Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce 1940 Coastal Command ‘Immediate’ D.F.M. group of five awarded to Anson and Hudson pilot, and on occasion Navigator, Flight Sergeant R. H. Smith, 269 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who successfully engaged U-boats, September - November 1939. A specialist Navigator, he was often employed in that capacity in the lead aircraft of strike formations - including a formation of 12 aircraft that attacked the Scharnhorst and the Admiral Hipper, 10 June 1940, and a formation of 20 aircraft that attacked a railway target at Bergen, Norway, 17 December 1940. Having been commissioned Flight Lieutenant, and converted to Liberators, Smith flew numerous operational sorties with 206 Squadron - including ‘Cork Patrols’ to stop U-boats entering the Channel during D-Day.

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (561348. F/Sgt. R. H. Smith. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for display, generally good very fine (5) £2400-2800

D.F.M. London Gazette 14 January 1941:

‘One night in December, 1940, this airman successfully navigated the leading aircraft of a formation which attacked a target 60 miles inside Norway. So well did he make use of the little he could see of the sea and mountain tops that the objective was successfully attacked in weather which seemed quite prohibitive to success. Since the beginning of the war he has carried out 138 operational flights consisting of 600 flying hours, and has carried out successful attacks against units of the enemy fleet. He has always shown skill, determination and devotion to duty of a high order.’

The original recommendation, dated 21 December 1940, states:

‘Since the outbreak of hostilities, this N.C.O. has carried out 600 hours operational flying comprising 138 operational flights over the sea and enemy territory. He successfully attacked two enemy submarines on 15th September, 1939, and 3rd November, 1939. On 10th June, 1940, Flight Sergeant Smith was Navigator to the leader of a formation of 12 aircraft which successfully carried out a pattern bombing attack on units of the enemy fleet in spite of accurate heavy anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition. Owing to his good navigation and excellent bomb-aiming, three hits and several near misses on enemy ships were obtained. On 17th December, 1940, he navigated the leading aircraft of a striking force to a target 60 miles inland in Norway after a long sea and land crossing at night above almost unbroken cloud. So well did he make use of what little he could see of the sea and mountain tops that the objective was successfully attacked in weather which seemed quite prohibitive to success.

Remarks by Station Commander:
By his ability as a Navigator coupled with the determined leadership of his pilot, Flight Sergeant Smith was responsible for the target being found and attacked on 17th December, 1940. He is recommended for immediate recognition.

Remarks by A.O.C.:
The attached report gives details of the circumstances in which Flight Sergeant Smith successfully navigated the leading aircraft to a difficult target in mountainous country with the result that three aircraft of his section delivered a good attack. Twelve 250lb bombs plus incendiaries were carefully placed. Heavy cumulus cloud and icing conditions prevented the remaining aircraft, of which 20 set out, from attacking their objective although some of them searched over the area for as long as an hour and a half. This particular effort is backed by an outstandingly long period of operational flying with 269 Squadron, in the course of which he has shown skill, determination and devotion to duty of invariably high order. I very strongly recommend that Flight Sergeant Smith be awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.’

Reginald Harvey Smith served in the Royal Air Force as an Apprentice at R.A.F. Flowerdown, from January 1927, and moved to Cranwell when the Wireless Training School was re-homed there in 1929. After passing out, and further training, he was posted as Aircraftman 1st Class, Air Gunner, to 8 (Bomber) Squadron, Aden, in March 1934. The Squadron were engaged in the pacification and development of Aden and the surrounding country. Smith was posted as a Corporal to carry out an Air Observer Course with 114 Squadron, in September 1936. Having qualified, and advanced to Sergeant, he was posted to 40 Squadron, Abingdon, in January of the following year.

