Willard Smith Stelling

Military

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 34th Bomb Group

34th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

John J Beyer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 391st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-123221
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Chicago, IL 2 December 1922

Based

Cluntoe 26 May 1944 Assigned to the 2nd CCR&TS for combat crew training

Died

Peoria, IL 13 August 2017 Willard Stelling, 94, of Ottawa, died on Sunday afternoon, August 13, 2017 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 18, in the Evangelical United Methodist Church in Ottawa with Rev. Dave Yim, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Ottawa Avenue Cemetery where military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Post 33 Veteran’s Group Honor Guard. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services, at the church. Arrangements are through the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Willard was born on December 2, 1922 in Chicago to Rev. Harry J. and Elizabeth F. (Smith) Stelling. He was a 1940 graduate of Naperville High School and attended LPO Junior College. During WWII he served with the Army Air Corp in England with the 34th Bomb Group, and with the 391st Squadron as a ball turret gunner on B-24 and B-17 bombers. He flew 34 missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 3 clusters, and the European Theater Ribbon with 4 battle stars. Recently he was the recipient of the French Legion of Honor Medal, the highest honor France can bestow. He married Mary E. Bellrose on December 23, 1944, at the home of her father. She died on August 2, 2002. He graduated from North Central College in 1947 with a B.S in Accounting and Business Administration. He was an accountant for Union Carbide / American Hoechst, and retired after 40 years. He was an active member of Evangelical United Methodist Church for many years, served on various committees, sang in the choir, and was a Sunday School teacher and Scout Troup leader. He was a member of the American Legion Post 33, the Eighth Air Force Historical Society, the American Air Museum in Britain, and the National WWII Museum. Mr. Stelling helped start the Ottawa Food Pantry, and also served as an election judge. Willard was a man of quiet strength, wisdom, and rock-solid faith. He enjoyed traveling, reading WWII history / biographies, and appreciated the beauty and history of Ottawa and the Illinois River Valley. He is survived by a daughter Linda Mindak, of Ottawa, 3 nephews, Douglas, Harry Jr., and Kurt Stelling, and 3 nieces Jill Bellrose, Pamela Sawyer, and Lisa Jokisch. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Mary, and 2 brothers, Paul and Harry Stelling. Memorials may be directed to the church. The family wishes to thank Dr. Rosborough and OSF St. Elizabeth/St. Francis, in addition to Pleasant View, for the professionalism and loving care shown to Willard.

Buried

Ottawa, IL 18 August 2017 Ottawa Avenue Cemetery Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois, USA
Ottawa, Illinois

Based

Mendlesham 34th BG flew 34 combat missions

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182411926/willard-stelling
SO#142, HQ AAF Station 238, 26 May 1944

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

1996 34th BG Roster / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia