Invader vol 36 issue 1 2018

Vol. 36 No. 1

Spring 2018

Savannah Reunion info in this issue

Hank

William Howard

Stovall Two Fisted Son of the Soil

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Hildebrand with the wing’s protocol office. She was decorating the club for the evening’s festivities. We met our designated escorts for the day, 1st Lt.’s Kyle Cassidy and Mitch Mabee. They took us down on the flight line to the T-38 hanger, where we were shown to VIP seating. We had a chance to meet and chat with the new 509th Bomb Wing commander, Brig. Gen. John Nichols before the ceremony. It is noteworthy that all four speakers, Gen. Nichols, Col. Gallo, the 509th Operations Group commander, Lt. Col. Newell (Shin - who is on his way to his new assignment in Garmisch, Germany), the outgoing 13th commander, and Lt. Col. Steeves (Fletch), the 394th commander, and incoming 13th commander, all mentioned the 13th association and recognized our presence in their remarks. The entire program went flawlessly, obviously rehearsed to perfection.

Afterwards, we went to the new 13th Bomb Squadron location, which had already been painted, decorated, and filled with 13th memorabilia, to spend the rest of the afternoon meeting and chatting with members of the squadron, and attending Col. Steeves’ first commander’s call as the 13th commander. By the way, this is the 3rd time Fletch has been in the 13th. His credentials are most impressive, and I am completely confident that he will be a fine commander. Bob Parks gave Col. Steeves a 13th challenge coin from the association for his collection. Following commander’s call, there was a slide show depicting the squadron’s history from 1917 to the present. There were several pictures of fellow association members.

The evening at the club was very much like our Red Shirt Night at the club last June during the 100th Anniversary. There was a buffet dinner, flowing liquid refreshments, a few speakers, toasts, antics by the new and previous 13th Bomb Squadron “Mayor”, including a roll call, which included Bob Parks and myself. Charlie was unable to stay for the evening. Also, like last summer, there was a burning of a piano in recognition of fallen comrades. This time, we had an RAF exchange officer explain the history behind the British tradition. I had more time to talk with Gen. Nichols, who was very gracious and genuinely interested in our association. He could not have made us feel more welcome. We exchanged challenge coins, he giving me his 509th Bomb Wing coin, and he expressed interest in attending our reunion in Savannah.

Bob Koehne

President’s Corner I’m sure many of you have been wondering why you have not yet received the Spring Invader. Well, I had asked Don Henderson to delay publication until after the upcoming re-designation of the 13th Bomb Squadron, along with a change in command.

Originally, the ceremony was to be the end of February, but it was moved to mid-April. So 2nd VP, Bob Parks, locator data manager, Charlie Breitzke, my wife, Carole, and I arranged travel to Whiteman AFB for the April 13th, 1313 hours ceremony. I mentioned the re-designation of the 13th, which I am sure, got your attention. USAF apparently decided that two B-2 squadrons at Whiteman were one too many, and the surviving squadron would not be the 13th. However, the good news is that the 394th Combat Training Squadron at Whiteman, would be “inactivated”, not as permanent as “de-activated”, and the 13th would assume the mission of training the B-2 pilots, and, without a name change, anticipating that the 13th will get one of the new B-21, “Raider” squadrons. By the way, if you have seen the artist sketch of the B-21, you will notice a very close likeness to the B-2. So much so, that at Whiteman, they are referring to it as the B-2, one.

The day of the ceremony, we four had lunch at the “Mission’s End” club, where we ran into Morgan 2

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SAVE THE DATE!

Speaking of Savannah, our reunion will be October 21-24. Bob and Myrtle Parks have lined up a fine program for us (see page 18-21). There will be a good balance between military and local venues. Thanks to Perry Nuhn, we have a very inspiring speaker on tap. Savannah, of course, is a fine old Southern city with lots of charm, and it is within driving range of around ¼ of our total membership of some 400. We are in prime season in Savannah, so the hotel rate is a bit of a hit, but many of you can drive and save the cost of airfare. So, get out the map, or GPS these days, and join us this October in Savannah.

Hi Ya’ll. Just sittin’ on the porch ponderin’ plans for our 2018 Reunion in Savannah, Georgia on October 21-24, 2018.

Current plans include a reunion filled with old fashioned Southern hospitality. Agenda features an exciting visit to the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum, charming city tours, and the possibility of an evening riverboat dinner.

Reaper Pride, Regards, Bob

The best part, we all know, isn’t what we see and do – it’s the time we have to visit together, renew friendships and reminisce of those days when we proudly served as members of one of the greatest flying squadrons in history!

The INVADER is the official newsletter of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association, a Non-profit organization. The INVADER is published three times yearly for the benefit of the Association members. Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Association or of the Department of the Air Force. *Members of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association must maintain contact with the Association or “after two years of not communicating with the association, a member will no longer receive the INVADER or the Directory”.

Editor: Don Henderson 254 Freeport Road New Kensington, PA 15068-5421 Tel: (412) 417-6667 e-mail: Don@HendersonGDI.com Henderson Graphic Design & Illustration www.HendersonGDI.com

Hotel arrangements have been made with the Hampton Inn, 603 Oglethorpe Avenue (in the historic area). The hotel offers the best overall lodging, dining, and meeting rooms.

