Martin Smith, 1918–1942 (aged 23 years)
- Name
- Martin /Smith/
- Given names
- Martin
- Surname
- Smith
| Birth | November 6, 1918
23
20 |
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| Birth of a sister | Ethel Smith August 12, 1926 (aged 7 years) |
| Birth of a brother | Samuel Smith October 16, 1930 (aged 11 years) |
| Death of a father | Thomas Smith |
| Death | October 29, 1942 (aged 23 years) |
| father | |
|---|---|
| mother | |
| Marriage | Marriage — — |
| himself |
1918–1942
Birth: November 6, 1918
23
20 — Philadelphia, PA Death: October 29, 1942 — U.S. AAF, Middle Eastern Area |
|
8 years
younger sister |
1926–2020
Birth: August 12, 1926
31
28 — Florida Death: March 30, 2020 — Albuquerque, New Mexico |
|
4 years
younger brother |
1930–2012
Birth: October 16, 1930
35
32 — West Palm Beach, Florida Death: December 30, 2012 — West Palm Beach, Florida |
| Note | from http://www.376hbgva.com A Brief History Following the 7 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the Army Air Forces to mount retaliatory raids on the Japanese home islands. A task force, commanded by Colonel Harry E. Halverson and composed of 231 officers and enlisted men and 23 B-24D Liberator bombers, was assembled at Fort Myers, Florida. The unit was given the code name "HALPRO" for Halverson Project. This organization, destined to be the parent unit of the 376th Bombardment Group, departed the United States on 20 May 1942 to begin attacks on Japanese targets from a base located in China. When HALPRO arrived in the Middle East, the unit learned that its' proposed base had been captured by Japanese forces. To make matters worse, the German Afrika Korps under General Erwin Rommel was poised to attack Allied forces in North Africa. HALPRO was quickly diverted from its' original mission to a new one: interdictory raids from airfields in Egypt against shipping and North African ports supporting Axis operations. On 20 June 1942, the Halverson Project was dissolved and the organization was renamed the First Provisional Bombardment Group. In subsequent organizational change, all First Provisional personnel and B-24s were transferred to the newly activated 376th Heavy Bombardment Group. The order became effective on 31 October 1942 and as a subsequent gesture of unit identity, members of the 376th adopted the nickname "Liberandos". Rapid build-up of personnel and aircraft in early 1943 resulted in the formation of a fully formed group composed of the 512th, 513th, 514th and 515th Squadrons. Attacks by the fledgling 376th, the first heavy bombardment group to operate in the Middle East Theater, were focused on Axis supply lines between Italy and North Africa, airfields, and port facilities. Later, longer range raids were made against oil refineries, marshalling yards, and ordinance factories in Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. The Liberandos were also chosen to lead four other B-24 bombardment groups on the daring 1 August 1943 low level raid against Romania's Ploesti Oil Fields. After the liberation of North Africa late in 1943, the Group moved to San Pancrazio, Italy where it participated in an accelerated campaign against Axis targets in southern Europe and the Balkans. Group sorties extended as far as Vienna, Austria and Regensburg, Germany. During four years of operations, the 376th and its parent units became integral elements of the 9th, 12th, and 15th Air Forces. The Group flew 451 missions, was awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations and earned 15 campaign awards. The Liberandos destroyed 220 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and suffered casualties totalling 1479 officers and enlisted personnel and 169 aircraft. Article courtesy of James W. Walker, Group Historian Hello Alex, "Queen Bee" was "Lorraine" Halpro number 9 - 41-11591. This is what I have found over time. Halpro 1 - Ole Faithful/Lily of the Desert - 41-11595 Halpro 2 - Brooklyn Rambler - 41-11596 Halpro 3 - Yank - 41- 11625 Halpro 4 - Ole Rock - 41-11618 Halpro 5 - Town Hall - 41-11622 Halpro 6 - Little Eva - 41-11609 Halpro 7 - 41-11594 Halpro 8 - Eager Beaver - 41-11600 Halpro 9 - Queen Bee/Lorraine - 41-11591 Halpro 10 - Florine Jo-Jo/Blue Streak - 41-11613 Halpro 11 - Ball of Fire - 41-11624 Halpro 12 - Old King Solomon - 41-11617 Halpro 13 - Halpro 14 - Arkansas Traveler - 41-11616 Halpro 15 - Ripper the First - 41-11614 Halpro 16 - Edna Elizabeth - 41-11620 Halpro 17 - Draggin' Lady - 41-11592 Halpro 18 - Black Mariah - 41-11593 Halpro 19 - Blue Goose - 41-11597 Halpro 20 - Mona the Lame Duck - 41-11615 Halpro 21 - Babe the Big Blue Ox - 41-11602 Halpro 22 - Halpro 23 - Hellsapoppin - 41-11601 Halpro 23 - Malicious - 41-11603 Halpro 24 - Wash's Tub - 41-11636 Halpro 25 - Jap Trap - 41-11629 Then there were Halpro - Benghazi Express - 41-11631 Halpro - Kitty Quick/Chum V - 41-11630 Halpro - Censored - 41-11686 Halpro - Old Spare Ribs - 41-11646 Perhaps more ? But as there were only 23 original a/c reported, and only 13 took part in the raid it leaves the question as to when the other a/c became part of the Unit ? Also it has been reported that there were also a few B17's attached to the Unit but I have found nothing on them as yet. All the best Alex |
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| Note | Link to Matin Smith's diary written between July 12 1042 and October 29 1942: http://MartinSmithMIA.US 41-11910 Sag Ass Sally |
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| Media object | Note: Photo Provided by Ethel Smith Zimberoff
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