Stanley enlisted in February 1943, trained as a bombardier and joined up with his crew in Pyote, Texas. Early in 1944 they flew the northern route and - on arrival in Ireland - were ordered by the CO of the base to unload their 'extra' cargo of candy, cigarettes and nylon stockings! He flew on 35 missions from Great Ashfield, some hitting German ground forces post D-Day 'Bombs were released on target in the middle of the German armour...I've never seen such explosions and destruction, tanks were flying through the air..' On a mission to Czechoslovakia his formation was joined by a B-17 not of their Group whose crew had attempted to change the way the bombers were heading. They became suspicious and shot it down - it was a bomber captured by the Germans with the aim of infiltrating American bomber formations 'the pilot spoke perfect English'.



DFC; Air Medal 6 clusters