Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Pilot Officer

Awarded on:

March 11th, 1941

"One night in December, 1940, Flt Lt Smythe, Plt Off Ryder and a sergeant comprised the crew of an aircraft which crashed and caught fire shortly after taking off. Flt Lt Smythe and Plt Off Ryder managed to extricate themselves from the wreckage but the sergeant was trapped in his cockpit. In spite of the fire and exploding incendiaries, and knowing that there were bombs which had not exploded, the two officers immediately re-entered the crashed aircraft and succeeded in extricating the trapped airman. Both these officers displayed great courage and a complete disregard for their personal safety."