Edward Marvin Smith Jr
Military
Earl H. Beitler/Neil Gobrecht Crew
Standing Left to Right: Richard S.Lundberg (R/O), Russell K. Mason (FE), Earl H. Beitler (P), John Perella (N), Neil M. Gobrecht (CP/P)
Kneeling Left to Right: Gale Raymond (NG), Donald Sargeant (TG), Wilfred Smith (WG), Edward M. Smith (WG)
During this crew's combat tour, the pilot, Earl H. Beitler was promoted to 787th Bomb Squadron Operations Officer and Gobrecht took over as pilot. Neil Gobrecht Collection
466th BG Historian
Object Number - UPL 17391 - Crew #768 Earl H. Beitler/Neil Gobrecht Crew Standing Left to Right: Richard S.Lundberg (R/O), Russell K. Mason (FE), Earl H. Beitler (P), John...
6 Air Medals/ 3 Battle Stars
8 encounters
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-713684
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot -- Squadron Operations Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot/Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Delores Jean
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Damifino
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Judy Sue
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Huckle de Buck
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 493rd Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron 863rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Abel Mabel
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Hampton, Virginia | 4 June 1924 | |
|
Enlisted |
Richmond, VA, USA | 9 March 1943 | |
|
Died |
Gloucester Point, VA, USA | 1 December 2009 | Edward Marvin (Sody) Smith, Jr. 85, passed away on Dec. 1, 2009, after a short illness. He was born and raised in the Fox Hill neighborhood in Hampton, Va, and moved to Gloucester Point after retirement. Sody attended Hampton High School and joined the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was very proud of his service to his country in the 8th Air Force and his country recognized his extraordinary and courageous service 58 years later by awarding him the Distinguished Flying Cross. The 8th Air Force was an important entity in his life and he enjoyed traveling to reunion events throughout the country. Upon his return from military service at the end of the war, he became a devoted family man and was self employed as a successful general contractor. He claimed to have been the first person to drive through the Hampton Roads Tunnel tasked with hauling materials needed on the other side. Even more remarkable was that he had to drive a dump truck backwards, avoiding scaffolding and workmen the entire length. Sody was a founding member of the Fox Hill Recreation Association and integral in the design and building of the Francis Asbury Softball Park. He loved Fox Hill Fastpitch Softball and traveled the country to National tournaments in support of his team. He was very involved in his community and was a member of the Fox Hill Volunteer Fire Department for 63 years, the Fox Hill Historical Society, American Legion Post 48 and Fox Hill Central United Methodist Church. Sody was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Marvin and Nina Smith, siblings Marshall Smith, Frances Rubrecht and Geraldine Kastleberg. He was also preceded by the love of his life Mary Smith, his wife of 66 years. |
|
Buried |
Hampton, VA, USA | 4 December 2009 | Parklawn Memorial Park Hampton Hampton City Virginia, USA |
Revisions
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources
466th BG Historian
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Smith&GSfn=Edward…;
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self