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Personal info

Full name
SMITH, Wayne Requa
Date of birth
17 October 1918
Age
26
Place of birth
Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri
Hometown
Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas

Military service

Service number
O-760706
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
558th Bombardment Squadron,
387th Bombardment Group, Medium
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
14 February 1945
Place of death
Bubenheim, 3km northwest of Koblenz, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
K 2 14

Immediate family

Members
J. Wayne Smith (father)
Helen C. (Requa) Smith (mother)
Nancy M. Smith (wife)
Gary P. Smith (son)

Plane data

Serial number
42-96164
Data
Type: B-26B
Destination: Engers, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a railroad bridge
MACR: 12343

More information

The airplane was hit in de bomb bay just as the formation approached the target area. Flames were seen in the bomb bay doors. The plane remained under control and continued to the right of the formation. Then the plane broke up, separating the wings from the fuselage.

Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner, four men were killed. They were initially buried at the community cemetery of Koblenz-Rübenach on 16 February 1945.

Source of information: André Koch, Raf Dyckmans, Gary P. Smith (son), www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / Smith Family Tree / U.S. Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR 12343

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Gary P. Smith (son), Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-K Pecos Army Flying School, Texas