Jayson Clarence Smart
Military!["Staff Sergeant Jayson C. Smart of the 305th Bomb Group with a cut brow, caused by a splinter during a mission over the Rhur, 12 August 1943.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 26 Aug 1943.' [stamp] and '280695.' [censor no]
Printed caption attached to the reverse: Warrior's Return Keystone photo shows: On a recent raid over the Ruhr Valley, S/Sgt. Jayson C. Smart, waist gunner on the Fortress "Big Bust", was wounded by enemy fire. This picture was taken i](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/wysiwyg_x2/public/media/media-41044.jpeg.webp?itok=qNj9JOrd)
Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 26 Aug 1943.' [stamp] and '280695.' [censor no]
Printed caption attached to the reverse: Warrior's Return Keystone photo shows: On a recent raid over the Ruhr Valley, S/Sgt. Jayson C. Smart, waist gunner on the Fortress "Big Bust", was wounded by enemy fire. This picture was taken immediately after S/sgt. Smart had been removed from the plane. He is a native of Branch [?], New York. Although still bleeding, grim determination is reflected in Sgt. Smart's face. U.S.POOL/F KEYSTONE"
IWM- FRE 14280
Object Number - UPL 41044 - "Staff Sergeant Jayson C. Smart of the 305th Bomb Group with a cut brow, caused by a splinter during a mission over the Rhur, 12 August 1943....
Smart was from Branchport New York, he enlisted in August 1942, at 20 years old.
On 12-Aug-43 Smart was injured. He had flown as waist gunner on the B-17 'Big Bust' on a mission to the Ruhr Valley in Germany. This was the first daylight operation to the Ruhr, which had acquired the grimly humorous moniker 'Happy Valley' due to the scale of German defences which protected its heavy industry.
Awards: AM, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Big Bust
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 379th Bomb Group 381st Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron 524th Bomb Squadron 533rd Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 12 August 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Chemung, NY | 7 September 1921 | Son of Clarence Frank and Pearl Irene [Davis] Smart. |
|
Enlisted |
Rochester, NY | 1 August 1942 | Rochester, New York |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
Fort Dix, NJ | 5 September 1945 | Honourable discharge. |
|
Died |
Branchport, NY | 9 July 1997 | |
|
Buried |
Bitley Cemetery Jerusalem, Yates County, NY | 12 July 1997 | Bitley Cemetery Jerusalem, Yates County, New York |
|
Based |
Chelveston | Assigned to 366BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
IWM, Somewhere in England, American Airmen in the Second World War, p56.
305th Bomb Group Roster / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
!["Staff Sergeant Jayson C. Smart of the 305th Bomb Group with a cut brow, caused by a splinter during a mission over the Rhur, 12 August 1943.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 26 Aug 1943.' [stamp] and '280695.' [censor no]
Printed caption attached to the reverse: Warrior's Return Keystone photo shows: On a recent raid over the Ruhr Valley, S/Sgt. Jayson C. Smart, waist gunner on the Fortress "Big Bust", was wounded by enemy fire. This picture was taken i](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/media/media-41044.jpeg.webp?itok=pgwWYMVj)