Robert W Smith

Military
media-19280.jpeg UPL 19280 Crew #663/486
George F. Maxton Crew
466th BG - 786th and 784th Bomb Squadrons

Standing Left to Right: Billy C. Newell (N), Robert W. Smith (PN), Stephen Weinrib (RN), George F. Maxton (P), Jack M. Bishop (B), Conrad E. Miller (CP)

Kneeling Left to Right: Adolph M. Cummings (R/O), G.O. Wilson (G), Arnold B. Deiterman (G), J.E. Rich (FE)

466th Bomb Group collection

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 19280 - Crew #663/486 George F. Maxton Crew 466th BG - 786th and 784th Bomb Squadrons Standing Left to Right: Billy C. Newell (N), Robert W. Smith...

Flew 27 missions over France and Germany, including12 as lead crew.



AM w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster/ DFC

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-768351
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Crow's Nest
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Arcola, IL 61910, USA 30 November 1923

Other

Gas Haul Mission

Lille, France 22 September 1944 "I was lucky enough to fly as navigator on the 2nd gas haul mission flown by the Robert Wightman Crew. We landed at a field just south of Lille, France. After unloading the gas, we walked the mile or two into town and proceeded to find the Bellevue Hotel, which had a great band playing American music. They were also serving great cognac that they had managed to hide from the Germans, who had been there only 3 or 4 days before.

Died

Hanover, IN 47243, USA 29 October 2011 Robert W. Smith, 87, of Hanover, Indiana, was born November 30, 1923, in Arcola, Illinois, the son of Granville and Mabel (Gee) Smith. He was a 1941 graduate of Tuscola High School in Douglas County, Illinois. After graduation, he studied machining. When he turned 18 he took a defense job with Lucas Harold Corporation, operators of Naval Ordnance in Indianapolis. He started work there the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He also worked at Lucas Harold Corp.'s Manufacturing Machine and Tool Co. in New York City for four months. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps on December 5, 1942, and trained as an Aviation Cadet. He was trained as a bombardier at Deming, New Mexico. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on April 1, 1943. He flew 27 missions aboard B24 Liberator bombers based at Attlebridge Air Base near Norwich, England. As a member of the 466th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force, he participated in the battles of Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. He was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with two clusters and the Good Conduct Medal.Because he worked at Naval Ordnance before enlisting in the Air Corps, he was one of only a handful of people who both constructed and used in combat the Norden bombsight, the breakthrough aviation technology of World War II. He had the rare privilege of being in London's Piccadilly Circus to celebrate to VE (Victory in Europe) Day.After the war, he attended DePauw University, graduating in 1949. While he was a student he worked as an agent for State Farm Insurance in Putnam County, Indiana. He also owned a show horse, Pinocchio, with which he competed at various county fairs.In 1951, he married Dorothy Louise Sidney. They made their home and raised their family in Carmel, Indiana.His career was in sales - grocery wholesaling, life insurance, pharmaceuticals and real estate. He was a faithful member of Orchard Park Presbyterian Church and Woodland Springs Christian Church in Carmel. Whenever there was a work party at church, he was there to lend a hand. He volunteered for many community activities, including the Carmel Classic Track and Field Event. He was a volunteer conductor for the Fair Train from Carmel to the State Fair.Always the handyman, he renovated a circa-1900 farmhouse and built an addition that doubled its size for his growing family. He dug and constructed a 16-by-32 foot swimming pool for his family's enjoyment, despite the fact that he didn't swim. He took his family on many camping trips all over North America.In 1980, Bob and his wife sponsored a former South Vietnamese Army officer, Thomas Nam Truong, to come to the United States. He lived in their home until he learned English and became self-sufficient. He became another son to them. Truong now lives in North Hollywood, Calif. He traveled to Indiana for a reunion with the family in 2010.After he retired in 1987, Bob and his wife moved to Ten Cent Road, south of Hanover, Indiana with his own hands, and at the age of 65, he built a beautiful house overlooking the Ohio River. He was a member of Hanover Presbyterian Church and a docent for Historic Madison Inc., volunteering at Dr. Hutching's Office. He was an enthusiastic cheerleader for all his children's and grandchildren's activities.He was a lifelong Republican who often worked at the polls and never missed a chance to vote. He was an avid sports fan, especially of Carmel High School teams, Butler University basketball, the Indianapolis Pacers and the Colts.On June 7, 2011, he and his son traveled to Washington, D.C. to see the World War II Memorial and other sights, as part of the Honor Flight Tri-State program. He had recently become a member of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society.During the final year of his life, he was a resident of Thornton Terrace Health Campus in Hanover. There he enjoyed playing cards, working puzzles, watching old movies and listening to music. Robert died Saturday,October 29, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at Thornton Terrace Health Campus in Hanover Indiana.

Buried

Hanover, IN 47243, USA 2 November 2011 Hanover Cemetery Hanover Jefferson County Indiana, USA
Tuscola, IL 61953, USA 908 East Wilson Street
Hanover, IN 47243, USA

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Archives - Letter and mission list from R.W. Smith to Chris Brassfield circa 2005

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self & Page 412 in the book 2ND AIR DIVISIONby Turner Publishing Company, 1998 edition (D790.A2S45)

Robert W Smith: Gallery (1 items)