Thurman Preston Smotherman

Military

Thurman Smotherman was Right Waist gunner on board B-17 #42-39782 on the 8 February mission to Frankfurt, Germany. Shot down by fighters and crashed near Roye, France. Prisoner of War (POW). Interned at Stalag Luft 4.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.

379th Bomb Group

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

People

Charles E Atkinson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15084516
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer

Matthew J Bauer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12011093 at enlistment, then O-688731
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

George F Bennett

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15339963
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Frederick Henry Brown

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31084894
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

James B Dougherty

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-681986
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

Airmen of the 526th Bomb Squadron, 379th Bomb Group unload their gear after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (LF-M, serial number 42-39782). Handwritten caption on reverse: '264849. 19.' Press caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau[Stamps].

42-39782

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Pistol Packin Mama
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

8 February 1922

Other

Bailed out

8 February 1944 of B-17 #42-39782 over Roye, France

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

8 February 1944 Interned mostly at Stalag Luft 4

Born

Teresita, Missouri

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added some punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 2880

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2880, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces; 379th Bombardment Group Anthology, pg 296