Background
Stickell was born in Gilson, Illinois, on July 31, 1913.
Stickell was born in Gilson, Illinois, on July 31, 1913.
He attended Bradley Polytechnic Institute for nearly two years before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force.
He accepted an appointment as lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve, to date from March 29, 1943, and reported to Naval Forces, Europe, for active duty and transportation to the United States. Lieutenant Stickell was attached to the Bureau of Aeronautics from early April until late May, and then assigned to the Naval Air Training Center at Corpus Christi, Texas, for indoctrination in naval aircraft. He completed training on August 5 and, on the 19th, he reported to the Pacific Fleet Air Wing for duty.
He was assigned to Bombing Squadron 108 (VB-108), based on Nukufetau Airfield in the Ellice Islands.
During his combat service, Lieutenant Stickell conducted search and reconnaissance missions during the Gilberts-Marshalls campaign.
His skill and ability contributed to the destruction of three enemy planes, the sinking of an enemy boat and possibly of a cargo vessel. Lieutenant Stickell volunteered for a hazardous, two-plane bombing strike on December 13, 1943 against an underground oil storage tank located on Jabor at Jaluit Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
Seriously wounded by antiaircraft fire during the tree-top level approach, Lieutenant
Stickell ignored his wounds and singlemindedly pursued his mission. His plane scored a direct hit on the target. But upon commencing the return flight, he was forced to relinquish the control of the plane to his copilot.
Preferring to risk his own life and suffer pain rather than risk the safety of his crew and plane, Lieutenant
Stickell ordered his co-pilot to pass up the dangerously narrow airstrip at Tarawa and head for a safer field over 400 miles away. Lieutenant Stickell died of his wounds six days later.
In 1945, the destroyer United States Ship Stickell (Doctor of Divinity-888) was named in his honor. Stickell Field on Eniwetok was also named in his honor.