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Name: Langley Frank Willard Smith
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
commander of the grand cross of the order of the crown
Croix de Guerre [belgium]		 Langley Smith
Country: Canada
Rank: Flight Sub Lieutenant
Service: Royal Naval Air Service
Units: 4N (RNAS)
Victories: 8
Born: 15 August 1897
Place of Birth: Philipsburg, Quebec
Died: 12 June 1917 Killed In Action
Place of Death: Near Bruges-Ghent
Cemetery: Houtave Churchyard, Zuienkerke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium Image
 
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. 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 F/Lt Alexander Shook
2 Shared with FSL Arnold Chadwick, F/Lt G H T Rouse (N6168), FSL E W Busby (N5796)
 
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