Roderick Illingworth Alpine
"Rod" Smith

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INDICATE R.C.A.F. FLYERS HELPED DEFEND SINGAPORE
Waterdown Man Took Part in Action Fought Over France
BEAT HUN FIGHTERS

With the R.C.A.F. Somewhere in England, June 1, 1942 — (CP) — Messroom chatter: First indication that R.C.A.F. flyers took part in the defence of Singapore comes with the news that Pilot Officer J. M. Barnes, of Toronto, has become attached to the Royal Australian Air Force.

Joins R.A.A.F
Barnes escaped from Singapore and was taken to Australia, where the R.C.A.F. permitted him to remain to fly with the R.A.A.F. as a navigator.
Many Australian airmen fly with the R.C.A.F. fighter and bomber squadrons in Britain but this is the first time it has been announced that an R.C.A.F. flyer is to fly officially with the Australians.
Details of Barnes' escape were not available in London.
Germany's vaunted Focke-Wolf 190 fighter had its measure taken recently by Canadian Spitfire pilots, who drove off an attack on Boston bombers they were escorting near Abbeville, France.
Wing-Cmdr. H. Blatchford, D.F.C., of Edmonton, shot down one FW190 in flames and Flight-Lieut. Frederick E. Green, of Toronto, damaged another. Blatchford's aircraft was damaged and he was obliged to make a forced landing when he returned to base. He suffered minor cuts and bruises.
Blatchford gave his victim such a blasting that he feared flying frag­ments would damage his own air­screw and wings.
"I fired two bursts into him at 250 yards," the wing-commander related afterwards, "and saw flashes in his fuselage, followed by smoke. I continued following and firing and he took practically no evasive action. The wreckage finally fell in flames.
"His No. 2 man, I knew, was not far off, but the last I had seen of him he apparently was being engaged by two Spitfires. At this stage my attention was distracted by what I thought was firing from two flak ships below, and while I was looking down I got a rude shock. From behind, cannon shells hit my left aileron, right wing and tire and missed my radiator by a narrow margin. The result was that my lateral control was unstable, my right flag was out of commission, the tire was burst and my landing gear was damaged."

Waterdown Flyer Mentioned
Green, recently appointed flight commander, also saw fragments fly off the aircraft he attacked but lost sight of it later and could only claim it as "damaged."
Other Canadians from the squadron who helped repel the Nazi attackers included Flight-Lieut. John P. McColl, Waterdown, Ont.; Pilot-Officers R. I. Alpine Smith, Regina; Jack Brookhouse, Montreal; Lloyd Stewart, Fair Hills, Sask.; Harold Charlesworth, Chemainis, Vancouver Island; Richard A. Ellis, Montreal; Warrant Officer J. D. Stevenson, Winnipeg; Flight-Sgt. Stewart Pearce, Toronto, and Sgt. W. F. Aldcorn, Gouverneur, Sask.
Warrant Officers Francis MacRae, Montreal navigator, and Sgt. Pilot Albert Attwell, of Toronto, both agree "you're safer in the air than on the ground."
MacRae came back from a hazardous bombing trip to a French arms center. After reporting to the intelligence officer, he went to the officers’ mess for a hot drink before retiring. The mess floor had been freshly polished and as he walked in the door he slipped and fell and fractured his left knee.
Attwell also came through the perils of a bombing attack across the channel. Returning from St. Nazaire, his aircraft crashed into a hill in England and he suffered a fracture of the left leg.
The two Canadians share neighboring beds in the same hospital.

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DFC presented at uncertain date, possibly in conjunction with Bar (presented 5 October 1946)

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SMITH, F/L Roderick Illingworth Alpine (J4561) - DFC - No.126 Squadron
Award effective 1 December 1942 as per London Gazette dated 4 December 1942 and
AFRO 2069/42 dated 18 December 1942.

Flight Lieutenant Smith has been responsible for [the] destruction of six enemy aircraft since his arrival in Malta. One day in October 1942 he led his flight in a determined attack on nine hostile bombers with a large fighter escort, and in spite of intense opposition by the fighters, Flight Lieutenant Smith personally destroyed a Junkers 88, while one Macchi 202 was destroyed by other pilots of his flight. This officer has always displayed the greatest determination and courage and during the recent hard fighting has been an inspiration to all.

