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Donavon F. Smith
Donavon Francis Smith (October 2, 1922 – September 10, 1974) was a United States Army Air Forces flying ace during the World War II. He accrued 5.5 victories in the war. He retired from the United States Air Force in 1973 at the rank of lieutenant general. Early life Smith was born on October 2, 1922, in Dowagiac, Michigan. He graduated from Niles High School in Niles, Michigan, in 1940. World War II He entered the aviation cadet program in January 1942 and commenced his primary training at Bruce Field, Texas on 30 March 1942; he soloed the Fairchild PT-19 after seven hours and 16 minutes of instruction. He later moved to Randolph Field, Texas for Basic training and Advanced training at Foster Air Force Base, Foster Field, Texas. Smith was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was awarded his pilot wings on October 9, 1942. After completing P-47 Thunderbolt training, Smith joined the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group at Bridgeport, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dowagiac, Michigan
Dowagiac ( ) is a city in Cass County, Michigan, Cass County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,879 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. It is part of the South Bend, Indiana, South Bend–Mishawaka, Indiana, Mishawaka, Indiana, IN-MI, South Bend-Mishawaka metropolitan area, Metropolitan Statistical Area. Dowagiac is situated at the corner of four townships: Wayne Township, Michigan, Wayne Township to the northeast, LaGrange Township, Michigan, LaGrange Township to the southeast, Pokagon Township, Michigan, Pokagon Township to the southwest, and Silver Creek Township, Michigan, Silver Creek Township to the northwest. The city name comes from the Potawatomi language, Potawatomi word ''dewje'og'' meaning "fishing [near home] water". Dowagiac is the headquarters of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and is also contained within the Indian reservation, reservation. History Dowagiac was first platted in 1848. It was incorporated as a village in 1863 and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
