Donald Robert Smith
Ensign, Composite Squadron 83
Donald was born the 1st of November 1923 in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the oldest son of Kenneth and Lillian Smith. He attended school at the St Anthony’s school as well as the Commerce school in Worcester. He was a 1941 graduate of the Marlborough High School. He was working at Allen’s department store and living with his parents at 86 Howland Street when he enlisted into the Navy as an aviation cadet the 31st of August 1942.
Upon completion of his flight training, he was commissioned an Ensign and awarded his gold flight wings as a naval aviator. He was attached to Composite Squadron 83 based out of Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Ream Field in Imperial Beach, California. On the afternoon of the 10th of July 1944 while piloting a T-BM Avenger aircraft on a training bombing run off the coast of San Diego, a wing came off the aircraft and it crashed into the sea killing Donald and two other members of his crew. He is buried at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Smith Drive in Marlborough is named in his honor.
