Name/Title
Letter From Elisha "Smokey" Stover to his Parents Dated June 21, 1943Scope and Content
In this letter to his parents written while the Yorktown was back in Norfolk Elisha "Smokey" Stover discusses his planned trip to New York because of only four days leave which he had previously tried to bet with another officer (Aerologist Jim Vonk) in an attempt to get more liberty. He also comments on a recent letter from Aunt Ruby, a visit from a childhood friend and his attempt to find a flight to Miami to visit his brother Ben.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 CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2017.001Source or Donor
Daniel M. StoverAcquisition Method
GiftUpdate Date
October 13, 2026
