Donald Edson Smith was born in 1924 in Bedford, New York. He served in the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, as a Second Lieutenant during World War II.

On 18 August 1944, he took off from Station 356 airfield in Debden, England, aboard P-51 Mustang #44-13563 WD*R "Marj," on an escort mission to Paris. Around 7:30 PM, he was shot down while strafing when his section was bounced by over 50 Me-109’s and FW-190’s. He was last seen just as the enemy aircraft attacked. his plane crashed near LaFerte, France.

2Lt Smith is now buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, francecrashes39-45.net, 4thfightergroupassociation.org