Richard J Smith
Military23-Jun-42 Assigned as Radio Operator of B-17F 41-24620 [PU-O] "Snap! Crackle! Pop!, 303BG/360BS with crew at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard B-17F 41-24620.
Mission Participations (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Snap! Crackle! Pop!
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Big Time Operator II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 381st Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Shak Hak
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
![Two airmen of the 303rd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Iza Vailable". Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency, 'Sacred' and U.S. Official Photograph O.W.I. [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407619.jpg.webp?itok=aEyghgX9)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Iza Vailable
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
![A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Kicking Horse" of the 303rd Bomb Group takes off with a feathered engine. Handwritten caption on reverse: ''Kicking Horse' of 303BG. Received 7/7/1944.' On reverse: Daily Graphic [Stamp, ref. no. M4226L].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407628.jpg.webp?itok=SpfDIv0I)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Devil Himself : Red Ass
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 31 March 1943
- Date: 28 March 1943
- Date: 22 March 1943
- Date: 12 March 1943
- Date: 8 March 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Assigned to Aircraft |
Alamogordo, NM 88310, USA | 23 June 1942 | Assigned as Radio Operator of B-17F 41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. |
|
Other Arrived in UK |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 17 October 1942 | Arrived at Molesworth, UK as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS |
|
Other Mission #1, SSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #2, SSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 18 November 1942 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #3, SSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Rouen, France | 12 December 1942 | Served as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #4, SSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS |
Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 | Served as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #5, SSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS |
Lille, France | 13 January 1943 | Served as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. |
|
Other Mission #6, SSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 42-2967, 303BG/360BS |
Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 | Served as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 42-2967 "Shak Hak", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #7, SSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Hamm, Germany | 14 February 1943 | Served as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but secere weather forced Wing Command to recall all 303BG formations. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #8, SSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 16 February 1943 | Served as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #9, SSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 26 February 1943 | Served as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #10, SSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS |
Brest, France | 27 February 1943 | Served as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Promotion is Rank |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 1 March 1943 | Promoted to the rank of Technical Sergeant. |
|
Other Mission #11, TSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS |
6 March 1943 | Served as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorinet, France. RTB OK. | |
|
Other Mission #12, TSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Rennes, France | 8 March 1943 | Served as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rennes, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. |
|
Other Mission #13, TSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS |
Rouen, France | 12 March 1943 | Served as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #14, TSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 42-5483, 303BG/360BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 22 March 1943 | Served as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 42-5483, 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #15, TSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS |
Rouen, France | 28 March 1943 | Served as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #15, TSGT Richard J. Smith, w/B-17F 42-29570, 303BG/360BS |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 31 March 1943 | Served as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 42-29570 "Big Time Operator II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK. |
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016, Added Mission #16 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016, Added Mission #15 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016, Added Mission #14 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016, Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016, Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 8-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/021.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016 Added Promotion in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Mocnur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016, Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 6-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/020.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-43. Made connections to Aircraft 42-5483 and 42-29570 and Missions of 6-Mar-43, 8-Mar-43, 12-Mar-43, 22-Mar-43, 28-Mar-43 and 31-Mar-43 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports of dates stated: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016, Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 27-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016, Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 26-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016, Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 26-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Made connections to Missions of 26-Feb-43 and 27-Feb-43 per 303BG records: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016, Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 16-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf
Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016, Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf
Lee Cunningham 28-Jan-2016, Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf
Lee Cunningham 28-Jan-2016, Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf
Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2106. Added Mission Participation statement to Summary Biography.
Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016, Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf
Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016, Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf
Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016, Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf
Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016, Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf
Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016. Added Arrived in UK event 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian per Jacob W. Fredericks crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-fredericks.html
Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian per Jacob W. Fredericks crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-fredericks.html
Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016. Added initial assignment, and arrival info to Summary Biography; made connections to Unit (SQDN), Place, Aircraft (through 3-Jan-43) and Missions (through 3-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian per Jacob W. Fredericks crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-fredericks.html
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://303rdbg.com/rost-rs.html#R