During World War II, Kenneth Smith became a U.S. Army Air Forces ACE, credited with shooting down 5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, before he was himself shot down, captured, and interned as a Prisoner of War. Badly burned when his fighter was destroyed, he spent nearly a year in the POW Camp hospital. Returned after the war, he was killed in a P-47 flying accident near Searsport, Maine, on October 20, 1947.
Sponsored by:
Kenneth
Guy
Smith
POW (WWII), DNB (1947)
July 8, 1941
–
October 20, 1947
Born:
Boise
,
Idaho
Home:
Boise
,
Idaho
Awards Received
-
Prisoner of War Medal
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
-
Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Captain (Air Corps)Batallion:
335th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
4th Fighter GroupDivision:
Prisoner of War (Germany)Action Date:
March 21, 1944 – May 1945
NARA Database: Records of World War II Prisoners of War, created, 1942 – 33833Captain (Air Corps) Kenneth Guy Smith (ASN: 0-885251), United States Army Air Forces, was captured by German forces after he was shot down on 21 March 1944, and was held as a Prisoner of War until his return to U.S. Military Control at the end of hostilities in May 1945.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Captain (Air Corps)Batallion:
335th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
4th Fighter GroupDivision:
8th Air ForceAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain (Air Corps) Kenneth Guy Smith (ASN: 0-885251), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Fighter Pilot of the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Captain (Air Corps)Batallion:
335th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
4th Fighter GroupDivision:
8th Air ForceAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain (Air Corps) Kenneth Guy Smith (ASN: 0-885251), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Fighter Pilot of the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Captain (Air Corps)Batallion:
335th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
4th Fighter GroupDivision:
8th Air ForceAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain (Air Corps) Kenneth Guy Smith (ASN: 0-885251), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Fighter Pilot of the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.