Lloyd Stinson was born on October 20, 1918, in Greenwood, Mississippi. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Corps on September 7, 1940, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings on April 26, 1941. Lt Stinson joined the 20th Pursuit Squadron of the 24th Pursuit Group in the Philippines in early December 1941, and managed to destroy 2 enemy aircraft in aerial combat before being taken as a Prisoner of War when Bataan fell to the Japanese on April 10, 1942. Stinson was held in captivity for the next 1,247 days, and was released on September 7, 1945, shortly after the end of World War II. He was on medical leave to recover from his injuries until August 1946, and then attended pilot refresher training before attending the Air Tactical School at Tyndall AFB, Florida, from August to December 1947. Capt Stinson then completed instructor pilot training and served as a flight instructor with the 3525th Pilot Training Wing at Williams AFB, Arizona, from October 1948 to August 1951, followed by service as commander of the 3530th Pilot Training Group at Bergrstrom AFB, Texas, and then at Greenville AFB, Mississippi, from August 1951 to February 1954. Col Stinson attended Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, from February to July 1954, followed by a tour as an exchange officer with the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet in the Pacific from August 1954 to September 1955. His next assignment was as Commander of the 62nd and then the 63rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron at O'Hare International Airport, Illinois, from November 1955 to November 1957, followed by service as Director of Operations and Training for the 37th and then the 30th Air Division at Truax Field, Wisconsin, from November 1957 to January 1960. Col Stinson was Chief of the Readiness Division with Headquarters Air Defense Command at Ent AFB, Colorado, from January 1960 to August 1963, and then served on the staff of Allied Air Forces Central Europe at Fountainebleau, France, from August 1963 to August 1966. He served on the staff with Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon from September 1966 to April 1968, and then served as President of the U.S. Air Force Physical Evaluation Board in the Retirement Division of the Director of Personnel Program Actions at Andrews AFB, Washington, D.C., from April 1968 until his retirement from the Air Force on March 1, 1970.

His Silver Star Citation reads:

For gallantry in action in the vicinity of Agloloma Bay, Bataan, Philippine Islands, on the night of February 1-2, 1942. When report of an attempted enemy landing in force was received, the above named pilot took off individually for the area of the reported landing attempt, and proceeded to bomb and heavily strafe targets presented by the enemy. Each plane made three different attacks, returning to its base to replenish its ammunition supply after each attack. The skill and determination of the above named officers may be attested by the success of the attack. Several enemy landing barges were destroyed, and so many casualties inflicted that the landing attempt was repulsed. Furthermore, all airplanes and pilots returned safely to their bases after completion of the mission.