During the night of 18th / 19th June 1942 a number of aircraft were tasked with minelaying operational flights. Many of the 460 Squadron aircraft that took part took off from Breighton airfield after midnight, Wellington Z1392 being one of these aircraft and left base at 00.30hrs. The aircraft was damaged by flak in the front turret and the port wing but the pilot was able to make the return across the North Sea and land at Breighton at 05.14hrs.
Pilot - Sgt James Alexander Saint-Smith RAAF (403380), Earlwood, New South Wales, Australia.
Navigator - F/Sgt Geoffrey Ernest Heath RAAF (Aus/6025), of Croydon, New South Wales, Australia.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Peter Ralph Pounds RAF (616572).
Bomb Aimer? - Sgt Philip William Ward RAAF (402626), of Denman, New South Wales, Australia.
Rear Gunner - F/Sgt J W Mitchell.
Wellington Z1392 was built to contract B.97887/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden, Chester and was awaiting collection in December 1941. It was received by 45 MU at Kinloss on 2rd December 1941 and was taken on charge by 460 Squadron at Breighton on 13th December 1941. The AM Form 78 states that on 13th April 1942 damage caused by some form of flying incident that was then repaired on site. Unfortunately the 460 Squadron records are fairly useless during this monthly period at stating what happened to specific aircraft. On the night of 12th / 13th April 1942 this aircraft was one of a number flown on Ops to Essen and may be an aircraft that is unidentified as being attacked by heavy flak, or also one that landed at Manston for an unstated reason. Once repaired it was returned to 460 Squadron. As a result of minor flak damage on the nights of 18th / 19th June 1942, 2nd / 3rd July 1942 and then on 4th / 5th September 1942 this aircraft received minor damage due to flak. Cat.A/FB damage would have been the damage assessment each time which would have seen it repaired on site each time . None of the three flak incidents are listed on the aircraft's AM Form 78. The aircraft was transferred to 142 Squadron at Grimsby at 17th September 1942. In October 1942 142 Squadron ceased operating Wellington MkIV's, converting to Mk.III's so the aircraft was transferred to 305 Squadron at Hemswell on 6h October 1942. The aircraft was lost on 4th February 1943, with Cat.E(m) damage recorded when it failed to return from Ops to Hamburg and would crash in Holland. It was struck off charge on 28th February 1943.
James Saint-Smith was born on 29th December 1917 in Singleton, New South Wales. He enlisted on 6th January 1941 in Sydney and was working as a school teacher at the time. He gained his Wings on 1st September 1941 in Canada. On arrival in the UK he was posted to 23 OTU on 21st October 1941 and later to 12 Squadron on 16th March 1942 flying Wellingtons. This posting was only brief as he was soon posted to 460 Squadron on 11th May 1942, he flew Wellingtons with this unit until converting to the four-engined heavies at 460 Squadron Conversion Flight on 20th August 1942 before returning to his parent unit. He was later posted to 1656 HCU on 21st October 1942 and again returned to 460 Squadron on 10th November 1942. He and his crew were Lancaster W4783's first pilot/crew, this aircraft is preserved in Canberra, Australia. He flew it on thirteen operational flights with 460 Squadron. He was awarded the DFM for service with 460 Squadron for completing his Tour, his DFM was Gazetted on 14th May 1943, the citation reads.. "F/Sgt Saint-Smith has displayed outstanding determination in pressing home his attacks on enemy targets during numerous operational sorties. Early in March 1943 he participated in a raid on Berlin and obtained an excellent photograph after the bombs had been released. He has at all times taken great care to identify the target and has, as pilot, done all in his power to ensure accurate bombing. His high courage, skill and initiative have set a magnificent example to his crew."
