Second World War; Royal Air Force pilot Ian Smith

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when second world war broke out in 1939, southern rhodesia had been self-governing sixteen years, having gained responsible government uk in 1923. unique in british empire , commonwealth in held extensive autonomous powers (including defence, not foreign affairs) while lacking dominion status. british colony, southern rhodesia entered conflict automatically when britain declared war on september 3, government issued symbolic declaration of war anyway. smith, halfway through university course, later described feeling patriotically compelled put studies aside fight britain , represented . excited idea of flying spitfire, wanted join air force, prevented doing policy adopted in rhodesia not recruit university students until after graduated. smith engineered recruitment royal air force (raf) in spite of rule during 1940, suppressing mention of studies, , formally joined in september 1941.



smith no. 237 (rhodesia) squadron raf, c. 1943, in second world war s middle eastern theatre


after year s training @ gwelo under empire air training scheme, smith passed out rank of pilot officer in september 1942. hoped stationed in britain, posted middle east instead; there joined no. 237 (rhodesia) squadron raf, flying hurricanes. in october 1943, in egypt, smith crashed hurricane after throttle malfunctioned during dawn takeoff. suffering serious facial disfigurements, broke jaw, leg , shoulder. doctors , surgeons in cairo rebuilt smith s face through skin grafts , plastic surgery, , passed fit fly again in march 1944. turning down offer return rhodesia instructor, rejoined no. 237 squadron, had switched flying spitfire mk ixs, in corsica in may 1944.


during strafing raid on northern italy on 22 june 1944, smith hit enemy flak , forced bail out behind german lines. briefly hidden peasant family named zunino, recruited group of pro-allied italian partisans whom took part in sabotage operations against german garrison 3 months. when germans pulled out of area in october 1944, smith left try link allied forces had invaded southern france. accompanied 3 other servicemen, each different european country, , local guide, smith hiked across maritime alps, finishing journey walking barefoot on ice , snow. recovered american troops in november 1944. smith again turned down offer of billet in rhodesia, , returned active service in april 1945 no. 130 (punjab) squadron, based in western germany. flew combat missions there, [having] little bit of fun shooting odd things , recalled, until war in europe ended on 7 may 1945 germany s surrender. smith remained no. 130 squadron rest of service, flying unit denmark , norway, , discharged @ end of 1945 rank of flight lieutenant. retained reasonable proficiency in italian rest of life, albeit reportedly atrocious accent.








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