|  |
|
| |
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 475th FG Headquarters  USAAF 1944 |
Pilot Lt Col Meryl M. Smith, O-403748 (MIA / KIA) North East, PA MIA December 7. 1944 MACR 11029 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 422-4949. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38L-1-LO Lightning serial number 44-23945. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", Headquarters Squadron (HQ). No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engines V-1710-111 serial number A-053911 and V-1710-113 serial number A-052759. Armed with 20mm cannon made by International Harvester serial number 122628 plus four .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown serial numbers 393631, 393625, 640844, 641386 and 122628. Mission History On December 7, 1944 took off from Dulag Airfield piloted by Lt Col Meryl M. Smith flying no. 3 in a flight of four P-38s of "Banyan Special" on a patrol over Ormoc Bay. The weather was ceiling and visibility unlimited (CAVU). Over the target at 6,000', intercepted by Japanese Zeros and began a steep turn to the right with one Zero latching onto Smith's tail then broke off when No. 4 2nd Lt. Sexton fired a short burst. At 3:00pm, last seen by 2nd Lt. Sexton in a steep dive with both engines smoking north of Esperanza on Poro Island in the Camotes Islands at roughly Lat 10° 45' N, Long 124° 25' E. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).s Search On December 8, 1944 at 8:40am, a search mission was flown by four P-38s led by 1st Lt. John A. Tilley over the Ormoc Bay as weather would permit then returned with nil sightings. At 1:25pm two P-38s again led by 1st Lt. Tilley searched the Ormoc Bay area without result. Memorials Smith was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Silver Star, Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Smith also has a memorial marker at North East Cemetery in North East, PA in section P. He is also listed on the War Memorial at Gibson Park, North East, PA. He is also memorialized at the National Museum of the Pacific War with a wall plaque. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38L-1-LO Lightning 44-23945 "23945 (475th FG, 432nd FS) shot down by fighters Dec 7, 1944 over Ponson Island, Leyte. MACR 11029" USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Smith, Meryl M. page 175 (PDF page 183) The Hall of Valor Project - Meryl M. Smith (DFC citations) Missing Air Crew Report 11029 (MACR 11029) created December 12, 1944 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Meryl M. Smith FindAGrave - LtC Meryl Milton “Milt” Smith (photos, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - LTC Meryl Milton Smith (memorial marker photo) National Museum of the Pacific War - Meryl M. Smith (memorial plaque photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated April 19, 2021
|
 P-38  MIA 1 Missing  Map Dec 7, 1944  Photo Archive |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
