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Smith, Ray Branton (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Action 1942-July-26

Birth Date: 1920-February-06 (age 22)

Born: Harmony Mills, Queens County, Nova Scotia, Canada

Son of James Henry Smith and Rhoda Maude Churchill (nee Brooks) Smith, of Harmony Mills, Queen's County, Nova Scotia

Home: Harmony Mills, Queens County, Nova Scotia

Service
RCAF
Unit
106 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Pro Libertate For freedom
Base
RAF Coningsby
Rank
Pilot Officer
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Bomb Aimer
Service Numbers
J/15451

Lancaster Mk.I R5683

Bombing Duisburg Germany 1942-July-26 to 1942-July-26

106 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Coningsby

106 Squadron (Pro Libertate) RAF Coningsby. Lancaster I aircraft R 5683 ZN-? had just taken off outbound for Duisburg, Germany when it exploded in mid-air and crashed on the mud flats near Butterwick, 4 miles ENE of Boston, Lincolnshire, England

Pilot Officer RB Smith (RCAF), FS G Appleyard DFM (RAFVR), FS M Darvill DFM (RAFVR), Sergeant RL Beaddie (RAF), Sergeant LW Young (RAF), Sergeant JD Davie (RAFVR), and Sergeant JW Grimwade (RAAF) were all killed in action

General Aviation Safety Network

General R5683

General Allied Losses and Incidents: All Commands

General Lancaster I R5683 [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Commonwealth War Graves Commission International Bomber Command Centre

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home
Google MapHarmony Mills, Queens County, Nova Scotia
Target
Google MapDuisburg Germany
Burial
Google MapConingsby Cemetery
Row 65 Grave 1293

Lancaster R5683

Avro Lancaster

Avro Lancaster Mk. X RCAF Serial FM 213
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engined heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same wartime era.

The Lancaster has its origins in the twin-engine Avro Manchester which had been developed during the late 1930s in response to the Air Ministry Specification P.13/36 for a capable medium bomber for "world-wide use". Originally developed as an evolution of the Manchester (which had proved troublesome in service and was retired in 1942), the Lancaster was designed by Roy Chadwick and powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlins and in one version, Bristol Hercules engines. It first saw service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed. As increasing numbers of the type were produced, it became the principal heavy bomber used by the RAF, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within the RAF, overshadowing the Halifax and Stirling. Wikipedia

YouTube Lancaster Bomber

Wkikpedia Wikipedia

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

last update: 2021-09-18 14:32:33

Lancaster Mk.I R5683

ZN

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