Senator DeFrancisco Recognizes Stan F. Stanley as His 2014 Veterans Hall of Fame Honoree

At a special ceremony on May 22, 2014, at the State Office Building in Syracuse, Senator John A. DeFrancisco recognized WWII Veteran Stan F. Stanley as his New York State Senate 2014 Veterans Hall of Fame honoree.

"I am proud to honor this brave veteran for all of his sacrifices and contributions,” said Senator DeFrancisco. 

Stan Stanley, was born on September 27, 1919, and grew up in Liverpool, New York.  In 1942 at the age of 22, Stan was drafted into the United States Army Air Force. He served as a radio operator on a B-24 bomber, and his tours of duty included bombing raids on Berlin.

On March 8, 1944, during a mission over Berlin, Stan’s B-24 bomber was hit by enemy fire. The pilot was killed and the co-pilot seriously injured, when the plane crashed in the province of Friesland in German-occupied Holland.  Stan tended to the injured and rallied the crew. German troops, however, would not stop searching for Stan and his fellow crew members, who were taken into hiding by the Dutch.  For the next 14 harrowing months, Stan evaded capture by moving from place to place, remaining in hiding until the Canadian liberation of Holland. 

For his meritorious achievements, Stan received an Air Medal and 3 Oak Leaf Cluster in 1944.  He is the last surviving member of the B-24 crew, and details of the crash are now documented by the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation in the Netherlands.

After returning home from the war, Stan began a successful career working for the U.S. Postal Service for 33 years. He retired in 1976 as Postmaster of Chittenango, NY.  Stan currently lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Dorothy, and is a member of the American Legion Eastwood Post 1276. 

“The New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame was created to honor outstanding veterans who have distinguished themselves both in military and civilian life.  Stan Stanley risked his life to protect the safety and freedom of the American people, and he deserves to be recognized for his honorable service,” concluded  Senator DeFrancisco.

Stan Stanley was also recognized during a ceremony in Albany on May 20, 2014, along with other 2014 Veterans Hall of Fame honorees from across the state. 

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