Australian Spitfire pilot is finally laid to rest

v2 · May 3, 2011

27 year old Flight Lieutenant Henry Smith, nicknamed "Lacy", was flying a sortie to support allied ground forces trying to breakout of the Normandy beachhead when he was hit by anti-aircraft fire. His Spitfire landed in the River Orne and Lacy drowned. But in late 2010 the aircraft was spotted at low tide and recovered. Now, 66 years after he was killed, Henry "Lacy" Smith has been laid to rest at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Ranville War Cemetery. :salute:

vikingBerserker · May 3, 2011

Gnomey · May 3, 2011

TheMustangRider · May 3, 2011

May his soul rest in peace.

Wildcat · May 4, 2011

thanks for that V2.

Florence · Oct 21, 2011

From the Australian Govt DOD website ( Defence Ministers » Minister for Defence Science and Personnel – Historic WWII Spitfire wreckage arrives in Australia for preservation ).

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel – Historic WWII Spitfire wreckage arrives in Australia for preservation
19 October 2011

The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, has welcomed the arrival of an historic WWII Spitfire aircraft found in northern France in November 2010 to the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, for extensive conservation treatment.

The Spitfire aircraft was flown by Flight Lieutenant Henry 'Lacy' Smith from Sydney, NSW, when it was shot down by anti-aircraft fire on 11 June 1944.

"The Spitfire MJ789 crashed into the River Orne, near Caen, in northern France, where it was recovered almost 70 years later," Mr Snowdon said.

"The wreckage of the aircraft will now undergo extensive conservation before being placed on display at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, Victoria next year."

A team of RAAF Museum technical and curatorial personnel will mechanically clean all items of the aircraft, to ensure maximum desalination of the engine and fuselage, a process which is expected to take more than six months.

"The conservation work is essential to ensure the aircraft's long term preservation and prevent further deterioration of this special piece of our wartime history," he said.

Once the Museum is satisfied with the desalination process, the wreckage will be prepared for display.

After the aircraft was recovered in November 2010, Flight Lieutenant Smith was buried with full military honours at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, Ranville, Normandy, France in April this year.

'Lacy' Smith was part of the Number 453 Squadron, which following the D-Day Invasion carried out operations that included harassing the retreating enemy, attacking enemy convoys, bombing missions, armed reconnaissance and bomber escort duties.

They were the first Australian squadron to go into action on 6 June 1944 and operated from advanced bases at the beachhead providing tactical support for the troops landing on the Normandy beaches.

The squadron ceased operations over Europe in October 1945.

Today, No. 453 SQN is a Joint Battlefield Airspace Control (JBAC) squadron headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales (NSW).