SMITHSON, William Thomas Wright
| Service Number: | 412730 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 July 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | Royal Air Force - unspecified units |
| Born: | White Cliffs, New South Wales, Australia, 1 February 1915 |
| Home Town: | White Cliffs, Central Darling, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Flying Accident, Atlantic Ocean , 17 January 1943, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Ottawa Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Panel 3 Col 1 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ottawa Memorial, Ontario, Canada |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flying Officer, 412730 | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 412730, Aircrew Training Units | |
| 20 Jul 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 412730 | |
| 17 Jan 1943: | Involvement Flying Officer, 412730, Royal Air Force - unspecified units, Battle of the Atlantic - RAN and RAAF Operations |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express (transport derivative of the B-24 Liberator) 41-11708 of USAAF ATC (Royal Air Force Ferry Command) disappeared over the South Atlantic between Accra (Gold Coast, Africa) and Natal (Brazil, South America)
Pilot Officer Smithson 412730 and Sergeant Lamb 412150 were pilots working for RAF Ferry Command; ferrying American built aircraft across the South Atlantic to Africa and were passengers on this flight - their bodies were not recovered and they are commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial in Canada
A total of 13 British and 12 American airmen were lost in this incident including Air Commodore Desmond Herlouin De Burgh AFC RAF
Details from the book: "Ocean Bridge - the History of RAF Ferry Command"
Click images to start slideshow.