Sebastian C. Smith was born in 1915 in California. He resided in Los Angeles County, California prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on August 23, 1941, prior to the war, at Fort MacArthur, San Pedro, California. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a molder and also as Single, without dependents.

Sebastian served as a Staff Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F "Beautiful Baby" #42-30314, 353rd Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. B-17F #42-30314 took off from Oudna, Tunesia, with a crew of 9, on a bombing mission over airfields around Istres-Le Tubé Air Base, Marseille, France. They took two direct hits of flak to the bomb bay around 1400 hours and ended up crashing near Marseille. Six of the crew perished and three became POWs of the German Army.

SSGT Smith was Killed In Action in this crash. He is now buried in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA in the same grave with CPT Howard.

B-17F "Beautiful Baby" #42-30314 crew:
Barnett, Samuel L. ~ T/Sgt, Engineer
Cunningham, William J. ~ 1st Lt, Pilot
Howard, Lewis E. ~ Capt, Co-Pilot
Michael, Robert L. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator
Miller, Milton W., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier
Smith, Sebastian C. ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner
Jacobson, Harold J. ~ Radio Operator, POW
Roberts, Alvin W. ~ Wing Gunner, POW
Van Bures, Clyde E. ~ Tail Gunner, POW

Source of information: www.findagrave.com