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name
SMITH, James Franklin Jr - Date of
birth
21 May 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama -
Hometown
Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-672005 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
331st Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
17 August 1943 - Place of
death
Dr. Vanderhoeydonckstraat
Lummen-Oostereinde, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 27 | 21 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James F. Smith (father)
May A. (Irwin) Smith (mother)
Allie L. Smith (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30389 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Dear Mom
Destination: Regensburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Messerschmitt aircraft factory
MACR: 323
More information
James F. Smith Jr. was a swimming instructor and life guard at the Officers Club in Maxwell Field, Montgomery.The airplane was hit during a frontal attack by Major Borris of JG-26.
One crew member was taken prisoner, two men evaded capture and six men were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of the airfield of Sint-Truiden, Belgium on 20 August 1943.
At the location of the crash, a monument was erected in memory of the crew.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.coml, www.archives.gov, http://aircraft-crashes-belgium.jouwweb.be, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men
Photo source: Rudy Kenis, http://aircraft-crashes-belgium.jouwweb.be/, https://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/108332