Billy V Smith

Military

P-47D 42-26512 returning to Duxford with serious battle damage, near end of afternoon operational mission. At about three miles from base, the last control wire broke when pilot peeled off and his P-47 dived straight into the ground. Hence Smith officially recorded as KOM rather than KIA. Ironically, he had already survived a take-off accident in P-47D 42-26312, in the early morning on the day of his death.

Connections

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Units served with

Places

Line up of P-47 Thunderbolts of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, at Duxford air base. September 1944. Printed caption on reverse of print: '55432 AC - War Birds Home To Rest - Republic P-47 Thunderbolts lined up on an 8th Air Force field in England after a daylight sweep over Germany. Crews have finished inspections and refueling.'

Duxford

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: "Duckpond"

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Killed in Action (KIA)

Revisions

Date
ContributorIWMPM
Changes
Sources

'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces. Volume 4. ETO Area - April 1944 - June 1944'. Bishop, Stan D & Hey, John A. Bishop Book Productions. 2013. ISBN 978-0-9547685-4-6

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Duxford Diary / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list