The INVADER masthead displays the principal combat aircraft of the 13th Squadron since its initial activation in 1917. ©13th Bomb Squadron Association 2015

See ya’ll in Savannah!

You can book your reservations directly with the hotel. Block the 2018 reunion dates on your calendars!!!

See page 18-21 of this issue for all the info on our 2018 Reunion

Bob Parks

Cover photo: William Howard “Hank” Stovall.

Hank was a WWI Ace and an original member with the 13th Aero Squadron. He went on to serve with distinction along with other Reapers from WWI. 3

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Officers of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association Robert R. (Bob) Koehne 23332 SE 225th St. Maple Valley, WA 98038

1st Vice President/

Ron Silvia 20 Green Lane Assonet, MA 02702-1410

2nd Vice President

James R. (Bob) Parks 3219 Tavern Oaks St. San Antonio, TX, 78247

Secretary

Edward T. (Tighe) Carvey 6980 Olympic View Ct. Silverdale, WA 98383

Treasurer

Bill Hamann 2950 SE Ocean Blvd.

Apt 124-2 Stuart, FL 34996-3512

President

Member at Large WWII

Member at Large Vietnam

Locator Data Manager

Edward D. (Ed) Connor, Jr. 1217 Earnestine St. McLean, VA 22101-2646

Dave Clark 19 Skona Lake Alpha, IL 61413-9137

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Charlie Breitzke 8 Hobkirk Drive Bella Vista, AR 72715-3404

Member at Large Korea

Ron Jarrett 10349 416th Avenue Britton, SD 57430-5005

Member at Large GWOT

Capt Nicholas Anderson, “Wolf ” 13th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO

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Oscar the Movie Star?

Years ago, Charlie Hinton sent me a still from a movie called the “Legion of the Condemned” starring Fay Ray and Gary Cooper that featured a Grim Reaper on the side of a WWI aircraft (right). It wasn’t the aggressive Oscar running into battle, but a more casual, walking Oscar with scythe slung over his shoulder like he was done with his work.

Recently, Perry Nuhn contacted us about a movie he saw called “The Eagle and the Hawk” starring Fredric March and Cary Grant. Below is a movie still from “The Eagle and the Hawk” showing Oscar and it’s the same Oscar!

Oscar fascinates me and I’m always looking for info and photos of Oscar. If any of you have any Oscar photos you want to share, please send them to me and I’ll be happy to publish them in a future issue of the INVADER. -Editor

Over the years, I have rendered many different incarnations of Oscar from the different eras that the Reapers have flown. Each era has left its mark on Oscar. The subject of

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Hank

By Michael Webster

William Howard “Hank” Stovall with SPAD #15

William Howard Stovall III, was born on February 12, 1895 on the family farm at Prairie Place, Stovall, Mississippi. His father William Howard Stovall Jr., married his second wife, Roberta Lewis Franks, who was the great niece of the explorer Meriwether Lewis. Howard’s father had been born in 1834 in Greene County, Kentucky. He attended local school in Greene County, Kentucky and then studied at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee obtaining a Juris Doctorate Degree with honors. After graduation from Cumberland, he settled in Memphis, Tennessee and began to practice law.

At the onset of the Civil War, the elder Stovall joined the 154th Senior Tennessee Regiment, 1st Tennessee Volunteers mustering in New Madrid, Missouri in 1861. He served as Adjutant and Provost Marshall under Gen. Kirby Smith. He later served on Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard’s Staff.

He was cited 3 times for valor under fire in the Confederate Army records. After the war, he resumed practice of law but due to an injury to his eye in the war, he had to quit practicing law and he married Louisa Fowler, whose father, John Willis Fowler, had come into possession of Prairie Place after the owner, John Oldham had passed away. Fowler had married Oldham’s daughter, Caroline Oldham. Fowler and Stovall had known each other in Memphis and so after the war,

Stovall went to work for Fowler on Prairie Place Plantation. He served with distinction helping to form the Yazoo and Mississippi Levee Board, as President for 13 of the first 14 years. W. H. Stovall Jr., while on a business trip to Chicago, died in 1916. He is buried at Stovall Farms Cemetery.

As a young man, Howard attended school in Memphis at Mrs. Higbee’s School for Boys and his first two years of high school were at Memphis University School. At the start of his junior year, he transferred to Lawrenceville Prep School in New Jersey. Here he became a member of the Debating Society, acted in Drama Class, and quarterbacked his house football team to the school championship. He applied and was accepted to Yale University and in the fall of 1913 entered the Yale Sheffield Scientific School in New Haven, Connecticut. At Yale, Howard was known as “Dink” and went out for crew his freshman year and wrestling his senior year. He was Secretary of the Southern Club, a member of St. Anthony Hall, Delta Psi fraternity, and the Lawrenceville Club. He also enlisted in the ROTC Yale Battery and attained the rank of Sergeant.

His unit trained for service for the “punitive expedition” in Mexico against Pancho Villa.

The unit was activated for service but was never deployed as the action ended. This would be his 6

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Memphis Gang at North Driving Park, Memphis, Tn.; Front row: Howard Stovall, Dr. Brown, Lucas Proudfit, Hugh Fontaine, Hubert Wardle Rear; Estes Armstrong, Michael G. Carter, Guion Armstrong, Charles Derthridge, Bethell Edrington

Flickinger both of whom he would see again in WWII. After Stovall finished his primary and ground school training, he was commissioned a First Lt. on September 21st, 1917 and then would sail on the SS Manchuria on October 27th, 1917 for Europe.

first decoration from the U. S. Army. In 1916, he had made plans to attend school and study scientific farming at the Wisconsin Agricultural College but changed his mind and enrolled at Mississippi A & M and attended for the year of 1916 to 1917.

