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Personal info

Full name
SMITH, Leland Wilburance
Date of birth
15 July 1918
Age
26
Place of birth
Whitehorse, Woods County, Oklahoma
Hometown
Redlands, San Bernardino County, California

Military service

Service number
O-756047
Rank
Captain
Function
Pilot
Unit
428th Fighter Squadron,
474th Fighter Group
Awards
Purple Heart,
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
25 December 1944
Place of death
In the vicinity of Pronsfeld, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Plot Row Grave
E 13 72

Immediate family

Members
Merle E. Smith (father)
Eva L. (Murray) Smith (mother)
Naomi A. Smith (sister)
Gladys A. Smith (sister)
Daniel L. Smith (brother)
Orville C. Smith (brother)
Vestel E. Smith (brother)
Merle A. Smith (brother)
Dorothea P. (Howard) Smith (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
44-24615
Data
Type: P-38L
Destination: St. Vith, Belgium
Mission: Strafing
MACR: 11466

More information

Statement from Robert L. Freeman, 2nd Lt, Air Corps, 428th Fighter Sq.:
"I was flying Red Three on the first mission on 25 December 1944. I went in on the target, three plus unidentified motor trucks, with Captain Leland W. Smith, Group Leader. Captain Smith was unable to pull out of the dive and the plane crashed into the ground about one mile south of Pronsfeld, Belgium and exploded on impact. The time was about 0955."

Captain Smith had 70 missions to his credit.

Source of information: Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Smith Family Tree, www.newspapers.com - The San Bernardino County Sun

Photo source: Astrid van Erp, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-I, Gardner Field, California