Luther Smith Bird
MilitaryLuther Bird was assigned to the 8th Air Force, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 328th Bomb Squadron. He flew on 23 combat missions and took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti, flying the B-24D Liberator, 41-23722, named, Bomerang. Returned to base. RTB. 1 Aug 43.
He Failed to Return (FTR) from a bombing mission to Osnabruck, Germany, in the B-24D, 42-63982, Jack Frost. The aircraft was shot down by rockets and cannon fire from German ME-110 fighter planes, entered a spin, spun down on fire, and exploded. Bird was blown out of the aircraft and survived, saved by his chute. 22 Dec 43. Prisoner of War. POW. MACR 2190
Awards : Distinguished Flying Cross for the Ploesti mission - Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters - Prisoner of War Medal - American Campaign Medal - WWII Victory Medal - European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal - with one bronze service star.
Post war: Remained in USAF serving in Korea and Vietnam, rising to rank of Lt Colonel.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13043630
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 138649 / O-885948
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36339466
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14054223
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball turret gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-?
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 22 December 1943
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Greenville, South Carolina, USA | 25 November 1921 | Son of John Phifer and Gladys E [Hunt] Bird. |
Enlisted |
Charlotte, NC | 26 February 1942 | Charlotte, North Carolina |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Barth, Germany | 22 December 1943 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft I. |
Other Survived explosion POW |
Quakenbruck, Germany | 22 December 1943 | Failed to Return (FTR) Osnabruck in B-24 42-63982 'Jack Frost'; Hit by flak, spun down and exploded. Blown out of A/C 22-Dec-43 in. POW MACR 2190 |
Other Discharged USAAF |
21 January 1947 | Honourable discharge. | |
Died |
Bryan, TX | 21 October 2006 | |
Buried |
College Station Cemetery College Station, Brazos County, TX | 24 October 2006 | College Station Cemetery College Station, Brazos County, Texas |
Based |
Hardwick | 22 December 1943 | Assigned to 328th Bomb Squadron, the 93rd Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force (TDY) to the 9th Air Force, USAAF. |
Revisions
Removed punctuation from aircraft name for clarity, uniformity, and readability. - Kickapoo
NARA files verified DFC and AM with three Oak Leaf Clusters. He earned the ACM based on entry date and the EAME Campaign Medal with at least one bronze service star. He earned more awards due to his continued service until retirement from military service.
https://www.fold3.com/image/28614946
https://www.fold3.com/image/193191015
https://www.fold3.com/record/28315489-luther-bird
https://www.fold3.com/record/83989975-luther-s-bird
https://www.fold3.com/record/527755186-luther-bird-1921
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/greenvilleonline/obituary.aspx?n=luth…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81710395/luther-bird
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2190 / Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum Membership List, July 2000; MACR 2190 & Unit history /self & MACR 5496 & SECOND AIR DIVISION by Turner Publishing Company, D790.A2S45, 1998, page 208 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database