Charles A. Stafford

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Charles Arthur Stafford
Died March 3, 1942
Image:Replace this image male.svg
Place of death New York City, New York
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Rank Captain
Battles/wars
Awards Silver Star
Purple Heart

Charles Arthur Stafford (died 3 March 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.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Stafford entered the Army in Wyoming, but was listed as being from Hinsdale, Illinois.[1][2]

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 cruisers Houston and Marblehead wounded in the Battle of Makassar Strait arrived.[3][4] Stafford and local Dutch doctors worked late in the night to treat the sailors, most of whom had suffered severe burns.[4] When the Japanese invaded Java on 28 February 1942, Stafford was instrumental in getting the sailors evacuated on the freighter Abbekerk.[5]

A USAAF B-24 Liberator is seen on fire at Broome following the Japanese attack on 3 March 1942. Stafford's B-24 was downed in the same attack.
A USAAF B-24 Liberator is seen on fire at Broome following the Japanese attack on 3 March 1942. Stafford's B-24 was downed in the same attack.

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 10:00 3 March 1942. At almost exactly that time, B-24 Liberator Arabian Nights (#40-2370) of the 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), carrying Stafford and 33 wounded,[6] took off from Broome for Perth. As the plane climbed through 300 to 400 feet (90 to 120 m), a flight of six Japanese A6M Zero fighter planes attacked Broome.[7] Imperial Japanese Navy Warrant Officer Osamu Kudo was credited with shooting down Arabian Nights, which crashed 7 miles (11 km) offshore.[7] 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.[7][8][9]

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.[3]


[edit] Honors and awards

For his his "devotion to duty and coolness under fire” in caring for the wounded sailors from Houston and Marblehead, Stafford was posthumously awarded the Silver Star on 18 July 1942.[2][10] Stafford was also awarded the Purple Heart.[1]

[edit] Namesake

In 1944, the U.S. Army hospital ship Charles A. Stafford was named in his honor.[11]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b American Battle Monuments Commission
  2. ^ a b "AWARD GRANTED HINSDALE DOCTOR KILLED IN BATTLE", Chicago Daily Tribune, 1942-07-18, p. 2. 
  3. ^ a b Dorr, p. 250.
  4. ^ a b Taggart, pp. 93–98
  5. ^ Dorr, p. 98.
  6. ^ It's not clear from sources if Stafford — who was awarded a Purple Heart — was included in the 33 wounded being evacuated or merely caring for those who were wounded.
  7. ^ a b c Dunn
  8. ^ Craven & Cate, p. 399
  9. ^ Livingstone, p. 19.
  10. ^ "16 WIN DECORATIONS FOR FEATS IN PACIFIC", The New York Times, 1942-07-19, p. 19. 
  11. ^ Charles, p. 332.

[edit] References

Persondata
NAME Charles A. Stafford
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Charles Arthur Stafford
SHORT DESCRIPTION United States Army physician awarded the Silver Star; namesake for USAHS Charles A. Stafford
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH 3 March 1942
PLACE OF DEATH Broome, Western Australia, Australia