Emil Smetana


2nd Lt    0-688496    613th
Michigan
1921 - 1944

Bombardier aboard 42-37856 (Fancy Nancy III)


    

                                                                                                           Margraten cemetery, Netherlands.
                                                                                                           Plot : M , Row : 17 , Grave : 16.



     Emil was born May 1, 1921, Pennsylvania and later moved to Detroit, Michigan.
     His parents are from Czechoslovakia.

     In Dec 2, 1942 he enlisted to the air corps.

     In 1943 he arrived in England to join the 401st BG
     His last mission, Jan 30, 1944, just before Target Brunswick, the plane was hit by a FW 190.
     Unfortunately, Emil was killed
     He was awarded with an Air Medal and a Purple Heart Medal

     In 1944, when Emil died on the age of 21 he left behind his family :

         His step father, Stephen Kuchka, age 57
         His mother, Anna Kuchka, age 49
         His (step)brother, Andrew Lahoncht, age 29
         His (step)sister, Anna Lahoncht, age 23




Mission to Brunswick, germany, just before target the plane was hit by a FW 190 , German fighter.


Individual casualty questionaire

Told by S/Sgt Ray Lawrence Surowski , Engr / Top Turret.

- Name of crew member : Smetana , Emil.
- Rank : 2nd Lt.
- Serial number : 0-688496
- Position : Bombardier.

- Did he bail out ? : No knowledge.

- Last contact just prior to loss of plane ? : When enemy fighters were sighted Lt. Smetana said :
                                                                           " OK Gunners, get on the Ball ".

- Was he injured ? : Not at that time.

- Where was he last seen ? : Before take-off.

- Any explanation of his fate ? : Might have been killed during fighter attack or could not bail out before ship                                                           exploded.

- Total number of missions of above crew member ? : 5.

- Date and destinations if possible ? : Dec 31,   1943    Cognac , France
                                                                     Jan 5,     1944    Tours , France
                                                                     Jan 21,   1944    Notre Dame de Ferme , France
                                                                     Jan 29,   1944    Frankfurt
                                                                     Jan 30,   1944    Brunswick




Lt. Ronald R. Rohner Crew

Standing L to R: Ray Surowski, John Morreale, Homer Arbogast, Cliff Barker. Kenneth Dickerson, Lowel Reif.
Kneeling L to R: Stanley Johnson, Emil Smetana, Ronald Rohner, Frank Leonard.

Taken at Redmond Oregon in final days of training.


                  2nd Lt. Emil Smetana was buried on the cemetery of Ochsendorf at 16:00 hrs on 30 March. 44.





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