Colonel Jesse Eldred Stay, An Airman's Story
Colonel Jesse Eldred Stay, An Airman's Story
Colonel Jesse Eldred Stay was born on July 20, 1921, in Draper, Utah. A young man of determination, he briefly attended UCLA as a pre-medical student, supporting himself while working at the California Furniture Factory. When the United States entered World War II, he left his studies and enlisted in the US Army Air Forces (US Air Force), setting aside a civilian future for military service.
Tall and naturally thin, Colonel Stay initially struggled to meet the minimum weight requirements for flight status, a challenge shared by other future airmen, including actor-turned-pilot James Stewart. Through discipline and persistence, he qualified and entered flight training.
He first flew B-17 Flying Fortresses before transitioning to the B-24 Liberator, one of the most widely used heavy bombers of the war. Assigned to the Pacific Theater, Colonel Stay completed a demanding 29-month combat tour, flying reconnaissance and bombardment missions over contested territory. His service included operations during major Pacific engagements, such as those at Wake Island and Iwo Jima. Despite the extraordinary dangers of long-range Pacific bombing missions, he survived his tour without serious injury, no small feat in a theater marked by harsh weather, mechanical risk, and determined enemy resistance.
Following the war, Colonel Stay continued his career in the newly established United States Air Force. He completed his degree in Industrial Management at UCLA, blending operational experience with formal education. His postwar assignments reflected the broadening scope of Air Force leadership during the Cold War era. He served at the Pentagon in both the Office of the Secretary and the Press Office, later holding posts within Strategic Command and Information Services.
He also devoted part of his career to shaping future officers, serving as Commander of the ROTC program at Brigham Young University. This role allowed him to pass on lessons learned from global conflict to a new generation preparing for service amid a tense, rapidly evolving international landscape.
Colonel Stay retired from active duty in 1968. In civilian life, he briefly worked at the Church College in Hawaii before returning to Brigham Young University, where he helped lead its motion picture studio and oversaw the production of educational and church films, continuing a life of structured service and quiet leadership.
Colonel Jesse Eldred Stay died on June 17, 2008, and rests in Orem City Cemetery.
From Pacific bomber missions to Pentagon assignments and ROTC command, his life reflects the arc of an Airman whose service did not end with war, but evolved into mentorship, administration, and steady contribution long after the guns fell silent.
_____________________________________________________________________________
About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.
✨ #TakeTheBackRoads
Enjoyed this post? Support the adventure by visiting my sponsors, shopping the gallery, or buying me a cup of coffee!
