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name
SMITH, Horace Blessing - Date of
birth
6 March 1923 -
Age
21 -
Place of birth
Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania -
Religion
Protestant
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-830560 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
55th Fighter Squadron,
20th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 February 1945 - Place of
death
Nunspeet, Holland
Northeast from Nijmegen, Holland
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 20 | 19 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Horace B. Smith (father)
Cora B. (Elder) Smith (mother)
Louise E. Smith (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-63808 -
Data
Type: P-51D
Destination: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission: Strafing
MACR: 12705
More information
Lt Smith was graduated from Altoona High School with the class of 1940. During his senior year was manager of the track team. He matriculated in chemistry at Hanover College from which institution his paternal grandfather, the late Dr. Horace R. Smith, graduated in 1877. During his junior year at Hanover College, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet on 24 November 1942. He was later commissioned at Napier Field, Alabama and received the silver wings of a pilot in April 1944. Lt Smith was sent overseas in October 1944.Statement from 1st Lt Kier, Edward L:
"During very intense light flak. Lt Smith's plane was in a turn at 1,000 feet, attempting to pinpoint location. Flak gunners surrounding a hospital opened fire immediately." Lt Kier saw fire break out on Lt Smith's plane. He prepared to warn him on R/T just as Lt Smith jettisoned his canopy. In order to avoid the very intense flak, Lt.Kier dove for the deck. He then looked for Lt Smith's plane and saw it just as it hit the ground.
Source of information: Nico Leers, Jaap Vermeer, Terry Hirsch, Astrid van Erp, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.newspaperarchive.com - Altoona Mirrow, www.ancestry.com - Altoona High School Yearbook 1940