1Lt. Glenn Willard Smith

1LT USMC WORLD WAR II

Glenn Willard Smith nicknamed "Smitty" was a graduate of Chaffey College and enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps. During August 1943 he served as VMB-413's commander of the guard until his death on May 5, 1944.

© Pacific Wrecks - PBJ-1D Mitchell Bureau Number 35143 Source: Pacific Wrecks

On May 5, 1944 took off from Green Island Airfield (Nissan) piloted by 1st Lt. Glenn Willard Smith "Smitty" on a bombing mission against Tobera Airfield near Rabaul. That day, a passenger was aboard: a photographer and unit historian from the 2nd Amphibious Corps.

Flying at medium altitude over Tobera Airfield, this B-25 was hit by anti-aircraft fire in the left engine that damaged the engine and partially dislodged it from the mount. Another bomber in the formation photographed the damaged PBJ Mitchell while still in flight. Moments later, it crashed three miles west of the runway into a Japanese camp area. This bomber impacted at high speed, killing the entire crew in the impact.