CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Surname: |
SMITH |
First Name/s: |
Edward "Ted or Eddie" |
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Service No/s: |
1818735 |
Service: |
RAFVR |
Branch: |
Flight Engineer |
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Awards: |
1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, 1939-1945 War Medal |
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SERVICE RECORDS |
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Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
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30 Jan 1943 |
Enlisted in Birmingham, Warwickshire, as Aircraftman 2nd Class (AC2) |
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31 Jan 1943 |
Transferred to the Reserve, pending call-up |
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15 Feb 1943 |
Called up to No.1 Air Crew Reception Centre (ACRC), Lord's Cricket Ground, St. John's Wood, London |
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06 Mar 1943 |
No.14 Initial Training Wing (ITW), Bridlington, Yorkshire |
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20 Apr 1943 |
Promoted to LAC on completion of initial training (precise date to be confirmed) |
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21 Apr 1943 |
No.4 School of Technical Training (SoTT), St Athan, Glamorgan, Wales |
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10 Oct 1943 |
No.11 Base, Lindholme, Yorkshire; administrative Base for No.1 Group heavy bomber conversions. |
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11 Oct 1943 |
No.1667 Heavy Conversion Unit, Faldingworth, Lincolnshire. Joins L J Collis crew |
Lancaster |
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09 Mar 1944 |
No.576 Squadron, 'B' Flight, Elsham Wolds, Linconshire. |
Lancaster |
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25 Mar 1944 |
Lost in operations over enemy territory. |
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576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS |
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Date |
Aircraft |
Code |
Flight Details |
T/O |
Land |
Flt Time |
Crew |
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18 Mar 1944 |
LL800 |
UL-S2 |
FRANKFURT |
1915 |
0135 |
6h20 |
P1 Flt Sgt L.J. Collis |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 108x 30lb and1062x 4lb incendiaries |
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22 Mar 1944 |
JA868 |
UL-Y2 |
FRANKFURT |
1905 |
0135 |
6h30 |
P1 Flt Sgt L.J. Collis |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 108x 30lb and 1062x 4lb incendiaries Struck pole on take-off but the pilot elected to continue with the operation. The aircraft was classified as Category AC on return ( Repair is beyond the unit capacity, but can be repaired on site by another unit or a contractor). |
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24 Mar 1944 |
LM471 |
UL-J2 |
BERLIN |
1855 |
FTR |
uk |
P1 Flt Sgt L.J. Collis |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 108x 30lb and 924x 4lb incendiaries The aircraft was blown well off course after its bombing run, and was hit by flak over Berlin, losing an engine. Collis turned the stricken plane for home but as it limped through the night sky, at 0030 hrs it was attacked by Oblt. Heinz Struning of 3./NJG1 over the Ruhr valley. Collis gave the order to abandon the aircraft, but he and the Flight Engineer could not get out. UL-J2 came down in the town of Beeck, some five kilometres north of the city of Duisberg. Flt Sgt Collis, and Sgt Smith were killed; the other crewmembers were captured and taken POW. Sgt Smith and his pilot, Flt Sgt Collis, were laid to rest at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
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PERSONAL INFORMATION |
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Details |
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Edward 'Eddie' or 'Ted' Smith was born on 16 March 1917 in Foleshill, Coventry, Warwickshire, son of Edward Smith and Florence Russell. He was educated at Broad Heath secondary school, followed by employment at SS Cars Ltd. in Coventry as a skilled fitter. On 24 June 1939, Eddie married Winifred May Bailey in Foleshill and two daughters followed; Winifred in 1940 and Valerie in 1942. Eddie is buried at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery in Kleve, Germany, plot 7.B.5. May he rest in peace. Smith Family |
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PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS |
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Details |
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Sgt Robinson's Wedding: Back L-R McDougall, Robinson, Irene, Smith - Front L-R Roper, HarperRobinson Family |
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Sgt Robinson's Wedding; L-R Harper, McDougall, Smith, Roper, Robinson, Irene, nk, nkRobinson family |
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Commonwealth War Grave Commission Grave CertificateCommonwealth War Graves Commission |
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