James E. Smith was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot in Europe during World War II. Assigned to the 527th Squadron, 379th Bomb Group, Smith's first mission was against the ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt, Germany. Smith eventually flew 25 combat missions over Germany and France as the pilot of 'Ruthie.'
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Fighter Pilot Salute
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
From Training Pilot to Schweinfurt
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Surviving Twenty-Five missions
Transcript
Related Materials
Picture Captions
Detailed descriptions of the pictures listed below
Videos
Photos
Caption
Photo taken while Private Smith was assigned to the field artillery, circa 1942.
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 1942
Ownership:
Public domain
Caption
2nd Lieutenant James Smith in flight school, Luke Air Field, Arizona in spring of 1943.
Where:
Luke Air Field, Arizona
When:
spring of 1943
Ownership:
Public domain
Caption
1st Lieutenant Smith, in a photo taken after the war. He proudly wears his medals, including the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Public domain
Caption
Ruthie's flight crew. Front left is Joseph Uporsky, Walter Webster, Edward ‘Whitey' Warren, Shorty Davis, Leroy Nicholson and J. L. Potter. Back row: LT Smith (Pilot), the bombardier (unknown), Joe LeBore (Navigator), and Leon Lanphear (Co-pilot).
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Public domain
Caption
LT Smith with the ground crew for Ruthie, taken at Kimbolton Airfield, England.
Where:
Kimbolton Airfield, England.
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Public domain
Caption
A B-17 on a mission over Schweinfurt, Germany. Schweinfurt was Smith's first mission. Photo is from the National Archives World War II collection.
Where:
Schweinfurt, Germany
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Public domain
Caption
An areal shot of Kimbolton Airfield, England, where LT Smith, a member of the 379th Bomb Group, was based.
Where:
Kimbolton Airfield, England
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF