Lieutenant G.H. Smith USNR Shot Down July 43, Rescued Aug 43

Dave Homewood · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2018 6:30 pm

Can anyone here please help me with details of this chap and what he'd been flying, and with which squadron, please?

On the 1st of August 1943 an RNZAF Hudson bomber, flown by Flight lieutenant Des Paterson, was on a patrol from Guadalcanal when Paterson spotted fluorescent marker dye in the sea, and investigating they discovered a downed airman. They dropped him supplies and reported his position and he was picked up by a Catalina. He'd been found 100 miles from land and 225 miles from Guadalcanal.

That downed airman was Lieutenant G.H. Smith, USNR, and he'd been forced into the sea near the Russell Islands 21 days earlier, so I figure that was about the 11th or 12th of July 1943. He'd been taken by the current into open sea and been living on raw fish and seabird blood.

What I'd like to know what was Lt. Smith's full name? What was he flying or flying in when he came down in the sea? And what was his squadron's number? Is there any way to find this out please?

phil65 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2018 7:59 pm

"seabird blood" :shock:

Phil

Jim MacDonald · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2018 12:58 pm

Might have a little info that can get you started, Dave.

I don't have an entry for a loss with a G.H. Smith in my database. However, there was a Lt(jg) George Henry Smith (124441? DOB Sep 1918?) with VF-21 during that time frame. In the database there is a VF-21 F4F-4 (BuNo 11830) that was lost on 14 Jul at Rendova Island, New Georgia. VF-21 was based out of Guadalcanal at that time. Smith was with them around that time as he was credited with a Betty destroyed on 30 Jun and another bomber possibly a Betty destroyed & a Zeke damaged on 4 Jul.

Smith was with VF-3 from Oct 43 through 1945. Air Group Three's History has two address for him, Elmhurst Illinois & Hayward Wisconsin. He was credited with a Tony destroyed, a Tojo probable & a Frank & 3 Tojos damaged while with VF-3.

That's all the info I could come up with. I don't have VF-21's microfilm & Fold3 doesn't have any info for VF-21 during 1943.

Hope that helps,

Mac

Dave Homewood · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2018 4:47 pm

Thanks very much Jim. That is some good information, and something to try to follow up on. Cheers!!

wendovertom · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2018 5:33 pm

phil65 wrote:

"seabird blood" :shock:

Phil

This is sort of on the thread topic - there is a book called Lost in the Pacific: Epic Firsthand Accounts of WWII Survival Against Impossible Odds
that is edited by Douglas Keeney and reviews many first hand account of survivors in the pacific. Several of them talk about drinking seabird blood - and the contents of their stomachs. pretty unappetizing stuff but they survived and some said it actually tasted pretty, "ok"

Tom P.

Dave Homewood · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2018 6:30 pm

Jim, I looked up VF-21 and found that squadron was not established till 1944. Was it VF-21 that you meant to type?

Jim MacDonald · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2018 1:05 am

Dave,

Yes, I did mean VF-21. According to Barrett Tillman's US Navy Fighter Squadrons in WWII, VF-21 was established as VGS-11 around 5 Aug 42. It was redesignated VC-11 on 1 Mar 43 & then redesignated again as VF-21 on 16 Mar 43 & was based at Guadalcanal. VF-21 was reformed & went back into combat onboard the Belleau Wood from Jul-Oct 44 flying Hellcats. The Location of US Naval Aircraft Directory also has VF-21 based at Guadalcanal during Jul 43.

The official WWII Navy Overseas Loss List that I based my database on has that loss listed as VF-21. I checked the accident reports for July 43 for BuNo 11830 & it wasn't there, so Smith's loss was probably a combat loss. VP-54 was flying PBYs out of Guadalcanal at that time & could have been involved in the rescue. I have the microfilm for VP/VPB-54 & will check it tonight or tomorrow. Not sure if it will have any info on VP-54's time at Guadalcanal, but will give it a shot. Also, checked Fold3 for the War Diary or History for COMAIRSOLS & any other units that VF-21 might have operated under, but didn't have any luck.

Mac

Jim MacDonald · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2018 9:17 am

Dave,

Checked the VP-54 microfilm & unfortunately it doesn't include any info prior to Oct 43.

Mac

airnutz · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2018 12:18 pm

Something to look out for in the "This D*mn Navy" diary come mid-July to August to see if Nolan mentions Lt. Smith's plight.

Dave Homewood · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2018 10:58 pm

Thanks guys.

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Lieutenant G.H. Smith USNR Shot Down July 43, Rescued Aug 43

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