Flying Officer Keith Alexander Smith, from Masterton, New Zealand, joined 486 Squadron in April 1944. He arrived just in time to take part in the operations against the V-1s.
After the move to Holland later in the year he to claim victories over two aircraft, the second an Me262 jet over Lübeck airfield on 25 April 1945. Next day however, his Tempest NV967, was hit by Flak north of Uithiele and he had to make a force-landing, being captured. With the war nearing its close, he was able to escape on 4 May from PoW camp to which had been sent, safely reaching Allied lines.
Smith's victories in Tempest
|
Date of Claim |
Type Claimed |
Aircraft Serial No. |
Location of Claim |
Unit |
|
3 July 1944 |
2 V-1s |
SA-L (JN801) |
Hastings area |
486 Sqn |
|
26 July 1944 |
V-1 |
SA-D (JN803) |
9-10 m N Pevensey |
486 Sqn |
|
4 Aug 1944 |
2 V-1s |
SA-H (JN821) |
Tunbridge Wells area |
486 Sqn |
|
4 Aug 1944 |
V-1 |
SA-H (JN821) |
nr Maidstone |
486 Sqn |
|
16 Aug 1944 |
V-1 |
SA-N (JN808) |
5 m NNW Tenterden |
486 Sqn |
|
29 Aug 1944 |
V-1 |
SA-V (JN770) |
N Ashford |
486 Sqn |
|
27 Dec 1944 |
Fw190D-9 |
SA-Q (EJ711) |
Münster area |
486 Sqn |
|
25 April 1945 |
Me262 |
SA-Q (EJ711) |
Lübeck airfield |
486 Sqn |
Source:
Aces High Vol. 2 by Christopher Shores