Smith, Russell Charles
Prisoner of War Japan Died 1942-04-15
Birth Date: 1922-April-20
Born:
Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Smith, of Kamsack, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Home: Kamsack, Saskatchewan
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Decorations: MiD
Service
RCAF
Unit
607 Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
-
Base
Rank
Warrant Officer 1st Class
Position
Warrant Officer 1st Class
Service Numbers
R/79670
First Burial
Djakarta War Cemetery, Indonesia
607 County of Durham Squadron. Warrant Officer Smith was flying Hurricane aircraft in the Far East when he went down and was captured. WOs Smith and H.P. Low were two Canadian Prisoners of War who escaped from the Japanese Prisoner of War Camp at Boei Glodock, Batavia and attempted to steal a Japanese aircraft from the Kamarjan aerodrome. They had managed to get one engine started before they were recaptured, a few days later two senior Canadian Officer P.O.W.s were informed by the Japanese Commandant, a Captain Kano, that both Low and Smith had been executed by gunshot.
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.comThis incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Electra 10A Serial: 1527
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Electra 1527
Electra 10A 1527
Ex Trans Canada Airlines CF-TCB, registered to them on 9 October 1937. Taken on strength at Camp Borden, Ontario. To Flying Instructors School at Borden on 23 October 1939. To RCAF Station Trenton with this School on 22 January 1940. To No. 1 Training Command on 1 April 1940. Category D damage at Trenton on 8 May 1940. Loaned to Trans Canada Airlines from 4 October 1940 to 18 December 1941. Back to No. 1 Training Command when loan finished, then to No. 3 Training Command on 23 March 1942. Probably used by No. 12 (Comm) Squadron at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario. To Trans Canada Airlines for overhaul on 10 December 1943. To No. 6 Repair Depot for write off on 5 July 1944, possibly after being damaged in a ground fire. Reported scrapped by RCAF, but also reported as displayed post war in Ottawa. Poss CF-TCC or L12 CF-CCT1939-10-23 Taken on Strength Purchased from TCA 2022-01-14
1940-May-08 Accident: RCAF STN TRENTON, ONT Loc: Trenton Ontario Names: Cunningham
1942-April-15 Accident: Conversion Training Squadron Loc: Aerodrome Names: Simpson
1944-08-17 Struck off Strength Reported written off and scrapped. 2019-08-20