LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Colin Hugh MacKenzie SMITH
Service No: 411397
Born: Hurstville NSW, 13 December 1911
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 April 1941
Unit: No. 460 Squadron, RAF Breighton, Yorkshire
Died: Air Operations: (No. 460 Squadron Wellington aircraft Z1212), Germany, 27 August 1942, Aged 30 Years
Buried: Dalfsen General Cemetery, Overijssel, Netherlands
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Richard and Ann Smith, of West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 108, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Date: 26-27 August 1942
Target: Kassel
Total Force: Dispatched – 306, Attacking – 222
RAAF Force: No. 460 Dispatched – 10, Attacking – 9
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 513
Total Aircraft Lost: 30
RAAF Aircraft Lost: No. 460 – 2
The attempt against Kassel, however, showed plainly that Bomber Command had not yet solved the problems of night-bombing. Searchlights and guns backing the Kammhuber Line were very active and caused many bombers to lose position and to stray over other heavily – defended areas, where they were again engaged by ground defences. One Wellington of No. 460, hounded in this manner, finally attacked Dortmund, but the others, although split up, struggled on and six claimed attacks against the Henschel locomotive works at Kassel. Two Australian Wellingtons were shot down, and, in addition, one captained by Sergeant Wales (1) was heavily damaged by gun fire while another, piloted by Sergeant Isaacson (1) was damaged by an enemy fighter. In all, thirty bombers (10 per cent of the force) failed to return, while little permanent destruction was caused in Kassel by the bombing.
(1) Flying Officer Alexander William Wales DFC DFM (10991) was discharged from the RAAF on 10 October 1944.
(2) Flight Lieutenant Peter Stuart Isaacson DFC AFC DFM (401068) was discharged from the RAAF on 21 February 1946.
Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Against Germany and Italy 1939-1943, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1954 – Page 333
Wellington Z 1212 took off from RAF Breighton at 2007 hours on the night of 27 August 1942 detailed to bomb Kassel, Germany. Bomb load 810 x 4 lb (pound) (2 kg) incendiaries. Nothing was heard from Z 1212 after take off and it did not return to base. Ten aircraft of the squadron took part in the raid on Kassel.
The crew members of Z1212 were:
Sergeant Warren Wallace Jarrett (411451) (Navigator)
Warrant Officer Horatio Irwin Munckton (405133) (Air Bomber) POW, Discharged form the RAAF: 4 October 1945
Sergeant Colin Hugh Mackenzie Smith (411397) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Sergeant Henry Thomas Augustus Turner (403158) (Rear Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Cyril Charles Viney (408139) (Pilot)
In a later statement Warrant Officer Munckton said “The aircraft was attacked at 14,000 feet by three night fighters over Holland in a half hour engagement. The port petrol tanks were damaged and the intercom unserviceable. I was standing besides Kim Viney when our controls were shot away and he told me to bale out by pointing his thumbs downwards. Kim had every chance of getting out but evidently tried to get the rest of the crew out first and I believe they were still in the plane when it crashed 200 yards away from me. I baled out at 1500 feet. The aircraft was too low for the others to bale out. There is little else I can tell you here”.
No. 460 Squadron lost Wellington Z1259 (Flying Officer John Frederick Summers (403152) (Pilot)) on 27 August 1942.
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9301, 411397
Bibliography:
Firkins, P. C. (Peter Charles) (441386) Strike and Return, Westward Ho Publishing City Beach WA, 1985