This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Smith, Donavon Francis, Lt Gen USAF(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Dowagiac, Michigan
Last Address Windcrest, Texas
Date of Passing Sep 10, 1974
Location of Interment United States Air Force Academy Cemetery (VLM) - Colorado Springs, Colorado
Wall/Plot Coordinates Section 003, Row B, Site 073
He was credited with destroying 5.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 1 probable, 2 damaged, and 2 destroyed on the ground during WWII.
His DSC citation: Awarded for actions during World War II The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Donavon F. Smith (ASN: 0-665628), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on a bomber escort mission against military objectives in the heavily-defended area of Emden, Germany, on 11 December 1943. Near the target the bombers were attacked by a large force of rocket-firing enemy fighters. Disregarding the enemy's superiority in numbers and fire power and the danger from attack by fighters known to be flying above the rocket-carrying aircraft, Lieutenant Smith's flight attacked and became engaged with five ME-110 type fighters. Lieutenant Smith himself destroyed one enemy plane and damaged another. In the heat of battle Lieutenant Smith became separated from his flights and while trying to rejoin he observed an ME-110 airplane below and made a diving attack. He was immediately attacked by a FW-190 fighter from above, and without regard to his personal safety, Lieutenant Smith continued his attacks and destroyed the enemy plane. He then maneuvered into position for a head-on attack against his pursuer. Holding a collision course and firing accurately, Lieutenant Smith closed to such a short range that his enemy, fearing collision, bailed out, leaving his airplane to crash. Through his heroism and exceptional flying skill on this occasion, Lieutenant Smith rendered distinguished and valorous service to our nation. His unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 26 (April 29, 1944)
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Air Offensive, Europe Campaign (1942-44)
From Month/Year
July / 1942
To Month/Year
June / 1944
Description Air Offensive, Europe Campaign 4 July 1942 to 5 June 1944) Pre-war doctrine had held that waves of bombers hitting enemy cities would cause mass panic and the rapid collapse of the enemy. As a result, the Royal Air Force had built up a large strategic bomber force. By way of contrast, Nazi German air force doctrine was almost totally dedicated to supporting the army. Therefore, German bombers were smaller than their British equivalents, and Germany never developed a fully successful four engined heavy bomber equivalent to the Lancaster or B-17, with only the similarly sized Heinkel He 177 placed into production and made operational for such duties with the Luftwaffe in the later war years.
The main concentration of German raids on British cities was from September 7, 1940 until May 10, 1941 in the most famous air battle of all time, known as the Battle of Britain. Facing odds of four against one the RAF held off the mighty Luftwaffe forcing Hermann Wilhelm Göring to withdraw his forces and more importantly indefinitely postpone invasion plans. This proved the first major turning point of the War. After that most of the strength of the Luftwaffe was diverted to the war against the Soviet Union leaving German cities vulnerable to British and later American air bombings. As a result of the victory, Great Britain was used by U.S and other Allied forces as a base from which to begin the D-Day landings in June 1944 and the liberation of Nazi-occupied Western Europe.
From 1942 onwards, the efforts of Bomber Command were supplemented by the Eighth Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces, U.S. Army Air Forces units being deployed to England to join the assault on mainland Europe on July 4, 1942. Bomber Command raided by night and the US forces by day.
