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name
SMITH, Claud Junior - Date of
birth
26 May 1919 -
Age
24 -
Place of birth
Newport, Jackson County, Arkansas -
Hometown
Swifton, Jackson County, Arkansas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
18166608 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
401st Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
14 October 1943 - Place of
death
South of Metz, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| G | 7 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Everett L. Smith (father)
Hester (Doyle) Smith (mother)
Thelma A. Smith (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5714 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Old Faithfull II
Destination: Schweinfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the ball bearing factory
MACR: 899
More information
Sgt Claud J. Smith was a driver before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Little Rock, Arkansas on 6 October 1942.2nd Lt Joseph A. Sulli:
At 1530 hours, from 20,000 feet our A/C 42-5714 was seen going down under control with No. 4 engine feathered and No. 1 engine smoking. Four chutes were seen to come from this A/C.
Pilot Bob Slane brought the damaged aircraft down. The plane made a successful belly landing on the railroad tracks South of Metz, France.
1st Lt Robert M. Slane:
After I was captured a German guard told me my tail gunner had been killed by 20 mm and they had taken him from the plane and buried him.
He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Limey, France.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / WWII Draft Cards Young Men / The Passing Parade, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.findagrave.com – Albert Ledoux
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Denise Kellam