World War II Honoree

Frederic Craig Goldsmith

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE AT AGE 18. APPLIED, AND WAS SELECTED FOR AIRCREW TRAINING IN THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM AS A BOMBARDIER. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF TRAINING, WAS EARMARKED FOR FOLLOW-ON TRAINING ON HEAVY BOMBER AIRCRAFT, AWARDED HIS SILVER BOMBARDIER WINGS AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. NEXT, ASSIGNED FOR TRANSITION FLYING TRAINING IN THE AIRCRAFT HE WOULD FLY IN COMBAT. FLEW ABOARD B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' HEAVY BOMBER AND B-25 'MITCHELL' MEDIUM BOMBER AIRCRAFT. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946, WITH THE RANK OF SECOND LIEUTENANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.