LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Stephen James SMITHERAM
Service No: 411055
Born: Newtown NSW, 11 June 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 March 1941
Unit: No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, West Sale VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School Demon aircraft A1-44), Dutson VIC, 8 September 1942, Aged 20 Years
Cremated: Rookwood Necropolis, Sydney, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William John and Gladys Kathleen Smitheram, of Camperdown
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: New South Wales Garden of Remembrance, Rookwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 8 September 1942, Hawker Demon A1-44 flown by Sergeant Smitheram crashed at the Dutson air to air range and he was killed. During an unauthorised low flying flight, the aircraft stalled during a steep turn and crashed during an attempted crash landing.
The crew members of A1-44 were:
Sergeant Stephen James Smitheram (411055) (Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Ernest George Thomson BEM (410106) (Trainee Gunner) Slightly injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 5 February 1946
Leading Aircraftman Thompson was awarded the British Empire Medal for his brave conduct in attempting to save Sergeant Smitheram.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/163/451