LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Holbert Frederick SMALES
Service No: 603 (207251)
Born: 29 August 1909, Location unavailable
Enlisted in the RAAF: 1 December 1929 (at RAAF Station Richmond NSW)
Unit: No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School, Narromine NSW
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School Tiger Moth aircraft A17-36), near Narromine, 8 August 1940, Aged 30 Years
Cremated: Rookwood Crematorium, Sydney NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Holbert and Minnie Grover Smales; husband of Mary Gwendolene Smales, of Carlton
Roll of Honour: Strathfield NSW
Remembered: Columbarium, Rookwood Crematorium
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 8 August 1940, Tiger Moth A17-36 spun into the ground from about 500 feet and both crew members were killed
The crew members of A17-36 were:
Aircraftman Class I Arthur Edward Alderson (6517) (Trainee Pilot)
Flying Officer Holbert Frank Smales (603) (Instructor Pilot)
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 A9845, 32; A9301, 207251