Oliver served as a Technical Sergeant & Engineer on C-46D (#44-77353), 67th Squadron, 433rd Troop Carrier Group, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

He resided in Allegany County, Maryland prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on October 10, 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Mechanic and also as Married.

Oliver died in the "Line Of Duty" when his C-46D, while on a routine cargo flight from Guam (APO 264) to Tacloban (APO 72) Philippines, disappeared during the war. He was previously awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross and a Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.

Service # 13104568

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Those who perished on C-46D (#44-77353):

Antreter, Donald R ~ T/4, Passenger, California
Cochran, Ray F ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, Michigan
Dickson, Jacob F ~ T/5, Passenger, New Jersey
Hensel, Theron S ~ Corp, Asst. Engineer, Pennsylvania
McCullough, Robert W ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, Pennsylvania
Porter, Daryl W ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, Pennsylvania
Smiley, Oliver E ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, Maryland
Trainor, Clifford E ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, California
Von Arx, Mabel A ~ T/4, Passenger, Missouri

( Above Bio. & Crew report by Russ Pickett )

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Below Provided by Charles Riend:

~~With The Men In Armed Services~~
Cpl. Oliver E. Smiley, husband of Mrs. Mary Smiley, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Smiley, Westernport, recently graduated from the technical training department of the Douglas Aircraft plant, Long Beach, Cal.

Published Friday, April 30, 1943 in The Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, second section.

~~Men and Women in War Service~~

Oliver E. Smiley, serving with a troop carrier unit, which is part of Gen. George Kenney's Fifth air force operation in the New Guinea area, has been promoted to staff sergeant, it was announce in New Guinea recently. Sgt. Smiley's wife, Mrs. Mary L. Smiley, lives in Westernport. He is a graduate of Bruce high school and before joining the army air forces, October 10, 1942, was employed by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company. He sailed for overseas duty in September 1943.

Published Friday, February 4, 1944 in the Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, second section.

~~Distinguished Flying Cross~~

DFC For Sergeant Oliver M. Smiley

Westernport, April 29 – According to a letter received by his wife, Mrs. Mary Michaels Smiley, 221 Vine street from Lieutenant General George C. Kenney, commanding the Fifth Air Force. Sgt. Oliver M. Smiley has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for achievement while participating in aerial flights in the Southwest Pacific Area.

The letter states: "Your husband Sergeant Oliver E. Smiley, was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross. It was an award made in recognition of courageous service to his combat organization, his fellow American airmen, his country, his home and to you."

"He was cited for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flights in the Southwest Pacific Area from November 7 to December 10, 1943."

"He took part in sustained operational activity against the enemy during which hostile contact was probable and expected. These flights included dropping supplies and transporting troops over territory that was continually patrolled by enemy fighter aircraft. Often landings were made on fields which were only miles from Japanese bases. These operations aided considerably in the recent successes in this theatre. Almost every hour of every day your husband and the husbands of other American women are doing just such things as that here in the Southwest Pacific."

"I would like to tell you how genuinely proud I am to have men such as your husband in my command, and how gratified I am to know that young Americans with such courage and resourcefulness are fighting our country's battles against the aggressor nations."

He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Smiley, Cemetery road, Westernport, a graduate of Bruce high school and was employed at Luke plant of West Virginia Pulp and Paper company before he joined the air force Oct. 17, 1942 and sailed for overseas duty last September.

Since receiving the citation he has been promoted to Staff Sergeant and spent a furlough in Australia.

Recently he met his brother, Cpl. William M. Smiley and brother-in-law, Cpl. Alvin Michaels stationed in New Guinea. Another brother, Paul A. Smiley, who was injured in Italy, is now doing limited service with a hospital unit in North Africa. Sgt. Smiley has a son, Oliver Richard Smiley, two years old.

Published Sunday, April 30, 1944 in the Sunday Times, Cumberland, Maryland, page 6, col. 3.

~~Plane Crash 1944~~

27 December 1944 (Zone Minus 10)
Conducting search for survivors of aircraft crash 60 miles bearing 210 degrees T from ANGAUR Island.
0054 Recued 5 survivors, the entire crew of plane. The survivors were: 1st Lt. Leroy H. Dewkett, 2nd Lt. Earl O. Brindle, 2nd Lt. Darrell A. Burns, S/Sgt. Oliver E. Smiley, S/Sgt. Edward P. Lipke; all survivors of the U. S. Army Air Force. 0815 LARDNER returned to Peleliu Island and transferred survivors the beach. 1209 resumed patrol in station No. 1.

Published by the NARA, World War II War Diaries, USS Lardner

~~Received 2nd Oak Clusters~~

Staff Sgt. Oliver E. Smiley, husband of Mrs. Mary L. Smiley, 440 Spruce street, Westernport, recently received a second Oak Cluster to his Air Medal for services as aerial engineer with a troop carrier unit of the Fifth AAF in the Philippines. He was formerly employed at the Luke plant of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company.

Published Sunday, April 8, 1945 in the Sunday Times, Cumberland, Maryland, page 20, col. 3.

~~Missing Air Crew Report 11 June 1945~~
The aircraft he was on went missing while on a cargo mission flight from Guam (APO 264) in the Northern Mariana Island to Tacloban (APO 72) on the northeastern tip of Leyte Island in the Philippines.

Published by the NARA, Missing Air Crew Reports, 1942-1947.

~~Westernport Airman Missing~~

Pfc. Purucker Wounded; Westerport Airman Missing

A Cumberland Marine, Pfc. John Addison Purucker, has been wounded on an undisclosed front, and a Westernport airman, Tech. Sgt. Oliver E. Smiley, is missing during flight, according to announcements.

Pfc. Purucker is the husband of Mrs. Edith R. Purucker, of 1801 Bedford street.

T-Sgt. Smiley, 20, was a crew chief on a C-47 troop transport. His wife, Mrs. Mary( Michael) Smiley, 221 Rock street, Westernport, has never had a message from the War Department, but received a letter from a Major Charles J. Beck, which reads in part:

"On June 11, Tech. Sgt. Purucker and fellow crew members took off from Peleliu in the Palau Islands for Leyte, Philippine Islands. That was the last seen or heard of the plane or crew."

"On the following day," the letter continued, "an intensive search was started but to date no information has been learned as to the whereabouts of the airplane or its crew."

The airman is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Smiley, Philos avenue, Westernport. He enlisted in service October 17, 1942, and was last home on furlough in August, 1943. His last letter was dated June 10. Tech. Sgt. Smiley wears the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with two clusters and five campaign stars.

He has two brothers in service, Cpl. William Smiley, with a Field Artillery unit in the Philippines, and Pvt. Paul Smiley, prisoner of war guard at a camp near Pikesville, Md. The missing airman is the father of a son, Richard, aged 3.

Published Wednesday, July 18, 1945 in the Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, page 9, Col. 1.

NOTES: The above should have been written Tech. Sgt. Smiley, not Tech. Sgt. Purucker. His wife's maiden name was Michaels, not Michael.