'On 31 August 1940, I took off from Biggin Hill leading a section of four Spitfires of No. 72 S...

'On 31 August 1940, I took off from Biggin Hill leading a section of four Spitfires of No. 72 Squadron and intercepted 100 plus enemy aircraft crossing the Kent coast near Rye. We were attacked by Me. 109s at 20,000 feet and turned head on to the attack. I saw puffs of smoke from the cannon of the leading 109 and thought 'missed me' - but not for long: a 20mm. cannon shell exploded on hitting the left earphone of my flying helmet, penetrating my head and neck, with splinters hitting my left arm.

The aircraft was seriously damaged by other hits and became out of control, diving vertically towards the ground. I tried to bale out but owing to the very high speed it was not possible to get more than half way out of the cockpit. The slipstream forced me back against the rear of the fuselage and repeated efforts only resulted in it becoming impossible to move in or out of the cockpit or to find anything against which I could push with my feet. Every effort having been made to no avail - and having gone through the full range of emotions embracing urgency, frustration, consternation, fear, panic and supplication - it was clear to me that owing to the speed at which I was approaching the ground it could only be a matter of moments until I hit it. I then became completely relaxed and resigned myself to imminent extinction.

In the event, I suddenly found myself free of the diving Spitfire and, quickly pulling my rip cord, descended the last 1000 feet or so by parachute at a relatively leisurely pace. The wind dragged me across a field before I was able to deflate the parachute. I found the operation rather difficult, probably, in part, through exhaustion after the effort of getting out of the aeroplane and partly due to the effect of the cannon shell which on exploding against my left ear had penetrated my head and neck and, in the process, blown the top off my Mae West!

Whilst releasing my parachute I looked up into the barrel of a .303 rifle aimed menacingly at me by a soldier of the Home Guard. I said to him "British", which explanation he seemed to find less than adequate. I then tried "English" whereupon he slowly lowered his rifle. By that time it had become clear to him that in my condition, whether friend or foe, I was in no shape to threaten him.

In due course I was transported to No. 7 Casualty Clearing Station, a hospital located in a well-known girls' school, Benenden, attended many years later by Princess Anne, and of which establishment I feel I may well claim to be an 'Old Boy' … '

High drama over Kent at the height of the Battle of Britain, as related by Wing Commander F. M. 'Hiram' Smith, D.F.C., a Spitfire pilot in No. 72 Squadron.


The quite outstanding Second World War fighter ace's D.F.C. group of nine awarded to Wing Commander F. M. 'Hiram' Smith, Royal Air Force, a most gallant Canadian pilot whose name remains indelibly linked to the Battle of Britain

Having destroyed a pair of He. IIIs piloting a Spitfire of No. 72 Squadron in mid-August 1940 - and probably claimed another - he was shot down in a combat over Kent at the end of the month, when he received multiple wounds from a cannon shell: among fellow patients in his hospital ward was his friend - and ex-72 pilot - Flight Lieutenant E. J. B. Nicolson, V.C., who promptly wrote him out a cheque for £1 in payment for a bet they had taken earlier in the war

On recovering from his wounds, 'Hiram' was given command of No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron and quickly returned to form, shooting up a brace of 109s during cross-Channel sweeps in the summer of 1941. By the war's end, he had completed four tours of duty, 280 operational sorties and had risen to the command of 902 Wing on the Burma front

Many years later 'Hiram' was delighted to discover that one of his old war horses - Spitfire Mk. 1 K9942 - had also survived the war. Flown by both him and Nicolson in 72 Squadron in the early part of 1940, K9942 today resides in the collection of the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon

The accompanying documentation and photographs - particularly in respect of No. 72 Squadron and Nicolson, V.C. - constitute an important discovery for archivists and historians alike

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1945', with its Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star, clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, Atlantic; Africa Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medal with M.I.D. oak leaf; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (Wg. Cdr. F. M. Smith. R.A.F.); Coronation 1953, mounted as worn, together with Caterpillar Club membership badge, by Irving Co., in gold, with 'ruby' eyes, the reverse officially inscribed, 'F./Lt. F. M. Smith', good very fine (10)




D.F.C. London Gazette 30 October 1945. The original recommendation states:

'Wing Commander Smith has completed four tours of operational duty. His first and second tours were completed during the Battle of Britain and consisted of interception sorties, convoy patrols and day and night cover over Dunkirk, France and Britain. His third operational tour was completed in the Middle East and his fourth in Burma. This officer has destroyed at least five enemy aircraft and damaged others. He has recently taken part in operations against Japanese lines of communications over mountainous and dangerous country. As Wing Commander (Flying) of his present unit he has displayed exceptional keenness at all times.

Wing Commander Smith is in his fourth operational tour and has carried out 280 operational sorties involving 346 hours flying.

This officer's first and second tours were carried out during the Battle of Britain and consisted of interception, convoy patrols, day and night cover over Dunkirk and sweeps over France and Belgium during which time he carried out 236 operational sorties involving 300 hours flying. During the Battle of Britain he was wounded in the head by a cannon shell. His third tour was carried out in the Middle East and consisted of bomber escorts and fighter sweeps over Alamein involving 16 sorties totalling 17 hours flying. This tour was terminated on his posting to India.

During the above operational tours he has destroyed three Ju. 88s, one Do. 17, one Me. 109 and damaged one Me. 110 and three Me. 109s.

Wing Commander Smith is now in his fourth operational tour and has carried out 28 operational sorties involving 30 hours flying in the Burma theatre of operations. He has taken part in escort to bombers, bombing and ground strafing Japanese positions and sampans over the worst type of country to be found in any theatre of operations. His record shows that he has been almost continuously on operational flying throughout the present hostilities.

As Wing Commander Sweep Leader during his present tour he has displayed exceptional keenness and has at all times set a very high example to the pilots of his squadrons in the Wing.'

Forgrave Marshall 'Hiram' Smith was born in Edmonton, Alberta on 17 March 1913 and was educated at Oliver & Westmount High School and Victoria High School. Having then served in the Canadian Militia and obtained a private pilot's licence, he gained an appointment as a Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force in March 1936.

Qualifying for his 'Wings' at R.A.F. Grantham, he was posted to No. 1 Squadron at Tangmere, from which unit emerged the nucleus of No. 72 Squadron in early 1937 - at that stage a Gloster Gladiator unit, No. 72 was re-equipped with Spitfires in April 1939. Among Smith's fellow officers was Pilot Officer E. J. B. Nicolson, who became a close friend and Fighter Command's only V.C. for his gallantry as a Hurricane pilot in No. 249 Squadron in the Battle of Britain.

Based at Church Fenton in the opening mont...