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 358th M.L. Smith Crew
Marshall L. Smith, Pilot
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MARSHALL L. SMITH CREW - 358th BS
(Assigned 358BS: 14 Nov 1943 - photo: 6 Feb 1944)



MARSHALL L. SMITH CREW - 358th BS
(Assigned 358BS: 14 Nov 1943)

Original M.L. Smith Crewmen:
1Lt Marshall L. Smith (P)(KIA), 2Lt Francis J. Palecek (CP)(KIA),
2Lt Edward Neuwirth (N)(POW), 2Lt Edward J. Troy (B)(KIA)

T/Sgt Andrew Dick Jr. (E)(KIA), S/Sgt Edwin J. Frolick (R)(KIA),
S/Sgt Robert L. Clink (BTG)(POW)(1), S/Sgt Thomas J. Rogers (RWG)(2),
S/Sgt John Schor (LWG)(KIA), S/Sgt Walter O. Fugate (TG)(POW)

Sgt Herman L. Stauter (front, far right) - other crewmen in photo are unidentified

Seventeen Credited Smith Crew Missions:
87 (11 Dec 43), 88, 89, 90, 96, 97, 98, 100, 101, 102, 105, 106, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112 (24 Feb 1944). Lt Marshall L. Smith flew on mission #86 (5 Dec 43) as CoPilot with 1Lt Donald F. DeCamp as Pilot.

Crew Notes:

  1. Sgt Robert L. Clink (BTG)(POW) - Flew on five missions with the Smith Crew (87, 89, 90, 95, 97, 99). On mission #99 (14 Jan 44) Flew with Capt Merle L. Hungerford (P) in B-17F #42-3029 Wallaroo (358th BS). B-17 was shot down. All crewmen bailed out and became POWs. Sgt Clink was replaced by S/Sgt Gustaf J. Simon (BTG)(KIA) who flew on eleven missions with the Smith crew (88, 100, 101, 102, 105, 106, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112). A substitute BTG flew with the Smith crew on mission #98.
  2. S/Sgt Thomas J. Rogers (RWG) - Flew on three missions with the Smith Crew (87, 88, 89). Removed from crew and completed his combat tour on 19 May 1944 with other Pilots. Was replaced on the Smith Crew by Sgt Herman L. Stauter (RWG)(KIA) who flew on the Smith crew's last thirteen missions.
KIA (Killed in Action), POW (Prisoners of War) The 1Lt Marshall L. Smith crews last mission was #112 on 24 Feb 1944 to Schweinfurt, Germany in B-17 #42-31239 (no name) (358th BS) VK-N. Was shot down by a ME-109 which was diving out of the sun hitting the Smith crew B-17 with a rocket on the nose. Crashed near Hungen, Germany (MACR #2763)

[photo courtesy of David Stauter]
[Researched by Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]