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Submit- Full
name
SMITH, Edward Watson - Date of
birth
1 December 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas -
Hometown
Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
18219507 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Waist Gunner -
Unit
423rd Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
19 June 1944 - Place of
death
Eidelstedt, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 15 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Watson Smith (father)
Nellie A. Smith (mother)
Bernard T. Smith (brother)
Lampert G. Smith (brother)
Eva M. (Guise) Smith (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97250 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refineries
MACR: 5987
More information
Edward Smith was a chainman.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Little Rock, Arkansas on 7 December 1942.
The airplane was hit by flak over the target after bombs away. Fire broke out on the two inboard engines and spread over the nose to the radio room. The airplane peeled out the formation, side-slipping to the left and went straight down.
Four crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five men were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Hamburg-Ohlsdorf.
Note: The mission took place on 20 June 1944. For S/Sgt Smith, the date of 19 June was incorrectly recorded as his date of death.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, www.fold3.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Jennifer Wilson