He was rejected on 7 June the letter saying he was not qualified for the RCAF & suggesting he would have better opportunity for advancement if he stayed with the WLI. Ignoring that advice, he was discharged from WLI on 23 October 1934. He applied again for the RCAF on 8 November 1934 & filled out the application exactly like before except for one detail - he left out “Have made flying models of Aircraft" from the remarks section. He requested to be a rigger / signaler (wireless). His assessment says “highly recommended” & lists Air gunner or Signaler as suitable trades for him. He joined No.12 AC Squadron as an Apprentice, 15 November 1934. On 28 March 1935 he applied for 60 days leave due to night work. 30 days was granted (signed by Ernie McNab) with a handwritten note: “One month. To apply again at end of this period.” He got his discharge from the RCAF, 16 January 1936. Joined the RAF in September 1937. Appointed Acting P/O on Probation, 28 November 1937. Posted to 10 EFTS, Tern Hill, on 11 December 1937. Once winged he was posted to 87 Squadron, 9 July 1938. Appointed Pilot Officer, 27 September 1938. Went with 87 Squadron to France in 1939 until being Posted to 6 Operational Training Unit (OTU), Sutton Bridge. Arriving 13 May 1940. Posted to Pilot Disposal Centre (PDC), Uxbridge on 15 May & quickly posted to 73 Squadron. He served with that unit over Dunkirk & during the Battle of Britain. Appointed Flying Officer, 27 April 1940. In November 1940, Smith and the other pilots of 73 squadron embarked for Africa on HMS Furious. On reaching Egypt, they were temporarily attached to 274 Sqn. (while 73 sqn. was getting up to combat readiness). Appointed War Rank of F/L on 27 April 1941 (automatically 1 year after F/O rank - but 2 weeks after his death). London Gazette #35190 of 16 June 1941 notes promotion cancelled. On 14 April 1941, 27-year-old Smith single handedly attacked 5 G50s. He destroyed 2 and damaged a 3rd before being shot down by another. He is buried in Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya, Grave 3. G. 2. |
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SMITH, F/L James Duncan "Smudger" (40325) - Mention in Despatches
Awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1942
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Victories Include :
| 5 June 1940 11 Sept 1940 15 Sept 1940 14 Dec 1940 16 Dec 1940 18 Dec 1940 14 Apr 1941 |
1/3 Do17 one Me110 one Me110 one Me109 one SM79 one SM79 one CR42 one SM79 two G50s one G50 |
destroyed destroyed damaged destroyed destroyed destroyed [a] probable destroyed [b] destroyed [c] damaged |
[France] & [5m N Herne Bay] [in flames, Eastchurch area] [Bardia] & [Bardia] [Bardia/Gambut area] & [Tobruk] then KIA |
7.33 / 1 / 2
All with 73 Squadron, although 4 claims (14, 16 & 18 Dec) were made while they were attached to 274 Squadron
Score & notes below from Aces High 2nd Ed. [Shores & Williams]
| [a] 9 Stormo lost 3 with 3 more badly damaged against RAF claims for 6 [b] Italian records note the loss of an SM79R reconnaissance aircraft [c] Two G50bis of 351a Squadriglia - Carlo Cugnasca & Angelo Marinelli shot down |
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Related Sites :
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Thanks go out to
On these pages I use Hugh Halliday's extensive research which includes info from numerous sources; newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC); the Google News Archives; the London Gazette Archives and other sources both published and private.
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