The sacrifice of a newly-married, young RAAF fighter pilot from Sans Souci was recalled at an Anzac Day commemoration overlooking the water at Bundeena on Sunday.
Peter Pool, a returned Vietnam veteran, former president of One Commando Association and senior vice president of Bundeena RSL Sub Branch, dedicated his keynote address on “Anzac Sunday” to Flight Lieutenant Henry Lacy Smith, 27.
The young airman’s Spitfire was shot down on June 11, 1944, in Northern France, but the wreckage was not found for 66 years.
The Spitfire was part of 453 Squadron, the first Australian squadron to go into action on D-day, June 6, 1944.
It operated from advanced bases in the beachhead providing tactical support for the troops landing on the Normandy beachhead.
Mr Pool said the downed Spitfire was found in November, 2010, “with Henry’s hand in glove on the control”.
He said Lieutenant Lacy had been married just three months when he flew his Spitfire in support of the 9th Parachute Battalion and commandos who had to take and hold Pegasus Bridge, in which many lives were lost.
Mr Pool said he laid a wreath on the young pilot’s grave in Ranville Cemetary, in Southern France, in June last year.
He started his keynote address with the words, “There is no glory in war”.
“There is pain, indignity, deprivation of liberty and loss of friends and mates so close,” he said.
“There is, however, courage and honour for those who served and stood with you.
“In the fear of death, they showed courage and valour.
“There is no happiness in coming home from war; there is loneliness in coming home without those men and women standing with you in the end, who did not return.”
Mr Pool concluded, “We as a nation owe our freedom to those 102,000 Australian men and women who gave their lives in all wars – for our tomorrow.”
