Sergeant Harold Ryding Smith 98 Squadron November 1942
1186096 Sergeant
H R Smith
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Royal Air Force
30th November 1942. Age 20
There is no death
In Gods Wide World
Lifes Flag never furled
It only taketh wider range
SMITH, HAROLD RYDING
Rank:………………………………………………………………………….Sergeant
Trade:………………………………………………………………………..W.Op./Air Gnr.
Service No:…………………………………………………………………1186096
Date of Death:……………………………………………………………30/11/1942
Age:……………………………………………………………………………20
Service:………………………………………………………………………Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 98 Sqdn.
Grave Reference………………………………………………………..Grave 11.
Cemetery
SWANTON MORLEY (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD
Additional Information:
Son of Harold Ryding Smith and Martha Ryding Smith, of Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2764472/SMITH,%20HARO...
The rest of that month (September) consisted of forming the new squadron and acquiring Mitchells.
October, during which the Squadron moved to Foulsham in Norfolk, was described in 98 Squadron Operations Records Books (ORB), as "excessive rain, camp in disgraceful
condition." The Squadron population included seventeen officers, eighty-seven NCOs and two hundred and six ground crew.
November saw more training flights and included two fatal crashes, one on 16 Nov 42 where Mitchell FL179 stalled and crashed on approach to Attlebridge, with the entire crew receiving fatal injuries:
F/S Williams, K. Pilot (RAFVR)
F/S Seravanos, N. NavB (RAFVR)
F/S Crowe, W.S. W/OpAG (RAFVR)
And on 30 November Mitchell FL708 was lost in a training accident along with the lives of all
crew when it hit an overhead cable and crashed near Dereham, Norfolk:
Sgt Coubrough, G. T. Pilot (RCAF)
Sgt Duffield, R.A. NavB (RAF)
Sgt Smith, H.R. W/OpAG (RAFVR)
LAC Imber, G. Passenger (RAFVR)
Source: webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:2SzSab6qqSQ...
George Coubrough is buried alongside Harold Smith.
Sergeant Ronald Alan Duffield, Observer, aged 23 is buried in Putney Vale and Crematorium.
www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2429681/DUFFIELD,%20R...
Leading Aircraftman George Imber, aged 20, is buried in Feltham Cemetery.
www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2430696/IMBER,%20GEORGE
George’s headstone can be seen here
www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=41878235
Sergeant Harold Ryding Smith 98 Squadron November 1942
1186096 Sergeant
H R Smith
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Royal Air Force
30th November 1942. Age 20
There is no death
In Gods Wide World
Lifes Flag never furled
It only taketh wider range
SMITH, HAROLD RYDING
Rank:………………………………………………………………………….Sergeant
Trade:………………………………………………………………………..W.Op./Air Gnr.
Service No:…………………………………………………………………1186096
Date of Death:……………………………………………………………30/11/1942
Age:……………………………………………………………………………20
Service:………………………………………………………………………Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 98 Sqdn.
Grave Reference………………………………………………………..Grave 11.
Cemetery
SWANTON MORLEY (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD
Additional Information:
Son of Harold Ryding Smith and Martha Ryding Smith, of Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2764472/SMITH,%20HARO...
The rest of that month (September) consisted of forming the new squadron and acquiring Mitchells.
October, during which the Squadron moved to Foulsham in Norfolk, was described in 98 Squadron Operations Records Books (ORB), as "excessive rain, camp in disgraceful
condition." The Squadron population included seventeen officers, eighty-seven NCOs and two hundred and six ground crew.
November saw more training flights and included two fatal crashes, one on 16 Nov 42 where Mitchell FL179 stalled and crashed on approach to Attlebridge, with the entire crew receiving fatal injuries:
F/S Williams, K. Pilot (RAFVR)
F/S Seravanos, N. NavB (RAFVR)
F/S Crowe, W.S. W/OpAG (RAFVR)
And on 30 November Mitchell FL708 was lost in a training accident along with the lives of all
crew when it hit an overhead cable and crashed near Dereham, Norfolk:
Sgt Coubrough, G. T. Pilot (RCAF)
Sgt Duffield, R.A. NavB (RAF)
Sgt Smith, H.R. W/OpAG (RAFVR)
LAC Imber, G. Passenger (RAFVR)
Source: webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:2SzSab6qqSQ...
George Coubrough is buried alongside Harold Smith.
Sergeant Ronald Alan Duffield, Observer, aged 23 is buried in Putney Vale and Crematorium.
www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2429681/DUFFIELD,%20R...
Leading Aircraftman George Imber, aged 20, is buried in Feltham Cemetery.
www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2430696/IMBER,%20GEORGE
George’s headstone can be seen here
www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=41878235