With a Declaration of War on Germany on April 9th, 1917, Stovall enlisted in Memphis on April 17th, 1917. But he had to get a discharge from the Connecticut National Guard before he could join the Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps, U.S. Army. With that, Stovall began his training in Memphis at the North Driving field under command of Maj. Ralph Royce. Along with a full group of men known as the “Memphis Gang”, Stovall and his friends would take training in the early stages and formation of bombing escort training. Among those of his friends who enlisted in Memphis, Frank O’Driscoll Hunter would play a very important part of Stovall’s life in WWII just as Royce would. Howard would be stationed in Memphis, Tennessee, Dayton, Ohio, and Rantoul, Illinois. He would take instruction in Rantoul, Illinois under Lt. Theodore C. “Mac” Macaulay and another instructor Lt. “Flick”

Now the gang from Memphis wanted to stick together and there would be several who did. This list of men from Memphis would include; • Estes Armstrong, 31st Aero Squadron/2nd AIC, WIT • Guion Armstrong, 13th Aero/Pursuit Squadron, FC, KIA 10/04/1918 • Matthew Edward Carter Jr., 31st Aero Squadron/2nd AIC/Ferry Command Staff • Michael Gavin Carter, 31st Aero Squadron/2nd AIC/Ferry Command Staff • Louis Carruthers, 93rd Aero/Pursuit Squadron • Reed Chambers, 94th Aero/Pursuit Squadron, CO • Everett Cook, 91st Aero/Observation Squadron, CO • Charles D’Olive, 93rd & 141st Aero/Pursuit Squadrons • Bethell Edrington • Hugh Fontaine, 91st Aero/Observation Squadron 49th Aero/Pursuit Squadron 7

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• John McGavok “Mack” Grider, 148th Aero/Pursuit Squadron, KIA 06/22/1918 • Avrome Hexter, 96th Bombardment Squadron/ Observer • Thomas Kearney, 18th Squadron, RFC • Frank Latham Jr, KIT Chasse Issoudun, France 08/21/1918 • Robert Stone Oliver • George Puryear, 95th Aero/Pursuit Squadron, POW • Herbert J. Richardson, 54th Squadron RFC • Cecil G. Sellers, 20th Day Bomb Squadron, CO • Richard Shelby, 139th Aero/Pursuit Squadron • John Kearney Speed, 99th Squadron RFC • William Howard Stovall III, 13th Aero/Pursuit Squadron, FC • Robert E. Townes, 1st & 20th Day Bombardment Squadrons • Herbert A. Wardle, 31st Aero Squadron/2nd AIC/Ferry Command, POW • William A. White, 91st Aero/Observation Squadron

Four Airman: Lucas Proudfit, Matthew Edward Carter, Michael Gavin Carter, Charles Derthridge

Stuart Elliott, a fellow passenger aboard the Munchuria, recalled some of the men of the “Memphis Gang” in his book “Wooden Crates and Gallant Pilots”. Elliott, who would later fly in the 13th, would recall Guion and Estes Armstrong along with Howard Stovall in a particular nasty game of poker. “Many of the Memphis Gang were adept at this game, blackjack, and they played it rough and for keeps. I once sat in on a game with a group of the Southern gentlemen and found out that both liberal arts at Harvard and advanced mathematics at MIT had taught me nothing about the importance of holding the bank”. During a particularly rough session in his poker education, Elliott contributed a month’s salary to Stovall and his colleagues.

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Maj. Carl Spaatz, Issoudun Training Center 1917. Issoudun Aerodrome was used during World War I as part of the Third Air Instructional Center, American Expeditionary Forces for training United States airmen prior to being sent into combat on the Western Front. Issoudun was at that time the largest air base in the world.

Hank Stovall landed in England and then made it over to France in November of 1917. He took advanced training at the US Air Service, 3rd Aviation Instruction Center located at Issoudun.

The head of the training school was Maj. Andrew Carl “Tooey” Spaatz, who would later on appear in Hank’s life with memorable impact. Stovall finished advanced flight training at Issoudun and then took aerial gunnery instruction Cazaux near Bourdeaux.

Interestingly enough, his French aerial acrobatics instructor, Capt. Charles Blumenthal, would see Stovall again in WWII and Hank would be his boss.

After a short period as an instructor at the 2nd A.I.C. at Tours, his future brother in law, Matthew Edward Carter, would assign Hank and Guion Armstrong to the 13th Aero Squadron (Pursuit). This unit would be commanded by Capt. Charles Biddle of Philadelphia.

Biddle had also flown with the Lafayette Escadrille and had attended Harvard Law School. He was a well seasoned commander who had been wounded in action. The plane they would be flying was the SPAD XIII. It was a double winged, single seat pursuit plane with twin 30 caliber machine guns and a 220 horsepower Hispano-Suiza engine. It was fast and could dive like a rock. Normal duty consisted of aerial observation, bomber escort, intelligence gathering, and engaging other units of the German Air force. The normal complement of pilots for the 13th was 18, broken down into 3 flights of six planes each. They would fly escort for US Observation planes as well as flying observation missions along with bombing and strafing missions.

