Mant, Graeme Smyth Died
Personal Information
| Rank | P/O |
| Forename(s) | Graeme Smyth |
| Surname | Mant |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 26 |
| Date of Death | 11-03-1943 |
| Next of Kin | Son of George Smyth Mant and Elsie Jane Elizabeth Mant, of Brooweena, Queensland, Australia. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
| Serial Number | ED523 |
| Markings | PO- |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Durnbach War Cemetery |
| Grave Reference | 8. F. 20. |
| Epitaph | TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WE LOVE IS NOT TO DIE (Extract from Hallowed Ground by Thomas Campbell) |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 1 |
| Panel Number | 67 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | 405131 |
| Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Group | 5 |
| Squadron | 467 (Australian) |
| Trade | Pilot |
| Country of Origin | Australia |
Other Memorials
| Location | Inside old Control Tower, Roseland Business Park, Bottesford, Leicestershire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque & Sqn Badges |
| Memorial Text | Dedicated to the men and women of all nationalities who served with the units based at this airfield in WWII, and of those who gave their lives that freedom might prevail |
| Location | St. Mary the Virgin Church, Bottesford, Leicestershire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | RoH in wooden cabinet |
| Memorial Text | Roll of Honour remembering all 467 (RAAF) Sqn personnel who failed to return from Ops at RAF Bottesford |
| Location | SHQ, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | External Clock & Internal inscribed Brass Plaque |
| Memorial Text | A commemorative clock in memory of the members of 463 and 467 Sqns RAAF who served at RAF Waddington during WW2 |
| Location | Memorial Gardens, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Propeller & Inscribed Metal Plaques |
| Memorial Text | A memorial to the members of 463 and 467 Sqns RAAF who served at RAF Waddington during WW2 |
| Location | Bar Lane, Waddington, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Clock and inscribed Wooden Plaque |
| Memorial Text | A memorial clock to the members of 463 and 467 Sqns RAAF who served with Bomber Command during WW2 |
| Location | In front of the mess esplanade, Mailly-le-Camp, 10 - Aube Prefecture |
| Country | France |
| Memorial Type | Stone memorial sculpture, inscribed marble tablets and inscribed metal plaque |
| Memorial Text |
En souvenir des heros de la RAF. Qui ont participe au bombardment du camp de Mailly. Unites de la RAF engagees dans le raid sur Mailly-le-Camp, la nuit du 3 au 4 May 1944. N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617- 619-625-626-627-650
Translation "In memory of the RAF heroes who took part in the bombing of Mailly Camp. RAF units engaged in the raid on Mailly-le-Camp, the night of 3-4 May 1944. Squadrons that took part: N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617-619-625-626-627-650" |
Miscellaneous Information
| Born 20 March 1916, Maryborough, Queensland. His father George died in March 1943. Graeme attended Churchie Grammar School, Brisbane from 1929-33 and is remembered on their memorial roll. By the age of 20 he was living in Milron. He served in the 2/14 Light Horse Infantry from 1934-35 as a trooper. He trained at 2 ITS, 6EFTS, 3 SFTS and then to Canada. He returned to England via 3 PRC on 23 November 1941, then through 2 (P)AFU, 14 OTU Cottesmore and to 49 Squadron on 3 July 1942. He flew 17 ops with 49 Squadron before being posted to 467 Squadron on its formation. |
| Known as "Dinny" |
| Initially buried in Boeblingen cemetery, Switzerland. The Marborough Chronicle, Mant's local newspaper back home, reported that the Swiss Consul attended the funeral. |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1930/6 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1930/6 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Millett G H (F/S) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 11-03-1943 |
| End Date | 12-03-1943 |
| Takeoff Station | Bottesford |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (33% moon) |
| Operation | Stuttgart |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | The aircraft was hit by Flak in the starboard wing shortly after dropping its bombs, setting fire to its petrol tanks. The Captain ordered the crew to abandon at 10,000 feet and all but two obliged. The aircraft crashed near the target area, 2 km W of Stuttgart close to Boelingen, where the two airmen who perished were initially buried. |