A Collection of Medals to Second World War Royal Air Force Casualties

Family Group:

Three: Pilot Officer (Air Gunner) E. J. Smitherman, 97 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Lancaster was shot down by a night-fighter whilst on a bombing raid over Frankfurt, 24-25 August 1942
1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure and medal ticket, extremely fine

Three: Sergeant (Air Gunner) A. D. Smitherman 9 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Lancaster was shot down by a night-fighter whilst on a bombing raid over Essen and crashed near Arnhem, 3-4 January 1943
1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure and medal ticket, extremely fine

Both groups of medals in the same card box of issue, addressed to ‘T. W. Smitherman Esq., 64 Stephens Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent’ (6) £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Royal Air Force Casualties.

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Edward James Smitherman was commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and was posted to 97 Squadron from 10 Officer Training Unit at Abingdon on 8 June 1942, flying Lancasters. His first operational sortie was against Danzig on 11 July 1942- this was an experimental raid, with 44 Lancasters bombing U Boat pens from normal height having formed up and flown at low altitude across the North Sea in daylight. This target was the farthest that Bomber Command had operated up to that point, a round trip of some 1,500 miles. The Bomber Command War Diaries state two Lancasters were shot down by Flak over the target area, and that the novel routing and tactics prevented enemy fighter contact.

E. J. Smitherman was killed in action when Lancaster R5537, piloted by Flying Officer G. C. Hooey, D.F.C., was detailed to attack Frankfurt on 24-25 August 1942, on the second ever Pathfinder led raid. It was not a success. Smitherman’s aircraft was intercepted and shot down by the German ace Hptm. Kurt H Loos, crashing near the Trappist Abbey at Westmalle, Belgium. All the crew were killed. The crew are all buried here in the small churchyard.

E. J. Smitherman is buried alongside his crew in Westmalle Churchyard, Belgium.


Arthur Douglas Smitherman, the younger brother of Pilot Officer Edward James Smitherman, served during the Second World War as an Air Gunner with 9 Squadron, flying Lancasters. His first operational sortie was against Krefeld on 2 October 1942, and from October 1942 to January 1943 he took part in 17 operations against such targets as Krefield, Aachen, and Osnabruck. On 17 October he took part in the low level attack on the Schneider Arms Works at Le Creusot. This was a low level daylight raid carried out by 94 Lancasters, and one of the most famous R.A.F. raids of the War in that it was considered a very daring operation. Further operations included Genoa, Milan, Turin (three times) Hamburg and Duisberg.

A. D. Smitherman was killed in action when Lancaster R5537, piloted by Flight Lieutenant D. H. S. Lonsdale, D.F.C., was detailed to attack Krupps works in Essen on 3-4 January 1943. Their aircraft was shot down by Uffz. Christian Koltringer, and crashed near Overhagense Weide near Velp, on the outskirts of Arnhem. All the crew were killed.

A. D. Smitherman is buried alongside his crew in Rheden (Heiderust) General Cemetery, Arnhem, Holland.


Both brothers’ medals were sent to their father, Thomas William Smitherman.

Sold with copied research including portrait photographs of both recipients.