textsmalleywinfordr1935.html

North High School Wall of Honor
Winford "Win" Richard Smalley
Class of June, 1935
Died FOD; August 12, 1943

Research done by Rick Nehrling, class of 1963.

Winford Richard Smalley
	Win was a member of North High's class of June, 1935. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 10, 1942 at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. At the time of his enlistment, he had completed one year of college, and he was single with no dependents. His service number was 37418175. He was assigned to the 545th Bomber Squadron (Heavy) as a Staff Sergeant. He flew on a B-17F #42-3231 named "The Inferno" that was commanded by Lieutenant Carrington. On August 12, 1943 during a mission attacking Gelsenkirchen, Germany, the plane and crew were lost. Win and the crew were originally reported as Missing in Action. Later his death was officially reported as FOD, Finding of Death. His awards are the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Information obtained from the American Battle Monuments Commission shows that Win is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. The World War II Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial is the only American military cemetery in the Netherlands. The cemetery site has a rich historical background, lying near the famous Cologne-Boulogne highway built by the Romans and used by Caesar during his campaign in that area. The highway was also used by Charlemagne, Charles V, Napoleon, and Kaiser Wilhelm II. In May 1940, Hitler's legions advanced over the route of the old Roman highway, overwhelming the Low Countries. In September 1944, German troops once more used the highway for their withdrawal from the countries occupied for four years.
		Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, Netherlands

References

The above information was obtained from the following:
(1) The World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel was created by the War Department, the Adjutant General's Office, Administrative Services Division, Strength Accounting Branch. The original records are held at the Modern Military records LICON, Textural Services Division (NWCTM), National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
The documents contain the latest and most complete information available of all Army and Army Air Force personnel who were killed or died, or became and remained missing, between the President's declaration of unlimited national emergency on May 27, 1941 and the cut-off date of this report, January 31, 1946. This document includes both battle and nonbattle dead and missing. The records are available online at http://www.archives.gov/.
The type of casualty is indicated by the following:

* KIA - Killed in Action. This is an individual who was killed in action at the front, by enemy action in the rear, or if a prisoner of war.

* DOW - Died of Wounds. This is an individual was who wounded and later died.

* DOI - This is an individual who suffered fatal battle injuries and died in a line of duty status.

*DNB - Died Nonbattle. This is an individual who died in a line of duty death, such as from sickness, homicide, suicide, or accidents outside of combat areas (training).

*M - Missing. This is an individual who is reported as missing and later was determined to be dead.

*FOD - Finding of Death. Findings of death fall within Public Law 490 and its amendments and are made when there is either conclusive proof that the person is dead or equally overwhelming evidence that under the circumstances the person could not have remained alive. This documents contains the names of those individuals who died in the line of duty status. Those individuals who were not in the line of duty at the time of their death are not listed in this document.

(2) The World War II Army Enlistment Records contain information on more than nine million indivdual enlistments. These records can be found online at http://www.archives.gov/.

(3) The American Battle Monuments Commission was established in 1923 to commemorate the service, achievements, and sacrifice of U.S. Armed Forces. There are 24 overseas cemeteries that serve as the final resting places for almost 125,000 American war dead. The serviceman and women are either buried at these cemeteries or their names listed are on tablets of the missing that memorialize these men and women and their sacrifice. These records can be found online at http://www.abmc.gov/home.php.

(4) Information obtained from the American Battle Monuments Commission shows that Win is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.

(5) The comprehensive list of names from North High's 1893-2018 graduation classes are from Claradell Shedd's North Des Moines High School website. The names of all North High School graduates can be found online at http://www.ndmhs.com/. Winford Richard Smalley's 1935 class page can be viewed at http://www.ndmhs.com/pages/yearclass1935(1995.60).html.

(6) A picture of Win Smalley with the Carrington crew (shown above) can be viewed enlarged at http://www.384thbombgroup.com/gallery/545thBS/42_3231 Or you can click on the photo shown above, and it will take you to an enlarged version. Winford Richard Smalley is in the front row, the second from the far right.

Deceased: August 12, 1943

Music: "Over There" by Enrico Caruso