Having completed his first Tour he was posted to instruct on 29th April 1943. He was later posted to 1655 MTU for Mosquito training on 23rd November 1943. He then took a posting to 627 Squadron PFF on 23rd December 1943. He had received commission on 17th February 1943 to the rank of P/O and was promoted to F/O on 18th August 1943. He was recommended for the DFC for service with 627 Squadron (later Gazetted on 15th August 1944), this was infact granted after his death and the reasons behind his loss are given below. The citation for his DFC reads.."F/O Saint-Smith has taken part in a number of major attacks on Germany and enemy occupied territory. He has taken an important part in attacking an aircraft factory near Oslo and in several other operations against targets in Germany and France exerting himself to the utmost to ensure their complete and final success. All these operations have had to be accomplished from a low level and have owed much of their effectiveness to his conspicious gallantry and determination."
Geoffrey Heath was born in Croyden, New South Wales on 27th December 1917 and enlisted in Richmond, New South Wales on 30th October 1939. He was awarded his Air Observers Badge on 18th August 1941. On arrival in the UK he was posted to 14 OTU on 14th October 1941 before arriving at 12 Squadron on 7th March 1942 where presumably he met with James Saint-Smith who was posted to 12 Squadron a week later. He became James Saint-Smith's regular navigator and he too was posted to 460 Squadron on 11th May 1942 and converted to the four-engined heavies at the same time as his pilot, he was later posted to 1656 HCU and returned to 460 Squadron on the same dates as his pilot (as shown above). Having completed his Tour he too was awarded the DFM for his service to 460 Squadron, Gazetted on the same date as Saint-Smith: 14th May 1943. The citation reads.."As a N.C.O. Pilot Officer Heath took part in many successful sorties including a raid on Milan and three on Berlin. His last sortie was against Berlin on 1st March 1943. He has displayed great skill often in difficult circumstances, which has played a large part in the successes obtained. Cool and resourceful in an emergency, he has proved himself to be a valuable member of the aircraft crew." He had received his commission on 15th January 1943 to the rank of P/O and was promoted to F/O on 15th July 1943. Having been posted to 27 OTU on 19th April 1943 to act as a navigation instructor he was flying in Wellington BJ713 on 6th July 1943 which crashed soon after taking off from Church Broughton airfield. He injured his left leg and was admitted to Derby hospital. Both Heath and Saint-Smith were re-united as a pair and were posted to 1655 MTU together on 23rd November 1943 and later to 627 Squadron PFF on 24th December 1944. Heath was recommended for the DFC for service with 627 Squadron (later Gazetted on 15th August 1944), this was infact granted after his death and the reasons behind his loss are given below. The citation for his DFC reads.."As navigator, F/O Heath has flown on many long distance sorties. The targets have been varied and in many cases difficult to locate but his navigational skill, together with his great determination have invariably located the exact position. The success of many of these attacks can largely be attributed to this officer's initiative and co-operation." Geoffrey Heath had met a North Duffield girl while stationed at Breighton with 460 Squadron and married her in either 1943 or 1944. She later re-married and moved to Vancouver, Canada.
F/O Saint-Smith and F/O Heath were sadly killed on 29th June 1944 on Ops to bomb a V-1 launch site near Beauvoir, France, it was believed that the 627 Squadron aircraft, Mosquito DZ516, was probably caught in the blast of a V-1 that prematurely exploded near the Mosquito. The aircraft crashed near the village of Vaulx, near Tournai, Belgium and both men were initially buried in the local village cemetery. This was F/O Saint-Smith's seventy third operational flight. Post-War the Wargraves investigation unit exhumed their bodies and they were later re-buried in a joint grave in Abbeville Communal Cemetery, France. Both men were twenty six years old.
Peter Pounds had served with 142 Squadron with many of the early 460 Squadron members, he was posted to the newly formed 460 Squadron on 3rd December 1941 and was awarded the DFM for service with 460 Squadron, Gazetted on 29th December 1942. He received his commission on 31st March 1945 to the rank of P/O on probation (51887). He was promoted to the rank of F/O (war subs) on 30th September 1943 and F/Lt (war subs) on 31st March 1945. He remained in the RAF post-war until relinquishing his commission on F/Lt on 1st September 1952. The units he served with post-460 Squadron are not yet known.
Phillip Ward was born on 7th April 1922 in Sydney, he enlisted in Sydney and was awarded the DFC for service with 460 Squadron on 17th August 1943. No citation has been located. He survived the War.