Smith retrained as a Pilot throughout 1938, and having gained his ‘Wings’ was posted as Pilot Sergeant to 269 Squadron, Coastal Command (Ansons), Abbotsinch, in April 1939. The Squadron was tasked with coastal reconnaissance duties, and moved to Montrose shortly before the outbreak of the Second War. Smith’s Log Book is annotated ‘Outbreak of War 1100hrs September 3rd’ and he was in the air an hour later ‘Told to go on Patrol of weather’. The following day, his Log Book records, ‘North Sea Patrol. 1 Sub spotted (Forbidden to Bomb by Group. before leaving.’

In the opening weeks of the war he flew in a number of North Sea Patrols, varying between being Pilot and Navigator, and on 15 September 1939 he flew as Pilot, ‘North Sea Patrol. 1 Sub 2 Bombs. 1st Bomb caused tail to lift. Possible Sub went under with hatch open. M in D. for Lascelles.’

Smith moved with the Squadron to Wick in October, and carried out a number of patrols to the Faroe Islands. Flying with the Squadron’s OC, Squadron Leader R. McMurtie, he engaged enemy submarines, 3 November 1939, ‘Patrol Atlantic. 2 Bombs on Sub. Spotted Sub in heavy sea. 1 Direct Hit. Results unobserved due to breakers.’ (Ibid)

A Running Battle with the Scharnhorst

The Squadron continued to fly anti-submarine and shipping patrols, and re-equipped with Hudsons in April 1940. Smith took part in a 12 aircraft raid on Stavanger, 5 June 1940. Five days later he was Navigator to Wing Commander Pearce, as the leader of a formation of 12 aircraft designated to attack the Scharnhorst and the Admiral Hipper. Smith’s Log Book for 10 June 1940 gives, ‘Form. Leader 12 A/C HLB Trondheim. 2 CR. 1 TP Hit 2 Losses in Aircraft. 1 straight 15000’ Run on Scharnhorst. 1 Hipper CR... A/Acc Heavy.’ Two days prior to this the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau had sunk H.M.S. Glorious and her escort - the destroyers Acasta and Ardent.

Eleven days later Smith acted in the same capacity, with Pearce, for another attack on the Scharnhorst, ‘Strike Enemy Naval Force at Stavanger. Scharnhorst & 6 DRs. H. 15000’. Heavy A/Acc. Hit. Unable to keep formation intact due to intense Acc/Acc. Bombs released hopefully some effect. Bombs unobserved by self. One 6 A/C hit.’ Throughout July - September 1940 Smith continued to fly in a variety of patrols, engaging submarines, flying reconnaissance around Norway, and carrying out escort duties - including for H.M.S. Norfolk.

In October Smith returned to Stavanger and was attacked by 3 M.E. 109’s during the course of the raid. On 15 November 1940, ‘Raid Stavanger 1000’ 3 A/B Bombs. Dive. 7 Incendiary. Reported on B.B.C.’ On 17 December, 1940, Smith navigated the leading aircraft of a strike force of 20 aircraft to a target 60 miles inland in Norway. He navigated a difficult journey, which involved a long sea and land crossing at night above almost unbroken cloud. His pilot for this raid was Wing Commander McMurtie, and Smith’s Log Book gives, ‘Leader Form. 3. Raid railway behind Bergen. 4 250 2 100. Okay. Leaflets over Bergen. Ack Ack.’

Four days after the raid on Bergen, McMurtie was recommended for the D.S.O. and Smith for the D.F.M. The latter completed his tour in May 1941, and he subsequently served as an instructor with 608 Squadron and No. 60 O.T.U., Thornaby. Smith was posted to No. 111 O.T.U., Nassau, Bahamas, for a Liberator course in November 1943. He returned to operational flying with 206 Squadron (Liberators), St. Eval, in March 1944. Smith flew in numerous ‘Cork Patrols’ to prevent U-boats from entering the Channel from the west during D-Day and the following weeks. He continued to fly patrols off the Danish and Norwegian coasts until he was posted as a Flight Lieutenant to the Communications Flight at Wick in December 1944.

Sold with Royal Air Force Pilot’s Flying Log Book (30 June 1938 - 5 July 1945), bound in distressed leather.