Military
T/Sgt Frank G Smith; assigned to the 429th BS, 2nd BG, 5th BW, 15th AF
Standing row: Wally Braff, pilot; Ben Snider, co-pilot; Farley Mann, navigator; Jim Barnett, bombardier. Kneeling row: John Olinik, left waist gunner and later togglier; Richard Smith, ball turret gunner; Donald Dorman, flight engineer and top turret gunner; Claude Patterson, tail gunner, Frank Smith, radio operator.
Wing
The 5th Air Division (5th AD) originated on 19 October 1940 at McChord Field, Washington. Its initial mission was air defense of the northwest United States with three bombardment groups (12th, 17th and 39th) flying early B-17 Flying Fortresses (B-17C...
Group
Served on antisubmarine duty for several months after the U.S. entered World War II. In October 1942 was re-designated as 2d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and earmarked for combat. The group was transferred on paper to Geiger Field, Washington, where it...
Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 6/12/43; Pomulus 29/12/43; Assigned 348BS/2BG Amendola 1/1/44; {17m} transferred 429BS/2BG Amendola 28/3/44; crash landed base on transition flight 15/10/44 with Charles Ball; Salvaged 18/10/44. 100 MISSION.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Kearney 22/6/44; Presque Is 6/7/44; Assigned 429BS/2BG Amendola 12/7/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 24/7/45; Independence 27/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 9/12/45.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Hunter 14/7/44; Presque Is 22/7/44; Assigned 429BS/2BG Amendola 30/7/44; Missing in Action Blechhammer 17/12/44 with Len Waldman, Co-pilot: Clayton Stemwedel, Navigator: Howard Kraus, Bombardier: Milton Bloom, Flight engineer/top turret...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Hunter 21/7/44; Dow Fd 3/8/44; Assigned 429BS/2BG Amendola 11/8/44; battle damaged Blechhammer 19/12/44 with A.J. Grossman; crash landed Vis, Hungary, Salvaged.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Hunter 31/7/44; Dow Fd 9/8/44; Assigned 49BS/2BG Amendola 15/8/44; two engines out, emergency landing at Iesi Fd with F. Marsh; tire came off and aircraft crashed into 6ft ditch, causing severe damage; Salvaged.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Kearney 10/8/44; Grenier 18/8/44; Assigned 429BS/2BG Amendola 28/8/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 3/7/45; Sth Plains 7/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 26/11/45.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Lincoln 18/8/44; Grenier 6/9/44; Assigned 429BS/2BG Amendola 13/9/44; Missing in Action Munich 22/11/44 with Capt David Joyce, Co-pilot: Frank Covey, Navigator: Bill Misic, Bombardier: Bill Hix, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Clair...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Lincoln 22/8/44; Grenier 9/9/44; Assigned 429BS/2BG Amendola 13/9/44; battle damaged Brux 9/12/44 with Dale Pierce, Co-pilot: Maurice Porter, Navigator: John Skoba*, Bombardier: Jim McWhirter*, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Joe Bury,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Lincoln 3/10/44; Grenier 13/10/44; Assigned 429BS/2BG Amendola 24/10/44; 483BG Sterparone 24/10/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 24/7/45; Independence 25/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 18/12/45.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Hunter 6/10/44; Dow Fd 15/10/44; Assigned 429BS/2BG Amendola 19/11/44; transferred 32BS/301BG Lucera 21/12/44; flew 44 missions, Returned to the USA Morrison 18/9/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut...
Military site : airfield
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | 2 May 1923 | |
| Enlisted | 14 December 1942 | |
| Based | Amendola | 7 September 1944 – 5 May 1945 |
| Died | 2 June 1984 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 15 November 2021 03:19:28 | DGN87 | Changes to highest rank |
| Sources | ||
Correcting error in rank |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 14 November 2021 20:25:35 | DGN87 | Created entry with surname, middlename, firstname, nationality, highest rank, role, events, unit associations, place associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
Separation record and 2nd BG Association database |
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