8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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Fonzo Donald Smith
Military
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Don 'Snuffy' Smith Eagle Sqn and 4th FG
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A large group of 4th Fighter Group pilots sitting on or standing in front of a P-47 Thunderbolt at Debden air base. The 4th Fighter Group flew P-47 Thunderbolts on missions between March 1943 and February 1944. Standing L to R: Selden Edner, Earl Carlow, Clemens Fiedler, Leon Blanding, Frank Bayles, Charles Anderson, Bernard McGrattan, James Happel, Paul Ellington and James W, Dye. On the wing of the aircraft L to R: Don Young, Kenneth G. Smith, Don Ross, ??, Cecil E. Manning, Robert Patterson, James H. Brandenburg, ?M. Thorpe?, Albert Schlegel and George Carpenter. On the fuselage L to R: Roy Evans, Fonzo "Snuffy" Smith, Cadman V. Padgett, ?Ernest Beatie?, James Steel and ??.
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Captain (at the time) Fonzo "Snuffy" Smith with his P-47 Thunderbolt " Pistol Packin Mamma", WD-W, Serial No. 42-7936.
Served in 121 Eagle Squadron then transferred to the AAF. Assigned to 335FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. He scored 3 kills in P-47s. Failed to Return (FTR) bomber escort to Joigny, France. suffered engine failure. A/C abandoned. Major Fonzo Smith POW. 3-Aug-44. MACR 7453.
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (7OLC), Croix de Guerre, POW, PH, WWII Victory, EAME (4 battle stars), Air Force Longevity Service (4OLC), American Campaign, American Defense, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal
Post War: Owner of three Dr Pepper distributorships in Texas, Retired in 1983.
Service
Units served with
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4th Fighter Group
Group
Some of the pilots of the 4th Fighter Group had seen many hours of combat by the time they joined the 4th Fighter Group as they had volunteered with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The three 'Eagle Squadrons' of RAF Fighter... -
335th Fighter Squadron
Squadron
The 335th Fighter Squadron was the offspring of No. 121 (Eagle) Squadron RAF. Formed on 21 May 1941, No. 121 was the second of the three Eagle Squadrons composed of American volunteers flying out of England. They were known as the "Chiefs" and were... -
No. 121 'Eagle' Squadron
Squadron
'On 14 May 1941, No. 121 was reformed at Kirton-in-Lindsey as the second 'Eagle' Squadron to be manned by American volunteers. Equipped with Hurricanes, it began defensive patrols in October but in November it converted to Spitfires. It moved to North... -
Headquarters (4th Fighter Group)
Headquarters
The Headquarters Squadron was made up of true leaders. Most had flown Hurricanes, Spitfires, Thunderbolts and Mustangs. ...
Aircraft
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44-13934
P-51 Mustang
Assigned to 336FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bomber escort to Joigny, France. suffered engine failure. A/C abandoned. Major Fonzo Smith POW. 3-Aug-44. MACR 7453. -
42-7936 "Pistol Packin Mama"
P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 335FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. One-time personal aircraft of (then) Lt. Fonzo "Snuffy" D. Smith. Transferred to 551FTS, 495FTG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 493FS, 48FG, 9AF USAAF. -
41-6225
P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 335FS, 4FG 8AF USAAF. Transferred too 551FTS, 495FTG 8AF USAAF.
Associated Place
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Biggin Hill
Military site : airfield
An RAF Station with US lodger units. USAAF Spitfires and P-38s were attached to RAF No 11 Group stations in mid-1942 for training; also used for special operations by British and US forces. -
Debden
Military site : airfield
RAF Debden, construction of which began in 1935, is perhaps most famous as a Battle of Britain fighter airfield, partly responsible for the defence of London in 1940. In 1942 it was also home to three RAF 'Eagle Squadrons’ of volunteer American pilots... -
Stalag VII-A
Other location
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Dulag Luft 12
Other location
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Born | Malakoff, TX, USA | 22 October 1918 |
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Son of Julia Callaway. |
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| Lived in | Malakoff, TX, USA | 1940 |
| Enlisted | Dallas, TX, USA | 25 April 1941 |
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Dallas, Texas |
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| Assigned | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 24 September 1942 – 3 August 1944 |
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Assigned to 335FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. |
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| Promotion | United States | December 1942 |
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Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
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| Promotion | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 5 July 1943 |
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Promoted to Captain. |
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| Promotion | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 30 November 1943 |
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Promoted to Major. |
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| Baled out | 89300 Joigny, France | 3 August 1944 |
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Failed to Return (FTR) bomber escort to Joigny, France. suffered engine failure. A/C abandoned. Major Fonzo Smith POW. 3-Aug-44. MACR 7453. |
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| Prisoner of War POW | Moosburg, Germany | 3 August 1944 – 1945 |
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Prisoner of War POW. Stalag VIIa. |
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| Died | Kingsville, TX 78363, USA | 6 February 1996 |
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 23 December 2020 09:56:25 | Al_Skiff | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
https://www.fold3.com/image/625758404?terms=smith,fonzo |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 December 2020 09:53:42 | Al_Skiff | Changes to middlename, nickname, biography, awards, events, unit associations, place associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
https://www.fold3.com/image/625758404?terms=smith,fonzo |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 December 2020 18:31:30 | jmoore43 | Changes to nickname |
| Sources | ||
Flagged as a "Possible DUPLICATE" in the Nickname field so an Admin can check out this person. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 June 2016 16:06:22 | Al_Skiff | Changes to nickname, service number, role, biography, awards, events, unit associations, place associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmacr.asp?MACR=7453 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:09:41 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
MACR 7453 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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