Name: Leland W Smith
First Name(s): Leland W
Last Name: Smith
Place of birth: Oklahoma, Woods Cnty, Freedom
Rank: Capt Pilot
ASN: O-756047
Company: 428th F Sqdrn
Unit: 474th Fighter Grp 9th USAAF
Reported as: MIA ► KIA
Date of incident: 25-12-1944
Place of incident: Pronsfeld area (D)
His story: Aircraft Lockheed LIGHTNING type P-38L-1-LO #44-24615, took off from Airbase Florennes, Belgium on December 25, 1944 for a strafing and dive bombing mission. At about 0955, Squadron Leader Capt Leland W. Smith went in on the target, three plus unidentified motor trucks, with. He was unable to pull out of the dive and his plane crashed into the ground about one mile South of Pronsfeld, Germany and exploded on impact.
There was no evidence that Capt Smith had managed to bail out. At first Capt Smith was reported MIA.
Destination: Sankt Vith
Mission: Dive Bombing/Strafing
MACR: 11466
Unit history of 474th Fighter Group
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