Delmar Ernest Smith

Military

Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Ploesti raid in B-24 42-40364 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'; shot down near the Yugoslavia/Bulgaria border by enemy fighters during withdrawal from the target. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 165



Awards: DFC, PH, ACM, EAME w/1 campaign star

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'

98th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

James A Gunn

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11037168 / O-791098
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-40364

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - The Pink Elephant - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Benina

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Soluch Airfield

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Salamanca, NY 21 May 1921 Son of Manley McKinley and Laura Leota [Bonsteel] Smith.

Enlisted

Newark, NJ 22 July 1942 Place of enlistment Newark, New Jersey.

Died

Macedonia (FYROM) 1 August 1943

Buried

12 July 1949 Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia Grave 107, Section 15
Hawthorne, NJ

Based

1 August 1943 Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

Updated awards and bio section.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64119161/delmar-e-smith

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/98783717/delmar-e.-smith

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/310760554
https://www.fold3.com/record/86281870/delmar-e-smith-wwii-army-enlistme…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/98783717/delmar-e.-smith

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

NARA verified entry date, place.

Date
ContributorSandraJJ
Changes
Sources

personal photo library of Laura Smith

Date
ContributorSandraJJ
Changes
Sources

Sandra Johnson-Jacobs

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

Updated biography information.

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

ASN and highest rank on MACR.

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on the 1 Aug 1943 Ploesti raid.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Re-checked MACR 165: https://www.fold3.com/image/1/29417957
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/98783717/delmar-e.-smith

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 165