Local WWII Navy Airman killed at Battle of Leyte, Philippines
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LEWISTOWN -- Wayne Harvey Stewart was born on Feb. 3, 1924 in Hastings, Pennsylvania and was raised on Juniata Terrace, Granville Township, Mifflin County. His parents, Roy Sylvester and Kathleen Grace Peace Stewart, were natives of the state. Stewart had an older brother Robert, who was an Army Corporal in Italy during World War II, and a younger brother Neal, who was an Army Private First Class at Maxwell Field, Alabama. Their father supported the Protestant household employed as a lacer at the Viscose silk manufacturer in Lewistown. Their mother was a homemaker.
Stewart graduated from Lewistown High School in 1942 where he completed the vocational course of study. Stewart registered for the draft in Lewistown on June 30, 1942. He was employed by the Middletown Airport in Harrisburg.
Stewart joined the Navy Reserve in Harrisburg on Oct. 2, 1942 and completed basic training at the Naval Training Station in Newport, Rhode Island. He qualified to crew the Lockheed Ventura PV-1 patrol bomber and held the rank of Aviation Ordnance Man Third Class. The petty officer was deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea. On Dec. 22, 1943, Stewart was transferred to Bombing Squadron VB/VPB-146.
AOM3c Stewart's squadron initially was based at Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, where the unit received combat training and conducted patrols off Hawaii, in the Central Pacific and from Midway and Johnston Atoll. In April 1944, Stewart received training in advanced anti-submarine warfare and in air-to-ground rocket firing. The squadron was deployed with 15 Ventura PV-1 bombers to the Admiralty Islands on June 8, 1944 and to Morotai Island, New Guinea on Oct. 19, 1944. The unit's mission was to bombard and strafe enemy installations, shipping and seaplanes.
After 14 months of flying on wartime patrols and combat missions, Stewart was killed in action on Oct. 20, 1944. He was rear gunner when his plane was lost on a mission over Sanga Sanga Island, Philippines at the launch of the Battle of Leyte to liberate the Philippines.
Stewart's remains were recovered and received temporary burial at Manila Cemetery No. 1 until the World War II Dead Program repatriated them to the United States after the war. Stewart was laid to rest on Sept. 14, 1949 at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky. His final resting place is with his crewmates, AM2c Joseph Berdami and AMM1c Carl Denson. Decades after their sacrifice, Stewart and his crewmates were awarded the Air Medal.
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Stories Behind the Stars memorials are accessible for free on the internet and via smart phone app at gravesites and cenotaphs. The non-profit organization is dedicated to honoring all 421,000 fallen Americans from World War II, including 31,000 from Pennsylvania. To volunteer or for more information, contact Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org or visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org.