NOTE: Public Records Office Air 2/9606 has a slightly different text communicated from Headquarters Middle East to Air Ministry, 4 November 1942:

This officer arrived in Malta on the 15th July 1942 and since his arrival has destroyed six enemy aircraft with one-half probably destroyed. On the 11th October 1942 he led his flight in a determined attack on nine Junkers 88s with a large fighter escort approaching Malta from the north. Bombers [were] intercepted before they could cross the coast and in spite of intense opposition by enemy fighters Flying Officer Smith destroyed one Junkers 88 while one Macchi 202 was destroyed and another damaged by his flight. He has always displayed the greatest keenness to engage the enemy at all times and his determination and courage during the recent hard fighting have been an inspiration to his flight and squadron.

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Periods of Leave Begin For Repatriated Fliers

Ottawa, Oct. 25, 1943 - (CP) - Complete with one small dog and 12 decora­tions, one of the largest groups of airmen returned from overseas now is going through the process of checking out at the R.C.A.F. Repatriation Pool at nearby Rockcliffe Air Station, for leave and duty.
The group includes fliers with long records in operations against the enemy and many ground crew re-mustered for air crew duties and back in Canada for flying training.
At their recent arrival by train at Ottawa, an R.C.A.F. band played as the train pulled in. Members of the Canadian Legion, Mayor Stanley Lewis of Ottawa, George McIlraith, Liberal Member of Parliament for Ottawa West, and a large group of airmen turned out to greet the veterans. Women of the Red Cross, co-operating with the legion, distributed hot tea and coffee, cigarettes, sandwiches and cake.
Group Capt. Geoffrey O'Brian, Officer Commanding the Repatriation Pool through which all returned airmen pass, assured them of a minimum of delay in their passage to leave at home.
The dog was Tommy, property of F/L A. G. Lawrence, D.F.C., of Brandon, a night fighter pilot. His feat in getting the grey, curly-haired dog out of England was considered "something" by his comrades on the home voyage.

Twelve Decorations
In all there were in the party six holders of the Distinguished Flying Cross, two of the Air Force Cross, three of the Distinguished Flying Medal and one of membership in the Order of the British Empire.
Two fighter pilots, who worked for six months or more at Malta during the heat of Mediterranean operations, were F/L J. F. McElroy, D.F.C., of Kamloops, B.C., and F/O J. H. Ballantyne D.F.M., of Toronto.
Other holders of decorations included P/O G. H. A. Marcotte, D.F.C., of Montreal, with two tours of operations and 1,110 hours flying on night bombing operations to his credit;
F/L R. I. A. Smith, D.F.C., of Regina, who has shot down six enemy planes; P/O W. R. Shellington, D.F.M., of Brantford; P/O S. J. Kernaghan, D.F.M., of Carttwright, Man., a Coastal Command pilot with four enemy planes to his credit;
F/L G. J. Gow, M.B.E., of Lethbridge, who was honored for special technical work in North Africa.

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JOHNSON WING BAGS 14 PLANES, DAMAGES SIX

By HAROLD MAYES
With the Tactical Air Force in Belgium, Sept, 27, 1944 - (Reuter) - Wing Cmdr. Johnny Johnson, Britain's leading fighter pilot, shot down his 38th German aircraft today as the Canadian fighter wing he commands destroyed 14 planes and damaged six in fierce battles along the Rhine east of the Holland salient.
Up to lunch time today Johnson's wing had brought its total of German planes destroyed in 1½ days to 23.
Another Canadian Spitfire wing, led by Wing Cmdr. Dal Russel, D.F.C. and Bar, of Westmount, Que., has a total of 30 planes shot down in 2½ days, 20 of them by a squadron led by Sqdn. Ldr. Dean Dover, D.F.C., of Toronto.
Four Canadian pilots got two kills each today.
One of them, Flt. Lt. Rod Smith, D.F.C., of Regina, attacked an Me-109 out of a formation of 10 German fighters with a four-second burst from 150 yards and saw it crash into the Rhine. Twenty minutes later he shot down another Me-109 as it was diving in an attempt to bomb the vital Nijmegen Bridge.
The pilot of the plane was seen to drop out, but the parachute did not open.
Smith yesterday destroyed two FW190's and now is credited with 11 planes destroyed.
The Germans, who are operating in formations up to 50 strong, are taking a terrific beating in every combat. Although the totals are smaller because fewer German aircraft are engaged on a percentage basis, tactical air force pilots now are rivaling the first Battle of Britain days.
The Germans still seek security in large numbers, but their pilots are proving no match for those of the Allies.
Yesterday some German fighters trying to give close support to their troops between Arnhem and Nijmegen were operating at deck level while others gave cover at between 6,000 and 8,000 feet. But with continual harassing by Allied fighter patrols they met with little success.
The only time during the day when the Germans were on the winning side in a single air battle was when 30 of them pounced on six rocket-firing Typhoons, two of which are missing.
The Germans are using a mixed bag of aircraft at night in attacks on the salient area.
One Ju-87 was shot down last night, and the previous night an Me-109 was destroyed.
By day they are using some jet propelled Me-262s, which are a purely experimental type for bombing missions. Yesterday one was damaged by Spitfires.
With their road and rail links being attacked day and night by the Allied air forces, the communication problems for the Germans trying to defend their own country may soon approach a state of chaos.
The attacks on communications are being carried out without switching a single aircraft from tactical obligations in the immediate battle areas.
The whole weight of Allied air supremacy now is being used in a manner never previously achieved.

