Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
SMITH, Richard W - Date of
birth
21 August 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Washington -
Hometown
Spokane, Spokane County, Washington
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
19199998 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Waist Gunner -
Unit
365th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
15 October 1944 - Place of
death
Freight yard of Niehl, north of Cologne, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 2 | 33 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William T. Smith (father)
Hattie M. (Abbott) Smith (mother)
Dorothy Smith (sister)
Willene Smith (sister)
Thelma Smith (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38108 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Cologne, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 9476
More information
Sgt Richard W. Smith graduated from Central Valley High School.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve at Geiger Field, Spokane, Washington on 10 July 1943. He was overseas since September 1944.
The aircraft collided with aircraft 43-38066 in midair. Its propellers chewed through the other airplane. It went down out of controle and broke into small pieces and exploded below the formation.
The entire crew of nine men was killed. They were initially buried at the West Cemetery of Cologne on 15 October 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Peter Schouteten