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Cranston Fine Arts  Aviation Art and Artists World War Two Veteran Signatures UK and Commonwealth S  Smyth, Ron |
Flight Lieutenant Ron Smyth DFC AE
Flight Lieutenant Ronald H Smyth joined the RAFVR in May 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up at the outbreak of war he was stationed at several different locations. With his course completed, Smyth had several short term postings, where eventually at 5 OTU, Aston Down, he converted to Hurricanes. Flight Lieutenant Smyth continued flying Hurricanes with 111 Squadron, 249 Squadron, and later with 615 Squadron. In May 1941 Smyth attended an instructors course and was commissioned in August. Later he was posted to No.1 Glider Training Squadron, a newly formed Development Unit. He qualified for his 2nd Class Air Navigators Licence while posted at the School of General Reconnaissance. Ronald H Smyth commanded the PRU in Gibraltar where he was awarded the DFC. He also ferried communications between London and Churchill at Biarritz and Atlee in Berlin for the Postdam Conference. Smyth was released from the RAF in January 1946, as a Flight Lieutenant. He died on 26th October 2017.
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| Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Flight Lieutenant Ron Smyth DFC AE - Signed Aviation Art |
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| Text for the above items : |
54(F) Squadron Farewell by Michael Rondot A famous fighter squadron with a glorious history, No.54(F) Squadron began its distinguished career in the fierce fighting on the Western Front during World War I. In 1940, flying Spitfires, it was the highest scoring RAF fighter squadron in the Battle of Britain and went on to become one of the few squadrons to fly Spitfires operationally during the whole of World War II. Always a front line squadron, No.54(F) Squadron flew Tempests, Vampires, Meterors and Hunters before graduating from F4 Phantoms to Jaguars in 1974. Commanded by Wg Cdr Terry Carkton, it became the first RAF Jaguar Squadron at Coltishall, so continuing its tradition of flying only fighter/ground attack aircraft during its distinguished history. |
London Guard by Adrian Rigby. Like many others, the Hurricanes of No.56 Squadron were frequently scrambled to attack German formations heading for London. Flight Lieutenant E J Gracie flew with No.56 Sqn from their base at North Weald in his Hurricane MkI. Like many squadrons, his was frequently scambled to attack enemy formations heading for London. This painting depicts one such action over the eastern half of the city, the Thames being used as a landmark by the Luftwaffe. Gracies aircraft displays a good deal of wear and tear as there was little time for cosmetic work to be done in the workshops. Gracie was hit in action and forced to crash land his badly damaged aircraft. He escaped apparently uninjured, but was diagnosed with a broken neck some two days later! |
High in the Sunlit Silence by Michael Rondot. A solo Spitfire flies high over the aerial battlefield of the Battle of Britain. |
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Ron Smyth signing the print - London Guard - by Adrian Rigby |
| Flight Lieutenant Ron Smyth DFC AE Aircraft details |
 Hurricane Manufacturer : Hawker Built : 14533 | Hurricane Royal Air Force Fighter, the Hawker Hurricane had a top speed of 320mph, at 18,200 feet and 340mph at 17,500, ceiling of 34,200 and a range of 935 miles. The Hurricane was armed with eight fixed wing mounted .303 browning machine guns in the Mark I and twelve .303 browning's in the MKIIB in the Hurricane MKIIC it had four 20mm cannon. All time classic fighter the Hurricane was designed in 1933-1934, the first prototype flew in June 1936 and a contract for 600 for the Royal Air Force was placed. The first production model flew ion the 12th October 1937 and 111 squadron of the Royal Air Force received the first Hurricanes in January 1938. By the outbreak of World war two the Royal Air Force had 18 operational squadrons of Hurricanes. During the Battle of Britain a total of 1715 Hurricanes took part, (which was more than the rest of the aircraft of the Royal air force put together) and almost 75% of the Victories during the Battle of Britain went to hurricane pilots. The Hawker Hurricane was used in all theatres during World war two, and in many roles. in total 14,533 Hurricanes were built. |
| Flight Lieutenant Ron Smyth DFC AE Squadron details |
No.111 Sqn RAF Country : UK Known Codes : , JU, TM, | No.111 Sqn RAF Adstantes - Standing by |
No.249 Sqn RAF Country : UK Disbanded 24th February 1969 Known Codes : , GN, | No.249 Sqn RAF Gold Coast Pugnis et cacibus - With fist and heels |
No.615 Sqn RAF Country : UK Disbanded 10th March 1957 Known Codes : , KW, RR, V6, | No.615 Sqn RAF County of Surrey (Auxiliary) Conjunctis viribus |
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