Service number:

37341

Nationality:

British

Promotions:
October 7th, 1935: Acting Pilot Officer (probation)
October 7th, 1936: Pilot Officer
May 7th, 1938: Flying Officer
April 1st, 1940: relinquishes the rank of Flight Lieutenant
May 7th, 1940: Flight Lieutenant
December 1st, 1941: Temporary Squadron Leader
January 21st, 1943: Squadron Leader (war sub)
July 1st, 1944: Temporary Wing Commander
November 1st, 1947: Squadron Leader
July 25th, 1952: extension of service for five years
July 25th, 1957: extension of service for five years
July 25th, 1962: commission relinquished

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Flight Lieutenant

Awarded on:

November 3rd, 1939

Citation:
"Acting Flight Lieutenant Smith and acting Flight Lieutenant J. Barrett were, respectively, in command of the first and second of three flying boats which, having intercepted messages from a torpedoed merchant ship in September, 1939, proceeded to the scene of the sinking ship (some 70 miles from the mainland) to undertake rescue work. A lifeboat was seen in the vicinity containing about 34 men and, as no submarine could be sighted, the first aircraft alighted and took on board 20 of the survivors. A thorough search for enemy submarines was made by the second aircraft which afterwards alighted and, in spite of the heavy swell, took on board the remaining survivors from the lifeboat."

Awarded simultaneously to Acting Flight Lieutenant Thurston Smith.
The ship mentioned was the steamship Kensington Court.
The investiture was the first investiture of WW2 and took place on Wednesday November 1st, 1939.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Group Captain

Awarded on:

January 14th, 1944

• - The London Gazette Issue 34210 published on the 22 October 1935
  - The London Gazette Issue 34347 published on the 8 December 1936
  - The London Gazette Issue 34566 published on the 1 November 1938
  - The London Gazette Issue 34724 published on the 3 November 1939
  - The London Gazette Issue 34859 published on the 28 May 1940
  - The London Gazette Issue 34970 published on the 15 October 1940
  - The London Gazette Issue 35383 published on the 16 December 1941
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35946 published on the 16 March 1943
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36329 published on the 11 January 1944
  - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36618 published on the 18 July 1944
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 39658 published on the 30 September 1952
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 41217 published on the 1 November 1957
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 42745 published on the 27 July 1962