Smith, Roderick Illingworth Alpine "Rod"
- Date of birth:
- March 11th, 1922 (Regina/Saskatchewan, Canada)
- Date of death:
- April 16th, 2002 (Vancouver/British Columbia, Canada)
- Service number:
- J4561
- Nationality:
- Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)
Biography
Promotions:
March 1941: Pilot Officer;
January 1942: Flying Officer;
October 1942: Flight Lieutenant;
December 1943: Squadron Leader.
Career:
September 30th, 1940: Royal Canadian Air Force;
? - November 14th, 1940: No.2 ITS;
? - January 4th, 1941: No.2 EFTS;
? - March 17th, 1941: No.2 SFTS;
March 1941 - June 1941: No. 58 Operational Training Unit, Great Britain;
June 1941 - July 1942: Flight Commander No. 412 (RCAF) Squadron, Great Britain;
July 1942 - January 1943: Flight Commander No. 126 (RCAF) Squadron, Malte;
January 1943 - October 1943: Instructor No. 53/55 Operational Training Unit, Great Britain;
October 1943 - December 1943: On leave Canada;
December 1943 - April 1944: Commanding Officer No. 401 (RCAF) Squadron, Great Britain;
April 1944 - September 1944: Flight Commander No. 412 (RCAF) Squadron, Great Britain;
September 1944 - November 1944: Comanding Officer No. 401 (RCAF) Squadron, Great Britain;
November 1944 - June 1945: On leave Canada.
Roderick Smith was credited for shooting down 13.25 enemy planes.
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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Acting Flight Lieutenant
- Unit:
- No. 126 (Persian Gulf) Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- December 4th, 1942
"This officer arrived in Malta on the 15th July 1942 and since his arrival has destroyed six enemy aircraft with one-half probably destroyed. On the 11th October 1942 he led his flight in a determined attack on nine Junkers 88s with a large fighter escort approaching Malta from the north. Bombers [were] intercepted before they could cross the coast and in spite of intense opposition by enemy fighters Flying Officer Smith destroyed one Junkers 88 while one Macchi 202 was destroyed and another damaged by his flight. He has always displayed the greatest keenness to engage the enemy at all times and his determination and courage during the recent hard fighting have been an inspiration to his flight and squadron."
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Acting Squadron Leader
- Unit:
- No. 401 (Ram) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
- Awarded on:
- November 24th, 1944
- Awarded for:
- Operation Market Garden
"Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Squadron Leader Smith has completed numerous sorties against the enemy. In four days he achieved the remarkable feat of destroying seven enemy aircraft. As squadron commander this officer led 412 Squadron on six missions in three days, during which period it destroyed twenty-seven enemy aircraft and damaged nine others. This was accomplished during the enemy's persistent efforts to destroy bridges in the Arnhem and Nijmegen area which were vital to our ground forces."
Second DFC received in the form of a bar to be worn on the ribbon of the first DFC.
Pilot's Flying Badge
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- Photo 1: Tom MacNeill
- - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 1st December 1942, Issue 35809, dated 4th December 1942
- Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 21st November 1944, Issue 36810, dated 24th November 1944
- Ciel de Gloire
Photo
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