213753 WO. Fredrick Smooker Royal Air Force 106 Sqn. from:Roddymoor, Durham My Uncle F.H. Smooker flew with 106 Sqn. as a bomb aimer.
And along with the crew of Lancaster ED 720 ZN-R were shot down near Cambrai on the night of 8/9 July 1943.
The Lancaster had a crew of seven on normal operations and on this occasion was apparently carrying a second pilot gaining experience of operations before captaining his own crew.
The crew that Uncle Fred flew with routinely were First Lt. Eugene Rosner USAAF, on his last op with the RAF before transferring.
Sgt. Disbury second pilot.
F.Sgt. James Calder Air Gunner RCAF.
F.Sgt Dalton Turner Air Gunner RCAF.
Sgt. J Hougham W.OP/Air Gunner.
Sgt. W Bailey Navigator.
The aircraft was damaged by flack and then a night fighter from 1/NJG4 piloted by Ob. Lt. Fritz Graef attacked and shot them down near Hirson at approx 0250.
Uncle Fred in the nose had tried to fight it off, along with the other gunners, but the front turret was dead.
Flying as they were on only 3 engines they could not keep up with the bomber stream and were the classic sitting duck.
Of the crew of 8 only my Uncle survived and said that on landing by parachute the wreckage of the Lancaster was burning in a field 500 yards away.
He managed to evade capture until Sept of 43 but then spent 56 days in Fresnes prison (Paris) before internment in Stalag camp 4B were he was prisoner 263424.
There have only been 3 Smookers in the RAF My Father Ernest, my uncle Fred and myself W.O.E.P. Smooker.
I mentioned this to Jacko Jackson the BBMF Lancaster pilot who then took me flying in the Lancaster so all 3 Smookers have flown in a Lanc.
I mention this as it made me appreciate what those crews endured in the pitch black and freezing cold nights over Europe.
We should always remember the sacrifice that so many made and never forget the debt we owe.
To me they were all heroes, although they would be embarrassed to spoken of in such a way.
Gentlemen I salute you.
"Per Ardua Ad Astra"
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