Sir Charles Kingsford Smith
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith, known by his nickname, Smithy, was an early Australian Aviator. He became a global success after breaking numerous aviation records including making the first trans-Pacific flight from the United States to Australia. His amazing feats proved to the world that travel between the continents by flight were possible.
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was born in Hamilton, Queensland 9 February 1897 the youngest of seven children to William Charles Smith, a bank manager, and Catherine Mary Kingsford, daughter of Richard Ash Kingsford, a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. The family lived in Vancouver, Canada from 1903 to 1907. Upon returning to Australia in 1907, Charles Kingsford Smith attended Sydney Technical High School, where he studied and became an electrical engineer. Visit http://www.sths.nsw.edu.au/past_cks.php for more information.
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was born in Hamilton, Queensland 9 February 1897 the youngest of seven children to William Charles Smith, a bank manager, and Catherine Mary Kingsford, daughter of Richard Ash Kingsford, a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. The family lived in Vancouver, Canada from 1903 to 1907. Upon returning to Australia in 1907, Charles Kingsford Smith attended Sydney Technical High School, where he studied and became an electrical engineer. Visit http://www.sths.nsw.edu.au/past_cks.php for more information.
In 1915, during World War I, Charles Kingsford Smith enlisted to be part of the ‘Australian Imperial Force’ (AIF), after being with the Senior Cadets for three years. He was sent to Egypt for basic training. After completing his training, Charles Kingsford Smith had many different duties with the AIF. At first he embarked with the 4th Signal Troop, then later the 2nd Division Signal Company and on the 31st of May he served as a dispatch rider (military messenger) in France. During 1917, he was transferred to Britain and was discharged from the Australian imperial Force and became part of the ‘British Royal Flying Corps’ (R.F.C), where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. This was his first opportunity to fly an aeroplane. In his first month at the front, he brought down four enemy aeroplanes and did valuable work in attacking ground targets and hostile balloons. Unfortunately, Charles Kingsford Smith was shot down during August 1917 after being attacked by two enemy aeroplanes. He managed to land his plane safely, even though his aeroplane and left foot had taken a lot of damage. His three bottom toes on his left foot had to be amputated and he wasn’t able to participate for the rest of the war. This didn’t make him want to stop flying and in a letter to his parents he wrote; 'I have discovered one thing about flying and that is that my future, for whatever it may be worth, is bound up with it'. He was awarded the ‘Military Cross’ (web link) for his bravery during this event. He later worked as a flight instructor for the R.F.C.
At the end of World War I, many pilots were competing against one another in long distance flights. Charles Kingsford Smith wanted to be one of the pioneers of flight, and fly from England to Australia, however he was refused permission to do so by Prime Minister William Hughes, as he and his team that were going to participate in the flight didn’t have any navigational experience. Instead, he worked elsewhere, gaining experience in flight. He performed stunts for Hollywood movies and in 1921, he became the chief pilot of ‘Western Australian Airways’, a regular airmail service between Geraldton and Derby, Western Australia. Charles Kingsford Smiths dream of long-distance flight continued, and after collecting money from the Australian public, and borrowing some, he was able to by his first aeroplane; a Fokker FVII-3m mono-plane he called the Southern Cross, which he modified for long distance flights. During this time, he made friends with many pilots and navigators. One who he met, Charles Ulm, accompanied him on countless flights.
In 1926, Charles Kingsford Smith, alongside Charles Ulm flew around Australia in a record time of 10 day and 5.5 hours. After this successful flight, the duo believed they were ready for an official long distance flight. They flew from Oakland, near San Francisco in America, to Eagle Farm Airport in Brisbane, in 83 hours and 38minutes, where they were greeted by 300,000 people. From this day onward Charles Kingsford Smith continued to break aviation records. In August 1928, he was the first person to fly non-stop across Australia - from Melbourne to Perth. In September, he completed the first aerial crossing of the Tasman flying from Sydney to Christchurch. The return flight was also the first flight from New Zealand to Australia. After these feats, Charles Kingsford Smith launched the ‘Australian National Airways’, the first commercial Australian Airline. However, this was short lived as flying was too expensive and one of the airlines planes had been in a disastrous crash.
