The Association has learned of the death of Lt Cdr Jonathan (Jon) Hew Dalrymple-Smith MBE RN on 20 June 2018 aged 78. Jon lived in La Ciotat, France.
From Records
BRNC Dartmouth
HMS Victorious
HMS Wasperton
RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RNAS Brawdy
RNAS Lossiemouth
809 Squadron
800 Squadron/HMS Eagle
750 Squadron
HMS Hermes
800 Squadron/HMS Eagle
750 Squadron
Memories of Jon
He was a distinguished Buccaneer pilot (S1) in 809, 736 and 800 in EAGLE and at Lossie in the mid sixties and later. He will be well known to the FAA members and the early RAF exchange officers in the sixties and seventies. He took early retirement after the CVA01 decision and took up civil flying with Peregrine Air Services in Inverness with Andrew Gleadow, Andy Hill and Nick Wilkinson. Jonathan was Peregrine’s man in Orkney and I more or less lost touch after he took to his sailing life in a big way after the seventies. As far as I know, he never married and latterly lived at St Ciotat in the South of France with his brother (Butch)and his boat! He died at home on Wednesday 20thJune after a second stroke; he was 78, I believe.
Jonathan was a noted bon viveur and raconteur and wonderful company – he competed in BBC’s Mastermind and I think won his round (special subject ‘Poets of the First World War). He was as given a gallantry award for his selfless acts of bravery during a rescue at Sumburgh after a passenger aircraft went off the runway and ditched off the island. I believe he witnessed the incident from the cockpit of his Peregrine aircraft and was one of the first into the water.
Fondly remembered RIP, Jonathan
Peter King
John was one of the great old school English eccentrics. Far surpassing his brother Peter who I later served with in HK.
One of my abiding memories of John was low level through the Minch and bone dome full of Winnie the Pooh being recited in Latin.
He would not have been out of place flying in the RNAS during WW1.
A real gentleman, RIP John.
Malcolm (Tennant)
Flew a few trips with him in Sea Venoms – his right elbow continually got in the way of my AI!
Very fine guy.
Michael (Whybrow)
I recall John from Dartmouth – he was a term ahead of me in Drake Division.
Rather than smoking he took snuff – and was referred to either as “Damn simple-Smith” or “Snuff-Smith”
A sad loss,
Maurice (Fitzgerald)
John DS resided at Morangie Towers with Paddy Meiklejohn and Giles Blundell and was always great company. After Lossie he flew Sea Princes and on the morning sortie usually finished the Times crossword by the second turning point.
Very bright – very amusing – always great fun to be with.
Fondly remembered
Robin (Kent)
Robin reminds me –
I have fond memories of a summer leave sailing expedition around Falmouth bay AKA a waterborne pub crawl! organised by Mike Sharp. The daily routine was to breakfast on board; then proceed at best speed to lay-off the chosen establishment and proceed ashore in the small tender. However one remained aboard as anchor watch.
On the day in question Jon DS had drawn the short straw for this duty and asked me to buy him a copy of the day’s Times. On return later in the afternoon I presented him with a copy of The Telegraph – no Times being available. He was disgusted and said, to the collective amazement, he could complete the large cryptic crossword in his head! To our further wonderment after giving him ten minutes to look at the clues on their own he duly completed it without pausing. On checking next day it was 100% correct!
I also remember when I was the junior sprog on 800, Eagle, that he carried a paperback copy of Winnie the Pooh in one of the breast pockets of his flying suit.
A remarkably talented fellow and well remembered
Frank (Cox)