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Personal info

Full name
SMITH, Oaks Hopkins
Date of birth
16 June 1921
Age
22
Place of birth
Rockingham County, North Carolina
Hometown
Reidsville, Rockingham County, North Carolina

Military service

Service number
34314242
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Unit
360th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
2 October 1943
Place of death
North Sea, off the coast of Denmark

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
James H. Smith (father)
Rosa B. (Hyler) Smith (mother)
Mary Smith (sister)
Raymond R. Smith (brother)
Lottie Smith (sister)
Sallie Smith (sister)
Dora B. Smith (sister)
Clemmon C. Smith (brother)
Emma S. Smith (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-5260
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Yardbird II
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 738

More information

T/Sgt Oaks H. Smith was a farmer before he enlisted at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on 31 July 1942.

The aircraft was hit by gunfire from two ME-109's immediately after the formation left the target. The ship peeled off, went down out of control, and exploded above the overcast. One parachute was observed coming out it went out of sight.

In addition to the crew of ten, a photographer, Sgt Carney C. Rhodes Jr., was on board. All were killed. Only the body of Hugh F. Gigney Jr. was recovered when it washed ashore at Esbjerg, where he was initally buried on 3 December 1942. He is now interred at Ardennes Cemetery.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.ancestry.com - Yeatts Family Tree / WWII Enlistment Record, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, http://library.digitalnc.org/cdm/ref/collection/ncmemory/id/96741 - Honor Roll of Rockingham County, North Carolina: A Pictorialization of Rockingham Men and Women Serving in the Armed Forces of The United States of America - World War II, Frank Hoppenbrouwers, http://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=183976,