On 4 February 1944 on a mission to Frankfurt, B-17G #42-39771 'Jeannie Marie' was forced to land due to extensinve flak damage at Eindhoven, Holland. Prisoner of War (POW).



Staff Sergeant Thomas Smith had enlisted in the Air Force in June 1942, became an armourer/gunner with the 91st Bomber Group and had only flown two missions when he was shot down. Like many airmen POWs, Thomas Smith was an unwilling participant in the infamous "Death Marches" across Europe during the winter of 1944/45 as the Allied forces closed in on Berlin. He was detained at both Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug) Pomerania, Prussia (moved to Wobbelin Bei Ludwigslust) (to Usedom Bei Savenmunde) 54-16. He was a POW for some fifteen months before making his escape in April 1945.



After the war he returned to the US, married and raised 10 children in Romeo Michigan. He had an extensive library in his home and treated the mice in his house as if they were honored guests. He never spoke of his time in the War or of his time in captivity. He died in 1999 and is survived by 8 children, 20 plus grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.