Adrian H. Smit was born in 1921 in New Jersey. He served in the 328th Bomber Squadron, 93rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Gunner of B-24D #41-23711 nicknamed ''Jerks Natural'' during World War II.
On October 1, 1943, the B-24D “Jerk’s Natural” was returning from a bombing mission over Wiener Neustadt, Austria, when it fell behind its formation and was attacked by German fighters. The aircraft was heavily damaged, entered a spin, and crashed into the mountains northeast of Graz, near Heilbrunn and Brandlucken in the Austrian region of Styria. Nine of the ten crew members were killed in the crash, with only the navigator surviving and taken as a prisoner of war.
SSgt Smit was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay Township, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA.Source of information: www.flickr.com, www.americanairmuseum.com
PRIVATE CITIZENS SUPPORTING AMERICA'S HERITAGE
American
War Memorials Overseas, Inc.
War Memorials Overseas, Inc.
Smit Adrian H.
Name:
Adrian H. Smit
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Serial Number:
32454962
Unit:
328th Bomber Squadron, 93rd Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1943-10-01
State:
New Jersey
Cemetery:
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay Township, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA
Plot:
Section 82
Row:
Grave:
Site 7B
Decoration:
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Comments: