Alonzo C. Smith, Jr. was born on March 14, 1935. He was the son of Alonzo Sr. and Cyrene H. Smith.

Alonzo served in the 577th Bomber Squadron, 392nd Bomber Group, as a Staff Sergeant and Radio Operator/Mechanic on the B-24 Liberator #42-7497 during World War II.

On March 18, 1944, his crew took off from Station 118 airfield in Wendling, England, for a mission in Friedrichshafen. At 1510 hours, the plane was last seen spinning down to the left, with one engine on fire, and subsequently crashing. A total of seven parachutes in two groups were seen. Those seven crew members, including SSgt Smith, became prisoners of war. He was sent to a hospital in Stalag Luft 17B near Krems, Austria. The bodies of the other three crew members were discovered in the wreckage.

Alonzo was active in various organizations and directed the Voices of Faith Youth Choir of Elgin, which performed throughout the Fox Valley and Chicago. He moved to Aurora in the mid-fifties, where he continued working with youth and directed the Youth Choir at Main Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Reverend Robert Wesby. In November 1963, he was one of the 11 founding members of Progressive Baptist Church. Alonzo raised his family in the Aurora community where he owned and operated a barbershop for many years. He later expanded this business to include car detailing. Alonzo continued to operate his business until illness would no longer allow him to do so.

Alonzo died on August 13, 2000, at the age of 65. His current burial place is unknown.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net