Jayson M Smith

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Despatched as a spare on fighter escort on 14-Aug-43 in P-47D 42-7952. Upon return is appeared that 2LT Smith attempted to make a "victory roll" just above the main runway at Duxford, but the attempt was made too low and the aircraft crashed into the ground while still inverted.

Connections

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

Units served with

Aircraft

42-7952

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 83rd Fighter Squadron

Places

Line up of P-47 Thunderbolts of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, at Duxford air base. September 1944. Printed caption on reverse of print: '55432 AC - War Birds Home To Rest - Republic P-47 Thunderbolts lined up on an 8th Air Force field in England after a daylight sweep over Germany. Crews have finished inspections and refueling.'

Duxford

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: "Duckpond"

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Killed-Non Battle

Duxford, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB22, UK 14 August 1943 Killed when he attempted a "victory roll" over the main runway on return. Aircraft destroyed. No burial information could be found.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-May-2015. Edited summary biography with circumstances and amended Biography events, all per "The Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey, MBE.

Date
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 / Unit roster on page 136 in 'Eagles of Duxford' book by Fry, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol I by Bishop & Hey pp. 233