Awarded the Observers Badge July 8, 1941.
Assigned to the 142 Squadron on April 29, 1942.
Awarded the Operational Wings.
The Wellington Z1209 QT-Z was on a mission to Koln, Germany. In the region of Walcheren, Zeeland, Netherlands the bomber was claimed to be shot down by nightfighter Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn Wittgenstein. The air craft landed in the North Sea with no survivors.
Two bodies washed up on the coast. Flt. Sgt. SMYTH (R.C.A.F.) was buried in Klemskerke, Belgium churchyard and Sgt. WATSON (R.A.F.V.R.) was buried in Zeebrugge, Belgium Sint-Donatus churchyard. The Pilot CHAFFREY (R.C.A.F.), Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner MCALEAVEY (R.C.A.F.) and Air Gunner MACKEAND (R.A.F.V.R.) are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial panels 100 and panel 88, U.K.
The Danish Ace of the Luftwaffe was killed in action on January 21, 1944 when his Junkers 88 exploded in the air after he shot down 4 Allied bombers.
This page is still under construction.
Portrait: Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Photos: Watson (family), Wittgenstein (Asisbiz).
Info from War Diary and Service Records: LAC (Library Archive Canada).
Photographs Regimental patch: ??.
Photograph headstone: Michael van de Velde.
