Service No. 426698

Date of Birth: 5 Feb 1911

Place of Birth: WONDAI, QLD

Date of Enlistment: 18 Jul 1942

Date of Discharge: 29 Jan 1946

Rank: Flight Lieutenant

Date of Death: 12 Oct 1997

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Crew:

• Angus Smith - Pilot

• Arnold Osbourne - Observer

• Ken O'Neill - WAG

• Harry Young - WAG

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The crew joined 454 Squadron in October 1944 after operational training at 75 OTU and a short period on the instructional staff.  The Squadron was then with the Desert Air Force in Italy.  After proving his operational competence, Angus became a Flight Commander leading "boxes" of 6 Baltimores in daylight attacks in close support of the British 8th Army in its attacks on the Gothic Line, and later in individual night intruder strikes in the more open country of the Lombardy Plains. 

 

His crew had completed 50 sorties by the time the Axis forces surrendered in Italy on 1st May, 1945.

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Angus Smith, having made a significant mark in war, continued to do so post war.  He received an OBE for his many outstanding community contributions - Mayor of Townsville 1952 - 64: Member of the Harbour Board, the Hospital Board, the Board of Mt. Isa mines and of the Australian Broadcasting Commission.