Stephen Stofko, LtCol USAF(Ret)

[BLUEHAWK]

Honor Mission - LtCol Stephen Stofko, USAFR (Ret), Fredericksburg/ANC, Dates TBD

The Patriot Guard Riders have received an invitation from the family to honor LtCol Stephen Stofko, USAFR (Ret), in Fredericksburg/ANC. Dates have not been provided yet as we are awaiting disposition from the funeral home. This will include an Arlington National Cemetery interment also at a later date to be determined.

The Stofko Family has graciously invited the Patriot Guard Riders to honor Steve at the his Funeral Services and at a later date escort Steve to his eternal place of rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

Stephen Stofko enlisted in 1942 and was commissioned 2nd Lt in 1944 and was then trained as a radar-bombardier and Visual Navigator aka. Mickey Equipment Operator. In Dec 1944 he was assigned to 353rd BS, 301st BG, 15th AF in Italy.

On March 15th 1945, LtColonel Stofko's B-17, the deputy lead aircraft on a mission to attack the Schwartzheide Synthetic Oil Refineries, in Ruhland, Germany, was shot down by German flak. Surviving the crash, dangling from a tree, Stofko was instructed to cut himself free by enemy German officers. Once in enemy hands and being transported to German base camp, Officers showed Stofko personal belongings of crew members including wallets, identification cards and photos. "Do these items belong to one of your crewmen, Lieutenant?" asked the enemy officer. Stofko refused to respond. Stofko was then interrogated at Dulag Lust in Oberursel, Germany, moved to Stalag 13D in Nuremberg, Germany and ultimately liberated out of Stalag 7A Moosburg by Patton's 3rd US Army 14th Armored Division.

As a reservist in the mid-60's, Steve designed the computer system used to support the Rolling Thunder campaign in Vietnam.

He retired as a LtCol in 1972.