) September 11, 1942 Over the Pacific 300 Miles Southeast of Guadalcanal Self-made Kodak picture

Update Date

October 6, 2026