Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Norman Dwight Smith Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 420th Bomb Squadron, 90th Bomb Group, 5th Air Force
- Location of Service: Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/22
Norman Smith enlisted in the Army Air Force in the fall of 1941, figuring he was going to be flying missions over Europe in what he saw was an inevitable war. Instead, he was assigned to the Pacific Theater, and in January 1943, on a mission off the coast of New Guinea, his B-17 was set upon by Japanese Zeros. His memoir offers a harrowing account of the chaotic moments before his plane went down in the water. He spent nine days alone on a raft before reaching land. In his month on a small island, he lived off the land, ingratiated himself with the natives, and avoided capture. Ultimately, he met a trio of Australian plane spotters who helped him gain safe passage 37 days after his ordeal began.
Interview / Recording
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About this Item
Title
- Norman Dwight Smith Collection
Names
- Veterans Heritage Project
- Ryan, Martha
- Hatch, Barbara
- Smith, Norman Dwight
Home State
- California
Headings
- - Smith, Norman Dwight
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- White
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 420th Bomb Squadron, 90th Bomb Group, 5th Air Force
- Location of Service: Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Dates of Service: 1941-1945
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2009-02)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 2001-05-16)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2010-12-16)
- Manuscript: Clippings [3 items] -- (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [2 items] -- (collected 1943)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- (collected 2000)
- Video: Hi-8/Digital 8 [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2001-05-16)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/22
Cite as
- Norman Dwight Smith Collection (AFC/2001/001/22), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video