Smith, William James

Killed in Flying Accident 1943-08-07

Birth Date: 1916

Born:

Son of Samuel Hands Smith and Emily Weedall Smith; husband of Eleanor Rose Smith, of Toronto.

Home: Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RCAF

Unit

18 AFU- Advanced Flying Unit

Base

Rank

Flight Lieutenant

Position

Flight Lieutenant

Service Numbers

J/5836

Home
Google MapToronto, Ontario
First Burial
Google MapCity Cemetery, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Uk
18 Advanced Flying Unit. Flight Lieutenant Smith was killed when his Oxford aircraft LX 304 and a Whitley aircraft collided in mid-air. The Oxford crashed at Stagsden, Bedfordshire, England. Two airmen, not Canadians, were also killed. The crew of the Whitley were all uninjured.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Oxford LX304

Flight Lieutenant Smith, William James (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1943-August-07
City Cemetery, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK

Airspeed Oxford

(Bob Brown Photo)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
Airspeed A.S. 10 Oxford Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. AS277), 25, in flight over Saskatchewan, 1942.
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The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a twin-engine monoplane aircraft developed and manufactured by Airspeed. It saw widespread use for training British Commonwealth aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery roles throughout the Second World War.

The Oxford was developed by Airspeed during the 1930s in response to a requirement for a capable trainer aircraft that conformed with Specification T.23/36, which had been issued by the British Air Ministry. Its basic design is derived from the company's earlier AS.6 Envoy, a commercial passenger aircraft. Performing its maiden flight on 19 June 1937, it was quickly put into production as part of a rapid expansion of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in anticipation of a large-scale conflict.

As a consequence of the outbreak of war, many thousands of Oxfords were ordered by Britain and its allies, including Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, Poland, and the United States. Following the end of the conflict, the Oxford continued to achieve export sales for some time, equipping the newly formed air forces of Egypt, India, Israel, and Yugoslavia. It was considered to be a capable trainer aircraft throughout the conflict, as well as being used a general-purpose type. A large number of Oxfords have been preserved on static display.Wikipedia

YouTube Oxford Trainer

Wikipedia Wikipedia Oxford Trainer

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page