“258 of the 700 prisoners escaped, including half of those awaiting execution”
Wartime fighter pilot famed for leading low-level precision bombing raids
“Eighteen Mosquito-VI fighter-bombers, six each from 487, 464 and 21 squadrons, all carrying two 500lb bombs with 11-second delay detonators, were to breach the 20ft-walls surrounding the prison and, three minutes later, smash the inner building. Twelve Typhoon fighters were to escort the force. A 19th Mosquito, from the film production unit, was to record the operation, which called for precision flying and bombing, and great courage.
The weather was appalling. The crews studied a model of the prison for two hours, and took off at 11am from Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, with snow falling. Smith led the first six aircraft from 487 squadron and, just after midday, attacked the surrounding walls from a height of 10ft. Three minutes later, six Mosquitoes, of 464 squadron, attacked the prison buildings through the smoke and debris of the preceding attack. Two Mosquitoes and a Typhoon were lost, but 258 prisoners escaped, including Louis Vivant.
Smith was born at Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand. He was educated at Seddon memorial technical college, Auckland, and on leaving school became an apprentice coach-painter. In late 1938, he applied for a short service commission in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and was accepted in January 1939. In July 1939, he was sent to England to complete his training.
Smith was posted to 151 squadron flying Hurricane fighters in July 1940, and was soon involved in the Battle of Britain. On August 15, he shot down two Messerschmidt Bf-109E fighters and damaged a third. Other victories followed in August and October. In November, 151 squadron, flying Hurricanes and Defiant fighters, was re-deployed on night operations against the Luftwaffe’s night blitz on British cities. Smith was promoted to the rank of flight commander, and in March 1941 was awarded a DFC. In July, flying a Defiant, he destroyed a Dornier Do-217 bomber and damaged a Junkers Ju88 off Cromer.
Smith was appointed commanding officer of 151 squadron in February 1942 and acting wing commander in April, when 151 squadron began converting to the potent Mosquito-II night-fighter. On the night of June 24/25, he shot down two German bombers and damaged a third off Yarmouth. He was awarded a bar to his DFC in July, having scored eight aerial kills and four damaged. Having spent more than 2 years flying operationally with 151 squadron, he was rested from operations in March 1943.
Later that year, Smith was posted to No 2 (Bomber) Group HQ at the request of its air officer commanding, the famous Air Vice-Marshal Sir Basil Embry. In February 1944, he was appointed commanding officer of 487 squadron, RNZAF, operating Mosquito-VIs. Six Mosquito squadrons, specialising in low-level precision bombing – often against individual buildings – operated with No 2 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force. Three squadrons – 487, 21 (British), and 464 (Australian) – formed 140 Wing, commanded by the redoubtable Wing Commander “Pick” Pickard. Then came Operation Jericho.
The following August, Smith led 487 squadron in low-level precision raids on barracks at Poitiers and, some weeks later, on an SS headquarters at Vincey, near Metz. He was subsequently mentioned in dispatches. In October, he was again rested from operations, and served at 13 Officer Training Unit until the end of the war, when he was granted a permanent commission. His later duties included commanding 56 squadron, flying Meteor jets, and staff appointments at HQ Fighter Command and HQ Signals Command.
He retired from the RAF as a group captain in 1966, and took up farming in south Devon. His wife Joan, whom he married in 1942 when she was a WAAF officer, died in 1994. They had two daughters, one of whom died in a car accident, and a son, who is now deputy supreme allied commander, Europe, General Sir Rupert Smith. (Credit: John Bullen, The Guardian, 22 March 2000)
“Irving Stanley Smith was born on 21st May 1917 at Invercargill, New Zealand. He was educated at Whangarei High School and Sedden Memorial Technical College, Auckland. He was apprenticed as a coach painter but in January 1939 he applied for a short service commission in the RNZAF. He began flying training at Mangere in May but was then asked if he would volunteer to train in England. He agreed and sailed for the UK in the RMS Rangitiki on 27th July.
