Written by Researcher and FHC Volunteer Mark Galluzzo
World War II was unquestionably one of the defining moments of the 20th Century. Global in scope and cataclysmic in its impact, the war brought us the “Greatest Generation.” In the air, Framingham fought “above its weight class.” Framingham News articles from 1943 claim the town had 500 men in the US Army Air Force (USAAF), of whom 100 were commissioned pilots.
A number of these men were crew members in reliable, heavily armed Boeing B-17s. With 10 crew members, 13 lethal .50 caliber machine guns, 4 turbo-supercharged engines, a typical 6,000lb bomb load (max was 8,000lbs), and the state-of-the-art (and highly secret) Norden Bombsight, the B-17 was a formidable fighting machine. As we shall see, three of our airmen who flew in these “Flying Fortresses” were shining examples of exceptional bravery, remarkable endurance, and selfless dedication.
B-17 missions were inherently dangerous, intensely stressful, and often hellacious. There were also frequent training and non-combat accidents. B-17’s were not pressurized; oxygen masks were needed at 10,000 ft and above. Waist gunner positions required open windows. Outside temperatures at 25,000 ft could be -50 to -60 degrees Fahrenheit. While cold weather clothing was available (including heated flight suits) and increasingly more comfortable and efficient as time passed, frostbite remained a common foe.
Command and control was always problematic, particularly when facilitating the in-flight coordination of large bomber and fighter formations (as in the 1,000 bomber raids of 1944 and 1945). Mid-air collisions did happen. In the end, from December of 1941 to August of 1945, the Eighth Air Force (8th AF) suffered 63,410 casualties. Of these, 19,876 were killed in action, 8,413 wounded and 35,121 were missing, captured or interned. In total, USAAF Mediterranean / Southern / Eastern European Operations during the same timeframe yielded 31,155 casualties – 10,223 killed in action, 4,947 wounded and 15,985 missing/captured/interned. (Source: U.S. Army Air Forces Statistical Digest – WWII)
As U.S. operations intensified in Northwest Europe (8th AF) and the Mediterranean (15th AF), losses soon became unsustainable. During 1943, only about 25% (1 of 4) of 8th AF bomber crewmen completed their 25-mission tours—the other 75% were killed, severely wounded, or captured. (Source: National USAF Museum). In light of this significant level of attrition, 8th AF crew mission requirements gradually increased from 25 to 30 and eventually 35 missions.
Theater Commanders (e.g. Europe, Mediterranean, Southwest Pacific) were given some flexibility to alter crew mission requirements based on the current status of their commands (i.e. aircraft and crew availability, significant upcoming operations, etc.). For example, at one point the 15th AF required 50 missions for B-17 crews. As the long-range P-51 Mustang escort fighter became operational (able to provide round-trip protection) and U.S. aircraft production (bomber, fighter) and trained crew member availability numbers steadily increased, the pressure to retain aviators for additional missions eased.
Amazingly, Framingham had three 50 mission B-17 aviators – Lieutenant Colonel “Skip” Stoddard, Captain Ron Forward and 1st Lieutenant George Devine. In subsequent articles, we will discuss Ron Forward and George Devine. For now, let’s focus on Lieutenant Colonel “Skip” Stoddard. Stoddard was perhaps Framingham’s most accomplished B-17 pilot.
Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Edward F. “Skip” Stoddard, USAAF
Edward Francis Stoddard lived at 63 Cochituate Road. He graduated from Framingham High School in 1935. In 1939 he was awarded a Bachelor of Science (BS) from the Massachusetts State College (which would later become UMass Amherst). He joined the USAAF within 2 weeks of graduation, receiving his pilot’s wings in March of 1940. He married Esther Shaffer in March of 1942. His command (the 301st Bomb Group) deployed to England in 1942. He subsequently flew for both the 8th and 15th Air Forces. He primarily supported Allied bombing efforts in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Southern Europe. In October of 1942, he was given command of the 301st’s 32nd Bomb Squadron.
“Skip” departed the 32nd upon completion of his fiftieth (50) mission in July, 1943. He was then selected to fly the 100 mission B-17 aircraft “Hell’s Kitchen” back to the U.S for a war bonds tour and some well earned leave. He would later return to the 301st to serve as Operations Officer and Deputy Group Commander. His personal awards include the Silver Star (“For Gallantry in Action”), the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), and the Air Medal w/9 Oak Leaf Clusters (signifies 10 total awards). Stoddard remained in the new U.S. Air Force until his retirement in 1961 (as a full Colonel). This included service as a staff officer in the Korean War, for which he received a Bronze Star. He died in 1971 at 55 years of age.
Regardless of the theater in which they flew and/or how their missions were “counted,” our three airmen were members of an elite fraternity – American aviators who completed 50 missions over hostile territory and lived to talk about it. Their courage was unassailable; their dedication to service irrefutable. And again, examples of the valor and unflinching sacrifice so prevalent in the citizens of Framingham determined to answer the call during a time of existential peril.
Suggested Videos:
https://youtu.be/ak5gIz76ZPw (Inside the B-17; Imperial War Museum)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYgXtQL0H6M (Flying Fortresses Bomb France, British Pathe)
Many thanks to FHC researcher, Mark Galluzzo, for researching and writing this blog post. Thanks also to the Framingham High School Library Research team and Mr. Robert Randall (Stoddard Family) for their research assistance.