LEST WE FORGET
Squadron Leader Raymond Edward THOROLD-SMITH DFC
Commanding Officer, No. 452 Squadron
Service No: 402144
Born: Sydney NSW, 12 June 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 27 May 1940
Unit: No. 452 Squadron
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 2 December 1941
Died: Air Operations: (No. 452 Squadron Spitfire aircraft A58-92), Point Charles NT, 15 March 1943, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Joseph Patrick and Beatrice Mary Thorold-Smith, of Sydney, New South Wales. Sydney University Blue (Rugby)
Roll of Honour: Manly NSW
Remembered: Panel 6, Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River NT
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: University of Sydney World War 2 Roll of Honour, Camperdown NSW
DFC Citation: “This officer has participated in 50 operational sorties since July 1941. He has proved himself a first class pilot and a most determined and capable flight leader. He has destroyed five enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of another.” (London Gazette 2 December 1941, page 6887)
On 15 March 1943, Spitfire A58-92 flown by Squadron Leader Thorold-Smith took off from Darwin to return to Strauss Field Northern Territory after a practice night flight. After take-off the aircraft received a scramble order over the radio and he was ordered to lead the Wing formation. No. 452 Squadron made a rendezvous with No. 54 Squadron RAF at 20,000 feet and a large formation of enemy aircraft was sighted at 21,000 feet seven to ten miles north west and flying towards Darwin. The enemy formation comprised 20 bombers and 22 fighters. The Wing led by Squadron Leader Thorold-Smith, comprised 9 aircraft but was badly straggled. When he was about 500 feet from the bombers, Thorold-Smith gave the order to attack the bombers. The Wing formation made for the bombers, but in turn was attacked by the enemy fighters. After the initial attack, others saw Spitfire A58-92 smoking and in an inverted dive over the Point Charles area. No trace of the missing aircraft or Squadron Leader Thorold-Smith was found.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/58/35; A9845, 273
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line