Gene Kingdon Smith
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Rear L-R: 1Lt Reinaldo J Saiz, 1Lt Samuel H Anderson, Capt Lewis E Lyle, Lt Col George L. Robinson, 1Lt Otis Allen Hoyt.
Front L-R: Sgt Tom McGiffin, T/Sgt Gene K. Smith, T/Sgt Woodrow W Smith, T/Sgt Clayton S. Balcombe, T/Sgt Martin A. Semonick, S/Sgt Edward A. Bradford.
Object Number - UPL 42269 - "Lead crew on bombing mission to Rotterdam, Holland in front of the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Ooold Soljer'. 303rd Bomb Group, England. 4 March...
17-Feb-42 Assigned as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner of B-17F #41-24579 [PU-F] "Thumper", 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Thumper".
Killed on Misssion (KOM) while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner of B-17F #41-24599 "Ooold Soljer" 303BG/360BS in midair collision with B-17F #42-29573 "Two Beauts", 303BG/358BS. This occured less than an hour from takeoff with each carrying 6 bombs for the mission to Rotterdam, Holland. The planes crashed at Mears Ashby and 303rd reports a memorial to the two crews is there.
Participated in 19 Operations (4 were Aborted). See Biography events.
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart.
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: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-791048
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 31 March 1943
- Date: 28 March 1943
- Date: 22 March 1943
- Date: 13 March 1943
- Date: 12 March 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Dwight, Kansas | 6 February 1918 | Son of Theodore W Moyer. |
|
Enlisted |
Fort Douglas, UT | 18 July 1941 | Fort Douglas, Utah |
|
Other Assigned to Aircraft |
Boise, ID, USA | 17 February 1942 | Assigned as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner with B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. |
|
Other Arrived in UK |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 12 October 1942 | Arrived at Molesworth, UK as Engineer/Top Turrent Gunner of B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS. |
|
Other Mission #1, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #2, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 18 November 1942 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #3, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Lille, France | 6 December 1942 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France, RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #4, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24579, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 3 January 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #5, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Lille, France | 13 January 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France, RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #6, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #7, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 27 January 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #8, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Hamm, Germany | 2 February 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #9, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Osnabrück, Germany | 4 February 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #10, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Hamm, Germany | 14 February 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severe cold and weather forced Wing Command to reacl the entire 303BG formation. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #11, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 16 February 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #12, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Brest, France | 27 February 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #13, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 4 March 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #14, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Lorient, France | 6 March 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #15, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
12 March 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK. | |
|
Other Mission #16, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Amiens, France | 13 March 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Amiens, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #17, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 22 March 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #18, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Rouen, France | 28 March 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #19, TSGT Gene K. Smith, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - KOM |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 31 March 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. The aircraft sustained a mid-air collision with another B-17 of 358BS and he was killed in the crash. KOM. |
|
Buried |
Cambridge American Cemetery, Coton, Cambs, UK Plot E, Row 2, Grave 110. | ||
| Lincoln, CO | |||
| Hood River, OR |
Revisions
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #19 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #18 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #17 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #16 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #15 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #14 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/020.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Made connections ot Place and Missions of 6-Mar-43, 12-Mar-43, 13-Mar-43, 22-Mar-43, 28-Mar-43 and 31-Mar43, per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports of dates stated : http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/019.pdf
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 16-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 2-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/013.pdf
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/012.pdf
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Made connections to Missions of 27-Jan-43, 2-Feb-43, 4-Feb-43, 14-Feb-43, 16-Feb-43, 27-Feb-43 and 4-Mar-43 per 303BG records: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Mission #2 event -er 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Mission #1 event -er 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG/website, Gary Moncur, Historian, John A. Castle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-castle.html
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG/website, Gary Moncur, Historian, John A. Castle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-castle.html
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added initial assignment and arrival in UK info and Participation statement to Summary BIography ; made connections ot aircraft (through 23-Jan-43) and Missions (trhough 23-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, http://www.303rdbg.com/
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit history, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 94, 303rd \web site, ABMC web site
