Background
Glenn Willard Smith was born September 26, 1921 in Los Angeles, California. Nicknamed "Smitty". Prewar, he graduate of Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga and lived nearby in San Bernardino. He married to Anne E. Smith and resided in Inglewood.
Wartime History
Smith enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR). On April 24, 1943 commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-21855 at Corpus Christi, Texas. Assigned to Marine Bombing Squadron 413 (VMB-413) and promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. During August 1943 he served as the commander of the guard for VMB-413 until his death on May 5, 1944.
Mission History
On May 5, 1944 at 9:10am took off piloting PBJ-1D Mitchell 35143 from Stirling Airfield as one of six PBJ-1D Mitchells led by Lt. Col. A. B. Galatian (C.O. VMB-413) with Green, Goddard, Gordon and Bratton on a bombing mission against Tobera Airfield supply areas. Also aboard was passenger Cpl. Robert S. Bleir, a photographer and unit
historian from the 3rd Amphibious Corps.
At 10:55am at medium altitude over Tobera Airfield, hit by anti-aircraft
fire in the left engine that damaged the engine and partially dislodged it from the mount. Another bomber in the same formation photographed PBJ Mitchell with the damaged left engine. Moments later, crashed and burst into flames landing in a Japanese camp area roughly a 800 yards or a mile west of the runway. The entire crew was killed on impact and the plane broke into pieces. When this PBJ failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA).
Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. On February 7, 1950
Smith, Jones, Little, Herbst, Mazepa, Gillen were buried as a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at section 34 site 4900.
Relatives
Gleen Golay (nephew of Smith)
References
USMC Casualty Card - Glenn Willard Smith
(Reverse) "Plane was hit by AA fire and crashed in flames near Tobera Field. Crew members of other planes reported seeing flames in navigators compartment & that plane crashed, exploded & burned 800 yds west of south end of Tobera runway. No crew members were seen to leave plane between time it was hit and time it crashed. War Diary fr VMB-413 MarAirSoPac dated 6-14-44. Conf#42467 rec'd 7-10-44. (mk)"
NARA USMC Marine Bombing Squadron 413 War Diary May 1944 pages 2, 3, 5, 9
(Page 5)
"5 May, 1944 - 0910. Galatian Green, Goddard, Gordon, Smith and Bratton off to bomb Tobera supply area at 1100. Unobserved results from bombing. Plane, Bu. No. 35143, with 1st Lt. G.W. Smith and crew, shot down over target area by direct hit from enemy A/A. (Ref: ACA-1 Rpt. 43)"
NARA USMC Marine Bombing Squadron 413 Aircraft Action Report (AAR) Report No. 43
(ACA-1 Rpt. 43)
Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Glenn W. Smith (group burial photos)
FindAGrave - Lt. Glenn Willard Smith (group burial photo)
History of Marine Corps in World War II (1952) pages 204 (May 5, 1944), 205 (VMB-413 A/C Lost)
(Page 204) "...on 5 May [1944], ten days before it was relieved by VMB-423, AA at Rabaul's Tobera Airfield shot down Lieut. Glen W. Smith's plane."
Ghost Wings
Magazine Issue 6 "The
Ghosts in the Forest: Discovery of a USMC PBJ-1D" by Justin Taylan
Thanks to Dr. Bill Belcher, Rick Ray and Brian Bennett for additional information
