On 26 December
1942, George volunteered for the RAF and was
eventually posted to 28 OTU. Here he teamed
up with George Tindle (RNZAF), James Pepper
(RCAF), Cyril Hollingsworth, James Forrest
and Frank Harris. In August of 1943 they
were
posted to 7 Sqn at Oakington, where they met
Arthur West later.
George became
the mid upper gunner of the Lancaster.
On 23 November
1944 the crew took off from Oakington at
1716 in Lancaster III JA932-M. Their target
for tonight was the German Capital Berlin.
On the way back to base, between 22.00 and
23.00 the plane crashed near the town of
Oudeschild on the Island of Texel.
Mr J.J. Bakker
was a child living in Oudeschild in 1943.The
aircraft crashed near his
home, whilst he was in bed. He remembered
the 23rd as a cold night. Around 1800 they
heard planes coming over and the rattling of
machineguns, something that had become a
rather familiar sound in the skies over
Texel.
At 22.10 the
four engined Lancaster crashed in Oudeschild,
just beside the church. Apparently the pilot
had tried to crash-land the plane. The
crewmembers were found in the wreckage. One
of them was found the next day in a small
pool, which in the winter was used as a
skating ring. The pilot was found in his
seat, hands still on the control column. One
of the engines broke off and hit an
electricity cable, causing a black out in
the town. That same engine also crashed into
the farm of the Dros family. The father was
out that night with the fire brigade, and
his four children slept in the attic,. they
were lucky to survive with their lives.
It is not
certain what caused the JA932 to crash. Most
likely the plane was hit by flak, either
over the target or on its way back.
The whole crew
perished and were buried in Texel (Den Burg)
Cemetery on 25 November 1943, where they
rest today.
Sgt Smith was
19. He is buried in Plot K. Row 2. Grave 44.
(picture courtesy of Mr. Robert Woodberry)
