Luther Smith Bird

Military
media-55260.png UPL 55260 2nd Lt Luther Smith Bird

Object Number - UPL 55260 - 2nd Lt Luther Smith Bird

Luther Bird was assigned to the 8th Air Force, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 328th Bomb Squadron. He flew on 23 combat missions and took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti, flying the B-24D Liberator, 41-23722, named, Bomerang. Returned to base. RTB. 1 Aug 43.



He Failed to Return (FTR) from a bombing mission to Osnabruck, Germany, in the B-24D, 42-63982, Jack Frost. The aircraft was shot down by rockets and cannon fire from German ME-110 fighter planes, entered a spin, spun down on fire, and exploded. Bird was blown out of the aircraft and survived, saved by his chute. 22 Dec 43. Prisoner of War. POW. MACR 2190



Awards : Distinguished Flying Cross for the Ploesti mission - Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters - Prisoner of War Medal - American Campaign Medal - WWII Victory Medal - European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal - with one bronze service star.



Post war: Remained in USAF serving in Korea and Vietnam, rising to rank of Lt Colonel.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13043630
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 138649 / O-885948
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36339466
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14054223
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball turret gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-?
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Bomerang
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Jack Frost
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
Prisoners of war, including Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group at Stalag Luft I.
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Greenville, South Carolina, USA 25 November 1921 Son of John Phifer and Gladys E [Hunt] Bird.

Enlisted

Charlotte, NC 26 February 1942 Charlotte, North Carolina

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Barth, Germany 22 December 1943 Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft I.

Other

Survived explosion POW

Quakenbruck, Germany 22 December 1943 Failed to Return (FTR) Osnabruck in B-24 42-63982 'Jack Frost'; Hit by flak, spun down and exploded. Blown out of A/C 22-Dec-43 in. POW MACR 2190

Other

Discharged USAAF

21 January 1947 Honourable discharge.

Died

Bryan, TX 21 October 2006

Buried

College Station Cemetery College Station, Brazos County, TX 24 October 2006 College Station Cemetery College Station, Brazos County, Texas

Based

Hardwick 22 December 1943 Assigned to 328th Bomb Squadron, the 93rd Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force (TDY) to the 9th Air Force, USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Removed punctuation from aircraft name for clarity, uniformity, and readability. - Kickapoo

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ContributorAl_Skiff
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Contributordecwriter
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NARA files verified DFC and AM with three Oak Leaf Clusters. He earned the ACM based on entry date and the EAME Campaign Medal with at least one bronze service star. He earned more awards due to his continued service until retirement from military service.

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Best Web - B-24 - 43-63982 - JACK FROST

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ContributorAl_Skiff
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ContributorKickapoo
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Best web - B-24 - '41-23722'

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ContributorKickapoo
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Best Web - B-24 - 'Jack Frost'

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ContributorKickapoo
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Best Web - B-24 - 'Jack Frost'

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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2190 / Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum Membership List, July 2000; MACR 2190 & Unit history /self & MACR 5496 & SECOND AIR DIVISION by Turner Publishing Company, D790.A2S45, 1998, page 208 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Luther Smith Bird: Gallery (2 items)