Smith's heroism earns first Congressional Medal of Honor

This Military Tale tells the story on Maynard Harrison Smith.

On Aug. 30, 1942, Maynard Harrison Smith walks in to the Tuscola County Courthouse to enlist. He is 31 years old, 10 years older than the other 30 enlistees.

After basic training, he goes to gunnery school for the U.S Army Air Corps, he is a private. He goes to England and is assigned to a B-17 Bomber crew. Since he is short, he is assigned to the ball turret (this is the plexi-glass bubble under the belly of the airplane) Now he is a staff sergeant making $96 a month .

In the ball turret, he has an amazing view and tests his twin 50 caliber machine guns on his first bombing mission over France.

After the bomb run and the return to England, the plane is hit by by more flack from the ground and by bullets from German fighters. The two planes on the left and right have been shot down. Enemy fighters have hit the bomber again hitting the oxygen tank and the interior of the plane is on fire.  Three crewmen, bail out, one hits the rear tail and is killed immediately, the other two were never heard from again. Smith has to use a hand crank to get out of the ball turret as the hydraulics are out. He mans a side 50 caliber gun, firing at enemy planes, he is separated by the fire from the men in front of the plane.

He uses all the fire extinguishers and gets the fire out. Another crewman, is badly wounded from gun fire. Smith gives him first aid and saves his life. He also pulls back in another crewman hung up in the exit.

Now he is the only one left to fire the 50 calibers, from the left side and right side, alternating back and forth shooting at enemy fighters as German fighters are zeroing in on the crippled plane.

The plane is now over the English channel and losing altitude. Smith smartly knows, weight is a factor, and since they are no longer being pursued, he throws out all the guns, and anything else of weight. The flames have gutted the airplane, it is just barely together. For basically saving the plane and the lives of the crewmen, Maynard Smith, becomes well known. News men looking for a good story exploit the story and eventually Smith becomes the first U.S. Air Corps enlisted man to receive the nations highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran and business owner in Priest River.