Name/Title
The USS Yorktown Association Honors the Parents of Elisha "Smokey" Stover.Description
This photograph shows the USS Yorktown Association presenting J. Spurgeon and Stella Stover with a certificate of appreciation during the 1952 Yorktown reunion.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
2023.73Acquisition Method
Found in CollectionInscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionLocation
Back of the photographTranscription
The Yorktown Association presents a certificate of appreciation to Smokey's parents at the 1952 reunion. L to R "Pop" Condit of VT-5; Stella T. Stover; J. Spurgeon Stover; J. T. Bryan, Jr., aviation ordnance officer; and Captain "Jimmy" Flatley of Air Group 5. New York Times PhotographUpdate Date
October 5, 2026
