Biography
Year at ISU: 1943
First Lieutenant Frank Allen Smith was born on January 23, 1919 to Harrison Smith and Mary Donnelly. He grew up in Des Moines, Iowa.
Frank graduated from Dowling High School and then attended Iowa State College. He married his wife, Patricia Mullen Smith, on February 14, 1942, a month before entering the service. He joined the army on March 14, 1942 in Des Moines. He became a second lieutenant and received his wings April 29, 1943 at the army air school in Blytheville, Arkansas. He made first lieutenant March 1, 1944, a few days before he died.
Frank went missing in action and later confirmed killed during the first daylight raid over Berlin, Germany on March 6, 1944. He was serving with 8th Air Force, 100th Bomber Group, 351st Squadron stationed in England.
Lieutenant Smith's awards and citations include the Air Medal with Two Oakleaf Clusters, a Presidential Citation, and the Purple Heart.
His son, Terrence Allen Smith, was born November 20, 1943. He was four months old when his father passed away.