Operation: Circus 188

Date: 5th June 1942 (Friday)

Unit No: 401 (The Rams) Squadron

Type: Spitfire VB

Serial: BL849

Code: YO:S

Base: RAF Biggin Hill

Location: Port-le-Grande, France

Pilot: Plt Off. Sydney Frank Smither J7825 RCAF Age 21. KiA

We are extremely grateful to François Dutil (438 Squadron Archivist) for supplying photographs and information to Aircrew Remembered in October 2017. All photographs shown within this page are available to relatives at a higher resolution (as are most of those named within this page) - courtesy of François.

REASON FOR LOSS:

On a Circus operation (escorting of Bombers) in this case escorting 24 Bostons that were to attack Le Havre. All Bombers dropping their bombs on the target and returned without loss. However, the escorting fighters were attacked by Me109’s.

Eight (8) Spitfires were lost from various squadrons with five (5) pilots killed. Spitfire BL849 was the only one lost from 401 Squadron with the loss of Plt Off. Smithers. Post-war investigations determined that the aircraft crashed at 17:00 hrs, in flames on the edge of the village of Port-le-Grande, France.

His body was taken by the German authorities and buried at the Abbeville Communal Cemetery and. buried on the 8th June 1942.

L-R: Flt Sgt. Cosburn, Plt Off. Smither, Plt Off. Ferguson, Plt Off. Denison, Flt Lt. Johnson, Flt Sgt. Gimbel.

L-R: Flt Sgt. McLennan, Plt Off. Morrison, Sgt. Mathewman, Flt Lt. Tyre, Flt Lt. Neal, Plt Off. Tucker, Plt Off. Smither, Plt Off. Whitham, Flt Sgt. Cosburn, Flt Lt. Merritt, Flt Sgt. Gimbel, Flt Sgt. Duff, Sqn Ldr. Hudson, Plt Off. Ferguson.

Burial details:

Plt Off. Sydney Frank Smither. Abbeville Communal Cemetery. Plot 5. Row A. Grave 20. Grave inscription: “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS ST. JOHN XV.13”. Born on the 5th June 1921 in London, Onta. Son of Frank and Susan (née Crockford) Smither of Rathgan Street, London, Ontario, Canada. Husband of Mary Daffodil (née Smither) Smither of Farnham, Surrey, England.

His brother Fg Off. Ross Smither C1594 RCAF was KiA on the 15th September 1940, when 1 Sqn, RCAF Hurricane P3876 was shot down over Tunbridge Wells in Kent during the 'Battle of Britain'. He was buried at the Brookwood Military Cemetery, Grave 3H. 1 on the 19th September 1940. Born on the 12th November 1912 in London, Ontario, Canada.

Note: 1 Sqn, RCAF was renumbered to 401 Sqn, RCAF on the 1st March 1941. Both brothers were based at RAF Biggen Hill when they lost their lives.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Francois Dutil (Oct 2017). Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered (Sep 2025)

Other sources listed below:

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