Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flight Sergeant

Unit:

No. 90 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

September 23rd, 1941

Citation:
"In August, 1941, this airman was fire controller of a Fortress aircraft which was attacked by seven enemy fighters when returning from a bombing attack on the docks at Brest. Twenty-six separate attacks were made against the Fortress within twenty-three minutes. In the early attacks the lower and beam gunners of our aircraft were killed and, in the absence of return fire, the aircraft was repeatedly hit at point blank range. Flight Sergeant Goldsmith was himself wounded in the leg in one of the early attacks but, through the whole engagement, gave valuable assistance to his pilots by indicating the necessary avoiding action. His success in this direction was largely responsible for the fact that, when the attackers finally flew off, the aircraft was still flying and the two pilots and navigator were unhurt. To ascertain the fate of the air gunners at the rear of the bomb compartment, it would have been necessary to cross the gangway through the compartment. With the bomb doors open, the guide ropes shot away and the narrow gangway itself covered with tangled wiring, the crossing would have been hazardous in the extreme. Nevertheless, Flight Sergeant Goldsmith, with one leg almost useless, had to be restrained by force from attempting it."