Keith was born in 1923, the son of Frank John Leage Smith and Gwendolin Grace Smith nee Gallagher of Purley, Surrey.
Parents:
Frank - Born 19.12.1894 West Norwood, London- Died 25.3.1974 Goring By Sea Worthing
(Mothers Maiden Name Leage)
Married on 4.9.1920 Croydon to
Gwendoline Grace - Born 31.5. 1895 Mortlake, Surrey - Died 1.4.1985 Canterbury
(Gwendolen Grace Gallagher)
Sibling:
Gordon Ian - Born 13.4.1927 - Died 15.3.2004 Surrey
(Married Betty Joan Robertson - Born 1931 -Died 1989)
A Sergeant/Navigator with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Squadron. Service No:1603697.
Country of Service United Kingdom.
At 7.15am on 18 July 1944 a Handley Page Halifax Mk.111 bomber belonging to 115 Squadron RAF attempted to land, crashed through the trees over Eagles Nest House, in a wood on top of Birkitt Hill, bounced on a field and slammed into West End Farm House killing the crew as well as the farmer's wife and two daughters (one of whom was Private Elsie Handley, home on leave from the Auxiliary Territorial Service.)The farmer, George Handley, and his sons were milking in the cow sheds and escaped. The aircraft LM616 (KO J) had left its base at RAF Witchford near Ely at 04:20 hrs to support Allied ground forces taking part in Operation Goodwood during the Normandy campaign. [Emieville area.]
The Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces objective was to bomb units of the 16th Luftwaffe Field Division and the 21st Panzer Division which were located around the Manneville area in France. LM616 received severe damage during the raid, in which its controls and navigation aids were shot up. The aircraft had descended through low cloud only to see the high escarpment of the Chiltern Hills at Offley loom into view too late for the crew to take immediate action.
Casualty of War: Keith perished in the crash. His remains were recovered and buried at Cambridge City Cemetery.
Keith left his estate to his Father, Frank John League Smith, Clothing Buyer.
CREW OF THE HALIFAX WHO PERISHED
Flying Officer THOMAS RICHARDSON
Wireless Operator/Mechanic
Service No:157884
Age:23
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
Grave Reference: Row G. Grave 3.
NEW SEAHAM (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCHYARD
Son of John and Susan Richardson. of Seaton.
Sergeant/Air Gunner ISAAC MORRIS
Service No:1544587
Age:21
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
Grave Reference:New ground. Joint grave 554.
STAVELEY (ST. JAMES) CHURCHYARD
Son of Joseph and Jessie Morris, of Staveley.
Pilot Officer/Pilot SYDNEY ALBERT LETTS
Service No:173763
Age:31
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
Grave 13769.
CAMBRIDGE CITY CEMETERY
Son of Sydney and Mabel Letts, of Leicester; husband of Dorothy Letts, of Leicester.
Sergeant/Flight Engineer DONALD CARPENTER CLARK
Service No:1717615
Age:20
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
South Sec. Grave 16A.
HITCHIN CEMETERY
Son of Benjamin George Arthur and Winifred Emma Clark, of East Barnet.
Sergeant EARL DOUGLAS WHITE
Service No:R/200964
Age:21
Royal Canadian Air Force 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn
Grave Reference:52. F. 8.
BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
Son of Menno Peter and Rose Rebecca White of Fort Erie North, Ontario, Canada.
Pilot Officer/Air Bomber WILLIAM JOHN KENNEDY
Service No:J/88743
Age:28
Royal Canadian Air Force 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn.
Grave Reference:52. F. 7.
BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
Son of William Dugald and Mary Ann Kennedy of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Parents:
Frank - Born 19.12.1894 West Norwood, London- Died 25.3.1974 Goring By Sea Worthing
(Mothers Maiden Name Leage)
Married on 4.9.1920 Croydon to
Gwendoline Grace - Born 31.5. 1895 Mortlake, Surrey - Died 1.4.1985 Canterbury
(Gwendolen Grace Gallagher)
Sibling:
Gordon Ian - Born 13.4.1927 - Died 15.3.2004 Surrey
(Married Betty Joan Robertson - Born 1931 -Died 1989)
A Sergeant/Navigator with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Squadron. Service No:1603697.
Country of Service United Kingdom.
At 7.15am on 18 July 1944 a Handley Page Halifax Mk.111 bomber belonging to 115 Squadron RAF attempted to land, crashed through the trees over Eagles Nest House, in a wood on top of Birkitt Hill, bounced on a field and slammed into West End Farm House killing the crew as well as the farmer's wife and two daughters (one of whom was Private Elsie Handley, home on leave from the Auxiliary Territorial Service.)The farmer, George Handley, and his sons were milking in the cow sheds and escaped. The aircraft LM616 (KO J) had left its base at RAF Witchford near Ely at 04:20 hrs to support Allied ground forces taking part in Operation Goodwood during the Normandy campaign. [Emieville area.]
The Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces objective was to bomb units of the 16th Luftwaffe Field Division and the 21st Panzer Division which were located around the Manneville area in France. LM616 received severe damage during the raid, in which its controls and navigation aids were shot up. The aircraft had descended through low cloud only to see the high escarpment of the Chiltern Hills at Offley loom into view too late for the crew to take immediate action.
Casualty of War: Keith perished in the crash. His remains were recovered and buried at Cambridge City Cemetery.
Keith left his estate to his Father, Frank John League Smith, Clothing Buyer.
CREW OF THE HALIFAX WHO PERISHED
Flying Officer THOMAS RICHARDSON
Wireless Operator/Mechanic
Service No:157884
Age:23
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
Grave Reference: Row G. Grave 3.
NEW SEAHAM (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCHYARD
Son of John and Susan Richardson. of Seaton.
Sergeant/Air Gunner ISAAC MORRIS
Service No:1544587
Age:21
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
Grave Reference:New ground. Joint grave 554.
STAVELEY (ST. JAMES) CHURCHYARD
Son of Joseph and Jessie Morris, of Staveley.
Pilot Officer/Pilot SYDNEY ALBERT LETTS
Service No:173763
Age:31
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
Grave 13769.
CAMBRIDGE CITY CEMETERY
Son of Sydney and Mabel Letts, of Leicester; husband of Dorothy Letts, of Leicester.
Sergeant/Flight Engineer DONALD CARPENTER CLARK
Service No:1717615
Age:20
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
South Sec. Grave 16A.
HITCHIN CEMETERY
Son of Benjamin George Arthur and Winifred Emma Clark, of East Barnet.
Sergeant EARL DOUGLAS WHITE
Service No:R/200964
Age:21
Royal Canadian Air Force 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn
Grave Reference:52. F. 8.
BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
Son of Menno Peter and Rose Rebecca White of Fort Erie North, Ontario, Canada.
Pilot Officer/Air Bomber WILLIAM JOHN KENNEDY
Service No:J/88743
Age:28
Royal Canadian Air Force 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn.
Grave Reference:52. F. 7.
BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
Son of William Dugald and Mary Ann Kennedy of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Keith was born in 1923, the son of Frank John Leage Smith and Gwendolin Grace Smith nee Gallagher of Purley, Surrey.
Parents:
Frank - Born 19.12.1894 West Norwood, London- Died 25.3.1974 Goring By Sea Worthing
(Mothers Maiden Name Leage)
Married on 4.9.1920 Croydon to
Gwendoline Grace - Born 31.5. 1895 Mortlake, Surrey - Died 1.4.1985 Canterbury
(Gwendolen Grace Gallagher)
Sibling:
Gordon Ian - Born 13.4.1927 - Died 15.3.2004 Surrey
(Married Betty Joan Robertson - Born 1931 -Died 1989)
A Sergeant/Navigator with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Squadron. Service No:1603697.
Country of Service United Kingdom.
At 7.15am on 18 July 1944 a Handley Page Halifax Mk.111 bomber belonging to 115 Squadron RAF attempted to land, crashed through the trees over Eagles Nest House, in a wood on top of Birkitt Hill, bounced on a field and slammed into West End Farm House killing the crew as well as the farmer's wife and two daughters (one of whom was Private Elsie Handley, home on leave from the Auxiliary Territorial Service.)The farmer, George Handley, and his sons were milking in the cow sheds and escaped. The aircraft LM616 (KO J) had left its base at RAF Witchford near Ely at 04:20 hrs to support Allied ground forces taking part in Operation Goodwood during the Normandy campaign. [Emieville area.]
The Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces objective was to bomb units of the 16th Luftwaffe Field Division and the 21st Panzer Division which were located around the Manneville area in France. LM616 received severe damage during the raid, in which its controls and navigation aids were shot up. The aircraft had descended through low cloud only to see the high escarpment of the Chiltern Hills at Offley loom into view too late for the crew to take immediate action.
Casualty of War: Keith perished in the crash. His remains were recovered and buried at Cambridge City Cemetery.
Keith left his estate to his Father, Frank John League Smith, Clothing Buyer.
CREW OF THE HALIFAX WHO PERISHED
Flying Officer THOMAS RICHARDSON
Wireless Operator/Mechanic
Service No:157884
Age:23
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
Grave Reference: Row G. Grave 3.
NEW SEAHAM (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCHYARD
Son of John and Susan Richardson. of Seaton.
Sergeant/Air Gunner ISAAC MORRIS
Service No:1544587
Age:21
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
Grave Reference:New ground. Joint grave 554.
STAVELEY (ST. JAMES) CHURCHYARD
Son of Joseph and Jessie Morris, of Staveley.
