Delivered Cheyenne 18/11/42; West Palm Beach 12/12/42; Assigned 368BS/306BG [BO- ] Thurleigh 1/1/43; damaged 1/3/43 coll with 42-24476; transferred AFSC 3/3/43, ret 9/4/43; Missing in Action Bremen 17/4/43 PRIDE OF KARIANS aka BODACIOUS CRITTER.



Missing in Action April 17, 1943

Capt Smiley, Walter N

1st Lt Breunig, Wilbur W

1st Lt Strauss, Martin M

2nd Lt Ewan, Avory L

T/Sgt Clifton, Raymond C

T/Sgt Hepler, Donald B

S/Sgt Clark, Roderick C

S/Sgt Payne, William H

S/Sgt Sliff, Lawrence J

S/Sgt Staiff Roy, K

Missing Air Crew Report 15518



Quoting battle report Case R-818 "The Aircraft took part in a bombing mission to the Focke Wulf Plant at Bremen, Germany, on 17 April 1943, at which time 10 aircraft were lost. This aircraft is believe to have turned back toward the enemy cost at 54 deg 10 min N - 06 deg 40 min E, and is believed to have crashed into the sea."



In the full mission report for April 17, 1943 another pilot wrote:

"14:05 Lt Smiley - turned back toward coast of Germany 54 deg 10 min N - 6 deg 40 min E. - possibly 4 chutes out before Smiley must have hit water. (1 B-17 blew up on hitting water was this Smiley? it sank immediately-)This A/c at 1000' then- apparently Smiley."