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54 to 56 combat and observation patrols. His list of downed is as follows.

1) Albatros DV 08/01, Viéville-en-Haye, 18:50 2) Albatros DV 08/01, Viéville-en-Haye, 18:50 3) Fokker DVII 09/15, Cernay, 10:30 4) Fokker DVII 09/26, Étain, 13:10 5) Fokker DVII 10/18, Bantheville, 14:10 6) Fokker DVII 10/23, Bavonville, 15:45 On September 26, 1918 on a bomber escort patrol, the 13th would be flying a protective mission.

This patrol encountered at least 9 enemy fighters.

Stovall and one other pilot where flying this patrol and the rest had to return to base due to engine trouble. Seven of the fighters attacked the bombers.

DSC Citation “For extraordinary heroism in action in the region of Étain, France on 26th of September, 1918.

While leading a protection patrol over a day bombing formation, Lt. Stovall’s patrol became reduced through motor trouble to himself and one other pilot. When the bombing patrol was attacked by seven enemy planes, Lt. Stovall in turn, attacked the enemy and destroyed one plane”.

Memphis Air Fighter brings down first plane. Newspaper clipping about Hank Stovall in a hometown paper.

Hank was the only one besides Leighton Brewer to use the Ray-Soulte sight which was two little red beads mounted at opposite ends of a bar and you lined up your target between them, like shooting game bird or ducks. Hank was an expert marksman and an avid bird hunter. And so Stovall entered combat and in four months’ time shot down eight and got credit for six. On a serious note, to show how dangerous flying was, he had to ditch his plane on the ground. August 30th, 1918 found Stovall involved in a one on one combat with an enemy aircraft over Commercy. As it happened many times with the SPAD XIII, Stovall’s plane would have engine trouble and he would have to break off the combat and force land his plane near Gironville behind enemy lines. The enemy artillery would quickly center in on his plane as he was making his escape toward the Allied lines and promptly blow it to pieces. Hank said there was nothing left of the plane after he got back to Allied lines and that the plane was undoubtedly damaged from the shrapnel and shell fire. He flew a total of

Stovall turned into the seven, attacked them and downed one while the rest fled the area. On another mission on October 3rd, he once again repeated his actions.

“Another instance of necessity of protection (day bombing operations) coupled with personal courage, daring, and quick thinking was credited to First Lieutenant William Howard Stovall, who on patrol on October 3rd, 1918 was the leader of a bomber protection patrol, and whose mission it was to afford protection to Day Bombers in the region of Barricourt.

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At 15:45 hours, the bombers were attacked from below by 10 Fokkers. Lieutenant Stovall dived upon all 10 and by his individual courage and remarkable flying ability, drove the enemy aircraft away and permitted the bombers to complete their mission successfully. He has been credited with

He flew at least 54 documented combat missions and was officially credited with six enemy aircraft destroyed. Unofficially, his total had been eight but officially he destroyed six. The 13th did not participate in the occupation of Germany and the unit was effectively disbanded in early December 1918. Hank returned home to Memphis after he was separated from the Air Service and married Eleanor Doyle Carter in April of 1919. Matthew Edward Carter Jr. and Michael Gavin Carter were now part of the family.

Over the next several years, Howard farmed, and raised a family. He was interested in aviation and so he helped get the fledging Memphis Airport built as well as joining the Memphis Aero Club and becoming president in 1929. He also became VP of Sales for Curtiss-Wright Flying Schools in 1929. He helped in areas of agriculture and also helped to invent the burr clover seed harvester

Maj. Andrew Carl “Tooey” Spaatz, in a SPAD XIII

six enemy aircraft”. He downed one but it was never confirmed.

During this time, the St. Mihel Offensive, Maj. Carl Spaatz showed up to fly combat patrols to gain some air combat experience. As it would turn out, Spaatz had been teaching the men air combat tactics but had no experience himself as an instructor. When he was to transition back to the States, he asked Gen. Pershing for a “leave of absence” (LOA) to go fly with a unit to get some practical experience. He went to the 13th. For about 3 weeks he flew with the 13th and managed to shoot down 3 and get credit for 2. For this, he was awarded the DSC. He and Stovall went on several patrols together and became friends.

On October the 4th, 1918, Guion Armstrong, his close friend from Memphis, was KIA when an artillery round hit his plane while on patrol.

Howard Stovall would be behind his friend when it happened. The plane was vaporized instantly.

What made it all the more ironic and tragic was that it was one of our shells that hit his plane.

Hank searched with Biddle for several days until they found the wreckage.

First Lieutenant Stovall served in combat with the 13th from July 5th to November 11th, 1918.

Home front; Sitting on steps, Howard Stovall, Michael Gavin Carter Standing; Eleanor Carter, Mamie Carter, Ann Carter, and fellow soldiers

as well as new ideas of farming, crop rotation, irrigation, crop dusting, along with soil preservation and combating erosion. Hank’s Aviation Administration Airline Pilots License number was 875. Over the course of the 30’s, he worked in the Agricultural Adjustment Administration as the state administrator for the New Deal. He was also working for Marland Oil and keeping track of new advances in aviation. Hank and Eleanor were blessed with 4 children: William Howard Stovall IV, Matthew Carter Stovall, Marie Roberta Stovall, and Robert Lewis Stovall. Life was good but things changed on December 7, 1941.

