 Differing railway gauges and incompetent staff logistic work delayed the fighter unit's arrival at its new base until 6 April 1917.As a result, Smirnov did not fly combat again until 18 April, when he closed within 50 meters firing range of an enemy plane, but failed to down it.On 27 April, he won the Third Class Cross of Saint George, in an action whose details do not survive.