▁the ▁Norwegian ▁coast ▁while ▁subject ▁to ▁heavy ▁anti - air craft ▁fire . ▁The ▁Sch arn hor st ▁suffered ▁no ▁hits ▁by ▁the ▁tor ped o es , ▁and ▁all ▁six ▁aircraft ▁managed ▁to ▁return ▁safely ▁to ▁land . ▁For ▁his ▁actions ▁during ▁the ▁attack , ▁Smith ▁received ▁a ▁M ention ▁in ▁Des patch es . ▁ ▁In ▁August , ▁Smith ▁was ▁sent ▁to ▁join ▁No . ▁ 8 0 7 ▁F ighter ▁Squadron ▁ab o ard ▁. ▁The ▁ship ▁was ▁used ▁to ▁protect ▁con vo ys ▁in ▁the ▁Western ▁Appro aches ▁against ▁the ▁German ▁Cond or ▁aircraft . ▁In ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 1 , ▁the ▁squad ron ▁joined ▁, ▁and ▁was ▁task ed ▁with ▁the ▁protection ▁of ▁sh ipping ▁off ▁the ▁African ▁coast . ▁In ▁April , ▁the ▁squad ron ▁joined ▁Ark ▁Royal , ▁where ▁Smith ▁served ▁until ▁the ▁ship ▁was ▁s unk ▁off ▁Gib ral tar ▁on ▁ 3 0 ▁November ▁by ▁. ▁During ▁this ▁time , ▁Smith ▁had ▁been ▁shot ▁down ▁twice , ▁each ▁time ▁man aging ▁to ▁be ▁picked ▁up ▁by ▁a ▁destroy er . ▁In ▁the ▁New ▁Years ▁Hon ours ▁of ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁Smith ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Dist ingu ished ▁Service ▁Cross ▁for ▁" out - standing ▁ze al , ▁p atience ▁and ▁cheer ful ness ▁and ▁for ▁setting ▁an ▁example ▁of ▁whole heart ed ness ▁dev otion ▁to ▁duty ". ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁s inking ▁of ▁the ▁Ark ▁Royal , ▁Smith ▁returned ▁to ▁Australia ▁where ▁he ▁was ▁appointed ▁as ▁l ia