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Stuart Farwell Smith, Jr.

PFC Stuart F. Stmih, Jr. was a Marine aviator who flew with VMSB-141.
He was reported missing in action after a routine patrol out of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 17 October 1942.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 341392

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

Remains Not Recovered

Pursuit Category

The DPAA has not publicized this information.

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

August 23, 1922
at Akron, OH

Parents

Stuart Farwell Smith, Sr.
Marjorie E. (Walters) Smith

Education

Friends Central School (1940)
University of Delaware (ex-1944)

Occupation & Employer

College student

Service Life

Entered Service

December 30, 1941
at Philadelphia, PA

Home Of Record

Copples Lane
Wallingford, PA

Next Of Kin

Parents, Stuart & Marjorie Smith

Military Specialty

Aviation radioman / gunner

Campaigns Served

Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

PFC Stuart Smith was an aviation radioman and gunner flying with VMSB-141, a Marine scout-bombing squadron then operation out of Guadalcanal’s Henderson Field. Smith arrived on 8 October 1942, and was soon flying patrol missions and combat sorties. (Muster rolls note that he was promoted to corporal after two days on the ‘Canal, but this is not reported in other military records.)

On 17 October 1942, Smith prepared himself for another day in the Solomon skies: a routine anti-sub patrol in SBD-3 #03310, piloted by 2Lt. Samuel T. Gillespie. The fliers departed for their assigned station – and were never seen again.

The exact cause of Gillespie and Smith’s loss was never determined. A Japanese air raid at 0720 resulted in a lopsided American victory; it is possible that Gillespie’s Dauntless was spotted and shot down by a Japanese pilot during the engagement. Without direct eyewitness reports, however, the final moments of the two Marines in #03310 will remain a mystery. Both were declared dead on 19 February 1945.

Burial Information or Disposition

None; crash site not known.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of parents, Stuart & Marjorie Smith.

Location Of Loss

Gillespie and Smith were last seen departing Henderson Field, Guadalcanal.

Related Profiles

VMSB-141 personnel non-recovered from the Guadalcanal area.
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