Operation: Gardening
Date: 26th November 1941 (Wednesday)
Unit: No. 22 Squadron
Type: Beaufort I
Serial: L9793
Code: OA-O
Base: RAF ST. Eval
Location: Bay of Biscay, off Saint-Nazaire, France.
Pilot: P/O. M. Iliff 88041 RAFVR PoW No: 699 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria
Obs: Sgt. Herbert Smith 1061130 RAFVR Age 26. Killed
Sgt. A.J. Tonkin 922736 RAFVR PoW No: 102 Camp: Stalag 383
Sgt. C.G. Meader 961018 RAFVR PoW No: 103 Camp: Stalag 383
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off at 16.05 hrs from RAF ST. Eval to lay mines in the ‘Artichoke’ area. This being the Saint Nazaire harbour area. Believed to have been shot down by flak.
Beaufort I’s of 217 Squadron (courtesy IWM)
Left, and below, grave and plaque of Sgt. Smith at Gavres Communal Cemetery - any relative who would like a higher resolution please contact us (courtesy Kate Tame)
Sgt. Herbert Smith. Gavres Communal Cemetery. South West Plot. Row 4. Grave 6. Son of Thomas and Lily Smith, of Carlisle, Cumbria, England.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Kate Tame for grave photographs, Ross Mcneill - 'Coastal Command Losses’, Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
