Thurman H Smith

Military
T.A. Harkin, of the 306th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31078). Handwritten caption on reverse: '231078, R, 306BG, T.A. Harkin, "Smitty".' media-407814.jpg FRE 4396 Thurman Haskel "Bud" Smith, of the 306th Bomb Group/369th Bomb Squadron with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31078). Smith was the tailgunner on 42-31078 that was shot down in the North Sea 11 Dec 1943. Rescued by Germans (10 POW) MACR 1574. Thurman spent the remainder of the war in SL 17b. Handwritten caption on reverse: '231078, R, 306BG, T.A. Harkin, "Smitty".' Also known by crew as "Big Smitty". Smith family believes Theodore A Harkin "Terry" to be the photographer Roger Freeman Collection

306th BG Archives

Object Number - FRE 4396 - Thurman Haskel "Bud" Smith, of the 306th Bomb Group/369th Bomb Squadron with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31078). Smith was the...

He flew on Robert Hoyt crew. Reported ot the ETO on 15 Jul 1943.

Shot down 11 December 1943 in B-17 #4231078. POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15.



AM 2OLC,

Connections

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Units served with

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

Ground personnel of the 306th Bomb Group work on a B-17 Flying Fortress. Marked "Not To Be Published" 25 Nov 1943. On reverse: Ministry of Information, Associated Press and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

7 April 2001

Born

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Buried

Lawton, Oklahoma

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Germany 11 December 1943

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1574 / MACR 1574; 306th BG Association Directory, 1 September 1999 Edition, 306th BGA Collection, Russell Strong Index Cards, First Over Germany pg. 181, / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / http://www.306bg.org/crewphotos/Crew%20Pictures%20Adam-Rector/Crew%20Pi…

Thurman H Smith: Gallery (1 items)