With the advent of the Japanese and Germans advancing all across the globe, it became very 10

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apparent of what was happening in the world.

Howard Stovall was very aware of the world situation and in July of 1941, he would take a trip to Washington, DC. At a cocktail party in Washington, Howard would once again meet up with his old comrades from WWI. Carl Spaatz and Monk Hunter would be at this party along with Ted Curtis, Harold Buckley, and Ted Browning. All had served in WWI but Monk and Tooey were the only career military officers in the room. Both Spaatz and Hunter had watched the “Battle of Britain” as aerial observers when they were Colonels in England. The conversation was something else.

Howard Stovall would meet all 5 of his flight instructors from WWI again in WWII. 1) Ralph Royce was Hank’s instructor at the North Driving Park, Memphis, TN in WWI. He would run into Stovall several times during WWII. 2) Warren G. Flickenger instructed Stovall at Kelly Field, Texas in WWI. Flickenger worked in 8th Fighter Command in WWII. 3) Theodore MacCaulay was also Stovall’s instructor at Kelly Field, Texas in WWI, 1917 and would later in March 1943, run into Stovall in a hotel lobby in Tunis, Tunisia having not seen each other in 26 years! 4) Charles Blumenthal was Stovall’s French aerobatics instructor at Issoudun in 1917. In WWII, while working on DeGaulle’s staff, would run into Stovall several times over the course of WWII. Hank Stovall was his boss. 5) Maj. Carl Spaatz was Stovall’s instructor at Issoudun and flew combat missions with Stovall in the 13th Pursuit Squadron in WWI. In WWII, Stovall would be DC/S, USSTAFE under his old instructor Carl Spaatz.

man’s face and said, “Bull shit, sonny” and with that he stamped “Approved for Service”.

Commissioned as a Major, Howard Stovall would rejoin his old comrades Spaatz and Hunter in February 1942 in Washington, DC and help get the 8th AAF over to England and into the war. Along with Hunter, he would help select the 97th BG, 1st FG, and the 60th TCG for the BOLERO Maneuver.

He would, while at Command and Control school, get his flying status back. He would then embark on a journey of several thousand miles taking the first 180 planes for the 8th to England. He would be in charge of the movement on Greenland and When December 7th, 1941 came, everything they would lose only 11 aircraft due to inclement changed. On December 12th, 1941, William weather. Five B-17’s and six P-38’s. The rest Howard Stovall III walked into the recruiter’s office of the movement would be smooth. His first job in Memphis, Tennessee to reenlist in the Army Air when he arrived, July 29, 1942, would be to help Force. He would be a late 46 year old man but with form and organize 8th AAF, Fighter Command much to offer in the way of experience. His prior at Bushey Hall and transition the US relationship service, education, and combat experience would with the RAF. As AC/S A-1 under his old friend, be very useful. The detailer took his information Gen. Monk Hunter, Stovall would make key and he asked the “old man” standing in front of decisions and choices in helping to run 8th him what he wanted to do when he got back in Fighter Command. He would process the “Eagle the service. Howard told him he wanted to fly in Squadrons” into the 8th AAF to form the 4th FG combat and in fighters again. The detailer said, and then process all the men and crews of the “You’re too old to fly combat, Mr. Stovall” and newly formed 12th AAF through his personnel upon that, the “old man” leaned into the young section for Operation TORCH to go down to 11

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Africa. He would see his good friend John Seerley, go on bomber missions and write reports to Fighter Command about the German Fighter tactics.

Seerley would be another 13th PS pilot (Ace), who reenlisted John Joseph Seerley for WWII along with Steve Avery, 13th PS (Ace) whom Hank had written encouraging them to reenlist. Avery would transition over to the 12th AAF and go down to Africa and be wounded. Hank would recommend Lt. Col. John Seerley for the Silver Star and Air Medal for his contributions to Fighter Command air combat tactics. Two days before the awards ceremony, Seerley would be killed in a car crash on base. Hank would lament his old friend’s death and a few others such as Asa Duncan who went down in the Bay of Biscay.

Among the many individuals that Howard would run into were Capt. Sy Bartlett and Maj. Bernie Lay who would use him as a character in the book “12 O’Clock High”. Hank would also have the honor of having his son join him over in Europe after he had finished pilot training in the United States. Lt. William Howard Stovall IV would join his father in 8th Gen. Carl “Tooey” Carl Spaatz Fighter Command in September of 1944 and his father would make sure that his son was assigned to the 56th Fighter Group, 62nd Fighter Squadron, “Zemke’s Wolfpack”. This was the first complete fighter unit to make it to England in late ‘42-early ‘43 and was a favorite unit of the Colonel’s. Col. Howard Stovall had by this time (03/1944), become DC/S,

USSTAFE under his old friend Gen. Carl “Tooey” Spaatz.

Col. Stovall made quite a name for himself for efficiency and dedication.

Having his son there was bittersweet and on Christmas William Howard Stovall IV Eve of 1944, father and son would spend Christmas together.

