F/S Smart LH 41 Sqdn

[Alain57]

Hello ,
F/S Smart LH from No 41 Sqdn crashed his Spitfire Mk XIV RM-696 on april 24th 1945 while returning to Diest airfield in Belgium.
Any idea where he crashed and what happend with F/S Smart LH ?

[Fairlop]

Alain,

He collided with MV249 on runway. Cat E, pilot safe.

Regards,
Michal

[Alain57]

Thanks Michael for the help.
Alain

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi !

This collision is mentioned in 2nd Tactical Air Force Volume 3 From the Rhine to Victory by C.Shores and C.Thomas p.512 :
14h20 RM696 F/Sgt L.H.Smart engine failure on runway hit by MV249 B.118
MV249 F/O.R.D.A.Smith collided RM696 on railway B.116 cat B/E.

Which was the airfield in Question ?
Diest had code B.64D.
B.118 was Celle (Germany) and B.116 was Wunstorf (Germany).

best regards

Luc

[Allan125]

Hello Alain57

24 April 1945 had started with an historic event - meeting the Russians near to Berlin - 125 Wing ORB, who were operating from B118 Celle, reports

"Well, the 125 Gold Medal Wing is in the news again. By virtue of the number of wireless sets now on the unit strength everyone will have doubtless heard on the 9 pm news that British fighters had met Russian fighters in an area unspecified west of Berlin and that the British fighters had flown with the "Hammer and Sickles" for some time."

".....Shortly after breakfast 41 Sqdn got amongst the Hun met to the tune of 38 damaged whilst on the empire building sweep previously mentioned. We had one piece of very bad luck, an accident on the runway when a section of 41 Sqdn were landing. This resulted in both pilots being taken to hospital. F/Sgt Smart with severe injuries and F/O Smith badly shaken. We hear the former has lost a leg and has head injuries. Everyone will wish him speedy recovery and every sympathy with his bad luck, and also to F/O Smith....."

Hope this helps

cheers

Allan

[Alain57]

Hello ,

Thanks for the reply as usual.

Alain