Smith went to Jesus College, Oxford on 11th September 1939 for lectures and ground studies. He was posted to 10 EFTS Yatesbury on the 21st and moved on to 2 FTS Brize Norton on 24th March 1940. Smith completed the course on 11th July and two days later was posted direct to 151 Squadron at North Weald.
There was another pilot there called Smith, as the newcomer had a darker complexion he was christened ‘Black’ Smith, the other ‘White’ Smith.
On 15th August he claimed two Me109’s destroyed and a third damaged, on the 24th a He111 destroyed, on the 30th shared a Me109, on the 31st a Do17 destroyed and another damaged and on 2nd October a He111, which ditched just off the beach at Chapel St. Leonards, ten miles north of Skegness.
151 Squadron went over to night-fighting in November 1940 and began to convert to Defiants in December but still retained some Hurricanes. These made up ‘C’ Flight, which Smith commanded.
He was awarded the DFC (Gazetted 7th March 1941) and destroyed a He111 at night on 10th May 1941.
‘C’ Flight was merged with ‘B’ in July and Smith took command of the combined flight, equipped solely with Defiants.On 19th February 1942 Smith took command of 151 Squadron. At dusk the same day, on a convoy patrol, he shot down a Do217 and damaged a Ju88. The squadron began to receive Mosquitos in April 1942 and Smith, then an Acting Wing Commander, gained 151’s first victories with the aircraft on 24th June, destroying a Do217, a He111 and damaging another.
He was awarded a Bar to the DFC (gazetted 16th July 1942).Smith was posted away for staff duties at HQ Fighter Command in March 1943. He asked to return to operations and was posted to command 488 Squadron but this was over-ridden by Basil Embry, who wanted him at HQ 2 Group. Smith went there in September 1943 on staff duties concerned with Mosquito training.
In early February 1944 he was given command of 487 Squadron at Hunsdon. Soon after his arrival the squadron took part in the historic raid on Amiens prison. After much preparation and planning it took place on 18th February. Smith led the raiding force, made up of six Mosquitos each from 487, 464 and 21 Squadrons.
Much has been written on the rights and wrongs of the attack but there is no doubt about the bravery of the crews who took part in the operation, the prime purpose of which was to save life and therefore considered to be very worthwhile. From later reports it is known that 258 of the 700 prisoners escaped, including half of those awaiting execution. Casualties were heavy inside the prison, some of the escapees were recaptured and some civilians outside the walls were killed.
In early August Smith led 487 to bomb the barracks at Poitiers where German troops were assembling prior to attacking the Maquis. The raid was particularly successful. A few weeks later 487 attacked the SS HQ at Vincey, near Metz.
In October 1944 Smith was posted to 13 OTU High Ercall as Chief Instructor. He was granted a Permanent Commission in June 1945 and went on a course at RAF Staff College, Haifa in February 1946.
Smith received at Mention in Despatches in 1945 and a Commendation for Services in 1946.
Postwar he served at Air Headquarters, Malta and then in 1950 took command of 56 Squadron, operating Gloster Meteors. He later commanded RAF Church Fenton and, having been promoted to Group Captain in 1958, commanded RAF Jever in Germany. In 1961 he returned to staff duties at Signals Command.Irving Smith was appointed OBE in 1953 and CBE in 1960.
He retired from the RAF on 2nd February 1966 as a Group Captain.
In retirement Smith farmed at Northleigh, Devon and took up yacht racing.
He died on 16th February 2000.
