KASTAUFFER Posted January 18, 2013 Share #1 Posted January 18, 2013 This is the earliest Naval Aviator certificate I have had the opportunity to purchase with an " added bonus". It is signed by Acting Secretary of the Navy Franklin Delano Roosevelt. We also know he went on to bigger and better things. This is the certificate to Naval Aviator Number 141. During WWI he served with the Northern Bombing Group earning a Navy Cross. The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ensign Robert M. Stocker, United States Navy (Reserve Force), for distinguished and heroic service as an Aviator of land planes attached to the Northern Bombing Group in active operations co-operating with the Allied Armies on the Belgian front during September, October and November, 1918, bombing enemy bases, aerodromes, submarine bases, ammunition dumps, railroad junctions, etc. Action Date: September - November, 1918 Service: Navy Rank: Ensign Company: Pilot Division: Northern Bombing Group In 1919 he was killed in an aircraft accident ending what could have been a long career in the Navy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted January 18, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted January 18, 2013 He had crashed a plane in England too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted January 18, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted January 18, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted January 18, 2013 Share #4 Posted January 18, 2013 The March 1919 Navy Directory shows him as a JG, Reserve Force, NAS Anacostia, D.C. W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted January 19, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted January 19, 2013 Thanks Gary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted January 19, 2013 Share #6 Posted January 19, 2013 Very nice and interesting.I'm thinking the FDR signature is worth some $$$. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingtigerfan Posted January 21, 2013 Share #7 Posted January 21, 2013 Very nice, super early certificate! -Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhcoleterracina Posted January 21, 2013 Share #8 Posted January 21, 2013 Great piece! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted January 21, 2013 Share #9 Posted January 21, 2013 His remains reside in Virginia. His grave stone has Naval Wings too. See Find A Grave. R.I.P. W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Dan Posted January 22, 2013 Share #10 Posted January 22, 2013 Kurt ,Found him in The book Contact ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchbuff Posted January 22, 2013 Share #11 Posted January 22, 2013 Very nice! Interesting that his father was a Navy Captain. What a tragic loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmar Posted January 22, 2013 Share #12 Posted January 22, 2013 Hi Kurt, I hope you've been doing well. Great material! I always enjoy seeing the early Roosevelt items when he was SecNav. I'm sure you already know this, but there is some interesting material on his dad on fold3. I took a quick screen cap of one entry, seems like his father, Capt. Stocker, was in the company of FDR as part of his official duties. Sort of a neat tie-in. Thanks for sharing, I truly enjoyed reading and seeing the pics. Best wishes to you! Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share #13 Posted January 22, 2013 Thanks for all the comments and additions to the thread. Great information! Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share #14 Posted January 22, 2013 Here is Stocker's headstone ( Thanks Gary! ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mslurvey Posted August 13, 2017 Share #15 Posted August 13, 2017 Obit for Robert Maury Stocker Jr. Robert Stocker Find a grave memorial page Daily PressMarch 20, 1920 Funeral of Robert Stocker, Jr., Sunday Remains of young aviator were found yesterday in the Delaware River The remains of the late Robert Stocker Jr., who lost his life in the Delaware River, near the Delaware Breakwaters on November 24, when his machine fell into the (illegible) will be brought to Hampton Sunday morning. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 o’clock from St. John’s Episcopal Church. Rev. Edwin Royall Carter will conduct the services. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery. Lieutenant Stocker, who distinguished himself by saving two men after his arms were broken in France, was a naval aviator at the time of his tragic death. He was making an exhibition flight when the big seaplane fell into the water, killing Lieutenant Stocker and his companion. Although search has been constantly made for the body the remains were only found yesterday. The news of the finding of the body came in a telegram from Capt. Robert Stocker Sr., who is connected with the naval construction bureau in Washington, to Howard W. Saunders. Lieutenant Stocker graduated from the Hampton high school and had joined the aviation corps when the call came for troops. He went to France and was in the flying corps about a year, when his machine fell and his arms were broken. Two of his companions were badly hurt, and the machine caught fire. Lieutenant Stocker heroically saved his companions by pulling them from the burning machine. He was 22 years old. Mrs. Stocker is the daughter of Capt. and Mrs. Jesse S. Jones of this city, and will accompany Capt. Stocker to Hampton with the remains on Sunday. The pallbearers will be: Hunter Jones, Sherwood Jones, Paul Tabb, Norwood Jones, Thornton F. Jones, Howard W. Saunders, of Hampton; Richard Henderson, of Newport News, and Commander Holden A. Richardson, of the Navy. Share this: His father retired as a Rear Admiral. Robert Maury Stocker Sr 1866–1937 BIRTH 30 JANUARY 1866 • New Ulm, Brown County, Minnesota, USA DEATH 3 MAY 1937 • Newport News, Virginia, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mslurvey Posted August 14, 2017 Share #16 Posted August 14, 2017 Stocker's plan # was A5255 and the crash dates matches the below info about the picture. "Briggs Boat Crash, Close Up." Close-up one-half left rear view of wreckage of US Navy Alexandria Flying Boat (one from the s/n series A5247 through A5256, a.k.a. Briggs F Boat) on the ground, showing intact engine mount assembly, November 25, 1919. Buildings in background. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mslurvey Posted August 14, 2017 Share #17 Posted August 14, 2017 One-half left front view of US Navy Alexandria Flying Boat (s/n A2651, a.k.a Briggs F Boat) on the ground, mounted on a wheeled cradle; circa 1918-1919. Location is possibly Naval Air Station Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Virginia. Collection Item Long Description: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mslurvey Posted August 14, 2017 Share #18 Posted August 14, 2017 Stoker's obit Robert Stocker Jr. Obit.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 22, 2020 Author Share #19 Posted November 22, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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