James A. (Al) Smith

James A. (Al) Smith was born and raised in Belleville, Ontario. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, and qualified as a Bomb-Aimer on Lancasters Bombers. Al served with 419 "Moose" Squadron.

James was shot down over France on July 4, 1944, and he spent time hiding with a French farm family. He was eventually captured in civilian clothes by the Gestapo, and was imprisoned as one of the "168 who jumped into hell" in the SS concentration camp, Buchenwald.

After the war Al settled in Trenton where he served as the Town Tax Assessor until his retirement.

Al died in July 2013.

We Will Remember Them