Maynard Harrison Smith
MilitaryIWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Manned guns, extinguished fires, and treated wounded crewmates on first mission in B-17 42-29649. He also helped to throw out cans of ammunition that weighed almost as much as he did so the bomber could make an emergency landing. On the day he was to be awarded the MOH, he couldn't be found. He was eventually located in the mess kitchen, where he was peeling potatoes. He had been given KP duty for coming in late from pass and had forgotten to show up to get his medal. He Flew four more combat missions before being returned to the US.
Awards: MOH, AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (4 x battle star), American campaign medal.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 306th Bomb Group 381st Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron 533rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13087745
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 May 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Caro, Michigan | 19 May 1911 | Son of Henry Harrison and Mary Christine [Gohs] Smith. |
Enlisted |
31 August 1942 | ||
Other Discharged USAAF |
26 May 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
Died |
Saint Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, USA | 11 May 1984 | |
Buried |
Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia Section 66, Grave 7375 | ||
Based |
Thurleigh | Assigned to 306BS, 423BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/page/622355843/maynard-smith/facts
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21435/maynard-harrison-smith
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency
Updated Born & Died events and added Burial event per info from Find-a-grave MEMORIAL ID 21435.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Freeman, MOH Citation, Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey pp. 113-4, First Over Germany by Russell Strong pp. 103-11, 120, 140, 171, 303