Name/Title
Missing in Action Letter Sent to Mrs. Raphaele Stover About Elisha "Smokey" StoverScope and Content
Letter from the Bureau of Naval Personnel informing Mrs. Raphaele Stover, wife of brother Ben Stover that as of September 28, 1945, there had been no change in Smokey Stover's status as being missing in action. Smokey Stover was forced to bail out of his aircraft following the assault on Truk on February 16, 1944. He was last seen having successfully deployed his emergency raft several miles away from Truk.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
2023.63Acquisition Method
Found in CollectionUpdate Date
October 1, 2026