Memorial

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S/Sgt Benjamin L. Smith attended high school for fours years and enlisted in Ft Bragg, North Carolina on 12 August 1942.
Statement from Henry W. Zimmerman, 2nd Lt, Air Corps O-766139:
"I was Co-Pilot for Capt Gregory F. Wolf, in plane 504. Capt William M. Frye, Jr., was behind us leading an element. We had dropped our gliders and climbed up 400' to 500' to make our turn. During the turn I looked out the right hand window and saw his ship pull straight up in a vertical climb. The gliders cut loose when the ship went into this climb. The ship was going over on its back and started to drop. I saw two men jump at this time, but can't be certain whether the chutes opened or not. The ship was felling down, tail first, and gradually the nose came down and it went into a dive. The ship pulled out of this dive and started into another climb. It was going up as in a chandelle when it fell off on one wing and went straight down. I saw the ship crash and burn and saw no one else bail out. From all appearances, the ship was out of control at all times, indicating a possible hit in the cockpit."