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Personal info

Full name
SMILEY, Walter Norman
Date of birth
13 August 1920
Age
22
Place of birth
Tillman County, Oklahoma
Hometown
Cleveland, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

Military service

Service number
O-437907
Rank
Captain
Function
Pilot
Unit
368th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
17 April 1943
Place of death
North Sea, north of Bremen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Beza W. Smiley (father)
Loula A. Smiley (mother)
Betty L. Smiley (sister)
Mary F. Smiley (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-3034
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Bodacious Critter
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Focke Wulf aviation industry plant
MACR: 15518

More information

Capt. Walter N. Smiley graduated from Norman High School in 1937. He attended Oklahoma University and was an actor.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army as an aviation cadet at Fort Knox, Kentucky in 25 April 1941. He received his basic training at Goodfellow Field and final pilot training at Brooks Fields, San Antonio, Texas.

Capt Smiley was sent overseas in September, 1942. He flew on the first All American mission and the first mission to Germany.

The aircraft is believed to have turned back toward the enemy coast at 54 deg 10 min N - 06 deg 40 min E, and is believed to have crashed into the sea.

The entire crew of 10 was killed. Nine are remembered on the Walls of the Missing at Margraten, one, William R. Payne, is remembered on the Walls of the Missing at Cambridge.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com, www.newspapers.com - Messenger Inquirer 9 November 1944

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Laura Phillips, www.newspapers.com - Messenger Inquirer 9 May 1945