Funeral held for Battle of Britain pilot Ron Smyth
Smyth familyA funeral has been held for a Battle of Britain pilot, said to be one of the last of an "extraordinary generation".
The family of Flt Lt Ron Smyth said they were "deeply touched" by the tributes they had received.
Flt Lt Smyth, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, died on 26 October at the age of 96.
During his six-and-a-half years' service with the Royal Air Force (RAF), he flew Hurricanes, serving in the last month of the Battle of Britain.
The pilot served with the 249 squadron and afterwards with the RAF's photographic reconnaissance unit. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Efficiency Award.
A service was held at Emstrey Crematorium, with the RAF's Queen's Colour Squadron acting as the bearer party. A trumpeter also played.
One of Winston Churchill's "few", Flt Lt Smyth was married to Pauline for 63 years and was a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. After leaving the RAF, he worked as a civil servant.
Born in Croydon, he would have celebrated his 97th birthday on Christmas Eve.
In a statement, the war veteran's relatives thanked people for their tributes.
"We have been overwhelmed by the offers of support.
"We will remember him as a private, modest, generous, and above all brave, gentleman."
Patrick Tootle, from the Battle of Britain Fighter Association, said: "He was a very self-effacing man, very mild mannered... when you look at what he did, in six-and-a-half years in the RAF, it is quite surprising."
Warrant Officer Nick Williams, based at RAF Shawbury, Shropshire, said: "He wasn't one of those people that went out boasting about any of his achievements during the battle.
"He was from an extraordinary generation. You've got to remember he was only 19 when he flew in the Battle of Britain.
"They knocked out more German aircraft than they could reproduce, thanks to Bomber Command bombing their factories.
"So Europe could have been a whole different place... if they hadn't have done what they did."
Smyth family