26/05/2025
We are grateful that our dad, Bruno, did not die from the injuries that put him in a Scottish hospital for 18 months.
It is soldiers like this we honor today.
Born more than 100 years ago (1922) to Alfred and Ivan Smith, Drew was the youngest of four. Like his older brother Dale, he attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
He graduated on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
At that time, Dale was commander of the 384th Bomb Group and flew missions over France in support of the invasion. Drew's oldest brother Thor Smith served as a press officer on the personal staff of Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Invasion.
Ike's son, John Eisenhower, was a classmate of Drew's and also graduated on D-Day.
On the date of the invasion, Alfred and Ivan had three sons who were commissioned officers in the U.S. Army Air Force.
Drew was fascinated with airplanes and went directly into flight training. He was checked out as a pilot on the venerable B-17s like his brother, Dale. But Drew was anxious to fly the all-new B-29 Superfortress (pictured, below).
While stationed in Guam, Drew was the pilot on a B-29 photographic mission on June 11, 1946.
Tragically, the aircraft developed problems on take-off and crashed about a mile offshore from the runway, killing all 12 on board.
This Memorial Day, we honor Drew's memory, along with all those who died in the service of our country. We affirm their shared values of love of country, duty and honor.
