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Personal info

Full name
SMITH, Brian Temple
Date of birth
21 November 1920
Age
22
Place of birth
Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California
Hometown
Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California

Military service

Service number
O-672467
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
579th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
4 October 1943
Place of death
North Sea, north of the Frisian Islands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Earle T. Smith (father)
Grace (Stevens) Smith (mother)
Victor P. Smith (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-7474
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Satan's Flame
Destination: North Sea
Mission: Diversion
MACR: 891

More information

1st Lt Brian T. Smith graduated from Los Gatos High School in 1936 and attended the University of California at Berkeley.

At UCB, he completed the aviation course given by the Civil Aeronautics Authority. He was selected for advanced training to include ground and flight training by Oakland Flying School and Moreau Flying Service. He worked as a park ranger for the US Department of the Interior at Kings Canyon National Park.

He enlisted on 10 December 1941 at the Presidio of Monterey, California and was sent overseas in August 1943.

The mission's objective was to deconcentrate German defenses, primarily fighter units, and draw them away from the main bomber routes across the continent.

This aircraft was last seen when it lost altitude with one or more engines on fire as a result of fighter attacks. Three or four parachutes were noted at that time.

The entire crew of ten men was killed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.B24.NET, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Hatton Family Tree, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Chris van der Linden, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43 B/D, Jones Field, Bonham, Texas, Los Gatos High School 1936