Smith Dennis David

Monuments

Anglo-American Memorial 1939-1945 (65th Fighter Wing)

Name:

Dennis David Smith

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-885128

Unit:

336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group

Date of Death:

1942-09-26

State:

California

Cemetery:

Brittany American Cemetery, France

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Purple Heart

Comments:

Dennis David Smith was born on 26 November 1919 in Oilton, Oklahoma. He served in the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, as a Second Lieutenant during World War II.

On 26 September 1942, Smith's Spitfire took off from Great Sampford, on a mission to escort B-17s to the Morlaix airfield. Returning from the escort mission and already short on fuel (due to a strong headwind and delays in finding the bombers), the formation got misoriented in the low clouds. While they thought they were over England, they were passing south of Brest where they were attacked by enemy fighters and flak. The squadron lost 11 of 12 Spitfires during this mission. The only Spitfire to make it back to England crashed upon landing.

2Lt Smith is now buried in the Brittany American Cemetery, Montjoie Saint Martin, France.

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