Bravery Awards for Aerial Combat by Alan E Cooper

Author:Alan E Cooper
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783409006
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2013-05-30T16:00:00+00:00

Flight Sergeant G.C.C. Smith CGM (now commissioned)

Geoff Smith, Australia 1983

Flight Sergeant Smith on crutches at Buckingham Palace

Once well out over the sea, Astle and the wireless operator, Sergeant Don Green, went back and chopped down the doors to Smithy’s turret. It took them half an hour. They then got him out and back to a safe position for a crash landing. Doyle was heading for Woodbridge on the Suffolk coast and was given permission to land. Green, who had gone into the upper turret when Clarke had been taken out, got down and with Winlow and Astle lay down and wedged themselves against the two wounded gunners to keep them in position.

The landing, thanks to Doyle, was very successful at Woodbridge, at 12.55 pm. Besides the wounded gunners, Sergeant Green suffered from frostbite, having lost his gloves while tending to Geoff Smith. Smithy was taken to Ely hospital where his right leg was amputated above the knee. For gallantry in staying at his post to protect his aircraft and crew, he was recommended for the CGM on the 18th.

In May 1945 he returned to Australia where he worked with the Repatriation Department as an artisan and surgical fitter. Later he became a sales manager for a multi-national organisation and stayed with them for twenty-five years. He played lawn bowls and snooker, also, occasionally, golf. He also danced but in his own words admitted to ‘no fancy steps’.

Only two days after losing his leg he realised the problems that lay ahead and said to himself – I am as good as the next guy until they prove themselves better than me. This doctrine and the support of his family, plus his own independence in doing things for himself, saw him through.

The story of Geoff Smith ends on a sad note. Three of his crew, Ken Doyle, Alf Astle and Donald Green, were all lost in September 1944 on an operation over Calais. It was their last operation and they were seen to be hit by flak and crash into the sea. Their bodies were never recovered but they are remembered on Runnymede Memorial for the missing. Geoff himself died on 6th February 1986, having been ill for some time previously.

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