Edward Sismore

Edward Barnes Sismore
Born (1921-06-23)23 June 1921
Kettering, Northamptonshire
Died 22 March 2012(2012-03-22) (aged 90)
Chelmsford, Essex
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service c.1939–1976
Rank Air Commodore
Commands held Commandant Royal Observer Corps
RAF Bruggen
No. 29 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross & Two Bars
Air Force Cross
Air Efficiency Award
Order of Dannebrog (Denmark)

Air Commodore Edward Barnes Sismore DSO, DFC & Two Bars, AFC, AE (23 June 1921 – 22 March 2012) was a British air navigator and a fighter pilot during World War II, and a senior Royal Air Force officer in the post-war years. Sismore served as the thirteenth Commandant Royal Observer Corps between 1971 and 1973.[1]

During his time as Commandant ROC, Sismore travelled overseas to France, Germany and Scandinavian countries, visiting similar defence warning organisations. He established a close relationship with the Luftmeldekorpset Danish Air Reporting Corps, a unit of the country's Home Guard.

Military career

World War II

Educated at Kettering County School, on the outbreak of World War II Sismore started his service as an airman in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR). However, on 29 August 1942 Flight Sergeant Sismore was given an emergency commission as a General Duties Branch pilot officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.[2] Towards the end of the war, on 1 February 1945, he was awarded a permanent commission as a flying officer.[3]

Sismore trained as a U/T Observer, joining No. 110 Squadron as a navigator when they were operating the Bristol Blenheim, and mainly involved in anti-shipping strikes. He then transferred squadrons, continuing to operate as a navigator on a Blenheim squadron.[1]

Reynolds/Sismore

Immediately after being commissioned, in December 1942 he joined No. 105 Squadron, navigating a De Havilland Mosquito alongside pilot Squadron Leader Reginald Reynolds. Over the following 20 months, the pair would see little rest and make some of the most daring targeted raids of the war, which came in retrospect to recognise Sismore as the RAF's finest low-level navigator of World War II.[4]

On 30 January 1943, the pair led the first of two Mosquito raids on Berlin timed to disrupt speeches being delivered by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring and Joseph Goebbels, the Third Reich's Propaganda Minister. The pair led three Mosquito B Mk. IVs from 105 Squadron, which attacked Berlin's main broadcasting station of Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft on Wilhelmstrasse at 11:00,[5] when Göring was due to address a parade commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Nazis' being voted into power. The mission gave the lie to Göring's claim that such a mission was impossible, and kept Göring off the air for more than an hour. Goering himself was not amused; six weeks later he harangued aircraft manufacturers that he could "go berserk" when faced with the Mosquito, which made him "green and yellow with envy."[6]

For the rest of the spring, the pair mostly led strategic daylight raids against key targets, including power stations, steelw orks and factories, and railway assets. Sismore remained Reynolds navigator after he was appointed Commanding Officer of No. 139 Squadron. In this new group, the pair led six Mosquitos on what became the RAF’s deepest ever daylight low-level penetration of Germany from Britain, attacking the Schott AG glass works and Carl Zeiss AG optical works at Jena, near Leipzig.[4] Despite heavy damage to their aircraft and with Reynolds wounded, the pair returned to base, with Reynolds awarded a Bar to his earlier Distinguished Service Order (DSO), and Sismore also receiving a DSO.[4]

Later war

In March 1943, Sismore was appointed a Gee-H instructor at RAF Swanton Morley.[1] Returning to operational duties later that year, Sismore was appointed Navigation Leader of No. 21 Squadron.[1]

In February 1944 Sismore was involved in the planning of Operation Jericho but was prevented from flying with Air Chief Marshal Basil Embry because of their knowledge of the plans. Operation Jericho was a low-level bombing raid on Amiens Prison in German-occupied France. The object of the raid was to free French Resistance and political prisoners who were facing imminent execution.[7] He also participated in the successful raid in late October 1944 against the Gestapo HQ in Århus, Denmark as navigator to Reynolds.

Notably in March 1945, whilst serving on No. 140 Wing, Sismore, by then an acting squadron leader took part in Operation Carthage, a precision raid on the Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. Sismore was the lead navigator in the Mosquito Mk.VI flown by the raid leader, Group Captain Robert Bateson.[8] The raid, while not being completely successful with a large number of civilian casualties, succeeded in destroying the Gestapo HQ allowing some prisoners to escape. Sismore was awarded a Bar to his DFC and was also honoured with the Danish Order of Dannebrog, Degree of Knight.

