| 词条 | William Thomas Smith |
| 释义 |
| name = William Thomas Smith | image = | caption = | birth_date = 21 October 1896 | death_date = {{Death year and age|1994|1896|10}} | birth_place = Lambeth, London, England | death_place = Australia | placeofburial_label = | placeofburial = | placeofburial_coordinates = | nickname = | allegiance = United Kingdom Australia | branch = British Army Royal Air Force Royal Australian Air Force | serviceyears = 1914–c.1918 1940–1946 | rank = Flight Sergeant | unit = Royal Engineers No. 45 Squadron RFC No. 104 Squadron RAF | commands = | battles = World War I {{*}}Western Front World War II | awards = Distinguished Conduct Medal Military Medal | relations = | laterwork = }} Flight Sergeant William Thomas Smith {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DCM|MM|sep=yes}} (21 October 1896 – October 1994) was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.[1] World War ISmith enlisted into the Royal Engineers in 1914[1] with the rank of pioneer, and on 9 December 1916 was awarded the Military Medal "for bravery in the Field".[2] He then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, serving in No. 45 Squadron RFC. He gained his first aerial victory on 11 August 1917 by shooting down in flames an Albatros D.V over Deûlémont from a Sopwith 1½ Strutter piloted by Captain J. Pender. On 19 October 1917 Smith was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.[3] His citation was published on 25 January 1918 and read: 48027 Pioneer W. T. Smith, Royal Engineers, attached Royal Flying Corps. "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst acting as aerial gunner to an officer. Having shot down an enemy machine, his own pilot was wounded, and fell forward insensible on to the control lever. Pioneer Smith then climbed forward along the plane, pulled the pilot off the lever and got the machine under control. The officer then partially recovered, whereupon he remained standing on the side of the fuselage shouting words of encouragement to him, and the machine was eventually landed without much damage, entirely owing to his exceptionally gallant and prompt action."[4] It would be exactly a year after his first that his second victory was gained, and by then he was serving in No. 104 Squadron RAF, part of the Independent Air Force, flying in an Airco DH.4 piloted by Captain Jeffrey Home-Hay. In five days the pair accounted for four Albatros D.Vs; the first, on 11 August 1918, was driven down out of control over Karlsruhe. On 13 August they destroyed and drove down two more near Corny, and finally on 15 August drove down another at Château-Salins.[1] Later careerPost-war, Smith emigrated to Australia and was living in St. Kilda when he joined the Royal Australian Air Force at Melbourne on 11 April 1940. He served in the RAAF throughout the war and was eventually demobbed on 24 October 1946 with the rank of Flight Sergeant.[5] References1. ^1 2 {{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/smith11.php |title=William Thomas Smith |work=The Aerodrome |year=2016 |accessdate=31 January 2016}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, William Thomas}}2. ^{{London Gazette |date=8 December 1916 |supp=y |issue=29854 |page=12052}} 3. ^{{London Gazette |date=19 October 1917 |supp=y |issue=30346 |page=10868 |nolink=yes}} 4. ^{{London Gazette |date=25 January 1918 |supp=y |issue=30495 |page=1332 |nolink=yes}} 5. ^{{cite web |url= http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?ServiceId=R&VeteranId=862184 |title=Service Record: Smith, William Thomas |work=World War Two Nominal Roll, Department of Veterans' Affairs |year=2016 |accessdate=31 January 2016}} 11 : 1896 births|1994 deaths|People from Lambeth|Royal Engineers soldiers|Royal Flying Corps soldiers|Royal Air Force personnel of World War I|British World War I flying aces|English emigrants to Australia|Recipients of the Military Medal|Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal|Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II |
| 随便看 |
|
开放百科全书收录14589846条英语、德语、日语等多语种百科知识，基本涵盖了大多数领域的百科知识，是一部内容自由、开放的电子版国际百科全书。