Grand Island in Erie County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
George E. Smith
March 15, 1914 - November 4, 1944
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 4, 2022
1. George E. Smith Marker
Lieutenant (Lt.) George Smith was raised on Grand Island and educated at Kenmore High School and Mechanics School of Rochester. He worked with his father at Kenmore's Smith Boys Auto Supply while earning his pilot's license at the Buffalo Aeronautical Flying School and enlisted in Military Service in 1941.
Transcontinental & Western Air (TWA) contracted its five Stratoliners to the Army Air Force's Air Transport Command after the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.
Lt. Smith had been with TWA for two years when, on November 4, 1944, as First Officer, he co-piloted a California flight from San Francisco to Burbank. The Douglas DC-3 twin-engined transport carried 21 military and civilian passengers and 3 crew. The plane crashed and burned, killing all aboard.
Lt. Smith was single and is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.
Erected 2021 by Grand Island VFW Memorial Post 9249, Grand Island American Legion and Grand Island Moose Lodge 180.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is November 4, 1944.
Location. 43° 1.545′ N, 78° 57.97′ W. Marker is on Grand Island, New York, in Erie County. Memorial
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Edward P. Pierce (here, next to this marker); William S. Gillen (here, next to this marker); Charles N. DeGlopper (here, next to this marker); Howard W. Salton (here, next to this marker); Eugene F. Dinsmore (here, next to this marker); Francis K. Goodchild (here, next to this marker); Charles A. Smith (here, next to this marker); William L. Rohde (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Island.
Also see . . . DeGlopper Memorial. (Submitted on May 8, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 4, 2022
2. Grand Island Roll of Honored Dead
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 4, 2022
3. Monument and Markers at the DeGlopper Memorial
Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 87 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 8, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2, 3. submitted on May 7, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