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FLYING OFFICER BERRYMAN
IN AIR BATTLES OVER HOLLAND
Takes Toll of Enemy During Terrific Action in Nijmegen Bridge Area

September 29, 1944 - While F/L George Johnson continues to lead Hamilton airmen in the destruction of enemy aircraft over France, the Low Countries and Germany, dispatches from the front line indicate the competition is keen and other Hamiltonians with new successes are crowding the leading scorer.

Downs Three
Over the Nijmegen Bridge yesterday, according to a Canadian Press story today, F/O Lloyd F. Berryman, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Berryman, 657 King street east, destroyed three enemy aircraft between dusk and dawn.
"Most potent destroyer was F/L Don Laubman, of Edmonton, who shot down four and damaged two others. F/O Lloyd Berryman, of Hamilton, Ont. was the next highest scorer with three destroyed and one damaged," according to the story.
"Laubman, whose total 'bag' now is 13 — all since D-day — downed his first two of the Wednesday total when his squadron, led by F/L Rod Smith, D.F.C., of Regina, eliminated eight German planes in an early morning patrol over the bridge area. Smith also shot down two to raise his total to 11.
"F/L C. W. Fox, Guelph, Ont., and Berryman each destroyed two others, and Fox damaged another two.
"Laubman completed his score in two separate afternoon patrols, while Berryman destroyed his third enemy plane and crippled another. Also during the afternoon F/O D. R. Jamieson, D.F.C., of Toronto, shot down a pair of Focke-Wulf 190's and F/L Baz Dean, of Cowansville, Que., drew his first blood by destroying a Focke-Wulf."

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SMITH, S/L Roderick Illingworth Alpine, DFC (J4561) - Bar to DFC - No.401 Squadron
Award effective 24 November 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 1/45 dated 5 January 1945.

Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Squadron Leader Smith has completed numerous sorties against the enemy. In four days he achieved the remarkable feat of destroying seven enemy aircraft. As squadron commander this officer led 412 Squadron on six missions in three days, during which period it destroyed twenty-seven enemy aircraft and damaged nine others. This was accomplished during the enemy's persistent efforts to destroy bridges in the Arnhem and Nijmegen area which were vital to our ground forces.

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Canadian Fighter Unit Downs 201 Nazi Planes

An Advanced R.C.A.F. Airfield in Holland, Dec. 18, 1944 - (CP) - Fliers of a Canadian Spitfire wing under G/C G. R. McGregor and W/C Dal Russel, both of Montreal, became the second to pass the 200 mark in German aircraft destroyed since the wing’s formation, when they shot down a pair of FW190's over Geldern in Germany.
First to establish the mark was the wing commanded jointly by G/C W. R. MacBrien of Ottawa, and W/C Johnny Johnson, whose fliers shot down five aircraft Oct. 8, raising their total to 202, and subsequently to 207.
The McGregor-Russel wing's total stands at 201.
The two Canadian units have destroyed 314 Huns between them since D-Day, scored more than 15 probables and damaged upwards of 200. In addition to crippling German road and rail transport with dive-bombing, as well as machine-gun and cannon offensives.
The first Jerry destroyed by McGregor-Russel pilots, July 19, 1943, was a FW190, joint victim of S/L Ian Ormston of Montreal, and S/L Bob Hayward of St. John's, Nfld. Since then many aces have been born within the wing. The most recent being F/L Don Laubman, of Edmonton, with 15 destroyed; S/L R. I. Smith, Regina, 11 destroyed; F/L W. J. Banks and F/O D. R. Jamieson, both of Toronto, each with eight destroyed.

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Victories as listed in Aces High (with aircraft details)

* This was the first jet ever shot down in combat
shared with - B Davenport - H Everard - G Sinclair - J MacKay

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His career is well chronicled in Chris Shores' Aces High (2nd edition) &

Malta: The Spitfire Years

Chris Shores just released a book called "The Spitfire Smiths"
About Rod and his brother Jerry

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Canadian Aces

--- Other Canadian Fighter Pilots ---

--- Canadian Air Gunners ---

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