A Second World War Photo Reconnaissance D.F.C. and 1940 D.F.M. to Squadron Leader L.G.Smith, Royal Air Force,
Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., dated 1943; Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (812071. A/Cpl. L.G.Smith. R.A.F.). Extremely fine. (Lot)
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Footnotes
- D.F.C. London Gazette 29.10.1943.
After a tour of Operation as an Air Gunner in Ansons, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, this Officer gained a commission as a pilot. He has completed 58 high level photographic sorties, showing outstandingly good results, which played a major part in the mapping of the BREST PENINSULAR for G.H.Q., Home Forces. He has been deputy Flight Commander for the last six months, and proved himself an able leader, and has encouraged everyone by his example and cheerfulness.
D.F.M. London Gazette 14.6.1940.
On 1st June 1940, Acting Corporal Smith was Air Gunner of an Anson which, in company with two others, was attacked by nine Me.109s. Although his pilot was taking violent evasive action, Acting Corporal Smith used his guns with such skill and coolness that he brought down one Me.109 and severely damaged another.
The lot comes with box for the DFC and slip from Buckinghsm Palace, two RAF ties, his logbook from July 14th 1941 where he begins flight training in a Tiger Moth. He previously had 587 hours as a Passenger and this is annotated in the logbook as well as Previous Flying as Air Gunner from Form 1767, whether a log book existed for this period is not known. At the end of his training in June 1942 he is proficient on Spitfires and carries out photography at High Level. On 19th July he has his first Op and this carries on through August 1942 including one on the 17th over Dieppe. There is another entry that is stuck to the book from Air Marsahl Sir A.S.Barratt, thanking 140 Squadron for their work over Dieppe which led to the success of the operation that took place on the 19th August. On 11th October he was intercepted by 7 Fw190s and was badly shot up he passed out at 50,000ft and came to at 2,000ft , his undercarriage collapsed after landing. His Ops continued until November 1943 and he had suffered a number of close calls including being chased by 4 USAAF Thunderbolts!
In February 1944 he served with 151 O.T.U. Risalpur North West Province, and then went on to 22 Ferry Control Allahabad and his remaining war service was spent out in India and surrounding regions.
Category: Coins / Coins and Banknotes
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