Missing Man Had 900 Hours
Pfc. Edwin C. Smoot, Jr. of 312 Claremont Avenue, Verona, missing on a flight between
China and India since September 16, has been awarded the Air Medal and Distinguished
Flying Cross, both with a cluster. His parents received the decorations at a ceremony in
Weequahic Park last week.
Pfc. Smoot is an aerial engineer in the Army Transport Command. The citations
commended him for "more than 900 hours over dangerous and difficult Assam-China air
routes, where enemy interception and attack was probable and expected." A graduate of
Verona High School, he entered service in August, 1942, and went overseas the following
July. He had worked for Walter Kidde Co.
Newark Evening News
June 4, 1945
Pfc. Edwin C. Smoot, Jr. of 312 Claremont Avenue, Verona, missing on a flight between
China and India since September 16, has been awarded the Air Medal and Distinguished
Flying Cross, both with a cluster. His parents received the decorations at a ceremony in
Weequahic Park last week.
Pfc. Smoot is an aerial engineer in the Army Transport Command. The citations
commended him for "more than 900 hours over dangerous and difficult Assam-China air
routes, where enemy interception and attack was probable and expected." A graduate of
Verona High School, he entered service in August, 1942, and went overseas the following
July. He had worked for Walter Kidde Co.
Newark Evening News
June 4, 1945
Edwin C. Smoot, Jr.
ID: 12135123
Entered the Service From: New Jersey
Rank: Private First Class
Service: U.S. Army Air Forces, 1327th Air
Force Base Unit
Died: Friday, February 15, 1946
Memorialized at: Manila American Cemetery
Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with
Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with Oak Leaf
Cluster
ID: 12135123
Entered the Service From: New Jersey
Rank: Private First Class
Service: U.S. Army Air Forces, 1327th Air
Force Base Unit
Died: Friday, February 15, 1946
Memorialized at: Manila American Cemetery
Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with
Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with Oak Leaf
Cluster
| Verona High School Class of 1942 Yearbook |
| The goal of this project is to preserve the memory of these heroes and not let their stories be lost to history. Their sacrifices should be honored and their histories should be available to school children and adults to learn about the heroic Verona residents who came before them. It is vital that friends and family of these heroes be found, so that they may share pictures, service records, and other information to add to these stories. If you are a family member or friend of one of these heroes, or you know someone who is or may have additional information, please contact: Robert Caruso Heritage Preservation Associates Verona, New Jersey veronaheroes@heritagepreservation.us |
| This Website is maintained by Heritage Preservation Associates |
| Verona Hero |
 | |  | |  | |  |
Private Edwin C. Smoot, Jr.
| Verona Residence: 312 Claremont Ave 31 Montrose Ave |
| Front and back of a Bank of China 10 Yuan note. This "Burma Roadster" has Edwin Smoot's signature as the first under the words "Burma Roadster" and indicating that he was the one who collected the other signatures. This was left in his personal belongings after being reported missing on September 16, 1944. |
| Front and back of a another Bank of China 10 Yuan note. This "Burma Roadster" has Edwin Smoot's signature and belonged to him as well. This was left in his personal belongings after being reported missing on September 16, 1944. |
| Front and back of a another Bank of China 10 Yuan note. This "Burma Roadster" belongs to Lee LaPrise, a veteran Radio Operator that flew from the same China-Burma-India airbase as Edwin Smoot. Mr. LaPrise's signature also appears on the first "Burma Roadster" pictured above, belonging to Edwin Smoot. Mr. LaPrise collected these signatures, but doesn't remember Edwin Smoot. Note the asterisk next to his name, indicating his status as missing. |
| The following 4 page letter was written by Edwin Smoot on September 1, 1944, 15 days before his final fatal flight. Sadly, Edwin indicates his wish to be home by Christmas as his required flight time was coming to an end. |
