David A. Stallman was born and raised in Holmesville, Ohio, a small town of 350 people. After college and two years in the military he was employed by IBM. His career spanned 33 years which included technical writing. Soon after his retirement David wrote and published several articles about his motorcycle tours in the west. He also published a book about his home town, Holmesville, Ohio – Our Home Town.
His love of Topsail Island began in 1986 while visiting a friend. He purchased a cottage and became curious about the island’s history. He began collecting people’s stories and soon became involved in preserving the island’s historic buildings. He discovered that Topsail Island was the site for training antiaircraft troops during WWII and was amazed to learn that Women Airforce Service Pilots - WASP towed aerial targets simulating enemy aircraft for target practice by trainees who were using live ammunition. He first published his findings in A History of Camp Davis in 1990, followed by ECHOES of Topsail – Stories of the Island’s Past in 1996 and 2004.
His continued research of WASP history took him to Texas Woman’s University at Denton, Texas where the WASP archives are kept. His tour ended in Sweetwater, Texas at Avenger Field where the WASP earned their wings. During that visit he attended the inauguration of the National WASP WWII Museum. This then culminated in WOMEN IN THE WILD BLUE – Target-Towing WASP at Camp Davis.
David continues to be involved in WASP activities, the Topsail Island’s Historical Society and Missiles and More Museum. He and his wife Carol live in Wilmington, North Carolina.
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