LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Laurence William SMITH
Service No: 425769
Born: Cairns QLD, 25 July 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 26 April 1942
Unit: No. 1 Operational Training Unit, East Sale VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Operational Training Unit Beaufort aircraft A9-409), near Yarram VIC, 7 October 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William and Elsie Clara Catherine Smith, of Cairns, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 6, Sydney Memorial, Rookwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 113, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 7 October 1943, A9-409 crashed into the sea just east of Woodside Beach. The cause of the accident is unknown.
The crew members of A9-409 were:
Sergeant Ronald Francis Butler (426529) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant William John Rogers (427150) (Navigator)
Sergeant Gordon George Sexton (426692) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Laurence William Smith (425769) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 256