LEST WE FORGET

Flying Officer Bruce Henry SMITH

Service No: 8603
Born: Canterbury NSW, 7 August 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 January 1940 (at RAAF Station Laverton VIC)
Unit: No. 4 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 4 Squadron Wirraway aircraft A20-481), near Wodonga VIC, 1 May 1942, Aged 22 Years
Cremated: Sydney (Northern Suburbs) Crematorium NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Archibald Rodgers Smith and Lillian Rose Smith, of Epping
Roll of Honour: Epping NSW
Remembered: Panel 5, New South Wales Crematorium Memorial, Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 98, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Epping War Memorial, Epping NSW

On 1 May 1942, Wirraway A20-481 departed from Canberra and crashed near Howlong 7 miles east of Wodonga at 0745 hours. The aircraft was conducting an Army co-operation mission and suffered engine failure. A20-481 struck trees during a forced landing approach and both the crew members were killed.

The crew members of A20-481 were:

Pilot Officer Roy Stuart Beveridge (411115) (Pilot)
Flying Officer Bruce Henry Smith (8603) (Observer)

References:

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/162/341; A9845, 173
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line

Bibliography:

Lang, Noella The Rest of My Life with No. 50 Squadron: from the diaries and letters of Flying Officer P W Rowling, Access Press, Northbridge WA 6000, 1997

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