Roderick Smith

Mr. Smith describes his Squadron’s encounter with a new ME-262 jet fighter, and how it was shot down.

Mr. Smith describes two air actions over Nijmegen where heavy losses were inflicted on German fighter patrols.

Mr. Smith describes the explosion of two buzz bombs near the hotel where he was spending his leave in London.

Mr. Smith describes strafing an enemy troop truck and its occupants, and being sickened by the experience

Mr. Smith describes attacking a Focke-Wulf 190 and seeing its pilot eject, burning, from his flaming cockpit.

Mr. Smith describes the mass of ships and landing craft he saw while flying over Solway Firth and seeing gliders being towed toward France. These events presaged the Normandy invasion.

Mr. Smith describes the superiority of Allied aircraft and fighter pilots as attrition decimated the German Luftwaffe.

Mr. Smith describes nearly drowning before manually blowing up his Mae West ( life jacket ), and being rescued by a Maltese fisherman.

Mr. Smith describes his frightening ejection from his Spitfire and the experience of parachuting for the first time.

Mr. Smith describes being shot up by the wingman of a German fighter he was attacking, fleeing towards Malta, and losing power within sight of Valletta.