John Marquis Smither Rank: Civilian Status: Killed in Flying Accident 1943-08-06

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"A" Able flying through the Eiffel Tower? (although this event likely happened, this photograph is likely fake.) It is signed by the late Bill Bryant RAF who was the navigator of that aircraft piloted by Bob Boorman RCAF. The caption reads "This Stars Stripes photograph was taken on 14 September 1944 and shows a Mosquito Mk XIII of 409 Squadron RCAF. Pilot - W/O Bob Boorman RCAF Navigator F/S Bill Bryant RAF Flying through the Eiffel Tower."
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Smither, John Marquis (Civilian)

Killed in Flying Accident 1943-August-06

Birth Date: 1905-October-14 (age 37)

Husband of Mrs B Smither, of Alhambra, California

Home: Alhambra, California

Service
RAF

Unit
45 Group (RAF)

Base
Dorval, Quebec

Rank

Civilian

Marshal
Air Chief Marshal	A/C/M
Air Marshal	A/M
Air Vice Marshal	A/V/M
Air Commodore	A/C
Group Captain	G/C
Wing Commander	W/C
Squadron Leader	S/L
Flight Lieutenant	F/L
Flying Officer	F/O
Pilot Officer	P/O
Warrant Officer 1st Class	WO1
Warrant Officer 2nd Class	WO2
Flight Sergeant	FS
Sergeant	SGT
Corporal	CPL
Senior Aircraftman	SAC
Leading Aircraftman	LAC
Aircraftman 1st Class	AC1
Aircraftman 2nd Class	AC2

Position
Pilot (Captain)

Service Numbers

Hudson MK Vl EW898

Aircraft Ferrying 1943-August-06 to 1943-August-06

45 RAF Group Transport Command, Dorval, Quebec. Hudson aircraft EW 898 was on a training flight when it crashed near Martintown, Ontario

Wireless Operator Sgt GSB Newman (RCAF) and two American Civilian Pilots, LC Lloyd and HM Smither were all killed in this flying accident, cause unknown

Ocean Bridge, The history of RAF Ferry Command by Carl A Christie page 320

General [Royal Air Force serial and Image Database]...

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home

Alhambra, California

Burial
Google Map

San Gabriel Cemetery, USA
Lot 125 Block W Grave 4

Crew on Hudson MK Vl EW898

Civilian Lloyd, Leland Cooper (RAF)
Pilot/1st Officer
Killed in Flying Accident
Age: 30

Sergeant Newman, George Stanley Burt (RCAF)
Wireless Operator
Killed in Flying Accident
Age: 20
Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada - Section D Plot 21 Grave 3

Civilian Smither, John Marquis (RAF)
Pilot (Captain)
Killed in Flying Accident
Age: 37
San Gabriel Cemetery, California, USA - Lot 125 Block W Grave 4

Lockheed Hudson A-28 A-29 AT-18

Lockheed Hudson
Source National Air Force Museum of Canada.

The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force (RAF) shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter. The Hudson served throughout the war, mainly with Coastal Command, but also in transport and training roles, as well as delivering agents into occupied France. They were also used extensively with the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) anti-submarine squadrons. National Air Force Museum of Canada.

YouTube Hudson