George A. Smith
Major, U.S. Army Air Forces

On 25 August 1944, Major George A. Smith was serving as Pilot of a C-47 Skytrain Troop Carrier Plane in the 49th Troop Carrier Squadron, 313th Troop Carrier Group, Ninth Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces.

On that day, MAJ Smith’s unit was in action against German forces while flying paratroopers and supplies in Africa, Italy and Northern Europe. MAJ Smith was killed in action during a return flight in support of the battle of the crossing of the Rhine River. MAJ Smith’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal with Award Numeral 3
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Major (Air Corps) George A. Smith (ASN: 0-790047), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a C-47 Troop Carrier Airplane in the 49th Troop Carrier Squadron, 313d Troop Carrier Group, NINTH Air Force, in action in March 1945, flying paratroopers and supplies in Africa, Italy and Northern Europe. Major Smith was killed in action on 24 March on a return flight in support of the battle of the crossing of the Rhine River. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Major Smith, at the cost of his life, have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters, U.S. Army Air Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 135 (1945)

Burial

Major George A. Smith is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherland in Plot C, Row 13, Grave 1.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56303994/george-a-smith