Warren T. Smith, Copilot

Abstract

On 6 January 1945 a B-17 heavy bomber, “Jeanie”, from the 91st Bomb Group was shot down by anti-aircraft fire ten minutes after it completed a bombing run over Cologne, Germany. Four crewmen, including the copilot, 1Lt Warren T. Smith, were killed. Such a loss of an aircraft and crew was not unusual for that time of World War II. However, that Lt Smith was on the mission was poignant. He had flown 23 prior missions and exception skill and courage in bringing his crew home safely on two of them. Lt Smith could have accepted orders to return home to his wife and daughter a month earlier. However, because of his commitment to his country, to his crew, and to his personal honor, Lt Smith refused to return home and was in harms way the 6th of January. This narrative traces Lt Smith’s journey to this day and place, and to his death.