Max Eugene Stump was born on October 14, 1922, in Van Meter, Dallas County, Iowa. He was the son of William Nelson Stump and Ethel Marie Golden Stump. He served in the 734th Bomber Squadron, 453rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Navigator of B-24J #42-50703, nicknamed “Worry Bird” during World War II.

On February 9, 1945, the “Worry Bird” participated in a major bombing mission over Germany, where more than 300 B-24 bombers, escorted by P-51 fighters, successfully attacked the Rothensee oil plant at Magdeburg before returning to RAF Old Buckenham in Norfolk, England. As the aircraft approached base and entered the landing pattern, Worry Bird collided with another B-24, “Spirit of Notre Dame” (42-95102), during the hazardous approach phase near the airfield. The impact was catastrophic, causing Worry Bird to lose control and crash in a fireball at Bury’s Hall Farm in Carleton Rode, approximately 100 yards short of the runway, killing all 11 crew members instantly, while the other aircraft, though damaged, managed to regain control and land safely.

1Lt Stump is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, https://aviationtrails.co.uk, weremember.abmc.gov