World War II
-
MIA

Mandan, ND

County:
Morton

Date of Loss:

Branch of Service:
Air Force

Rank:
Sgt.

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent:
401st Bomber Squadron, 91st Bomber Group, Heavy

Circumstances:

Died while in MIA status.

Biography:

Memorialized at Netherlands American Cemetery. Received Purple Heart and Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. From Fields of Honor database SMITH, Douglas Henry Servicenumber: 20744707 Age: 21 Born: 6 January 1923, Mandan, Morton County, North Dakota Hometown: Morton County, North Dakota Family: Henry J. Smith (father) Maude C. Smith (mother) Rank: Sergeant Function: Ball Turret Gunner Regiment: - Battalion: - Division €“ Transport: - Company €“ Squadron: 401st Bomber Squadron Unit €“ Group: 91st Bomber Group, Heavy Plane data: (Serialnumber, MACR, etc.) Serialnumber: 42-5362 Type: B-17F Nickname: Short Snorter II Destination: Wilhelmshaven, Germany Mission: Not available MACR: 15712 Date of death: 26 February 1943 Status: FOD / MIA Place of death: North Sea Spot: Not available Awards: Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart Gravenumber: Walls of the Missing Cemetery: American War Cemetery Margraten Biography: - Other information: Sgt Douglas H. Smith enlisted at Fort Francis E. Warren, Cheyenne, Wyoming on 26 August 1941. A/C 42-5362 took part in a bombing mission to Wilhelmshaven, Germany, 26 February 1943, at which time several aircraft were lost. No search was made. The aircraft was last seen off the coast of the German Frisian Islands. It crashed into the North Sea, killing all 10 crew members. Source of information: Luc van der Sterren, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.comwww.archives.govwww.8thafhs.comwww.ancestry.com - Smith Schmitt Family Tree, Tyana Johnson Mandan News Editor Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Fred Munckhof, Jason R. Smith, Darlene Graner (cousin) via Tyana Johnson