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This is a crew photo of the William Webster crew. 

Names of the crew are listed below and include John Stockwell.

Photos above courtesy Irene J. Pula

 

I was thrilled to learn there was an avenue to find out more about my uncle. I actually have some news on my uncle for you, too. I see his name is listed on your "Status Unknown" list. My name is Ann Stockwell. My uncle was John R. Stockwell. Unfortunately, my uncle passed away in the early 1970's of a brain tumor. He had returned to Toledo, OH, after the war and stayed there until his death. I visited Washington, DC, this past weekend and was thrilled with the war memorials, which got me curious again about my uncle. My father, Bill Stockwell, John's younger brother, passed on to me some of my uncle's WWII items. By the way, we knew my uncle as "Uncle Bob."

Here's what I know: Uncle John was in the 15th Air Force and flew out of Italy somewhere. He enlisted in Toledo, OH, on July 30, 1942. He received his wings at Victorville Air Field in Victorville, TX (or CA-not sure), and became a B-24 bombardier. He was part of the mission to the aircraft factories at Wiener Neustadt, Austria on May 10, '43 or '44. He received the Distinguished Unit Badge and was the recipient of the Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster, too. He also talked about a raid at the rail yards in Munich, but I'm not sure which raid it was. I believe he also participated in the raids in Romania at Ploesti. I have several items of his: his 15th Air Force patch, ID badge with picture/signature/15th Air Force symbol, picture of him at Maxwell Field, 1943, his bombardier wings, his headphones and army issue knife. I also have a copy of a photograph of him and his crew with names and cities. I'll forward the photographs to you. The crew members are: (writing difficult to read, so pardon any misspellings) Nelson Moseley, Co-pilot, Lawrenceville, VA; Bill Webster, Pilot, Lubbock, TX; John R. Stockwell, Bombardier, Toledo, OH; Bart Hines, Navigator, Chicago, IL; Horace Hunter, Engineer, Kansas Cit y, KS; Casimier Pula, Radio Operator, Chicopee Falls, MA; G.W. Young, Nose Gunner, Florence, AL; C.J. Erwin, Top Turret, Orange, TX; Jim O'Brien, Ball Turret, Dunn, NC; Ten Rzasa, Tail Gunner, Brooklyn, NY. 

I'll be reading more on your website and am anxious to get started. The war memorials were awe-inspiring. I wanted to hug each and every veteran! Thank you for keeping their (your) memory alive. I know I am truly thankful for the soldiers who defended our country and saved the world. 

-Ann, May 27, 2005

 

Lt. John R. Stockwell, 1945

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