[Yves Marino]

Originally Posted by Stephane Muret

Hello,

I don't have many informations about this crash but lonely pilot of the plane was Lt Col. William F. Smith from 457th BG (deputy Group commander, combat veteran with 40 missions).
2 servicemen were killed in the crash.
I suppose the 457th BG website could give you more informations.

Hope this could help.

Stéphane Muret

Merci Stephane!
I have tons of information about the crash, but not the details I need. By the way, this is what I have about the crew:

"On that Saturday, William Smith, a decorated war hero and veteran of over 50 missions, was preparing to fly a B-25 bomber from Bedford, Massachussets to Newark airport in New Jersey to pick up his commanding officer. With him was his co-pilot Christopher Domitrovich, and Navy Machinist’s Mate Albert Perna who was headed home on emergency leave. Smith had never flown a B-25 before, but he had spent years flying the larger, heavier B-17 bombers."

457 is a heavy BG, flying B-17 and stationed in Sioux Falls AAFld, SD in the period 20 Jul-18 Aug 1945 and the flight after picking the commander had to be continued to South Dakota.
From the site www.457thbombgroup.org I just could find that William F. Smith died in present time but there is another William L. Smith in the rooster, who could be the crash pilot. So I haven't had more time to check everything.





P.S. Soon after I wrote the above a friend sent me this link - some details to find : http://www.gloriapall.com/empireb25.pdf