1929 saw another record broken when Kingsford Smith flew from Sydney to London in 12 days and 18 hours. When attempting to break this record once more, Charles Kingsford Smith and co-pilot Charles Ulm crashed on a mudflat in the far north-west of Australia. They survived on nothing but coffee for ten days. Two men died looking for them. Many people believed this to be a publicity tunts and there was much public outcry. This incident is known as the ‘Coffee Royal’ Incident.
1929 saw another record broken when Kingsford Smith flew from Sydney to London in 12 days and 18 hours. When attempting to break this record once more, Charles Kingsford Smith and co-pilot Charles Ulm crashed on a mudflat in the far north-west of Australia. They survived on nothing but coffee for ten days. Two men died looking for them. Many people believed this to be a publicity tunts and there was much public outcry. This incident is known as the ‘Coffee Royal’ Incident.
After this slip-up, Charles Kingsford Smith continued to break aviation records including:
· He made the first round-the-world flight in 1929. He flew from London, across Ireland, to New York, then San Francisco and back to London again. The flight took 12 days and 18 hours.
· In 1930 he won the England to Australia Air Race of 16 000 kilometres, which he flew solo. He flew from England to Darwin in 9 days, 22 hours and 15 minutes.
· In May, he made the first flight from Australia to England carrying mail. He again flew from Sydney to London in Southern Star carrying Christmas mail.
· In 1933, he broke the England to Australia record, again flying the distance in 7 days and 4 hours. In that year, he held the most world records for long-distance flights in the world.
· Between 1933 and 1934, Smith continued to fly from Australia to New Zealand, breaking the record each time he flew.
· In 1934 he made the first east to west crossing of the Pacific from Australia to America.
· He made the first round-the-world flight in 1929. He flew from London, across Ireland, to New York, then San Francisco and back to London again. The flight took 12 days and 18 hours.
· In 1930 he won the England to Australia Air Race of 16 000 kilometres, which he flew solo. He flew from England to Darwin in 9 days, 22 hours and 15 minutes.
· In May, he made the first flight from Australia to England carrying mail. He again flew from Sydney to London in Southern Star carrying Christmas mail.
· In 1933, he broke the England to Australia record, again flying the distance in 7 days and 4 hours. In that year, he held the most world records for long-distance flights in the world.
· Between 1933 and 1934, Smith continued to fly from Australia to New Zealand, breaking the record each time he flew.
· In 1934 he made the first east to west crossing of the Pacific from Australia to America.
In 1932, Charles Kingsford/Smith received a knighthood for his contributions to aviation.
During November 1935, Charles Kingsford Smith set out from England once more. His aeroplane crashed en route to Australia over the Bay of Bengal near Burma. The plane was recovered, however, the body of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was never found.
During November 1935, Charles Kingsford Smith set out from England once more. His aeroplane crashed en route to Australia over the Bay of Bengal near Burma. The plane was recovered, however, the body of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was never found.
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith - Impacts
The Contributions that Sir Charles Kingsford Smith made to aviation had an extraordinary impact on Australia as well as the world during the 1920’s. All the aviation records and all the flights he made globally proved that air travel was a viable means of transportation around the world. He was also able to prove that travel by air was also faster and also safer than previously thought. By these successful flights, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was able to prove that Australia could be connected to the rest of the world more readily. The only way before Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s flights, that Australia could connect to the rest of the world was by long time consuming boat trips. His amazing feats also gave Australia a much better public image, with interest in Australia growing with every one of his flights.
The routes he flew in time became regular flight paths for the airlines that were created to exploit this new method of transport.
The routes he flew in time became regular flight paths for the airlines that were created to exploit this new method of transport.
Further Information
For further information, visit these websites:
http://www.skwirk.com.au/p-c_s-14_u-43_t-51_c-153/sir-charles-kingsford-smith/nsw/sir-charles-kingsford-smith/australia-between-the-wars-1920s/contribution-and-significance-of-an-individual-in-the-1920s
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kingsford_Smith
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/kingsford-smith-sir-charles-edward-6964
http://www.skwirk.com.au/p-c_s-14_u-43_t-51_c-153/sir-charles-kingsford-smith/nsw/sir-charles-kingsford-smith/australia-between-the-wars-1920s/contribution-and-significance-of-an-individual-in-the-1920s
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kingsford_Smith
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/kingsford-smith-sir-charles-edward-6964