Lewis Page Johnson Jr

Military

On May 1, 1943, assigned target was the uboat yards at St. Nazaire and a navigational error on return took the group over heavily defended Brest. The B-17 #42-29649 was attacked by fighters and caught on fire. The pilot landed at Cornwall, the BTG Maynard 'Snuffy' Smith was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on this day. 3 parachuted out of the burning plane and were lost.



Earlier on 22 March 1943 a 20 mm shell killed waist gunner Ray Henn (after he shot down an enemy fighter) and injured waist gunner Kenneth F. Powell.

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Staff Sergeant Maynard Smith of the 306th Bomb Group, salutes after being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 15 Jul 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Secretary Of War Presents America's Highest Award To S/Sergeant At American Airfield In Britain. Mr Henry L. Stimson, the United States Secretary of War, who is on a visit to Britain, visited an American Bomber station in Britain to present the Congressional Medal of Honour, America's hi

Maynard Harrison Smith

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36523097
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

Places

Revisions

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added an association to Thurleigh, the home base for the 306th BG.

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Contributorjmoore43
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Removed the connection to Co-pilot Maynard Smith.

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Contributorjmoore43
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Made a connection to "BTG Maynard Harrison Smith" and removed an incorrect connection to "Co-Pilot Maynard H Smith".

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Contributorjmoore43
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Corrected a typo in the "Summary biography" - "Powell" was misspelled.

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

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Contributorjmoore43
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Updated middle name per info in the book "Masters of the Air" by "Donald L. Miller" on pg. 141.

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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey pp. 113-4,497,First Over Germany by Russell Strong pp. 40, 79, 105-8, 138