Our Departed

Sergeant Tony Smith, 1921 - 1942, was killed as a result of injuries received 2 days earlier in a flying accident.

Sergeant Smith was the Pilot on a Miles Master of 61 Operational Training unit, Fighter Command. At 13.55hrs on March 8, 1942, the aircraft whilst taking off at Heston Aerodrome, swung and struck parked aircraft. This was due to attempting to take off before full flying speed had been reached causing it to drop and turn sharply to the left where it collided with four aircraft parked on the tarmac. The other aircraft were a Hornet Moth and 3 Spitfires. Damage was sustained to all aircraft, but of varying degrees.

Sergeant Smith sustained burns and was admitted to West Middlesex Hospital, Isleworth, Bedfordshire, where he was put on the Dangerously ill list. Sadly he contacted Toxaemia (blood poisoning from septic shock) and subsequently died at 09.45hrs on March 10,1942.

I was always told that my brother flew in the morning and had engine problems with his a/c. He reported the problem but when he flew later in the day he immediately knew the problem was still there. He told my mother and father this when they saw him after the accident. None of this is reflected in the accident report however. Strange!

Other than his picture and a model of a metal Spitfire which he had given my father, I had very little information to go on.

I was the youngest of 7 children. My father and mother are both long deceased and my last surviving family member, my brother passed away 3 years ago. So I wrote letters to all the surviving spouses and children and asked them if they had any information or documents that might help me with my research.

Low and behold, one of my sister-in-law discovered four letters written by Tony in late 1941 and early 1942. Apart from providing a fascinating insight into his thoughts and daily issues he faced, he had quoted his service number and the numbers of 2 Operational Units he had been posted to. These were 59 O.T.U which flew Hurricanes and 61 O.T.U. which flew Spits out of Heston.

Next I went to the web and found that, as the surviving next of kin, I could get a copy of his service record if I could quote his service number. I wrote to the RAF and almost by return mail, a copy of his service record arrived. It didn't provide as much information as I hoped but here is the gist of it.

He joined as a volunteer reserve trainee pilot in December 1940 just a few months after war broke out. He was 19 years of age. His proficiency was rated as A out of ABC. At the time of death in March 1942 he had been flying for 1 year and 92 days. He had been at 61 O.T.U for 6 weeks (I have been reading Pierre Closterman's book, The Big Show and he says that a pilot spent 8 weeks at an O.T.U. before being assigned to an operational squadron.

Last update: Tuesday, 11 September 2007

Published in : Memorials,

Keywords : Tony Smith, 1921, 1942

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