His son entered the Army and went on, as General Sir Rupert Smith, to command the UN Protection Force in Bosnia.” (Credit: The Battle of Britain London Monument)
“New Zealand officer served as pilot with and commanded 151 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 7/1940-3/1943 including Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940; served as staff officer with Headquarters, Fighter Command, Bentley Priory, Stanmore, GB, 3/1943-9/1943; served as staff officer with No 2 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF at Bylaugh Hall, GB, 9/1943-1/1944; commanded 487 (RNZAF) Sqdn, No 140 Wing, No 2 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in GB, 1/1944-9/1944
REEL 1 Recollections of operations as pilot with 151 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF during Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940: limited degree of radar control; characteristics of Hawker Hurricane Mk 1 including defects and coping with them in combat; first attack on Messerschmitt Me 109s; changeover of squadron personnel during battle; daily routine; shift system worked with 56 Sqdn at RAF Southend; inadequacy of catering arrangements for pilots; sight and size of German Air Force bomber formations; head on attacks; scattering of German bomber formation by seven Hawker Hurricane squadrons over Chelmsford, 8/1940; successes against German aircraft, 8/1940.
REEL 2 Continues: employing new attack tactic against Dornier Do 17 formation, 31/8/1940; engineer officer’s detection of damage to his Hawker Hurricane after combat, 31/8/1940; performance of German Air Force during battle; damage to his aircraft during combat with Messerschmitt Me 109 over Deal, 8/1940; attitude towards Germans; arrangements for training New Zealand personnel with RAF; social life in London; importance of leadership by example; training up new squadron personnel at RAF Digby, 9/1940-10/1940. Recollections of operations as pilot and commanding 151 Sqdn, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 11/1941-3/1943: reaction to issue of Lack of Moral Fibre regulations; shooting down of Heinkel He 111 over Skegness, 10/5/1941.
REEL 3 Continues: problems of redeployment as night fighting squadron using Hawker Hurricanes; objections to being re-equipped with Boulton Paul Defiant; move to RAF Wittering, 12/1940; development of night fighting techniques under Basil Embry, Richard Atcherley and Jack Adams; problems of aircraft recognition at night; character of Flight Lieutenant Richard Stevens; membership of club to inform medical personnel of RAF’s flying requirements; two physical attributes essential for pilots; protection of east coast convoys from aerial torpedo attacks, 1941; flying low over sea; failure of Douglas Havoc Turbinlite system for night fighting with Hawker Hurricane; unofficial use of Supermarine Spitfires for night interception, early 1942; characteristics of flying De Havilland Mosquito equipped with Airborne Interception (A1) equipment, 4/1942.
REEL 4 Continues: problems with early De Havilland Mosquitoes and Rolls Royce Merlin Mk XXI Engine; request to start intruder operations, 1/1943. Aspects of period as staff officer with Headquarters, Fighter Command, Bentley Priory, Stanmore, GB, 3/1943-9/1943: duties; attitude to work; planning for invasion of Europe. Aspects of period as staff officer with No 2 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF at Bylaugh Hall, GB, 9/1943-1/1944: duties; use of knowledge of German strategy and tactics; development of tactics. Recollections of operations commanding 487 (RNZAF) Sqdn, No 140 Wing, No 2 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in GB, 1/1944-9/1944: attacks on V1 Flying Bomb sites; preparations for Operation Jericho the raid on Amiens Prison, France, 2/1944; weather conditions and problems of taking off and flying in formation; non appearance of fighter escort; approach path; description of attack and importance of precise timing; escorting wounded section leader’s aircraft back to GB; damage to his aircraft and squadron aircraft; Group Captain Percy Pickard’s role in operation; his inspection of the damage to prison walls on post-war visit to Amiens, France, 1948.
REEL 5 Continues: objective of raid on the Amiens Prison; requirements of low level precision bombing; selection of personnel for raid; reprisal raid on SS unit in Brittany; attack on German armoured division at Poitiers, France, 8/1944; raids to deprive German forces of sleep; lack of German fighter opposition; effectiveness of German anti-aircraft fire; vulnerability of wooden De Havilland Mosquito to damage; abortive bombing raid flown below anti-aircraft level; second bombing raid on Le Havre using Oboe; German anti-aircraft opposition to attacks on V1 Flying Bomb sites near Dieppe, France.
