Another Australian Spitfire Pilot found in France.

All my apologizes for the rudeness of my last post.Really sorry.
My words were too violent.

 

I've edited Andy's email addresses so he doesn't get spammed.

I've worked with Andy on a couple of programmes and he is a serious aviation historian, so it promises to be an interesting story.

 

Thank you Jonathan, and hello Paul! Hope things are well with you and thanks for the edit.

I'm afraid that I cannot say anything at this stage as my hands are tied somewhat. Unfortunately, the unconfirmed identity was leaked to the press by an unknown French source.

All I can add at this stage is that the discovery was unexpected and did not fall in line with local information about the incident. No photos at this stage, I'm afraid.

 

I was involved in the recovery and will be able to supply details at a later date. Meanwhile, I can confirm that suggestions that a burial will take place on 24 October are wholly incorrect!

If the poster who is a relative (MooreK at #13) would like to urgently contact me I should be delighted to hear from you!

My e-mail is 1940history [at] gmail.com or sndz338 [at] aol.com

Andy Saunders

The Andy Saunders?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=andy+saunders&sprefix=andy+saunders

 

That's your man. His blog here:

Andy Saunders

 

That's your man. His blog here:

Andy Saunders

Blimey - BofB historian!!B)

I'm off for a lie down!!

 

Thank you Jonathan, and hello Paul! Hope things are well with you and thanks for the edit.

I'm afraid that I cannot say anything at this stage as my hands are tied somewhat. Unfortunately, the unconfirmed identity was leaked to the press by an unknown French source.

All I can add at this stage is that the discovery was unexpected and did not fall in line with local information about the incident. No photos at this stage, I'm afraid.

The Andy Saunders?

Amazon.co.uk: andy saunders: Books




Andy,

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I am sure that many of our forum members are eagerly awaiting your posts

Regards
Tom

 

Hello boys!!Am i still this invisible stinking and invisible frog??!
When will you ever reply to one of my fucking question???
The fuck!!am i transparent or what????


Calm down big fella !

 

Oh and one more point, the recent development around the Gloster's bunker emphasise the importance of this excavation and missing airmen's recovery.

When would an industrial unit have been build on HIS head ?

Oh and what about the Lancaster pilot in the wreckage of his bomber close by at Zutpenyee ??

 

Dear Posters
Thank you all for the information and comments about W.J.Smith - my uncle. Bill died long before I was born but his memory has lived with our family - and my Dad, Bill's brother, Bert - for many, many years. I hope the information about the burial is incorrect as we are (Bert, his wife June, my brother Greg and myself) are all intending to come over for the service and burial.

 

I was involved in the recovery and will be able to supply details at a later date. Meanwhile, I can confirm that suggestions that a burial will take place on 24 October are wholly incorrect!

If the poster who is a relative (MooreK at #13) would like to urgently contact me I should be delighted to hear from you!

My e-mail is 1940history [at] gmail.com or sndz338 [at] aol.com

Andy Saunders

Hi Andy
I would also like to hear from you - I am the pilot's nephew and intend coming to France for the burial with my father Bert (Bill's brother) and other members of the family. Dad is keen for as much info as he can get on the circumstances of the discovery.

Many thanks

Mark Smith

 

Hi Andy
I would also like to hear from you - I am the pilot's nephew and intend coming to France for the burial with my father Bert (Bill's brother) and other members of the family. Dad is keen for as much info as he can get on the circumstances of the discovery.

Many thanks

Mark Smith

I am sure that all in the family would like to thank those involved in the discovery of Uncle's Bill's Spitfire and remains. Possibly an old wound healed for my father, Bill's brother

Chris Smith

 

Dear Posters
Thank you all for the information and comments about W.J.Smith - my uncle. Bill died long before I was born but his memory has lived with our family - and my Dad, Bill's brother, Bert - for many, many years. I hope the information about the burial is incorrect as we are (Bert, his wife June, my brother Greg and myself) are all intending to come over for the service and burial.

