LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Sydney Francis SMITH
Service No: 411619
Born: Belfast, Ireland, 16 July 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 May 1941 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 3 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 3 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit Oxford aircraft AP401), Bibury, 13 October 1942, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Cirencester Cemetery, Gloucestershire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William and Sarah Smith, husband of Mavis Heather Smith, of Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 2120 hours on 13 October 1942, Oxford AP401 took off from Bibury detailed to carry out a solo night cross country flight including night circuit and landings. The aircraft crashed at 2155 hours in flames when carrying out an overshoot and Sergeant Smith flying solo was killed. The accident was considered to be caused by failure of the Pilot to maintain equilibrium of instruments.
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 A705, 163/162/481