LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Geoffrey George Minchin SMITH
Service No: 426848
Born: Nambour QLD, 8 September 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 14 August 1942
Unit: No. 105 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 105 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft LP410), Herefordshire, 29 April 1945, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Minchin Smith and Ruby May Smith, of Inglewood, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Mackay QLD
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 0829 hours on 29 April 1945 Wellington LP410 took off to carry out a cross country training flight. During the flight the aircraft carried out the normal procedure of passing messages and position reports to base. At 1226Z hours a position report was received by TAFC giving an ETA Base of 1259Z. At 1233Z the aircraft called on base for an approach control frequency and requesting a UCO for base weather. This was transmitted but not acknowledged. The aircraft subsequently was called on all frequencies, but nothing further was heard and the aircraft failed to return to base. Overdue procedures were then taken. The aircraft crashed at Moccas Park, Herefordshire, and all the crew members were killed.
The crew members of LP410 were:
Warrant Officer Henry James Bays (1320959) (RAFVR) (Pilot under instruction)
Flight Lieutenant Harold Kenneth Crowther (124472) (RAFVR) (Instructor Pilot)
Flight Sergeant William Forster (986370) (RAFVR) (Screened Wireless Operator)
Warrant Officer Eric William Skelton (1219664) (RAFVR) (Screened Navigator)
Pilot Officer Geoffrey George Minchin Smith (426848) (Navigator under instruction)
Flight Sergeant Gwilym James Whitcombe (1229466) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator under instruction)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 1166/38/1049