World War II Honoree

Stratford Lee Morton, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

St. Louis, Missouri

Honored By

Patricia Stehlin Boykin

Relationship

Cousin

AFTER GRADUATING FROM YALE, HE WAS COMMISSIONED 2ND LIEUTENANT IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS RESERVE AND CERTIFIED FOR LIGHT BOMBARDMENT AS DEAD RECKONING NAVIGATOR. ASSIGNED TO THE CHEMICAL WARFARE SCHOOL, EDGEWOOD ARSENAL, MARYLAND IN THE UNIT GAS OFFICERS' COURSE, AVIATION; FLIGHT TRAINING IN GEORGIA AS BOMBING PILOT. HE WAS PILOTING AN ARMY BOMBER JUNE 13, 1941 FROM FORT BENNING, GEORGIA TO CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE WHEN IT CRASHED NEAR MOUNTVILLE, GEORGIA, IN THE MIDST OF A FIERCE STORM. ALL THREE OCCUPANTS WERE KILLED INSTANTLY. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST FROM ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI TO DIE IN THE WAR EFFORT.