It would be the first time in 2 years that Howard Stovall would be around any family since WWII had begun. Now this was during the “Battle of the Bulge” and the weather was terrible. So young Stovall, along with Col. Dave Schilling, CO of the 56th, went down to London for young Howard’s Christmas party that his father had put together on December 24th, 1944. Father and son spent Christmas together before Howard returned back to Boxted Airbase. This would prove to be their last Christmas together as the younger Stovall’s P-47 Thunderbolt was shot down. At first Howard was listed as MIA, but in February of 1945, Hank was able to travel to Switzerland and from there to Germany, where he eventually found his son’s grave. In a letter, Hank wrote to his wife Eleanor: “I have found our boy. He is buried at the Evangelist cemetery at Burgsteinfurt. If you look on the map, you will see that it is about 10 miles Northwest of Münster.”

Controversy surrounded Howard’s death, it was at first reported that his aircraft had been hit by friendly fire, but aircraft gun camera footage viewed

by Hank himself proved that to be untrue.

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Contrary to what is stated in the MACR, 2nd Lt. William H. Stovall IV was not killed by friendly fire. He was Killed in Action over Burgsteinfurt engaging 7 Enemy Aircraft. His plane had sustained much battle damage and he was forced to bail out. He bailed out too low and his chute did not deploy all the way. He was killed when he hit the ground. He downed at least two enemy aircraft in this engagement before he was killed. It has taken over 70 years to correct this mistake.

The family decided that the fighter pilot would remain buried overseas, “lest we forget”. William Howard Stovall IV is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands, Plot A, Row 12, Grave 19.

After the war, Howard Stovall would return home to go back to farming in July of 1945. He served 3 years, 8 months, and 16 days of active duty in WWII. On a little side note, when Gen Spaatz was about to go the Pacific to finish the war out there, Hank and Ted Curtis (C of S, USSTAFE) were almost going to go. But Gen. Curtis and Col. Stovall had been wanting to come home.

When Gen. Curtis went and talked to the “Boss”, he begged Tooey to let them go home. At first Gen. Spaatz was inclined to argue the point but relented, and Ted and Howard got to come home.

But you know that if “Tooey” had insisted, they would have gone with him.

The British Government would bestow the prestigious military decoration, the OBE, the Honorary Officer of the Military Division of the British Empire, on him on May 24th, 1947 in Washington, DC by Lord Iverchapel. This would be the last time that William Howard Stovall III would wear his full uniform with all his decorations.

Howard Stovall would always stay in touch with his old friends Carl Spaatz, Monk Hunter, Everett Cook, Ted Curtis, Ira Eaker, Curtis LeMay, Jimmy Doolittle, and several other men who served twice.

Over the years, their good friend and Yale graduate Jock Whitney, who served in 8th AAF Intelligence, would meet every year at his home in Savannah, Georgia to reminisce and reunion. Howard Stovall only missed one reunion. He, along with 360 other WWI aviators, would meet in Colorado for a 1961 reunion. Of course there were some serious poker games that were played.

William Howard “Hank” Stovall, Distinguished Service Cross, Legion d’Honneur, Legion of Merit with 1 oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Croix de Guerre, EuropeanAfrican-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 bronze stars.

Hank was instrumental in helping the Delta Council in Mississippi and was a member of the Cotton Council International for trade relations around the world. He was King of the Memphis Cotton Carnival in 1948, Vice President of the Air Force Association, and in 1968, the Delta Council awarded him its Achievement Award as outstanding conservation farmer. In 1970, he received the Federal Land Banks Gold Medal for outstanding contributions to American Agriculture.

He was an avid horseman, hunter, fisherman, and had at one time sired some of the best fox hunting dogs in the U.S. On May 11th, 1970, my grandfather, William Howard Stovall III, passed away from this earthly plane. He died in his sleep on Belmont Farms where he had spent most of his life.

If ever there was a “two fisted son of the soil” Howard Stovall definitely fit that description.

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Spring 2018

Whiteman’s Bomb Squadrons Merge Lt. Col. Geoffrey Steeves assumed command of the 13th Bomb Squadron.

Although it changed its name, its core capabilities remain the same. “As the 394th CTS transitions to the 13th BS, our mission will remain unchanged,” said Steeves. “As the Air Force’s only B-2 bomber school house, we’ll continue to train world-class B-2 pilots that will go on to execute our nation’s most strategic nuclear and conventional missions.”

With this historic milestone, airmen had the opportunity to reflect on the past of their former squadron, while embracing new roots. Although an adjustment, the squadron has successfully demonstrated flexibility.

U.S. Air Force Col. Brian Gallo, the 509th Operations Group commander, passes the guidon to Lt. Col. Geoffrey Steeves, as Steeves assumes command of the 13th Bomb Squadron, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., April 13, 2018. The 394th Combat Training Squadron was inactivated and its personnel shifted over to the 13th Bomb Squadron, which now serves as the formal training unit for the B-2 Spirit. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jovan Banks

Members of the Armed Forces always move forward. From the late 1920’s when the U.S. Army first discussed expanding the Army Air Corps, the military has continued with its forward-thinking outlook. The 509th Bomb Wing recently made its own step forward, streamlining its B-2 Spirit bomber operations.

The wing inactivated its 394th Combat Training Squadron Friday, April 13, 2018. It is now the 13th Bomb Squadron, which will continue to serve as the formal training unit for America’s bomber — the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.

The 393rd Bomb Squadron absorbed those who originally fell under the command of the 13th to fortify the lineage of the bomber heritage. The 393rd is now the premier operational B-2 squadron.

