Charles Leland Smith

Military
media-15300.jpeg UPL 15300

Added individual picture

Object Number - UPL 15300

Shot down 5 November 1943 in B-17 #42-30789 'Flak Suit'. Prisoner of War (POW). Charles Smith landed in the Dauwstraat in Waasmunster, to the East of Lokeren, Belgium, and was quickly captured on 5 November 1943 with four others (Bramwell, Current, Meader and Sage). He found himself with them in the cellars of the Kommandantur in the city of Sint-Niklaas, Belgium. Sent later to Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany, where he met with his Co-Pilot William Current. The camp was liberated on 30 April 1945.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19081294 and O-740736
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19053337
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12038016 and O-802258
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37428551
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34362270
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Flak Suit
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Brannon, Kentucky, United States 7 January 1921 the son of Lucien M. Smith and Ruth Lovelace Steele

Enlisted

Lexington, Kentucky, United States 23 March 1942 Enlisted as a Private in the Air Corps

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Barth, Germany 5 November 1943 - 4 June 1945 Prisoner of War (POW). Interned at Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany, where he met with his Co-Pilot William Current. The camp was liberated on 30 April 1945. NARA WWII POW database :"Stalag Luft 1 - Returned to military control 4/6/45"

Died

Nicholasville, Kentucky, United States 20 August 2000

Buried

Maple Grove Cemetery, Nicholasville, Kentucky, United States
Nicholasville, Kentucky, United States

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Correction number of POWs in Sint-Niklaas cellar

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
MACR 3137
Family info at http://www.uky.edu/Education/Alumni/spring2001/lelandsmith.html

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3137 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Charles Leland Smith: Gallery (2 items)