Ken Smith was born on February 18, 1921 and was from Indianapolis, Indiana. He served as the Pilot on B-24 “Tenmenbak” (42-51324) of the 764th Bomber Squadron, 461th Bomber Group, 15th Air Force which was based out of Torretta Airbase in Italy.
On December 17, 1944, this plane was a mission to bomb the oil refineries in Odental, Germany. After the bombing run, “Tenmenback” had an engine problem and dropped out of formation and was shot down by enemy fighters. The plane crashed killing one crewmember. Eight crewmembers were taken prisoner and one was able to evade capture with the help of partisans. A memorial in Trenčianske Teplice ,Slovakia remembers the plane the crewmember who died with the plane. Reference Missing Aircraft Report {MACR} 10683
Smith was taken as a POW (Camp- Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12) remained there for the rest of the war.
FROM FIND A GRAVE:
Kenneth Butler Smith, 82, Indianapolis, died March 11, 2003. Mr. Smith was the press secretary for Governor Edgar D. Whitcomb. Mr. Smith was also very active in the Republican Party, and served by organizing the National Governors' Conference and Meeting during the Paris peace talks with North and South Vietnam to release POW's. In addition to his political involvement, he served as superintendent of the Brown County State Park and was director of circulation for Muncie Star and Muncie News. His memberships include Englewood Christian Church, Englewood Masonic Lodge, Indianapolis Press Club, Disabled American Veterans and was a lifetime commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mr. Smith was most proud of his service to his country in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a B-24 pilot. He was awarded the Purple Heart and was invited by the Mayor of Trencin, Slovakia, to participate in as memorial honoring Mr. Smith and his crew of the "Tenmenbak". He is survived by his family Merrilinda Griffin, Kent Butler Smith, Robin Godfrey Smith, Virginia Rebecca Mills; 14 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren. Services will be held on Friday, March 14 at 2 p.m. at Flanner & Buchanan Funeral Center - Washington Park East, with calling there from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 13. Burial will be in Washington Park East Cemetery. The love of his country was equal to the love of his crew "Tenmenbak".