Frederick E. Smith

Not to be confused with Frederick E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead.
For other people with similar names, see Fred Smith.

Frederick E. Smith
Pen nameDavid Farrell
GenreWar
Notable works633 Squadron
Valley of Conflict
SpouseShelagh

Frederick Escreet Smith (4 April 1919 – 15 May 2012)[1][2] was a British author, best known for his 1956 novel 633 Squadron about a Second World War RAF Mosquito squadron undertaking a seemingly impossible mission to bomb a well-protected German factory at the head of a Norwegian fjord. The novel was made into a successful film in 1964. He also wrote the original 1951 story that the film Devil Doll (1964) is based on.

  1. ^ Steve Holland, Frederick E Smith obituary, The Guardian, 27 May 2012
  2. ^ Some standard library sources, including VIAF, formerly gave his year of birth as 1922. However, the GRO online records confirm his birth was registered in Hull (Sculcoates) in Q2 1919, reference 9d 211, as per the Guardian obituary. Escreet was his mother's maiden name.