Langley Frank Willard Smith

Name:

Country:

Canada

Rank:

Flight Sub-Lieutenant

Service:

Royal Naval Air Service

Units:

4N (RNAS)

Victories:

Born:

15 August 1897

Place of Birth:

Philipsburg, Quebec

Died:

12 June 1917

Place of Death:

Near Bruges-Ghent, Belgium

Cemetery:

Houtave Churchyard, Zuienkerke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Langley Frank Willard Smith attended St. Andrew's College from 1910 to 1912. In the summer of 1916, he learned to fly at the Curtiss Flying School in Newport News, Virginia. Returning to Canada, he joined the Royal Naval Air Service in September 1916 and Flight Sub-Lieutenant Smith received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 3998 on 11 December 1916. Posted to 4 Naval Squadron on 25 April 1917, he scored eight victories flying the Sopwith Pup. In June 1917, his squadron was the first to receive the new Sopwith Camel. A few days later, while attempting to intercept a flight of 16 Gotha bombers, Smith was killed when his Camel lost a wing and broke up in mid-air.

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

Flt. Cdr. Alexander Macdonald Shook, R.N.A.S.
Flt. Lieut. Arnold Jaques Chadwick, R.N.A.S. (since reported drowned).
Flt. Sub-Lieut. Albert James Enstone, R.N.A.S.
Flt. Sub-Lieut. Langley Frank Willard Smith, R.N.A.S. (since missing).
For exceptional gallantry and remarkable skill and courage whilst serving with the R.N.A.S. at Dunkirk during May and June, 1917, in repeatedly attacking and destroying hostile aircraft.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 11 August 1917 (30227/8207)

Victories

	Date	Time	Unit	Aircraft	Opponent	Location
1	30 Apr 1917	1245	4N	Sopwith Pup (N6168)	Albatros D.II (OOC)	E of Nieuport
2	09 May 1917	0800	4N	Sopwith Pup (N6168)	Balloon (DES)	Ghistelles
3	09 May 1917	1715	4N	Sopwith Pup (N6168)	C (DES) ¹	.5 mi SE of Ghistelles
4	12 May 1917	0730	4N	Sopwith Pup (N6168)	Albatros D.III (DES)	Off Zeebrugge
5	25 May 1917	1830	4N	Sopwith Pup (N6168)	Gotha G (DES) ²	15 mi N of Westende
6	05 Jun 1917	0440	4N	Sopwith Pup (N6168)	Balloon (DES)	Ostend
7	06 Jun 1917	1520	4N	Sopwith Pup (N6168)	Albatros D.V (DES)	N of Handzaeme
8	06 Jun 1917	1520	4N	Sopwith Pup (N6168)	Albatros D.V (OOC)	N of Handzaeme

1	Shared with FLt Alexander Shook
2	Shared with FSL Arnold Chadwick, FLt G H T Rouse (N6168), FSL E W Busby (N5796)