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Related Page:
40 in a 30 zone
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Francis P. Smith Crew (left to right) |
| Standing: Conrad Stumpfig, Clyde
Manion,
James Law,
Francis Smith, Saul Hershkowitz, Swede Swenson |
| Kneeling: Bill Wertz, Al Little, John
Runcel, Jack Amery |
| 100th Bomb Group Photo Archives |
|
Francis P. Smith Crew (left to right) |
| Standing: Conrad Stumpfig, Clyde
Manion, Saul Hershkowitz,
Francis Smith, James Law, Swede Swenson |
| Kneeling: Bill Wertz, Al Little, John
Runcel, Jack Amery |
| Photo courtesy of Michael Moores LeBlanc
(3/22/2006) |
|
Francis P. Smith Crew (left to right) |
| Clyde S. Manion, Francis P. Smith, the pilot, James P. Law, and Saul Hershkowitz. |
| 100th Bomb Group Photo Archives |
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| 2ND LT FRANCIS P. SMITH, JR |
P |
POW |
30 DEC 1943 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
|
| 2ND LT JAMES P. LAW |
CP |
EVA |
30 DEC 1943 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
E&E #2029
(CAPTURE & POW) |
| 2ND LT SAUL HERSHKOWITZ |
NAV |
EVA |
30 DEC 1943 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
E&E #2415 |
| 2ND LT CLYDE S. MANION |
BOM |
EVA |
30 DEC 1943 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
E&E #577 |
| S/SGT JOHN L. "SWEDE"
SWENSON |
ROG |
EVA |
30 DEC 1943 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
E&E #726 |
| S/SGT JOHN T. AMERY
|
TTE |
EVA |
30 DEC 1943 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
E&E #469 |
| SGT ALVIN C. LITTLE
|
BTG |
EVA |
30 DEC 1943 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
E&E #250 |
| SGT JOHN W. RUNCEL
|
WG |
EVA |
30 DEC 1943 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
E&E #567 |
| SGT CONRAD P. STUMPFIG, JR |
WG |
EVA |
30 DEC 1943 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
E&E #568 |
| SGT WILLIAM WERTZ
|
TG |
EVA |
30 DEC 1943 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
E&E #576 |
351st Sqdn. Crew, as above, joined the 100th Group 28 Nov
1943
Crew was flying their 5th mission when shot down; They were
flying "42-5997 "Heaven Can Wait" 9 of this crew became evadee’s
with only Lt Law being captured while trying to cross into
Spain. E&E 2029. Lt James Law. 351st BS. Arrested in Sedan on
way to Pyrenees. It has been reported that the evadees moved
about in Paris almost like tourists. .
List of Missions for Lt Francis P. Smith Crew:
| 1. |
13/12/43 |
KIEL |
|
| 2. |
16/12/43 |
BREMEN |
|
| 3. |
20/12/43 |
BREMEN |
|
| 4. |
22/12/43 |
MUNSTER |
|
| 5. |
30/12/43 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
SHOT DOWN |
Squadron Diary: Lt Smith in A/C #997 was hit by enemy
fighters and side-slipped out of formation at 1345 hours. Fire
was observed behind the pilot’s seat and in the radio
compartment. One chute was seen before it disappeared into the
undercast near 4906 N - 0432 E. Crashed Les Rosiers near
Bouziers when the crew was forced to abandon due to flight deck
fires and oxygen bottle explosions caused by enemy fighter attacks.
20mm fire damaged radio room & bomb bay area and fire started
(probably from oxygen). Crew bailed out near the small village
of Voux Les Moron in northeastern France. The BTG (Alvin C.
Little) broke an ankle on landing. German report of Salvage of
the aircraft pin-points scene of crash as "One (1) kilometer
north of Les Rosiers and three (3) kilometers southeast of
Monthois.
1st Mission Memory from S/Sgt "Swede" Swenson
KIEL: "A lot of Flak, no fighters. We hit the docks and
harbor facilities with 200 planes. When the flak started coming
up, you couldn't believe it. The sky around us was so black from
the 88's. We were getting hit by pieces of flak. When we
returned to base, we counted more than a dozen holes in the
plane. "
5th Mission: "We went to Ludwigshaven and over the target we
hit a lot of flak, no fighters. We passed over the Ardennes and
were hit by 3 FW190's coming out of the sun at 11 O’clock High!
We were flying Tail End Charlie in the low element of 3
elements. We were hit with 20mm and machine gun fire. They hit
the #4 engine, set the bombay on fire, and a raging inferno
ensued. The next thing we heard was "We are hit, Bail out" from
Lt Smith. "…. Sgt Swenson
"The planes controls had been shot out, I couldn't fly it on
automatic pilot because she kept falling off on the right wing." -Lt Smith
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