STANLEY WILLIAM SMITH
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Birthplace: Enlisted: Date: Place: Rank.: Died as a result of injuries: Buried: 
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Windsor, Ontario The Royal Canadian Air Force May 26, 1940 Windsor, Ontario Flying Officer May 29, 1944 Tangmere, England 
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History of my father, F/O S.W.Smith R.C.A.F.
He enlisted in Windsor, Ontario and began training in 1941 at the Nova Scotia Flying Training School. In 1944 as a Sergeant he received F/O (Flight Officer) status and he loved the Spitfire. He belonged to the 403 Squadron. He died at the age of 27 in a tragic accident on May 29th, 1944 just 8 days short of D-Day, June 6th.
I like to believe that had he not died then, his records show, he would have a formidable opponent. I was fortunate to obtain his flight log in 2011 and was walked through each page by Ron Harper, another avid lover of the Spitfire. My father acculumated a total of 597 hours, 50 minutes as of May 25, 1944 and I was told that because of these “figures” if the weather permitted, he was up there”.
This past July, I was blessed to travel to visit his grave in Brookwood Military Cemetery, UK. It was an awesome and holy moment.
Sincerely,
Barbara Ann (Smith) VanWatteghem
Stanley Smith in flight suit
Stanley Smith - Grave - Brookwood Military Cemetery, UK
Stanley Smith grave with daughter, Barbara VanWetteghem
