|
Robert Eugene SMITH
"Gene"
| |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Source : Time To Go Home | |||||||
| ARMY SERIAL NUMBER | O-403940 | ||||||
| AGE | 27 yo | ||||||
| DATE OF BIRTH | 26 february 1917 | ||||||
| STATE | Columbus, OHIO | ||||||
| FAMILY |
Spouse : Mary Catherine Children : Diane Lois Drapesa Parents : Arthur O & Myrtle E Browning SMITH Siblings : Arthur Paul & Dale Browning Smith Half Siblings : Mabel Elizabeth | ||||||
| RANK | 1st Lieutenant | ||||||
| FONCTION | Pilot | ||||||
| JOB before ENLISTEMENT |  | ||||||
| DATE of ENLISTEMENT | |||||||
| SQUADRON | 394th Fighter Squadron | ||||||
| GROUP | 367th Fighter Group | ||||||
| ARMY | 9th Air Force | ||||||
| DATE OF DEATH | 22 june 1944 |
Source : F Lavernhe | |||||
| STATUS | MIA | ||||||
| PLACE OF DEATH | Vers Jobourg/Herqueville - O de Cherbourg | ||||||
| DATA PLAN |
P-38 Lightning - type J-15-LO - s/n 42-104299
| ||||||
| CEMETERY | NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY from Colleville | ||||||
| GRAVE |
| ||||||
| DECORATION |
| ||||||
| |||||||
Source : Pami (Findagrave.com)
|
Source : Time To Go Home |
Source : Pami (Findagrave.com)
| |||||
|
Paul, Gene, Mabel and Dale B. Source : Pami (Findagrave.com) |
Remembering Major Robert Eugene "Gene" Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio), an American pilot who fought for our freedom in the skies. Gene was a loving husband, a proud father of a little girl named Diane, and a wonderful uncle who adored his three nieces. He joined the USAAF before WWII and turned out to be an exceptional pilot. Gene always lived his life to the fullest and enjoyed every second of it. He flew over Africa and saw magnificent landscapes. He flew over the Taj Mahal in India and was overwhelmed by its beauty. And he flew over China and discovered breathtaking sights. Like every pilot, Gene knew that every mission could be his last one, and he knew that many pilots would have to give theirs lives to defeat tyranny. Before the Invasion of Normandy, Gene was able to go back to Cincinnati and spend a few days with his family. When came the time to say goodbye, he looked at his brother-in-law and said: "If I don't come back, don't grieve for me. I have lived a life that few men do". On June 22, 1944, Gene was strafing German positions near Cherbourg, Normandy, when his aircraft got hit by enemy fire. Shortly before crashing, he radioed in to his next in command and said: "I've been shot, I'm going down, and you are in command". Gene died in the crash. He was only 27 years old. This American hero is now resting in peace at the Normandy American Cemetery. | ||||||
|
Source : Pami (Findagrave.com) |
Source : Pami (Findagrave.com) | ||||||
| INFORMATION SOURCES | Francecrashes39-45.net - Findagrave.com |
|---|---|
| PICTURE SOURCE | Frédéric LAVERNHE |
| PROGRAMMER | Frédéric & Renaud |