Smith, John Coates
Personal Information
Rank | W/O |
Forename(s) | John Coates |
Surname | Smith |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 04-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Henry Thompson Smith and Hannah Jane Smith. of Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND905 |
Markings | PM-B |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Villers-Le-Chateau Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Mil. Plot. Row 1. Coll. grave 1. |
Epitaph | IN LOVING MEMORY OF JOHN, OUR YOUNGEST SON. HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS LOVED ONES |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 99 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 645575 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 103 |
Trade | Wireless Operator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Mary's Church, Gate Helmsley, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Wooden Board |
Memorial Text | In grateful memory of John Coates Smith Warrant Officer R.A.F. Killed on operational duties over occupied France on the night of 3rd May 1944 Buried in Champignul Cemetery "As dying and behold we live" Erected by the villagers of Gate Helmsley, Upper Helm |
Location | All Saints Church, Elsham, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served at RAF Elsham Wolds on 103 7 576 Squadrons 1941-45 |
Location | Anglian Water Treatment Works, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Pillar & Plaques |
Memorial Text | Pillar : RAF Elsham Wolds, 1941-1945, For those who made the great sacrifice. Plaque :This tree is dedicated to all those who served with 103 Squadron Royal Air Force. Plaque : RAF Elsham Wolds, Opened in Summer 1941 as a bomber station in No1 group, it w |
Miscellaneous Information
John Coates Smith was named after 17496 Lance Corporal John Coates, a WWI soldier of the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, who would have become Smith's uncle had he survived the war and married Smith's aunt Alice Colley. In fact he was killed in the Middle East on 9 May 1918 aged 23. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/816/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/816/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 03-05-1944 |
End Date | 04-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Elsham Wolds |
Day/Night Raid | Night (83% moon) |
Operation | Mailly-le-Camp |
Reason for Loss | Shot down outbound by a night fighter, crashing at Villers-le-Chateau |