Australian World War Two fighter pilot identified at Hardifort in northern France.

I dont think anyone posted on this yet. I heard it on a Monday night news program while listening to Radio Australia. The direct link is posted below

MARK COLVIN: A chance discovery by a film crew has led to the identification of the remains of a World War Two pilot shot down over France in 1942.

He was a young Victorian Sergeant named William Smith. His remains and his Spitfire fighter plane came to light last month at Hardifort in northern France.

Sergeant Smith will now be reinterred with full military honours in a Commonwealth war cemetery.

Samantha Donovan reports.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: On the 9th of May 1942 Sergeant William Smith's squadron had been escorting a bombing mission over enemy occupied territory to Bruges in Belgium.

It's believed his squadron had engaged with as many as 25 German aircraft on its way back to England.

The Minister for Defence Personnel Warren Snowdon described the mission today.

WARREN SNOWDON: Sergeant Smith was last seen by his squadron near the coast of France engaged in a dog fight with an enemy aircraft at 20,000 feet over the English Channel.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: William James Smith was 24. He was born in Kalgoorlie in Western Australia but had been schooled in Melbourne.

Before his enlistment he'd been living just north of Melbourne at Whittlesea and working as a clerk with the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works.

He'd sailed from Sydney in July 1941 and initially served as a Spitfire pilot with 452 squadron but he'd transferred to 457 squadron a month before he went missing.

Dr Chris Clark is an air force historian.

CHRIS CLARK: The squadrons that Sergeant Smith served with were actually squadrons within the Royal Air Force that had been designated as Australian in identity under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

You may be aware that at the start of World War Two Australia joined with other dominions in an imperial or empire-wide pooling arrangement whereby trained air crew were trained by the separate dominions and then sent to reinforce and help the RAF expand in England.

And both 452 and 457 were squadrons of that nature.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: Dr Clark believes Sergeant Smith's Spitfire crashed nose-first into the ground.

A film crew making a World War Two documentary were looking for a Czech aircraft last month when they came across the plane.

William Smith's identification disc was found at the site along with a cigarette case, a tunic button and a map.

Warren Snowdon read from the commanding officer's post operation report.

WARREN SNOWDON: His commanding officer noted that Sergeant Smith was a good and popular pilot whose quiet calm way of doing, way of going about his duties gave confidence to his fellow pilots. He had been recommended for his commission.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: Minister Snowdon says Sergeant Smith's next of kin have been notified and have asked for privacy.

David McLachlan is the president of the Victorian branch of the RSL.

DAVID MCLACHLAN: Well we're delighted when any missing serviceman is found and more so when his remains can be positively identified because it brings to a conclusion worry and concern that a family has had. They've grieved for a man that's missing. Now they've got an actual spot that they could go to to continue that grieving.

SAMANTHA DONOVAN: Major-General McLachlan says it's not known how many Australian World War Two fighter pilots still lie where they were shot down in Europe.

Sergeant Smith is the second to be identified in the last 12 year.

Flight Lieutenant Henry "Lacy" Smith and his spitfire were found in the Orne River in northern France last year and he was buried with full military honours in Normandy.

Sergeant Smith will be reinterred in April next year at the Arneke war cemetery, also in northern France.

MARK COLVIN: Samantha Donovan.

PM - World War Two fighter pilot identified 28/11/2011

 

I found this picture of Sgt. J W Smith on the Australian War Memorial site, caption and link to photograph underneath

View attachment 15062
Place made - United Kingdom: England, Greater London, KenleyDate made - September 1941

Description - A group of pilots of No. 452 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF, based at an RAF Station, outside their Operations Room. Left to right: 400163 Sergeant (Sgt) C. N. Wawn; 400157 Flight Lieutenant J. Ross; 400942 Sgt W. J. Smith (sitting); 404664 Sgt F. G. Harper; 404726 Sgt M. W. Hamilton; 404272 Sgt W. J. Wilkinson; 404087 Sgt R. J. Cowan.

SUK10025 | Australian War Memorial

 

RIP Sgt Smith!

 

Thanks for sharing this, I hadn't heard of it on the news yet.

May he rest in peace

 

Looks like a capable bunch...thanks for looking for the photo..and his mates, adds plenty to the story.

Crikey they're back! No jigajig!! (reference below).