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name
SMITH, Paul Matthew Jr - Date of
birth
4 August 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana -
Hometown
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-446478 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
547th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 February 1944 - Place of
death
Galen near Dorsten, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 11 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Paul M. Smith (father)
Mamie L. (Burgard) Smith (mother)
Shirley M. Smith (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-39809 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Kayo
Destination: Aschersleben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Junkers aircraft industry
MACR: 2467
More information
The aircraft was shot down in vigorous attacks by ten to fifteen Me-109s or by a heavy flak barrage between 1230 hrs and 1330 hrs near Münster, Germany.Nine crew members were taken prisoner. Lt Smith was the only casualty.
According to surviving crew members, Lt Smith was wounded in the leg by 20 mm rounds. His parachute was partially damaged, but they were absolutely certain he was still alive when they saw him in a hospital in Dortmund. They presumed he was killed by the doctors or died from loss of blood.
In contrast, there is a statement from a German Colonel at Stalag I who stated that Lt Smith was shot while trying to escape.
Another crew member thought his damaged parachute could not possibly have supported him, having been partially burned by the explosion of an oxygen tank.
It was 2nd Lt Paul M. Smith's 13th mission.
He was initially buried at the Community Cemetery of Hervest-Dorsten, Germany.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census / Richardson Family Tree, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Jac Engels, Keith Ellefson/Researcher 384th Bombardment Group, www.ancestry.com - Demelza