Flight Sergeant Geoffrey Charles Chapman Smith (on crutches), with friends and members of his bomber crew outside Buckingham Palace, London, 12 June 1944. Smith had just had the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM) awarded to him by King George VI at a ceremony in the palace. On the night of 15–16 February 1944 Smith flew as a rear gunner in a No. 156 (Pathfinder) Squadron RAF Lancaster on the largest operation mounted on Berlin during the months of the so-called 'Battle of Berlin'—891 heavy bombers, consisting of 561 Lancasters, 314 Halifaxes and 16 Mosquitos. The Operations Record Book of the squadron for that night described a night-fighter attack on the aircraft of Flight Sergeant KPC Doyle in which the rear gunner's right leg was shattered, but he had stuck to his guns on the homeward journey. The gunner was RAAF Flight Sergeant Geoffrey Smith, and his CGM citation, which eventually appeared in the London Gazette, described how the hydraulic workings of his gun turret had been shot away, and: Although suffering intensely, and in a dazed condition, Flight Sergeant Smith refused assistance and insisted on remaining at his post to manipulate his turret manually until the enemy coast was crossed. In most distressing circumstances, this gallant airman, whose leg has since been amputated, displayed courage and fortitude of a high order. His determination to defend his aircraft until the enemy coast was crossed was a magnificent example. [CGM citation and Operations Record Book, No. 156 Squadron RAF online at www.156squadron.com; AWM SUK12348]
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