LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant James Kenneth SMEE
From Australia serving in the Royal Air Force
Service No: 1380996
Born: date, Location unavailable
Enlisted in the RAF: Date unavailable
Unit: No. 219 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (Beaufighter 1F aircraft R2267), Boxgrove, Sussex, 5 June 1942, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Hayes and Harlington (Cherry Lane) Cemetery, Middlesex
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John F. Smee, and of Valetta Maria Smee, of Mayfield, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
On 5 June 1942, Beaufighter R2276 was returning from a search light cooperation exercise when the undercarriage failed. The aircraft was ordered to remain airborne and attempt a belly landing after first light. The undercarriage was later reported to be serviceable and pilot was ordered to make a straight-in landing but lost control at about 1,500 feet and the aircraft crashed and burned, killing both crew members.
The crew members of R2276 were:
Sergeant Claude Stanley Bassett (Observer) (RAFVR) (Observer)
Sergeant James Kenneth Smee (1380996) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
References:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/162/375
RAF Commands Website