Post-war

Sismore remained in the RAF after the war, qualifying as a fighter pilot and occupying several senior officer posts. In 1947 Squadron Leader Sismore and former Dambuster pilot, Squadron Leader 'Mick' Martin, broke the London to Cape Town flying record, covering the 6,717 miles in only 21 hours and 31 minutes.[9] They were subsequently awarded the Royal Aero Club's Britannia Trophy for 1947.[10] From 1953/56 He commanded 29 Fighter Squadron. Sismore was promoted to group captain in 1962,[11] and during the early/mid 1960s he served as the Station Commander of RAF Bruggen in Germany.[12] In the late 1960s he was the Senior Air Staff Officer of the RAF's Central Reconnaissance Establishment at RAF Brampton.[13]

Royal Observer Corps

On 4 January 1971 on promotion to air commodore, Sismore was appointed as Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps taking over from Air Commodore D F Rixson.[14] His final post was as the Director of the Air Defence Team, planning a new UK air defence environment system.

On 24 May 1973 Sismore handed command of the ROC to Air Commodore R K Orrock.

Retirement

Sismore retired from the Royal Air Force on 23 June 1976,[15] and became an advisor to the Marconi Company.[16]

Honours and awards

On 30 January 1943, two forces of bombers were detailed to attack Berlin,to prevent a radio broadcast by Goering. To reach the German capital necessitated a flight of more than 500 miles, mostly over heavily defended territory.

As pilot and navigator respectively these officers have taken part in numerous sorties against a wide variety of targets. In October, 1944, they took part in a most successful attack on a vital German target. In this well executed operation, these officers displayed skill and resolution of the highest standard.[17]
Acting Squadron Leader Edward Barnes SISMORE, D.S.O., D.F.C., (130208), R.A.F.V.R. In March, 1945, Squadron Leader Sismore was the navigator in the leading aircraft of a large formation detailed to attack the Gestapo headquarters at Copenhagen. The operation, necessitating a flight of more than 1,000 miles demanded the highest standard of navigational ability. In this direction, Squadron Leader Sismore's work was outstanding and contributed materially to the success obtained. Again, in April, 1945, this officer flew with great distinction in an attack against a similar target at Odense. This officer, who completed much operational flying, has rendered very valuable service.[18]

Personal life

Sismore married his wife Rita in 1946, and the couple had a son and daughter.[16]

Sismore died on 22 March 2012 in Chelmsford, Essex, survived by his son and daughter. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Air Commodore E B Sismore (130208)". RAFweb.org. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  2. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35741. p. 4439. 13 October 1942. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  3. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37518. p. 1626. 2 April 1946. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Air Commodore Ted Sismore". Daily Telegraph. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  5. History of the de Havilland Mosquito, Berlin, 30 January 1943: postponement of Göring's speech, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Nazi's seizure of power
  6. Boog et al. 2006, p. 407.
  7. "Attack on Amiens Prison, 18th February 1944". RAF. 2004. Archived from the original on 1 January 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2007.
  8. "History". RAF.
  9. "Other Dambusters material". breakingthedams.com. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  10. "RAeC Awards Britannia". royalaeroclub.org. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  11. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 42721. p. 5299. 29 June 1962. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  12. "Station OCs". rafweb.org. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  13. Isserlin, B. S. J.; du Plat Taylor, Joan (1974). Motya: A Phoenician and Carthaginian City in Sicily. Brill Archive. pp. ix. ISBN 90-04-03839-6. 1973/76 was the Director of the Air Defence Environment Team responsible for planning the update of the UK air defence system
  14. "Units directly responsible to Ministry level". rafweb.org. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  15. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 46958. p. 9593. 12 July 1976. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  16. 1 2 "Ted Sismore: RAF veteran of daring low-level air raids". The Independent. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  17. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36839. p. 5737. 12 December 1944. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  18. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37142. p. 3271. 22 June 1945. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  19. The London Gazette: no. 38565. p. 1386. 18 March 1949. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  20. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 40787. p. 3135. 31 May 1956. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
Military offices
Preceded by
Ivor Broom
Station Commander RAF Bruggen
c. 1964 – c. 1966
Succeeded by
C D A Browne
Preceded by
Denis Rixson
Commandant Royal Observer Corps
1971–1973
Succeeded by
Roy Orrock
Awards
Preceded by
Edward Donaldson
Recipient of the Royal Aero Club Britannia Trophy
(with H B Martin)

1947
Succeeded by
J Cunningham
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