Ian Smith, Spitfire Pilot. RIP

[Adrian Roberts]

Ian Smith, Prime Minister of Rhodesia under UDI, has died aged 88.

Whatever we think of him - and the kindest thing to say is that he was a man who lived in the past but who did what he thought was right - lets just remember that he was a Spitfire Pilot. And moreover, one who was badly burned in a crash and who fought on the ground alongside Italian partisans for three months after being shot down.

[Kyt]

Beat me to it Adrian. His obit just appeared in the Times:

Ian Smith obituary - Times Online

in 1941, he joined the RAF Empire Air Training Scheme at Guinea Fowl in central Rhodesia. He was posted to 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron in the Middle East, flying Hawker Hurricanes.

Taking off from Alexandria on a dawn patrol in 1943, his throttle malfunctioned, he lost height and clipped the barrel of a Bofors gun. He crashed and rammed his face against the Hurricane’s gunsight. He suffered severe facial injuries, broke his jaw, a leg and a shoulder, and buckled his back.

Surgeons at the 15th Scottish Hospital in Cairo reconstructed his face and, after only five months, he rejoined his squadron in Corsica. He realised his dream to fly Spitfire Mark IXs, carrying out strafing raids and escorting American bombers. In mid-1944 Captain Smith was leading a raid on a train of fuel tankers in the Po Valley when he made the mistake of going back for a second run.

The Spitfire was hit by an anti-aircraft shell, caught fire and he baled out. He was soon picked up by the partisans. The five months he spent with them near Sasello, learning Italian, reading Shakespeare and working as a peasant, he regarded as one of the best times of his life.

Near the end of the war, he and three other Allied fugitives made their way through occupied Italy to the Maritime Alps. At one point the conspicuously tall, fair-haired Rhodesian strode unhindered through a German checkpoint. He led his tiny group over the mountains, walking barefoot on ice, until they reached an American patrol on the other side.

[Antipodean Andy]

Was just about to post about him! I work with a Rhodesian and from what she's been saying, he was an inspirational man. The Cenotaph in the capital of Zimbabwe is now called Unity Square and all are banned from it but on Nov 11, Smith would always place a wreath of poppies on the memorial. No one ever tried to stop him.

Ian Douglas Smith, Ex-Leader of Rhodesia, Dies - New York Times - four page obit but an amazing read.

[morse1001]

His wartime experiences were amazing. Ssad to see the end of him.

[The Aviator]

Rest easy Ian.
and RIP Rhodesia too.

http://www.jilldaniels.com/LastPost.mp3

[spidge]

A man of real courage.

How must he thought of the man at the top job now in his beloved Rhodesia?

[Antipodean Andy]

There was a service for Smith at King's Park yesterday here in Perth. Rhodesian girl I work with says there were about 400 people there, excellent speeches, last post and a fly over by Tiger Moths right on time.