Squadron: (GR) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1944-03-11
Completion Date: 1944-03-11
Mission: Reconnaissance
Operation: unspecified
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Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
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War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
With No. 407 (GR) Squadron, RCAF, coded "H", when it was lost on 11 March 1944 during an attack on U-256. Conflicting reports if U-boat flak downed aircraft, or if it crashed for some other reason. Pilot was Flying Officer E. OConnell, DFC. Pilot Officer I.E.Smithson's body washed up in Derrygimbla, near Clifden, Ireland some months later and is buried there.
source: Malcolm Deeley, Ulster Aviation Society
Wellington aircraft HF 311 did not return from an anti-sub patrol. F/Os E.M. O'Donnell, H.C. Sorley, P/Os I. E.Smithson, C. Grant, R.C. Gaudet, and F.L. Travers were killed. On September 7, 1943 this crew sank German U-boat U 669 in the Bay of Biscay.
