• Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:

August 26th, 1919 (Cambridge, United Kingdom)

Date of death:

September 20th, 1943 (Belgium)

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Graves Gosselies
Row: 2. Grave: 15.

Service number:

540655

Nationality:

British

Edward Clarence Smith was born in Cambridge on 26 August 1919, the middle of the three children of Clarence and Annie Smith. He joined the RAF in 1937 as ground crew, trained at the No 3 School of Technical Training at RAF Manston and served in various squadrons until 1942.

It was then that the new category of Flight Engineers was introduced, and Smith volunteered for this position. After training he posted to 1660 Conversion Unit in October 1942. Smith joined 57 Squadron in December.

Smith had flown on nine operations before being posted over to the new squadron being formed at the same base to undertake training for a special mission.

On the Dams Raid, AJ-H took off from Scampton at 2131 but had to turn back after flying too low over the Waddensee and losing their mine. Smith played an important role in bringing the aircraft home safely to Scampton when hydraulic power for the undercarriage had been lost.

Smith was shot down over Belgium on 20 December 1943. Smith and the rest of the crew were killed and they were buried in Gosselies Communal Cemetery, near Hainaut, Belgium. One crew member survived.

Edward Smith had married Evelyn Tyrell in Cambridge in 1942.

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• Photo 1: Findagrave
• - Dambusters
  - CWGC

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