Thomas Andrew Smith
MilitaryThomas Smith was Tail Gunner on his first operation on board of B-17G #42-31191 'Virginia Lee' on the 27 March 1943 mission to Bordeaux/Merignac airfield. Hit by German fighters, crash-landed on the beach at Le Porge-Océan, near Laruau (Gironde), France. Smith managed to evade capture with the help of French citizens and members of the Résistance. He and Navigator Walsh and Ball Turret Gunner Volz were hidden in various places in the region West and South-West of Bordeaux. They left by C-47 from Biarritz, France on 13 September 1944 and were interviewed for their E&E report in London the following day. See the details of Thomas Smith‘s evasion at http://www.evasioncomete.be/fsmithta.html
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15117473
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17164737
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36448133
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-704623
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
Missions
Places
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Shelby, Montana, USA | 1 October 1925 | |
|
Enlisted |
7 December 1942 | as a Private in the Air Corps in Butte, Montana | |
|
Other left the aircraft on foot |
27 March 1944 | on the beach at Le Porge-Océan, near Laruau (Gironde), France, after the crash-landing there of B-17 # 42-31191 | |
|
Other evaded capture |
27 March 1944 - 4 September 1944 | Helped by French citizens and members of the Résistance | |
|
Died |
22 June 1997 | ||
| Shelby, Toole County, Montana, USA | |||
|
Buried |
Thomas Smith rests at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls, Flathead County, Montana, USA |
Revisions
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
WWII Draft Cards for Montana
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 2064
VA Gravesite Locator
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3546 / MACR 3546, Lossses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database