Daniel C. Smoke, Jr. was born on July 23, 1923, in Alabama, and lived in Selma, Dallas County, Alabama. He completed 1 year of college and was employed as a checker. He was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Miami Beach, Florida, on February 19, 1943. After training, he was assigned as a pilot in the 838th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group at Lavenham, England – part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force. He and his eight crew mates were all killed in action on March 19, 1945, when their aircraft, B-17G 43-38038, collided with B-17G 43-37969 ‘Beverly Jean' during formation assembly, and crashed near Couvron France. His remains were returned to the United States after the war, and reinterred at New Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, Alabama. His name is also honored on a monument located at the Memorial Stadium in Selma, Alabama.

B-17G 43-38038 crew:
• Smoke Jr, Daniel C – 2/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Pendarvis, George H – F/O – Copilot – KIA
• Olsen, Gunnar K – F/O – Navigator – KIA
• Strong, John H – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• White Jr, John – Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Stone, Harold J – Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Sala, David W – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA
• Koepsell, Elmer E – Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Burres, Richard E – Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA

Source of information: www.findagrave.com