In the morning of December 20, 1943 a British Typhoon crashed on the banks of the river Waal opposite the former ferry house of the Voet family.......

   
 
Flight Lieutenant Smith was pilot of a Hawker-Typhoon jfighter code JR-316 TP and was a member of 198th Squadron RAF.

This squadron took part in supporting operations above Holland and was also escorting American (8th. USAAF) bombers on their return journey from a bombing mission to  Bremen.

 

   
   

Former Ferry house of the Voet family, Waaldijk no. 2  
 
 

Probably Smith got technical problems (engine trouble) and crashed at 10.40 a.m. along the banks of the river Waal, 1 km north of Dreumel.

The crash location was just outside the harbour entrance of the communal harbour.

Victor Smith was buried at Uden and only identified after the war. British report speak of "wengine trouble."

 
  the former harbour of the Voet family, near Waaldijk no. 2;
the arrow indicates the crash location
   

The official police report, written by officer Harm Winter, temporarely police commander at Dreumel and assisted by officer J. Koelma, states:

"...................There we found scrap pieces  of a plane, that was partly  in the Waal river  (near the southern bank) and partly spread across the water-meadows.

German soldiers that took part in an exercise at Dreumel were already present. A German officer with some men had already crossed the river with a rowing boat. According to information from eye witnesses the plane presumably crashed because of an air fight."
 
In archives of the former community of Dreumel a bill says that one officer and 3 soldiers were billeted at A. van deursen, Waalbandijk 60. Undoubtedly this has to do with the German exercise that was held when the plane crashed.
 

 
 
December 23,  1943 Victor Smith was buried as "unknown " at the communal cemetry at Uden. (grave I.7.81)

Temporary grave

Victor Smith DFC
   
IIn the summer of 1946 a positive identification followed. His body was reburied at the War Cemetry at Uden.
   
The victim
 
Name: Victor Smith DFC
Country:

England
Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Pilot)
Service: RAF Volunteer Reserve
Squadron: 198th Squadron
Age: 28
Service no: 128365
Relatives: son of Percy Robert and Martha Smith
Cemetry: War Cemetry Uden
Gravereference: 5. C. 3.

Grave of V. Smith DFC

Decoration: Distinguished Flying Cross

(Click photo for enlargement)
   

War Cemetry at Uden
   

Flt/Lt Smith with 207th Squadron RAF when he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The London Gazette wrote on March 23, 1943.........
" This Officer has completed 29 sorties over enemy territory at night, often in adverse weather. During these operations he has attacked anti-aircraft gun posts,  railway stations and buildings and a convoy of motor vehicles, raking them with machine gun fire. He has displayed great courage, skill and keenness"

 

Distinguished Flying Cross