William Howard Stovall IV (1923 - 1944)

Born 13 Mar 1923 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Died 31 Dec 1944 at age 21 in Burgsteinfurt-Hollich, Germany

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World War II

This profile is part of the Stovall Name Study.

Biography

2Lt. William Howard Stovall, IV ^{[1] [2]} Born in 13 Mar 1923 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee to Hank Stovall and Eleanor Carter. His siblings are Matthew Carter Stovall (brother), Marie Roberta Stovall (sister), Robert Lewis Stovall (brother). Killed in action in Burgsteinfurt-Hollich, Germany on 31 December 1944 at 21 years of age.

Awards

Bronze Air Medal - Silver Star - Legion of Merit - Purple Heart

Military

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Function: Pilot

Company – Squadron: 62nd Fighter Squadron

Unit – Group: 56th Fighter Group

Service: US Army Air Force

War: World War II

Plane Data:

Serial Number: 44-19792

Type: P-47-D

Destination: Hannover, Germany

Mission: Bomber escort

MACR: 11169

His Notes

"I joined Blue Flight when leaving the target area and flew in the #4 position. After the initial bounce on seven FW 290's at approx. 1230 hours, I got in position for a close in dead astern shot. Just as I opened fire, a P-47 came up through between the E/A and myself. I saw hits on the P-47's left wing near the root. We both pulled up and I lost the 47 under my nose. The next thing I saw was the P-47 split for the deck and I watched to see when he would pull out but never did. The plane hit with terrific speed end exploded. No one reported any battle damage after we reached our home base and Lt. Stovall was missing so I assume that the plane I hit also the one I saw crash was Lt. Stovall. This mishap occurred just West of Dummer Lake."

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

Note: Entered the service from Mississippi.

Burial

Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial Margraten Eijsden-Margraten Municipality Limburg, Netherlands Plot: Plot A, Row 12, Grave 19 Created by: CWGC/ABMC Record added: Aug 07, 2010 Find A Grave: Memorial #56304321

Sources

1. ↑ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:1:99D9-3QJ
2. ↑ http://www.americanbattlegraves.com/index.php?page=directory&rec=99831

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Howard_Stovall