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name
SMITH, Verdun Durant - Date of
birth
13 November 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Georgetown, Georgetown County, South Carolina -
Hometown
Horry County, South Carolina
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
14097003 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Engineer -
Unit
340th Bombardment Squadron,
97th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
13 September 1944 - Place of
death
Gross Strehlits, southeast of Alt Cosel, Poland
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 42 | 51 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Daniel D. Smith (father)
Anna R. (Blake) Smith (mother)
Marian Smith (sister)
Elouise E. Smith (sister)
Emmett A. Smith (brother)
Angela L. Smith (sister)
Chester B. Smith (brother)
Anna L. Smith (sister)
Margie L. (Sistrunk) Smith (wife)
Carole A. Smith (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97648 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Blechhammer, Germany
Mission: Aerial bombing oil refinery
MACR: 8729
More information
Sgt. Smith enlisted on 30 March 1942 in Orangeburg, South Carolina.He is listed as Died Non Battle but was actually Killed In Action on a bombing mission to Blechhammer, Germany.
The aircraft was hit by two direct hits by flak just at bombs away.
Statement S/Sgt. Erwin T. Bureta:
"I was flying in aircraft #331, 341st Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group on a mission on 13 September 1944. Over the target, I was looking out of the aircraft I was flying in and saw 3 other aircraft from our group exploding in midair. I did see 2 chutes come out of the aircraft, but do not know the number of the aircraft they came out of. That is all I saw".
Sgt. Smith didn’t bail out. He was instantly killed in his turret when he was hit in the chest and stomach. 1st Lt Farryle B. Waters, S/Sgt Harold C. Gaston, S/Sgt Clyde E. Hubbard, S/Sgt Verdun D. Smith and Sgt Paul C. Thiele were initially buried in the cemetery at Alt-Cosel. 2nd Lt Jack Tarr White initially couldn’t be identified.
1st Lt Robert R. Lent was told that five bodies were lying beside the plane. It is possible the explosion destroyed the body of one. He saw Waters and Smith being killed in the plane and presumed that the remaining four also were killed instantly.
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Hannah Majewski, Beth Smith Benton, Billie Smith, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.ancestry.com – Headstone and Interment Record / Draft Registration Card / Enlistment Record, The Times and Democrat 7 December 1944
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Hannah Majewski - Beth Smith Benton, Billie Smith