LEST WE FORGET

Flight Sergeant Laurence Stanley SMITH

Service No: 418489
Born: Mildura VIC, 4 October 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 2 May 1942
Unit: No. 10 Squadron (RAF), RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire
Died: Air Operations: (No. 10 Squadron Halifax aircraft HX174), Germany, 22 October 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Hanover War Cemetery, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Stanley Stuart and Margaret Joan Smith, of Mildura, Victoria, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Mildura VIC
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

Halifax HX174 took off from RAF Station Melbourne at 1726 hours 22 October 1943, detailed to attack Kassel, Germany. The aircraft exploded and crashed at Hohenkirchen 10 kms north of Kassel. Six crew members were killed and one became a Prisoner of War.

The crew members of HX174 were:

Sergeant Stanley Kendal Blandford (1393703) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Arthur Blackburn Burton (1047849) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator)
Sergeant Leslie Williamson Noton (1458872) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant Ronald Joseph Paull (415912) (Tail Gunner)
Pilot Officer Henry Edward Morgan Plant (413249) (Pilot)
Flying Officer James Campion Pyne (129151) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber) PoW
Flight Sergeant Laurence Stanley Smith (418489) (Mid Upper Gunner)

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 A705, 166/38/313

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