Memorial

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2nd Lt Walter B. Stone graduated from the Pleasant Home High School and attended Troy State College and was an actor.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Montgomery, Alabama, on 31 March 1942.

John B. Rose Jr., Captain, one of the other pilots in the group, stated: “Lt. W.B. Stone was flying #4 position on my wing. On a true course of 183 degrees, we entered a cirrus overcast at 1543 at about 16,000 feet. At this time, Lt Stone was still on my wing after we had entered the overcast. I lost sight of Lt Stone because of concentrating on flying the flight leader's wing. The squadron climbed to an altitude of about 27,000 feet when a 180-degree port turn was made, the group commander having ordered the group to return home. I believe that Lt Stone, who had been lagging most of the way, lost contact with the flight shortly before the turn was made.”

On 25 February 2019 the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that 2nd Lt Stone, was accounted for on 20 February 2019.

In 1990, a French excavation group, called Association Maurice Choron (AMC,) carried out a limited excavation of the site in the forest near La Wattine, France, where Stone was believed to have crashed. Aircraft wreckage that matched Stone’s aircraft was located, and a field investigation was recommended.

In April and May 2017, a DPAA Recovery Team excavated a site based on information from a local resident. During the excavation, an identification tag for Stone was located, as well as remains. The remains were sent to the laboratory for identification.

In 2018, in a contract with the University of Wisconsin, the site excavation was completed, with additional remains consolidated with the previously located remains.

To identify Stone’s remains, scientists from DPAA used circumstantial and material evidence.

Lt Stone was buried in his hometown on 11 May 2019.