Stafford Wilbur Webb

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

A 1941 graduate of Denison University, Stafford Webb had signed his draft registration card on 16 October 1940 in Greensboro, NC. He received his degree in library science from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Orange County, NC and served with the staff of the New York public library before he enlisted in the Air Corps. In April 1942, he was a flying cadet at the Greenville, Mississippi Army Flying School and later took basic training at Maxwell Field, Alabama. A 2nd Lieutenant in the USAAF, he married Gertrude “Trudy”Grimes in Greensboro, NC in October 1942 before he was sent overseas as a B-17 pilot in the 92nd Bomb Group/407th Bomb Squadron. Among Stafford Webb’s 17 missions was the one to the German submarine pens at Lorient, France on 17 May 1943. He was killed in the loss of B-17 Serial 42-30726 during the 14 October 1943 Schweinfurt mission. During the war, his widow served as a Red Cross Recreation Director in military hospitals in the South. She remarried in 1945 and passed away in 2014.



Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18040599 and O2044434
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32513804
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38124471
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner / Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16057077 / O-795206
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33350889
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Washington, District of Columbia, United States 6 August 1919 The son of Stafford R and Jessie [Johnstone] Webb.

Died

near Kembach, Germany 14 October 1943 Killed in Action (KIA) - died in the plane, hit by a 20mm shell

Buried

Kembach, germany 15 October 1943 Initially buried in the cemetery at Kembach near Wertheim, Germany
Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina, United States

Enlisted

Greensboro, NC in the Air Corps

Buried

His remains were brought after the war to the Lorraine Cemetery where he rests at Plot B Row 28 Grave 48.

Based

Podington 14 October 1943 Assigned to 407BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Education

Greensboro, NC Graduated from Greensboro Senior High in 1936.

Other

Further Education

Denison University, OH Received his Bachelor's in history from Denison University in 1940.

Other

Further Education

University of North Carolina, NC Received his bachelor's in library science from University of North Carolina in 1941.

Other

Pilot training

Greenville, MS Primary flight training - Greenville, MS Army Flying School.

Other

Pilot training

Maxwell Field, AL Basic flight training - at Maxwell Field, AL

Other

Overseas to ETO

To ETO May-43.

Other

Graduated flight school

Greensboro, NC Graduated flight school, pilots wings and commissioned 2nd Lt.

Other

Promotion

Podington, UK Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

Other

Air medal

Podington, UK Awarded Air Medal in July.

Other

OLC to Air medal

Podington, UK Awarded OLC to Air Medal in 17-Oct .

Other

Air medal and PH

Awarded 2nd OLC toAir Medal and PH posthumously.

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 846 / MACR 846, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey pp. 330, 502, ABMC / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database