Pilot Officer John Smyth

Pilot Officer John Scott Smyth,  Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was killed in action over Germany, aged 38, with 158 Squadron R.A.F. on 17th September 1942 and is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Germany.  He had been born in Eccles and was the son of the late John and Elizabeth Smyth formerly of Birgham. His father , John Smyth had farmed at Birgham Haugh before enlisting in the R.A.F.V.R was a farmer in Birgham for many years. Whilst in Birgham he was a well known motor cycle racer. He was lost on a raid to the Krupps Works in Essen in the Ruhr.  ( at age 38 he was quite old for a combat flier ).158 Squadron flew the Handley Page Halifax B Mk11 from R.A.F. East Moor, North Yorkshire and lost 900 aircrew during the War.