Description
Physical description
Khaki cloth 1932 pattern life preserver, the front of which has been hand-painted yellow.
Label
The 1932 pattern life jacket was made of khaki fabric. Frequently it was painted yellow by individuals so as to improve its visibility and recognition if the pilot were to bale out of his aircraft into the sea. This practice led to the modified version, the 1941 pattern 'Mae West', being manufactured in yellow fabric as a universal item.
History note
Worn by Lewis George Smith (812071) during the Second World War, and likely worn during the action on 1 June 1940 for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM).
History note
Flight Lieutenant Lewis George Smith DFC DFM, born 12 February 1919 in Canterbury, Kent, began his career as an Avro Anson Air Gunner with No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron. On 1 June 1940 at 10:40 AM, Smith's Anson (MK-V N9732), piloted by Pilot Officer Philip Peters, was patrolling off the coast of Dunkirk during the evacuations with two other Ansons when they were attacked by nine Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. After dropping low and taking evasive action, Peters manoeuvred his aircraft to allow Smith, the main gunner, along with Navigator Sergeant Deryk Spencer and Wireless Operator LAC Pepper, to fire on the enemy fighters. Smith managed to shoot down one Bf 109 and severely damage another, with Spencer also claiming a downed 109. Both men were subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM), the citation of which reads:
'In June, 1940, these airmen were respectively navigator and air gunner of an aircraft which, in company with two others, were attacked by nine Messerschmitt 109's. Although the pilot was taking violent avoiding action, these airmen, showing skill and coolness, each destroyed a Messerschmitt 109 and severely damaged another.'
Following his career as an Air Gunner, Smith retrained to fly Spitfires in 1941 and was commissioned as an officer in 1942. As a high-level photo reconnaissance pilot with 140 Squadron, he flew 58 sorties and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 29 October 1943, the citation of which reads:
'After a tour of Operation as an Air Gunner in Ansons, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, this Officer gained a commission as a pilot. He has completed 58 high level photographic sorties, showing outstandingly good results, which played a major part in the mapping of the BREST PENINSULAR for G.H.Q., Home Forces. He has been deputy Flight Commander for the last six months, and proved himself an able leader, and has encouraged everyone by his example and cheerfulness.'
Inscription
[King's Crown]
A.M.
756491/38/C.1.B
1938
_____
812071 SMITH L. G. [written in pen]
MEDIUM