Long Island Sound – June 17, 1944
P-47 Thunderbolt – U.S. Air Force Photo
On June 17, 1944, a flight of four P-47 fighter aircraft took off from Hillsgrove Army Air Field in Warwick, Rhode Island, for a gunnery training flight over Long Island Sound off the shore of Madison, Connecticut. One of the aircraft, (Ser. No. 42-22556), was being piloted by 2nd Lt. Everett C. Smith, (20), of North Carolina.
While over the target area, Lt. Smith made seven successful passes at the target(s). While making his eighth pass he crashed into the water of Long Island Sound and was killed.
Lt. Smith is buried in Bethlehem United Methodist Church Cemetery in Advance, North Carolina. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58597830/everett-clark-smith
Sources:
Book, “Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents In The Unites States, 1941-1945”, by Anthony J. Mireles, C. 2006.
www.findagrave.com