Pilot Officer/Pilot SYDNEY ALBERT LETTS
Service No:173763
Age:31
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
Grave 13769.
CAMBRIDGE CITY CEMETERY
Son of Sydney and Mabel Letts, of Leicester; husband of Dorothy Letts, of Leicester.
Sergeant/Flight Engineer DONALD CARPENTER CLARK
Service No:1717615
Age:20
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
South Sec. Grave 16A.
HITCHIN CEMETERY
Son of Benjamin George Arthur and Winifred Emma Clark, of East Barnet.
Sergeant EARL DOUGLAS WHITE
Service No:R/200964
Age:21
Royal Canadian Air Force 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn
Grave Reference:52. F. 8.
BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
Son of Menno Peter and Rose Rebecca White of Fort Erie North, Ontario, Canada.
Pilot Officer/Air Bomber WILLIAM JOHN KENNEDY
Service No:J/88743
Age:28
Royal Canadian Air Force 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn.
Grave Reference:52. F. 7.
BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
Son of William Dugald and Mary Ann Kennedy of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Parents:
Frank - Born 19.12.1894 West Norwood, London- Died 25.3.1974 Goring By Sea Worthing
(Mothers Maiden Name Leage)
Married on 4.9.1920 Croydon to
Gwendoline Grace - Born 31.5. 1895 Mortlake, Surrey - Died 1.4.1985 Canterbury
(Gwendolen Grace Gallagher)
Sibling:
Gordon Ian - Born 13.4.1927 - Died 15.3.2004 Surrey
(Married Betty Joan Robertson - Born 1931 -Died 1989)
A Sergeant/Navigator with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Squadron. Service No:1603697.
Country of Service United Kingdom.
At 7.15am on 18 July 1944 a Handley Page Halifax Mk.111 bomber belonging to 115 Squadron RAF attempted to land, crashed through the trees over Eagles Nest House, in a wood on top of Birkitt Hill, bounced on a field and slammed into West End Farm House killing the crew as well as the farmer's wife and two daughters (one of whom was Private Elsie Handley, home on leave from the Auxiliary Territorial Service.)The farmer, George Handley, and his sons were milking in the cow sheds and escaped. The aircraft LM616 (KO J) had left its base at RAF Witchford near Ely at 04:20 hrs to support Allied ground forces taking part in Operation Goodwood during the Normandy campaign. [Emieville area.]
The Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces objective was to bomb units of the 16th Luftwaffe Field Division and the 21st Panzer Division which were located around the Manneville area in France. LM616 received severe damage during the raid, in which its controls and navigation aids were shot up. The aircraft had descended through low cloud only to see the high escarpment of the Chiltern Hills at Offley loom into view too late for the crew to take immediate action.
Casualty of War: Keith perished in the crash. His remains were recovered and buried at Cambridge City Cemetery.
Keith left his estate to his Father, Frank John League Smith, Clothing Buyer.
CREW OF THE HALIFAX WHO PERISHED
Flying Officer THOMAS RICHARDSON
Wireless Operator/Mechanic
Service No:157884
Age:23
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
Grave Reference: Row G. Grave 3.
NEW SEAHAM (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCHYARD
Son of John and Susan Richardson. of Seaton.
Sergeant/Air Gunner ISAAC MORRIS
Service No:1544587
Age:21
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
Grave Reference:New ground. Joint grave 554.
STAVELEY (ST. JAMES) CHURCHYARD
Son of Joseph and Jessie Morris, of Staveley.
Pilot Officer/Pilot SYDNEY ALBERT LETTS
Service No:173763
Age:31
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
Grave 13769.
CAMBRIDGE CITY CEMETERY
Son of Sydney and Mabel Letts, of Leicester; husband of Dorothy Letts, of Leicester.
Sergeant/Flight Engineer DONALD CARPENTER CLARK
Service No:1717615
Age:20
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn.
South Sec. Grave 16A.
HITCHIN CEMETERY
Son of Benjamin George Arthur and Winifred Emma Clark, of East Barnet.
Sergeant EARL DOUGLAS WHITE
Service No:R/200964
Age:21
Royal Canadian Air Force 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn
Grave Reference:52. F. 8.
BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
Son of Menno Peter and Rose Rebecca White of Fort Erie North, Ontario, Canada.
Pilot Officer/Air Bomber WILLIAM JOHN KENNEDY
Service No:J/88743
Age:28
Royal Canadian Air Force 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn.
Grave Reference:52. F. 7.
BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
Son of William Dugald and Mary Ann Kennedy of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Inscription
1603697 SERGEANT
K. J. SMITH
NAVIGATOR
ROYAL AIR FORCE
18TH JULY 1944 AGE 21
(CROSS)
A YOUNG LIFE
GALLANTLY GIVEN
IN A NOBLE CAUSE
Gravesite Details
Commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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