April 7. 1949 Percy Forman was a lieutenant in the 315th squadron of the 324th Fighter Group of the Army Air Force. Forman was shot down while fighting in Germany on March 11, 1945. Forman was also a member of the Smithtown Fire Department. Between 1941and 1949 a large number of volunteer firefighters were in the armed forces. The Smithtown Fire Department had 58 volunteer firemen who served in World War II between 1941 and 1945.
Forman had enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Forman had the rank of Second Lieutenant. Service number assignment was O-832601. Attached to 324th Fighter Group, 315th Fighter Squadron.Forman was killed during a mission when “While approaching the target, Forman got too close to his squadron leader so he had to take evasive action, which brought him close to the ground. It was then when he was hit by infantry weapons. Together with his ship he crashed into a hill in a woods near Breitfurt on the right-hand side of the road to Mimbach. The plane exploded and Forman was killed.” Percy Forman was first buried by German soldiers near the crash site, his body was later transferred to the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in St. Avold, France.
In May of 2009, a plaque was installed, replacing the marker on Percy Street. Percy Street was originally named Central Avenue but was renamed Percy street in memory of Forman in the 1950’s.
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