William Brian Smith

Forenames

William Brian AWMM

Surname

Smith AWMM

Service number

• NZ416177 AWMM
• WWII 416177 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Birth

30 Aug 1922 AWMM

Next of kin

• Mabin Smith (step-father), Heddon Bush, Southland, New Zealand AWMM
• WW2 Parents: Mr & Mrs T. Smith, "Broadmeadows", Oreti via Winton, Southland AWMM

Relationship status

Single/WWII AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Campaign

Europe (Air) AWMM

Armed force / branch

Air Force AWMM

Service number

• NZ416177 AWMM
• WWII 416177 AWMM

Military service

• Royal New Zealand Air Force attached to Royal Canadian Air Force AWMM
• Royal New Zealand Air Force attached to Royal Air Force AWMM
• British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 4 Service Flying Training Schools, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada AWMM
  Course 1: Class 54. Graduation Date: 14/08/1942. AWMM

Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Royal Air Force, No. 78 Squadron AWMM

Embarkation details

WW2 Vessel was HS Tjitjalengka AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM

Medical notes

Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Killed on air operations AWMM

Last rank

Flight Lieutenant (Pilot)/Military AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 78 Squadron AWMM

Son of Thomas Smith and Sarah Elizabeth Smith of Heddon Bush, Southland

Attended Timaru Boys' High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845616))

579 hours as Pilot (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845616)) AWMM

Death

27 Sept 1943 AWMM
Age  21 AWMM

Cause of death

Killed in Action AWMM

Cemetery

Hanover War Cemetery, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany AWMM Coll. grave 3. E. 10-13. AWMM

Related Serviceperson

External links

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2101017
  Sources Used
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Sm- Ty. Archives New Zealand (R17845616)
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845616
  Sources Used

References

• Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
  Martyn, E. (1998-2008). Vol. 2 p. 147; vol. 3 p. 446
• This record is a work in progress and was partially compiled from the “Database of New Zealand Airmen who took part in Advanced Air Training in Canada during WW2”. Researched by Ivan and Lorna Lindsey of Tauranga. N.Z. 2003 – 2012. Reproduced with permission.
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Sm- Ty. Archives New Zealand (R17845616) - Former archives reference: AIR118
• List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [Missing - But Presumed Dead on Lapse of Time - Officers, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845743)
• Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
• List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762).