Donavon Francis Smith
Military
media-401448.jpg
FRE 2701
First Lieutenant Donavon Smith, of the 56th Fighter Group. Hubert Zemke has handwritten on the reverse: '4-12. 1st Lt. Donavon Smith. I could write here "They don't make them as young as they use to." On my interview of replacement pilots I stared at Lt. Smith and swore the U.S. Army was recruiting directly from the Boy Scouts. We didn't have to issue him a razor. Nevertheless Donavon went on to tally 6 air victories, go to college and become and Air Force Major-Gen. Deceased 1978. Zemke.'
Roger Freeman Collection
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Donavon Smith served as a fighter pilot with the 56th Fighter Group.
DSC/ DFC w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster/ AM w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster
5.5 victories
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Nicknames: Ole Cock III
- Unit: 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Holton
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Dowagiac, Michigan | 2 October 1922 | |
Died |
Colorado Springs, CO, USA | 10 September 1974 |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / Who's Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45