Smith, David Crofton
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | David Crofton |
Surname | Smith |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 13-05-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Harry Watson Smith and Olive Watson Smith, of Tibshelf, Derbyshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | DT645 |
Markings | MH-B |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Harlingen General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot E. Row 3. Grave 11. |
Epitaph | FOURTH SON OF MR. & MRS. H. WATSON SMITH TIBSHELF, ENGLAND. "IN GRATITUDE & SACRED LOVE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 243 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1239555 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 51 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Bartholomew's Church, Old Whittington, Derbyshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window |
Memorial Text | To the Glory of God and in honoured memory of David, aged 21, fourth son of Olive (nee Nunney) and Harry Watson Smith, CBE JP, who as a bomber pilot gave his mortal life along with his crew during night bombing operations on Germany, 13th May 1943, in the |
Location | RAF Snaith Memorial Gardens, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of the crew of Halifax MkII DT645. Ops Duisburg 12th May 1943. Lost on their first operation |
Location | RAF Snaith Memorial Gardens, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Monument, Bench & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In memory of the airmen of R.A.F. 51 Sqn. (687) and 150 Sqn. (205) between 1941 - 1945 |
Location | Village Hall, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque on external wall |
Memorial Text | 51 Sqn RAF Snaith Oct 1942 - Apr 1945 |
Location | St. John the Baptist Church, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Sqn Crest & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | 51 Sqn Roll of Honour |
Location | RAF Snaith Memorial Gardens, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Monument, Multiple Inscribed Metal Plaques, Propeller Unit |
Memorial Text | In memory of the 687 airmen of 51 Sqn, 4 Gp, Bomber Command who lost their lives flying Halifax bombers Mks 2 and 3 at RAF Snaith between October 1942 and April 1945 |
Location | Stn Church, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in Wooden Case |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour of 51 Sqn |
Location | Grounds of Selby Abbey, Selby, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | 51 Sqn RAF. In proud and undying memory of all ranks killed or missing 1939 - 1945 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/492/28 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/492/27 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-05-1943 |
End Date | 13-05-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Snaith |
Day/Night Raid | Night (56% moon) |
Operation | Duisburg. 572 aircraft, 34 losses (5.9%). Near-perfect PFF marking lead to highly concentrated bombing and a significant improvement on the three preceding recent raids on Duisburg. The centre and port areas of the city were badly damaged, including four of the August Thyssen steel plants. Such was the success of this raid that no further raids were planned on Duisburg for some time. |
Reason for Loss | Came down SE of Harlingen, Holland |