Maynard Harrison Smith
Military
Object Number - FRE 4438 - Staff Sergeant Maynard Smith of the 306th Bomb Group, salutes after being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, in front of a B-17 Flying...
Manned guns, extinguished fires, and treated wounded crewmates on first mission in B-17 42-29649. He also helped to throw out cans of ammunition that weighed almost as much as he did so the bomber could make an emergency landing. On the day he was to be awarded the MOH, he couldn't be found. He was eventually located in the mess kitchen, where he was peeling potatoes. He had been given KP duty for coming in late from pass and had forgotten to show up to get his medal. He Flew four more combat missions before being returned to the US.
Awards: MOH, AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (4 x battle star), American campaign medal.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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
People
![Gunners of the 306th Bomb Group sit atop ammunition for a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Sport and General.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 9 Jul 1943.' [stamp] and '273718.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ''THE DEFENSIVE POWER OF FLYING FORTRESSES. The extremely heavy defense of the Flying Fortresses has enabled them to fight their way through to targets like Huls and Kiel in the face of the most intensive fighter opposition aerial warfare has ever seen. The result of these](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379033.jpg.webp?itok=HZKmtCgX)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 381st Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron 533rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13087745
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 May 1943
Places
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Caro, Michigan | 19 May 1911 | Son of Henry Harrison and Mary Christine [Gohs] Smith. |
|
Enlisted |
31 August 1942 | ||
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
26 May 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Died |
Saint Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, USA | 11 May 1984 | |
|
Buried |
Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia Section 66, Grave 7375 | ||
|
Based |
Thurleigh | Assigned to 306BS, 423BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/page/622355843/maynard-smith/facts
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21435/maynard-harrison-smith
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency
Added punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Updated middle name per info from Find-a-grave MEMORIAL ID 21435.
Updated Born & Died events and added Burial event per info from Find-a-grave MEMORIAL ID 21435.
Information in biography section.
U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
Associated images from Freeman Collection
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Freeman, MOH Citation, Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey pp. 113-4, First Over Germany by Russell Strong pp. 103-11, 120, 140, 171, 303
![Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson shakes hands with Staff Sergeant Maynard Smith of the 306th Bomb Group in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'London News Agency.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 16 Jul 1943.' [stamp] and '274860.'[Censor no.] An LNA photographer has written on reverse: 'Mr Stimson shaking hands with S/Sgt Maynard Smith.' Printed caption on reverse: 'HIGHEST AMERICAN AWARD FOR GUNNER. Mr. Stimson, U.S.A. War Minister, visited a Fortress Aerodrome in England where](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379032.jpg.webp?itok=zZFZzfa_)
![Staff Sergeant Maynard Smith with Secretary of War Henry L Stimson, during a medal ceremony at Thurleigh. A B-17 Flying Fortress is in the background. Handwritten caption on reverse: '15-7-43.' On reverse: London News Agency/L.N.A. [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407828.jpg.webp?itok=IxUssplS)
