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Submit- Full
name
SMITH, Lee W - Date of
birth
13 August 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Battle Ground, Tippecanoe County, Indiana -
Hometown
Battle Ground, Tippecanoe County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-803296 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
535th Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 February 1944 - Place of
death
3 km northwest of Hiddesen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 31 | 22 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Wilson B. Smith (father)
Leona J. Smith (mother)
Margery Smith (sister)
Dorothy Smith (sister)
Dorene Mullen (fiancee)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-39895 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Bermondsey Battler
Destination: Aschersleben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 2935
More information
Lee W. Smith graduated from Battle Ground High School in 1935. He was employed at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana as a cattle herdsman.He enlisted on 2 April 1941.
The airplane was hit by fire of enemy aricraft during the first attack. The #2 and #3 engine caught fire and there was probably a small fire in the nose. The pilot put the airplane in what looked to be a controlled slip to the left and dove down, probably in an effort to put out the fires..
The entire crew of ten men was killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Hiddesen.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.newspapers.com - Lafayette Journal and Courier
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Michel Beckers/Kevin Wilson 381stBG