Hi Mark,

I was most surprised at the supposed date of the burial. William Lacy Smith's aircraft was found in October 2010 and not interred until April 19th 2011.

I placed the photo of Henry Lacy Smith's aircraft (Spitfire IX) photo in error instead of William's Spitfire V which in hindsight would have been in pieces after such an impact and I apologize for that gaff.

I have sent off an email to an Australian Government representative I know to see what arrangements they have made for (1) the Cemetery and (2) a possible date for the burial.

I see he was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. A long way from there to Whittlesea in Melbourne.

Are there any relatives still living in Whittlesea?

Cheers

Geoff

 

A really great thread & have thoroughly enjoyed this journey.


I am just wondering however, what happens in terms of recognition on memorials now.

I know that the names that are memorialised say in Manila Philippines (ABMC) have a gold star etched next to the name on the memorial if the remains are found at a later date & I would assume that in ABMC Cemetaries in Europe that also applies.

Does the CWGC do something similar say at Runnymede? or is there no recognition that remains have been recovered.

Inquiring minds need to know

Regards

Simon

 

Hi Mark,

I was most surprised at the supposed date of the burial. William Lacy Smith's aircraft was found in October 2010 and not interred until April 19th 2011.

I placed the photo of Henry Lacy Smith's aircraft (Spitfire IX) photo in error instead of William's Spitfire V which in hindsight would have been in pieces after such an impact and I apologize for that gaff.

I have sent off an email to an Australian Government representative I know to see what arrangements they have made for (1) the Cemetery and (2) a possible date for the burial.

I see he was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. A long way from there to Whittlesea in Melbourne.

Are there any relatives still living in Whittlesea?

Cheers

Geoff

G'day Geoff

I don't think any relatives are still around Whittlesea. I think they lived at Wallaby Creek, on Mt Disappointment, at the time of Bill's death. Whittlesea was the nearest large town. Bill's parents worked for the Board of Works.

Cheers

Mark

 

G'day Geoff

I don't think any relatives are still around Whittlesea. I think they lived at Wallaby Creek, on Mt Disappointment, at the time of Bill's death. Whittlesea was the nearest large town. Bill's parents worked for the Board of Works.

Cheers

Mark

My God, Wallaby Creek! I was reading just the other that the Black Saturday Bushfires destroyed 100% of the 250 year old Ash Forests there. They now say that there are now no trees over 90 metres tall in all of Victoria.

I think Wallaby Creek was a catchment area hence their employment with the BofW.

Cheers

Geoff

 

A really great thread & have thoroughly enjoyed this journey.


I am just wondering however, what happens in terms of recognition on memorials now.

I know that the names that are memorialised say in Manila Philippines (ABMC) have a gold star etched next to the name on the memorial if the remains are found at a later date & I would assume that in ABMC Cemetaries in Europe that also applies.

Does the CWGC do something similar say at Runnymede? or is there no recognition that remains have been recovered.

Inquiring minds need to know

Regards

Simon

Peter Clare lives very close to Runnymede and is there quite often so may know if they are etched or replaced.

There is a thread on here somewhere noting the names who are listed at Runnymede but graves have now been found and aircraft archeology have also necessitated names to be highlighted if in fact that is the procedure.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Must say this is a fascinating thread.

 

My God, Wallaby Creek! I was reading just the other that the Black Saturday Bushfires destroyed 100% of the 250 year old Ash Forests there. They now say that there are now no trees over 90 metres tall in all of Victoria.

I think Wallaby Creek was a catchment area hence their employment with the BofW.

Cheers

Geoff

Bill's mother, Freda, ran a guesthouse owned by the BoW at Wallaby Creek. BoW execs and their families went to stay there on weekends etc. His father, Sam, helped maintain the network of aqueducts in the catchment.

 

I have heard back from my Government contact.

The reply is that once the body is confirmed as that of an Australian aviator, the closest cemetery still applies, however as with Henry Lacey Smith (last year) the burial will "no doubt" take some time.

Cheers

Geoff