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name
SMITH, Richard Oliver "Dick" - Date of
birth
21 August 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Covington, Tioga County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Tioga County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-817774 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
568th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
19 July 1944 - Place of
death
Haren, 8 km northeast of Brussels, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 25 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Oscar D. Smith (father)
Frances E. Smith (mother)
Chester H. Smith (brother)
Marion S. Smith (sister)
Evelyn (Bostick) Smith (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30642 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Geronimo
Destination: Schweinfurt, Germany
MACR: 7555
More information
2nd Lt Richard O. Smith graduated from Covington High School.He enlisted in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on 31 August 1942.
He trained at Maxwell Air Force Base near Bainbridge, Georgia, where he met his fiancée and bride Evelyn Bostick.
"At about 0845 hours at about 20,000 feet, near Aachen 5045N - 0600E, A/C 642 peeled out of formation and dropped behind. Pilot called out over VHF saying one engine out and was aborting. A/C fell behind the group and last reported struggling near 5045N - 0600E. No chutes seen. Cause of distress unknown."
The A/C crashed at Haren, 8 km northeast of Brussels, Belgium. All crew members were KIA and are buried side by side at the American War Cemetery, Ardennes.
Lt Smith's younger brother Chester Harold Smith was also a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Force and was trained as a fighter pilot. The war ended just before he was to ship out for duty.
Source of information: Luc van der Sterren, Barbara Smith (niece), www.wwiimemorial.com, www.8thafhs.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / WWII Enlistment Record
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Barbara Smith