Jay B Smith

Military

Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Butzbach, Germany. Hit by flak, both engines ablaze, attempted forced landing, whilst straightening out to alight wing dug in and A/C seen to explode. 22-Feb-45 Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 12680.



Awards: DFC, SS, AM(11 OLC), PH.

Connections

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Units served with

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16056605 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bomber pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20314397 / O-411064
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bomber pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12077939
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio operator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Jay Hawk
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Sedgwick County, KS, USA 18 March 1918 Son of Oren and Alpha J Smith.

Enlisted

Wichita, KS, USA 27 December 1940

Died

Butzbach, Germany 22 February 1945 Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Butzbach, Germany. Hit by flak, both engines ablaze, attempted forced landing, whilst straightening out to alight wing dug in and A/C seen to explode. 22-Feb-45 KIA. MACR 12680.

Buried

Butzbach, Germany 23 February 1945 Interred Butzbach Cemetery
Kansas, USA

Based

Andrews Field 22 February 1945 Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF.

Buried

Re-Interred Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial

Buried

Sedgwick, KS 67135, USA Memorialised Hillside Cemetery Sedgwick Harvey County Kansas, USA