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Submit- Full
name
SMITH, John Davis - Date of
birth
25 February 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Franklin County, Idaho -
Hometown
Franklin County, Idaho
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39908212 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Spot Jammer -
Unit
338th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
7 January 1945 - Place of
death
Near Hintermuhlen an der Lahn, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
William R. Smith (father)
Sarah E. Smith (mother)
Ariel D. Smith (brother)
Hubert D. Smith (brother)
Alice M. Smith (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38968 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Cologne, Germany
Mission: Combat
MACR: 11571
More information
A/C 968 was lost due to collision from A/C from another Group after turn from IP to Target. High clouds at flight altitude plus dense persistent contrails prevented but very little visibility and caused collision between high Squadron of this Group and another Group. Both ships disintegrated after collision and no chutes were seen although observers report it was impossible to have seen a chute because of weather conditions.
Source of information: FOHF, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Smith Family Tree
Photo source: Peter Schouteten