, ▁Smith ▁was ▁sent ▁to ▁England ▁where ▁he ▁assumed ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁courses ▁until ▁October ▁ 1 9 3 4 , ▁when ▁he ▁returned ▁to ▁H MA S ▁Can ber ra . ▁He ▁served ▁with ▁the ▁ship ▁until ▁March ▁ 1 9 3 6 , ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁lieutenant ▁and ▁posted ▁to ▁. ▁ ▁After ▁dec iding ▁to ▁special ise ▁in ▁naval ▁av iation , ▁Smith ▁proceeded ▁to ▁England ▁to ▁attend ▁a ▁Naval ▁Ob ser vers ▁Cour se ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 9 3 7 . ▁Upon ▁gradu ation , ▁he ▁was ▁posted ▁to ▁No . ▁ 8 2 5 ▁Squadron ▁ab o ard ▁ ▁in ▁the ▁Mediter rane an . ▁He ▁remained ▁on ▁the ▁ship ▁until ▁August ▁ 1 9 3 9 , ▁when ▁he ▁left ▁for ▁England ▁to ▁attend ▁a ▁Meteor ological ▁Cour se . ▁However , ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁out break ▁of ▁war , ▁the ▁course ▁was ▁abandoned ▁and ▁Smith ▁was ▁appointed ▁to ▁the ▁new ▁car rier ▁. ▁ ▁Second ▁World ▁War ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 0 , ▁Smith ▁took ▁part ▁in ▁operations ▁off ▁Norway ▁with ▁Ark ▁Royal , ▁before ▁receiving ▁a ▁posting ▁to ▁No . ▁ 8 2 1 ▁Squadron ▁based ▁at ▁R N AS ▁Hat ston . ▁On ▁ 2 1 ▁June , ▁he ▁led ▁six ▁S word fish ▁bi plan es ▁in ▁carrying ▁out ▁the ▁first - ever ▁tor ped o ▁attack ▁by ▁aircraft ▁on ▁a ▁capital ▁ship ▁at ▁sea . ▁The ▁ra id ▁was ▁conducted ▁against ▁the ▁German ▁batt les hip ▁ ▁off