Roderick SMITH

SMITH, Roderick Illingworth Alpine DFC and Bar, LLB, P Eng, WWII RCAF/RAF, Squadron Leader
Died suddenly Tuesday, April 16, 2002 in Vancouver. Predeceased by brothers Jerrold (Pilot Officer, RCAF, killed in action 1942) and Donald, Port Hardy, B.C. Cherished by his sister, Wendy Noble, of Toronto. Dearly loved Uncle to Jennifer, Donald and Roderick Noble of Toronto; Robert Snyder and Patrick Clarke of Ft. McMurry, Alberta; and many great nieces and nephews. Will be profoundly missed by good friends in Canada and abroad. Rod attended Lakeview School and Central Collegiate in Regina. He was captivated by aeroplanes at an early age. In September, 1940, at age 18, he joined the RCAF where his dream of flying Spitfires was realized. He trained in Canada and took operational training on Spitfire I's at Grangemouth Scotland. As Flight Lieutenant he first saw action chasing Messerschmitts in the skies between Calais and Dunkirk. In May, 1942 he was posted to Malta, joining RAF Squadron 126 of which, to his surprise, his brother Jerry was already a member. They flew as a pair, sharing in the probable destruction of a Junkers 88 bomber until, four weeks later, Jerry went missing and was presumed dead. During the fierce bombardment of the island, Rod shot down two more Ju 88's, an Italian S.M. 79 and two Me 109F's. In October, 1942 he became Flight Commander and was shot down and baled out into the Mediterranean. After contracting jaundice Rod spent most of 1943 instructing and on leave in Canada.
In December 1943 he was posted to 401 RAF Squadron at Biggin Hill which had Spitfire IX's, and in March, 1944, became Flight Commander of 412 Squadron, Tangmere. During June 6 D-Day his squadron covered the Normandy Beachhead, then the battle of Normandy followed by a move to Brussels, and in September covered the vital bridge at Nijmegen when the Arnhem airborne landing began. During this time, Rod took command of 401Squadron and shot do Me 109G's. He also shared in the destruction of the first enemy jet aircraft, A Messerschmitt 262, bringing the total number of enemy aircraaft destroyed by him to 13 1/5. He was presented with the DFC by King George VI and later the bar to the DFC. Rod returned to Canada in decmeber 1944 and retired from the service in June 1945. He regarded his sojourn on Malta as the most vital period of his life.
Continuing his association with the Air Force, in 1946 Rod joined 401 Squadron, RCAF Auxiliary, flying Campire Jet Fighters while attending McGill University where he received his P Eng. He studied law at Osgoode Hall, Toronto, and during that time was promoted to Wing Commander and appointed commanding officer of 411 Squadron from which he retired in 1952. He graduated from Osgoode Hall in 1953 and moved to Vancouver where he was called to the bar the following year. He first practised with Lawrence Shaw McFarlane and Stewart, and later joined Campney Owen & Murphy in 1966, retiring from the partnership in 1987.
Friends and family spent many happy times on Rod's boat, Kestrel III. In retirement his home life was greatly enhanced when 'Boofuls,' his Siamese cat, took up residence, and it was in this period that he began, with great diligence and flair, to write his memoirs of World War Two. Attending fighter pilots' reunions and researching his book connected him with old friends and fostered new friendships, some of whom were boyhood heroes, and many of whom were also writing. In Frankenburg, Germany, he visited the family of Heinz Heuser, whom he had shot down over Malta in 1942 and subsequently befriended. He returned to Malta for the 50th anniversary of the second great seige, and took part in celebrations in Normandy on June 6, 1994. The company of friends at the Vancouver Club and the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club were a source of great pleasure to him, as were monthly outings to Boundary Bay Airport. Rod's book was still in progress when he died.
Rod read widely and voraciously throughout his life. He was blesssed with a prodigious memory, a fine intellect, and a marvelous sense of humour. His interests ranged through poetry, history, music, astronomy, and he kept abreast of aviation history and technology through his voluminous library on the subject. Rod made many deep and lasting friendships from all phases of his life. He was good- natured, kind, and generous; and to those who loved him, utterly irreplaceable.
Special thanks to devoted friends Robin Fleming, Grant Richardson, Stuart and Meg Clyne, Don and Mary-Frances Tuck; and to Douglas Coupland, long-time friend and physician.
Rod charted his own course throughout a long and vibrant life, and left life as courageously as he lived it.
A private memorial gathering will be held in Vancouver on Wednesday, April 24, and also in Toronto at a date to be announced.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less travelled by, Robert Frost
Donations to SPCA and Veteran's Associations would be appreciated.