Was Ian Smith’s Military Service a Turning Point?
Imagine a young man from South Africa, eager to serve his country during World War II, interrupting his studies at university to join the Royal Air Force (RAF). This was the journey of Ian Smith, who would later become Prime Minister of Rhodesia and play a significant role in its history.
The RAF Experience
Smith joined up in 1941, just as the world was engulfed in conflict. He received his pilot training under the Empire Air Training Scheme, learning to fly Tiger Moths and Harvards at Initial Training Wing in Bulawayo and Elementary Flying Training School at Guinea Fowl.
Operational Flights and Challenges
Imagine flying over the Levant in a Hurricane, participating in the Western Desert campaign. But what happened when disaster struck?
In October 1943, Smith took off in a Hurricane Mk IIC but crashed due to a malfunctioning throttle. He suffered serious facial injuries and broke his jaw, leg, and shoulder. Doctors initially thought he had broken his back, but it was only a buckle from the crash. After extensive surgery, including skin grafts and reconstructive work, Smith was cleared for flying in March 1944.
Rescue and Resistance
Imagine being shot down by anti-aircraft fire in Italy, trekking across the Alps with three other Allied personnel. This was Ian Smith’s reality.
On June 20, 1944, Smith was shot down by flak and crash-landed on the side of a mountain. The local partisans rescued him, hid him, and eventually helped him survive until the danger subsided. Smith learned Italian to prepare for his next move and worked on the Zuninos’ farm before being taken in by them.
After a month, Captain James Smith was approached by Antonio Bozzano (Barbetta) of the Italian resistance movement. Barbetta promoted him to major and asked him to join the ranks. Smith joined the resistance for three months, learning Italian and participating in sabotage operations. When he decided to return to Allied lines, the partisans gave him letters of endorsement and assistance from local villagers and a British corporal named Bill.
The group, including French, Austrian, Polish, and American soldiers, set out across the Ligurian Alps towards southern France. They were aided by Italian partisan groups and locals, and eventually made it to the border, where they met with friendly troops and were reunited with their respective forces 23 days after setting off from Piancastagna.
Return to Allied Lines
The Americans took Smith to Marseille and then to Naples, where he sent a telegram home in November 1944. He did not want to be posted back to Rhodesia but instead requested to go to Britain, where he attended a refresher course and was reassigned to active service.
Combat Missions and Demobilization
Imagine flying combat missions with No. 130 Squadron until the European war ended on May 7, 1945. After the war, he spent five months in Norway as part of the occupation forces and was demobilized in November 1945.
Smith’s face was damaged in a crash in 1943 due to plastic surgery and gave him a lopsided appearance with partial paralysis. His injuries left him with a blank expression, making him uncomfortable for people to watch his eyes. During his talks with British Prime Minister Harold Wilson aboard HMS Tiger in 1966, Smith regularly got up and looked out of a porthole; the British incorrectly interpreted this as Smith feeling intimidated by Wilson or seasick.
Post-War Life and Politics
Imagine returning to university life after the war. This was Ian Smith’s next chapter.
Smith completed his studies at Rhodes during 1946, and entered politics in 1948. He rose through the political ranks with the United Federal Party and helped to form the Rhodesian Front. In December 1962, he became Deputy Prime Minister after the party’s surprising election victory.
After the Cabinet forced Field to resign in April 1964, Smith was chosen as the new Prime Minister. His government unilaterally declared independence on November 11, 1965. He declared Rhodesia a republic in 1970 following a referendum result. He argued that Britain was to blame for the situation, saying ‘Rhodesia did not want to seize independence from Britain. It was forced upon us.’
Legacy and Impact
Imagine how Ian Smith’s military service and reputation as a war hero influenced his political career. This was the case with him.
Smith’s years as an RAF pilot were often alluded to in political rhetoric and popular culture. He won decisive election victories in 1970, 1974, and 1977, and remained in office until Zimbabwe Rhodesia’s formal establishment on June 1, 1979.
Smith’s military service and reputation as a war hero gave rise to positive sentiments regarding him personally. White Rhodesians hailed him a war hero, while British commentators referenced his past military service. Smith retained his affection for the Spitfire and some proficiency in Italian.
Smith’s journey from a university student to Prime Minister, marked by his military service and the challenges he faced, is a testament to resilience and leadership. His experiences during World War II undoubtedly shaped his political decisions and legacy.
You want to know more about Military career of Ian Smith?
This page is based on the article Military career of Ian Smith published in Wikipedia (retrieved on January 3, 2025) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
