Charles A. Stafford
Encyclopedia
Charles Arthur Stafford (died March 3, 1942) was a Captain
and physician
in the Medical Corps
of the United States Army
during World War II
. Stafford was posthumously awarded the Silver Star
for his actions in the Battle of Java
.
Arthur attended Kemmerer High School and Kemper Military College before enrolling in Rush Medical College in Chicago, Ill. On 14 Aug 1940 Arthur married Kathryn Louise Froscher (1910–2000). They had one child, Mildred Ann born about 1941. After Arthur's death Kathryn remarried John Hall.
, but was listed as being from Hinsdale, Illinois
.
Stafford was the flight surgeon
of the 9th squadron of the 7th Bombardment Wing
, stationed at Djokjakarta in early February 1942, when 22 sailors from U.S. Navy
cruiser
s and wounded in the Battle of Makassar Strait
arrived. Stafford and local Dutch
doctors worked late in the night to treat the sailors, most of whom had suffered severe burns. When the Japanese invaded Java
on February 28, 1942, Stafford was instrumental in getting the sailors evacuated on the freighter Abbekerk.
In early March 1942 the Allied forces
were evacuating civilians and wounded from Java
through Broome, Western Australia
, and on to Perth
. Fearing a Japanese air attack, airplanes carrying evacuees were ordered to take off from Broome by 10:March 00 3, 1942. At almost exactly that time, B-24 Liberator
Arabian Nights (#40-2370) of the 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
, carrying Stafford and 33 wounded, took off from Broome for Perth. As the plane climbed through 300 to 400 ft (91.4 to 121.9 m), a flight of six Japanese A6M Zero
fighter planes
attacked Broome. Imperial Japanese Navy
Warrant Officer
Osamu Kudo was credited with shooting down Arabian Nights, which crashed 7 miles (11.3 km) offshore. Despite his efforts to save the wounded men, Stafford and all but two enlisted men — one of whom died after the arduous swim back to land — were killed in the crash and sinking of the aircraft.
Stafford’s remains were unrecoverable, but he was later memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
in the Philippines
.
on July 18, 1942. Stafford was also awarded the Purple Heart
.
Charles A. Stafford was named in his honor.
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
and physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
in the Medical Corps
Army Medical Department (United States)
The Army Medical Department of the U.S. Army – known as the AMEDD – comprises the Army's six medical Special Branches of officers and medical enlisted soldiers. It was established as the "Army Hospital" in July 1775 to coordinate the medical care required by the Continental Army during the...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Stafford was posthumously awarded the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
for his actions in the Battle of Java
Battle of Java (1942)
The Battle of Java was a battle of the Pacific theatre of World War II. It occurred on the island of Java from 28 February-12 March 1942. It involved forces from the Empire of Japan, which invaded on 28 February 1942, and Allied personnel...
.
Early life
Arthur was born 8 Dec 1908 in Kemmerer, Lincoln, Wyoming, the son of Dr. Charles Duncan Stafford (1871–1938) and Mary Eliabeth (Mabel) Sellon (1886–1972) The oldest of three children having two sisters: Mary Marguerite and Jacqueline Maurice (Penny).Arthur attended Kemmerer High School and Kemper Military College before enrolling in Rush Medical College in Chicago, Ill. On 14 Aug 1940 Arthur married Kathryn Louise Froscher (1910–2000). They had one child, Mildred Ann born about 1941. After Arthur's death Kathryn remarried John Hall.
Biography
Stafford entered the Army in WyomingWyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, but was listed as being from Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale is a suburb of Chicago, Illinois; it is located partly in Cook County and mainly in DuPage County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 17,349 at the 2000 census. The town's ZIP code is 60521. The town has a rolling, wooded topography, with a quaint downtown and is a 30-minute...
.
Stafford was the flight surgeon
Flight surgeon
A flight surgeon is a military medical officer assigned to duties in the clinical field variously known as aviation medicine, aerospace medicine, or flight medicine...
of the 9th squadron of the 7th Bombardment Wing
7th Bomb Wing
The 7th Bomb Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Twelfth Air Force. It is stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, where it is also the host unit....
, stationed at Djokjakarta in early February 1942, when 22 sailors from U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
s and wounded in the Battle of Makassar Strait
Battle of Makassar Strait
The Battle of Makassar Strait, also known as the Action of Madura Strait, the Action North of Lombok Strait and the Battle of the Flores Sea, was a naval battle of the Pacific theater of World War II...
arrived. Stafford and local Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
doctors worked late in the night to treat the sailors, most of whom had suffered severe burns. When the Japanese invaded Java
Battle of Java (1942)
The Battle of Java was a battle of the Pacific theatre of World War II. It occurred on the island of Java from 28 February-12 March 1942. It involved forces from the Empire of Japan, which invaded on 28 February 1942, and Allied personnel...
on February 28, 1942, Stafford was instrumental in getting the sailors evacuated on the freighter Abbekerk.
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
were evacuating civilians and wounded from Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
through Broome, Western Australia
Broome, Western Australia
Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...
, and on to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. Fearing a Japanese air attack, airplanes carrying evacuees were ordered to take off from Broome by 10:March 00 3, 1942. At almost exactly that time, B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
Arabian Nights (#40-2370) of the 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
19th Air Refueling Group
The 19th Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Mobility Command Eighteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas...
, carrying Stafford and 33 wounded, took off from Broome for Perth. As the plane climbed through 300 to 400 ft (91.4 to 121.9 m), a flight of six Japanese A6M Zero
A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the , and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. The A6M was usually referred to by the...
fighter planes
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
attacked Broome. Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
Osamu Kudo was credited with shooting down Arabian Nights, which crashed 7 miles (11.3 km) offshore. Despite his efforts to save the wounded men, Stafford and all but two enlisted men — one of whom died after the arduous swim back to land — were killed in the crash and sinking of the aircraft.
Stafford’s remains were unrecoverable, but he was later memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is located in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City in Metro Manila, Philippines.The cemetery, or 615,000 square metres in area, is located on a prominent plateau, visible at a distance from the east, south and west. With a total of 17,206 graves, it is the largest...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Honors and awards
For his "devotion to duty and coolness under fire” in caring for the wounded sailors from Houston and Marblehead, Stafford was posthumously awarded the Silver StarSilver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
on July 18, 1942. Stafford was also awarded the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
.
Namesake
In 1944, the U.S. Army hospital shipHospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
Charles A. Stafford was named in his honor.