James B Smith
Military ROLL OF HONOURRichard Wollstein Crew
466th BG - 786th BS
Standing Left to Right: Fred A. Riebe (B), Richard S. Wollstein (P), Maurus C. Owens (N), James B. Smith (CP).
Kneeling Left to Right: William Scott (Ground Crew Chief), Eldred Schroeder (G), Bernard H. Tighe (FE), Charles J. Vejda (R/O), Steve Lindquist (G), Albert W. Pittman (G), Norman Clark (RWG).
This crew were shot down on 13 August 1944 while flying B-24H-15-FO #42-52529 "Wild Pussy" (name changed to "Wild Princess" per officers' request) Code: U8-B
Wollstein (P), Smith (CP), and Owens (N) were all KIA.
Vejda (R/O), Clark (RWG), and Tighe (FE) all evaded capture and eventually returned to England.
Lindquist had been had been KIA on 17 July 1944 when the crew was hit by flak and forced to crash land B-24H-15-FO #42-52511 on the beach near New Romney, England.
The rest of the crew were made POW for the duration.
466th Bomb Group collection
Joseph M. Owens, son of 1st Lt Maurus C Owens (N)
Crashed at Orival in B-24 'Wild Pussy' #42-52529, Killed in Action (KIA). Plane was hit by flak and burst into flames. Lt. Smith and the pilot, Lt Wollstein were believed to have turned the p lane away from the men who had parachuted out ,to keep them from being hit. Wollstein was awarded DFC after 51 years, do not know about Lt. Smith.
Air Medal; Purple Heart,
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-779179
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Wild-Pussy/Sully's Saloon
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Died |
Orival, France | 13 August 1944 | |
Born |
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA | ||
Indianapolis, IN, USA | 4154 North Sherman Drive |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7912 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database