Remembrance Day 2022 - pilots of 1847 RNAS FAA

[Hanno Spoelstra]

S/Lt. John David Standish Smithwick RNVR was one of four British pilots in 1847 Sqn. After 1847 Sqn was disbanded, he was transferred to 1844 Sqn which was sent to the Asian Pacific theatre of Operations.
S/Lt. Smithwick first went into action in October 1944 over the Nicobar Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean. The caption of photo IWM A 26378 shows "Sub Lieut (A) J D S Smithwick, RNVR, aged 21, of Liverpool, who accounted for the third enemy fighter. It was his first action." On 30 January 1945 S/Lt. Smithwick was Mentioned in Despatches "for distinguished services in the planning and execution of a successful air strike at Nancowry and a bombardment of Car Nicobar". On 12 April 1945 John's Hellcat JW862 was hit by friendly fire after returning from combat. His aircraft ditched, burst into flames and sank. Sadly, his body was not recovered, and he was listed as "missing presumed killed".

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