Simon Glancey has submitted the following:
Sgt Smith was killed when Handley Page Halifax II BB336 EQ-O of 408 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron was lost on a mission to Kiel. The Halifax was lost without trace with the loss of all six crew members.
Sgt Smith's D.F.M. was gazetted in the London Gazette of 06/04/1943, page 1571, with the following citation:
"One night in February 1943, Squadron Leader Gilmore and Sergeant Smith were captain and bomb aimer respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Cologne. Whilst over the target area the aircraft was subjected to heavy anti-aircraft fire and sustained much damage. The aircraft went out of control and considerable height was lost before Squadron Leader Gilmore regained control. The bomber was riddled by shell splinters and one of his propellers was shot away, two compasses were rendered useless and all navigational charts were lost. Nevertheless, Squadron Leader Gilmore flew the damaged bomber to an airfield near the coast, having received valuable assistance from Sergeant Smith, who by use of the bomb sight compass, displayed skilful navigation."
The medal award was reported in the Morpeth Herald and Reporter 09/04/1943:
Sergeant James William Taylor Mason Smith, of Bedlington, No. 408 Squadron R.C.A.F. has been honoured by the King in the latest list of awards issued by the Air Ministry. He has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. He was a railway clerk in civil life.
Sergeant Smith was bomb-aimer in an aircraft which “strafed” Cologne, and when the plane was riddled by shell splinters, its compass blown away, and all navigational charts lost, set course by the bomb sight compass and the damaged bomber was brought home safely.
Public Record Office Air 2/4951 has recommendation drafted 08/03/1943 when he had flown eight sorties (45 hours):
"Since coming to this squadron in November 1942, Sergeant Smith has carried out eight operational sorties. These operations included sorties to the following: Lorient (4), Wilhelmshaven (2), Cologne (1) Hamburg (1).
"On the night of the 26th February 1943, in an aircraft pilot by Squadron Leader Gilmore, they were turned upside down over the target at which time all navigational charts and instruments were scattered or lost. The P.4 compass and the DR compass both having been rendered unserviceable, Sergeant Smith guided the aircraft home by use of his bomb sight compass and contact map reading in a very admirable manner. He displayed a great presence of mind in his cooperation, ad his coolness contributed in a large measure to the success of this operational flight."
The Halifax flown that night was Halifax II DT675 EQ-O.
He is remembered in Bedlington on B15.02 and at Morpeth on M17.12
