James Henry Smith, Montebello, California

[daretodiscover]

Good afternoon,

I'm hoping someone can find out where and when this man passed.

I have little on him. He was a 2nd Lt in the USAAF (ASN O-698929) when he was shot down in 1944. The Los Angeles Times, 27 August 1944, pg 17 has him as Missing, next of kin wife, Mrs. Winnie F. Smith, Montebello, Ca.

I'm pretty sure this is him, but when he first enlisted. https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=19&tf=F&q=smith%23james%23h+california&bc=,sl,sd&rpp=10&pg=2&rid=7752307&rlst=7593724,7752307,7989094,7992117,8008961,8017563,8089185,6981400,1789977

The "O" number would come after commissioning.

At the time of capture he would have been 26. When he was put in a German POW camp, he was interviewed by fellow POWs to ensure he wasn't a German plant. That record survives and at least confirms his age.

Grateful for any help.

DTD

[oldohiohome]

Would you have a record with his Social Security number on it? Here are two James H Smiths, born in Colorado, who died in California, one in Los Angeles County, one in Orange County:



---------------
California Death Index
Name:    James H Smith
Social Security #:    564121527
Gender:    Male
Birth Date:    28 Dec 1918
Birth Place:    Colorado
Death Date:    18 Nov 1976
Death Place:    Los Angeles

--------------
California Death Index
Name:    James H Smith
Social Security #:    524109340
Gender:    Male
Birth Date:    22 Sep 1918
Birth Place:    Colorado
Death Date:    22 Apr 1977
Death Place:    Orange

[oldohiohome]

He is not the James H Smith who married Jane W Ross. His middle name was Harold. It shows up on his WWII Draft registration, with her as next of kin.

[oldohiohome]

He is probably not the James H Smith who divorced Winifred Fiamengo in Los Angeles in Sep 1967. She is probably the person of that name who married Dobrie Carevich on 24 Nov 1942, somewhere in California. And she doesn't seem to have married Mr. Smith until at least October 1950, according to her Social Security application. That was the date the SS Administration started knowing her as Winifred Smith.

[oldohiohome]

I'm pretty sure this man is him, or at least he is the same man you found the enlistment information for.

---------------
California Death Index
Name:    James H Smith
Social Security #:    564121527
Gender:    Male
Birth Date:    28 Dec 1918
Birth Place:    Colorado
Death Date:    18 Nov 1976
Death Place:    Los Angeles

The information you found when he enlisted said his civilian occupation was "Semiskilled occupations in production of rubber goods"

Here is a James Henry Smith who was born 28 Dec 1918 and was working for Goodyear Tire and Rubber in October 1940 when he signed up for the draft:

WWII Draft Registration
James Henry Smith
born 28 December 1918, Denver, Colorado
works for Goodyear Tire and Rubber

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGFM-W8ZF

Same birth date as the man who died 18 Nov 1976, and same occupation as the one you found. So if you have the right man enlisting, then that is him dying in 1976.

[oldohiohome]

just adding this.

1948 Montebello City Directory
Mrs Winnie Smith, waiter, home at 219 S 10th
no James H Smith in the book.
The cross reference for that address has only her there.

1950 Montebello City Directory
James H Smith, driver for Coml Panel Co., resides at 133 North Park
  The cross reference for that address says L B Smith. In the list by names, he is Lyman B Smith with a wife Elsie.  So this James H is probably the son of Lyman, and maybe single, or at least living with his parents
 
1950 also
Mrs Winnie Smith, home 219 S 10th
  cross reference the same
 
1952 Montebello City Directory
Lyman B Smith is still there, but no James H Smith and no Mrs Winnie Smith.

[oldohiohome]

Maybe his obituary, if there is one, will refer to his war record. That way you'd be sure you had the right man.

[*Sandra*]

U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947

James Henry Smith - 28-12-1918 - aged 21 years -
Birth Date 28 Dec 1918 Denver, Colorado.
Residence Place Los Angeles, California. - Registration Date 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place Los Angeles, California. - Employer Goodyear Tire And Rubber Co
Weight 160 - Complexion Light - Eye Colour Blue - Hair Colour Blonde - Height:   5 11
Next of Kin George Henry Smith

Probably the same as the WW2 Draft but more information might be able if you are able to view or some one has access to  FOLD 3

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

1940 census W 59th Pl Los Angeles. (same address as WW2 Draft)

George H Smith   40 Charlotte Smith   34
James G Smith   21
son T L (22 Feb 1940) 1 month   
Richard Stanley   12

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9ZD-3DN

Marriage of father George Henry Smith to Charlotte Mae Carroll Stanley

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8VM-19H

https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1804002

Sandra