Smith was wounded on 8 July 1918. On 10 November 1918, he was shot down by ground fire behind German lines but wasn't captured.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Lieut. (A./Capt.) Francis Ryan Smith,
M.C. (Australian F.C.). (FRANCE)
This officer combines high individual enterprise and determination with exceptionally able leadership. These qualities were conspicuous on 14th October, when, leading a patrol of five machines, he saw a formation of twelve Fokker biplanes above him. Relying on the co-operation of another higher formation of Bristol machines, he, deliberately manoeuvred his formation into a disadvantageous position in order that our higher patrol might be able to attack the enemy while the latter's attention was concentrated upon destroying his, Lt. Smith's, formation. The stratagem was entirely successful, with the result that two enemy machines were destroyed and two others were believed to crash. The Fokkers were then reinforced by eight more machines, and in the ensuing combat Lt. Smith shot down one in flames, his patrol destroying two others. We suffered no casualties.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 8 February 1919 (31170/2046)
Victories
Date
Time
Unit
Aircraft
Opponent
Location
1
09 May 1918
1750
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (C9496)
Pfalz D.III (DES)1
Marcoing
2
02 Jun 1918
1905
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a
Pfalz D.III (OOC)2
Clery
3
04 Jul 1918
1920
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (D6190)
Fokker D.VII (DES)
Capinghem
4
07 Aug 1918
0630
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (C6403)
Fokker D.VII (OOC)
Wavrin
5
03 Sep 1918
1720
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (C6403)
Fokker D.VII (OOC)
NW of Cambrai
6
06 Sep 1918
1900
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (C6403)
Fokker D.VII (DES)
NNE of Douai
7
16 Sep 1918
0730
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (C6403)
Fokker D.VII (OOC)
Lille
8
16 Sep 1918
0730
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (C6403)
Fokker D.VII (OOC)
Lille
9
24 Sep 1918
1030
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (C6403)
Albatros C (OOC)3
La Bassée-Bethune
10
24 Sep 1918
1820
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (C6403)
Fokker D.VII (DES)
S of Capinghem
11
09 Oct 1918
1015
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (C6403)
Fokker D.VII (OOC)
Lille-Armentières
12
09 Oct 1918
1015
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (C6403)
Fokker D.VII (OOC)
Lille-Armentières
13
14 Oct 1918
1100
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (C6403)
Fokker D.VII (DES)
W of Roubaix
14
14 Oct 1918
1100
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (C6403)
Fokker D.VII (DES)
N of Mouvaux
15
14 Oct 1918
1600
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (C6403)
Fokker D.VII (DES)
Havron
16
14 Oct 1918
1600
2 (AFC)
S.E.5a (C6403)
Fokker D.VII (OOC)
Havron
1
Shared with Lt JA Adam (D4895)
2
Shared with Lt WQ Adams (D3429), Capt Adrian Cole, Lt HE Hamilton
