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222504 P/O. Kenneth Richard K. Smettem Royal Air Force 50 Squadron (d.30th Aug 1940) My Uncle, K.R.K. Smettem who was a pilot with 50 Sq at Lindholme. His Hampden was shot down on the 30th of August 1940.
The crew are buried in the Groesbeek War Cemetery:
- P/O. K.R.K. Smettem, pilot
- Sgt. A.A. Horsefall
- Sgt. H.H. Best
Additional Information: | He is remembered on his parents' and his grandparents' graves in Barrow Cemetery. The Other Few: The contribution made by Bomber & Coastal Aircrew to the winning of the Battle of Britain GL Donnelly (Blackwell 2004) reports that Hampden L4079 of 50 Squadron, based at RAF Lindholme, was on a bombing mission to Munchengladbach when it was shot down by Oberleutnant Werner Streib. All four crew members were killed, and buried at Groesbeek.
The Barrow News 14 September 1940 reported beneath the photograph above: Pilot Officer Kenneth R. K. Smettem (24) of 233, Ainslie-street, Barrow, who has been reported missing during flying operations. His father is a captain in the Merchant Navy. Earlier, on 20 April 1940, the same photograph was used to illustrate an account of an attack where ‘British flyers bombed German warships and military objectives.
His aircraft was in the air for nearly eight hours. All the ‘planes engaged in this daring exploit returned safely.
Pilot Officer Smettem was educated at Barrow Grammar School, and obtained a commission in the R.A.F. in April, 1939. He was home on leave just two weeks ago.
All the men who took part in this raid were on the news films this week.
Rod White
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