In the late 1930s he was employed as a doorman at the Delft Theatre in Marquette as well as attending Northern State Teachers College where he was a member of the TRI MU fraternity.

He began flying through the Civilian Pilot Training program under the guidance of Northern’s Athletic Director Charles B. Hedgecock, CTP ground instructor and Sigurd O. Wilson, CTP flight instructor. The program, which ran from 1938-1944, had the stated purpose of increasing the number of civilian pilots, though also having a clear impact on military preparedness.

After completing the flight course, Stanley enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in February 1941. He went to Randolph Field for preliminary training, then Kelly Field for advanced training, both in San Antonio, Texas. In September 1941, after completion of the Aviation Cadet Training School, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.

Lt. Long deployed to the Aleutian Islands where he flew a P-38 Lightning fighter. The Lockheed P-38 was designed and developed by the team under the direction of Hall Hibbard and Clarence “Kelly” Johnson’s Skunk Works. (Kelly Johnson was born and raised in Ishpeming.)

Stanley Long

In August 1942, Long and fellow pilot Kenneth Ambrose were at the end of a 1,000-mile long-range patrol. Flying at 20,000 feet near the Japanese controlled island of Kiska, they noticed a pair of Japanese “Mavis” bombers flying below. They dove down and came up behind the bombers, attacking simultaneously. Long and Ambrose were credited with being the first P-38s to shoot down a Japanese aircraft.

Long’s tour of combat duty in the Aleutian Islands lasted from June 1942 until March 1943. He flew 75 combat missions and had two confirmed aerial victories destroying Japanese aircraft. Of the 31 pilots in his squadron, Long was one of nine who survived.

Following his tour of duty, Stanley returned to Marquette where he married Virginia L. Butler in May 1943. Captain Long then transferred to California where he commanded a pilot training class and was promoted to major.

Following his discharge in September 1945, Stanley was subsequently hired at American Air Lines serving as a co-pilot. Despite spending 10 weeks receiving specialized training in New York, the job didn’t last very long. By 1946 he opened a flight school at the Marquette County Airport.

Major Long was on inactive duty from 1946-1951, re-entering active duty for the Korean War. He became commander of the 67th Fighter Squadron in Korea, known as the “Red Scarf Squadron.” While stationed in Korea, he flew P51-D Mustangs and later F-86 Sabre fighters. He was credited with the destruction of a hydroelectric plant in North Korea. On his way back to South Korea, he had the terrible misfortune of being shot down over North Korea near the Yellow Sea but was fortunately rescued by an American helicopter.

Long resided with his wife and two sons at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in September 1956, serving as executive officer under Lt. Col. Robert L. Brocklehurst. In January 1957, he assumed command of K.I. Sawyer as the base’s second commander. He was later stationed as the 20th Air Division Combat Center Chief at Truax Field near Madison, Wisconsin.

Colonel Long retired from military service in 1966 following a distinguished career. When he retired, he had over 4,500 hours of flying time, 900 of which had been flying combat missions. His final award total stood at 8, he received a Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

After his retirement from military service, he served as the tax assessor for the city of Marquette from 1970-1980. Stanley Long died in August 1987 at the age of 68.