![[F/O ED Payne Grave Marker]](../../metz/choloy/pcholoy/choloy204.jpg)
![[F/O ED Payne Grave Marker]](../../metz/choloy/pcholoy/choloy204a.jpg)
Grave marker photos courtesy of Malcolm Cromarty - February 2001
Details:
23 February 1961
F/O ED "Eugene" Payne - 444 Squadron
W/C RV "Roy" Smith - 444 Squadron
Comments:
These pilots were attached to 444 Squadron at 4 (F) Wing, Baden Germany. They were killed when W/C RV Smith (Sabre #23409) was involved in a mid-air collision with F/O ED Payne (Sabre #23488).
W/C Roy Smith was the Officer Commanding 444 Squadron between September 1960 and February 1961.
Extract from 1 Air Division Historical Report:
23 Feb 61
The pilots of two Sabre jet fighters from 4 Fighter Wing, Baden-Soellingen, Germany, were killed today when their aircraft collided in the air. They were W/C Roy Smith, 37, of Middleton, NS, Officer Commanding 444 (Cobra) Squadron, and F/O Eugene Payne, 27, of Lakefield Ontario, also a member of 444 Squadron.
Grave marker photos courtesy of Malcolm Cromarty - February 2001