The official ceremony began at 1:13 p.m. (1313) at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. Following the inactivation of the 394th CTS, U.S. Air Force

“Overall, the 394th’s resiliency has been remarkable,” remarked Steeves. “While our airmen are saddened to see the inactivation of the Air Force’s sixth oldest squadron, we are all very proud to have been part of this distinguished flying unit that served proudly as a World War I training squadron, helped deliver victory in the Pacific Theater during World War II and skillfully trained aviators for 22 years as the first B-2 formal training unit.”

The former 394th airmen wrote notes that will be sealed, along with other modern-day 394th memorabilia, and stored at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.

The former 394th CTS commander said the initial news of this change was not upsetting when he learned they’d transition to an even more storied combat unit – the 13th Bomb Squadron, “The Devil’s Own Grim Reapers”, which just celebrated its 100-year anniversary last summer.

“As the only squadron in our nation’s history that has employed nuclear weapons in war, the Tigers hold a special place in history,” said Lt. Col. Nicholas Adcock, the 393rd BS commander.

“Every Tiger hopes to live up to the expectations of those who have gone before us, and we hope to make those who follow in our footsteps proud to be Tigers, as members of the most lethal aviation squadron in history.

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Spring 2018

Lt. Col. Geoffrey Steeves

Commander of the 13th Bomb Squadron Lt. Col. Geoffrey M. Steeves is the new commander of the 13th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Missouri.

He is responsible for the only B-2A formal training unit which provides the 509th Bomb Wing highly qualified mission ready pilots and instructors to support worldwide conventional and nuclear taskings.

Lt. Col. Steeves was commissioned through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2001 and then completed graduate studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He served in a variety of operational assignments as a B-1B pilot and B-2A instructor pilot. He studied as an Olmsted Scholar in Brazil and worked policy issues at the U.S. Forces Korea Headquarters in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

EDUCATION 2001 Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, USAFA, CO 2002 Master of Arts in Economics, University of Colorado at Boulder, CO 2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL 2011 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence 2012 Associates Degree—Portuguese, Defense Language Institute, CA 2014 Doctorate in Economics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil 2016 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA ASSIGNMENTS 1. August 2001 – August 2002, Graduate Student, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 2. August 2002 – December 2003, Student Pilot, T-37 / T-38, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, TX 3. December 2003 – October 2004, Student, B-1B Initial Qualification Training, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX 4. October 2004 – October 2005, B-1B Pilot, 9th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX 5. October 2005 – April 2007, T-38 Pilot, Chief of Wing Scheduling, Chief of Wing Training, 509th Operational Support Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO 6. April 2007 – November 2007, B-2 Initial Qualification Student, 394th Combat Training Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO 7. November 2007 – November 2010, Evaluator Pilot, B-2, Assistant Director of Operations, Flight Commander; Chief of Nuclear Operations; 13 Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO 8. November 2010 – September 2011, Evaluator Pilot, B-2, 509th Bomb Wing Nuclear Executive Manager, 509th Operational Support Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO

9. October 2011 – June 2012, Olmsted Scholar, Defense Language Institute, The Presidio of Monterey, CA 10. July 2012 – December 2014, Olmsted Scholar, Florianópolis, Brazil 11. January 2015 – November 2016, Deputy Division Chief, United States Forces Korea United States Policy Division (J-5), Yongsan Garrison, Republic of Korea 12. December 2016 – August 2017, Director of Operations, 13th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO 13. September 2017, Commander, 394th Combat Training Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS 1. January 2015 – November 2016, Deputy Division Chief, United States Forces Korea United States Policy Division (J-5), Yongsan Garrison, Republic of Korea, as a major and lieutenant colonel FLIGHT INFORMATION Rating: Senior Pilot Flight hours: More than 1,600 hours Aircraft flown: B-2, B-1B, T-38, T-37 MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal Air Force Commendation Medal Joint Service Achievement Medal Air Force Achievement Medal (1 OLC) OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS Air Combat Command Aircrew Safety Award of Distinction 2006 13th Bomb Squadron Company Grade Officer of the Year 2008 509th Bomb Wing Flight Commander of the Year 2009 Exercise Tiger Association Company Grade Officer of the Year 2009 Air Force Global Strike Command Aircrew Safety Award of Distinction 2010 United States Forces Korea Air Force Field Grade Officer of the Year 2015 EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant May 2001 First Lieutenant May 2003 Captain May 2005 Major January 2011 Lieutenant Colonel December 2015 PUBLICATIONS Steeves, G.M., Petterini, F.C., Moura, G.V., 2015. The interiorization of Brazilian violence, policing, and economic growth. EconomiA 16 (3), 359-375.

Steeves, G.M., 2017. Toward Strategic Nuclear Funding: The USSOCOM Model. Air University, Strategic Studies Quarterly. Vol 11, No.2, Summer 2017.

