Name/Title
Stella Stover Attending a Postwar Medal CeremonyDescription
Post war award ceremony held at McAlester Naval Munitions Depot in McAlester, OK on May 1, 1946 where Smokey Stover's mother, Stella Stover would receive the Air Medal awarded posthumously for her son, Smokey Stover. Smokey's aunt, Ruby Terrill Lomax and her husband John are standing behind in the second row. The award delivered was most likely Smokey Stover's gold star in lieu of a second Air Medal which was previously awarded to to Smokey during the war.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