Steeves, G.M., da Costa Jr., N., 2017. Shareholder response to mass shootings in the United States firearms industry. Cogent Economics and Finance. Vol 5, No. 1. (current as of October, 2017)

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13th Bomb Squadron Reunion 2018 Hampton Inn and Suites, Savannah, Georgia

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13th Bomb Squadron Reunion 2018

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Spring 2018

Deaths Not Previously Reported As of May 2018

Rest In Peace Owen R. Armbruster October 20, 2017 Navigator 1953

Ronald L. St. Louis October 5, 2017 Maint Officer 1969-72

Harry A. Larson March, 2017 Pilot 1953-54

Farish C. Chandler, Jr. October 10, 2016 Navigator 1953

Robert E. Peterson December 31, 2017 Gunner 1952-53 John Gaunt July 8, 2017 Crew Chief 1953-54 John H. Hancock August, 2017 Bombardier 1954-57 William O. Rettig July 16, 2016 Pilot 1950-51

Russell N. Moretz November 29, 2016 Engineer 1953-54 Stanton H. Kirby May 30, 2013 Crew Chief 1953-55 Bruce C. Cotton July 15, 2015 Navigator 1953-54 Carl O. Tinsley January 13, 2017 Turret Mechanic 1954-55 Edward L. Skeen November 13, 2017 Pilot 1953-57

James R. Carnes July 6, 2016 Nav/Bomb 1961-64 Clarence N. Stepp October 3, 2017 Crew Chief 1951-52 Stanley J. Murphy March 13, 2011 Pilot 1951-52 Lloyd Barnard, Jr. April 6, 2018 Gunner 1945-46

Locator’s Corner Charlie Breitzke is the new Locator for the 13th Bomb Squadron Association.

Charlie’s responsibilities include locating new members, as well as maintaining the directory and database of members past and present.

He is also responsible for listing those members who have passed on.

To report the passing of a 13th Bomb Squadron member, please contact Charlie Breitzke at info@13thbombsquadron.net. You can also contact any of the Board members by using this same e-mail address.

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Spring 2018

The Hot SEAT

The Henderson brothers were legendary with the Boilermakers. Known Editor’s Comments for their hard work and fearlessness, the 3 brothers Sorry for the lateness of the INVADER. Bob had worked high iron on all asked me to hold off till after his return from the the major blast furnaces in CoC at Whiteman, but then life, or as the case Pittsburgh and the Tri-State may be, death, gets in the way. area of PA, WV and Ohio.

I’ve talked in the past about the challenges each My dad survived a fall Don Henderson, Editor issue brings, some great, some small, but I never with only minor injuries expected this. On April 3rd, my father passed that only added to the legend. Couple that with his away. He had so many near death experiences brothers Hink and Tommy’s fighting reputations, in his life that he used to joke that he had been the Henderson boys were nothing to mess with. “shot at and missed and shit at and hit”. I thought After working many years with the Boilermakers, the guy was invincible, but his time had come. In he decided that all the traveling was too much and his lifetime, he had been through a lot. When he found a job working at the famed “Cloud Factory” was a kid, his father, who was a combat wounded in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh where he Veteran of WWI with the 80th Infantry Division, grew up. The “Cloud Factory” was the Bellefield contracted TB. My grandmother was also stricken. Boiler Plant, part of the Carnegie Museum. The My dad and his brothers and sister were put in “Cloud Factory” housed 4 huge coal fired boilers the Protestant Home for the Friendless until their that provided steam to the Museum, Carnegie parents recovered. In the early 1950’s, he was Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, drafted into the U.S. Army and trained as an and all the hospitals in Oakland. He worked Ammo Supply Specialist at Aberdeen Proving there for the next 25 years before suffering an Ground in Maryland, where he also attended aorta dissection where doctors replaced most of leadership school, before shipping off to serve his aorta with a Dacron graft. That graft lasted in the 8th Army with the 58th Ammo Company nearly 10 years. In that time he went back to work at Siheung, South Korea. The 58th operated at the boiler plant and then later at McConway the largest ammo dump in the world. They had & Torley. While working at M&T, his doctor everything from small arms to the prop charges discovered some leakage around the graft and for Atomic Annie. Dad was in Korea until 1954. scheduled an operation with Dr. Bartley Griffith, A few days out for Korea, the troop transport he a wunderkind who not only replaced the original was on, the USS General Black collided with a Dacron craft with a longer one, he also replaced Nationalist Chinese LST during heavy fog in the the aortic valve with an artificial valve! My dad Sea of Japan. The USS Black was able to make it was a bit of a bionic man. He eventually retired, to Sasebo, Japan for repairs and eventually sailed but maintained a very active lifestyle, playing home to San Francisco. After returning home to drums in several bands, shooting pool, and taking Pittsburgh, he attended training for Davey Tree care of a koi pond that he hand-dug himself.

Company in Kent, Ohio. Completing his training, When my mom passed away 10 years ago, he was he began working for Davey Tree Company a mess, but he fought back and learned to enjoy as a climber, clearing trees from power lines. life. He took everything life threw at him and hit Eventually, he would leave Davey to work for the back. Every day was a bonus to him and he lived City of Pittsburgh’s Forestry Division, where he each day to its fullest. The night before he died, he worked at Frick Park, in the Point Breeze section was out shooting pool. My dad was always larger of the city. Frick Park was a 600 acre green space than life to me. I just figured he would always be donated to the city by Henry Clay Frick at his around. He was an amazing guy, a mentor daughter Helen’s behest. Dad worked there for and a friend, not only to me, but to several years before joining his brothers, who so many others. I’m really going to were working for the Boilermakers of America. miss him.

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13th Bomb Squadron Association

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Bob Parks, Bob & Carole Koehne, Charlie Breitzke escorted by 1st Lt’s Kyle Cassidy and Mitch Mabee at 13 Bomb Squadron HQ.