Ross Macpherson Smith
| Sir Ross Macpherson Smith | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
4 December 1892 Semaphore, South Australia |
| Died | 13 April 1922 (aged 29) Weybridge, England |
| Cause of death | Aviation accident |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Relatives | Sir Keith Macpherson Smith (brother) |
| Aviation career | |
| Known for | Flying ace, pioneering aviator |
| Famous flights | Pioneer flight from Cairo to Calcutta Pioneer flight from England to Australia |
| Air force | Australian Flying Corps |
| Battles | |
| Rank | Captain |
| Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross & Bar Distinguished Flying Cross & Two Bars Air Force Cross |
Sir Ross Macpherson Smith, KBE, MC & Bar, DFC & Two Bars, AFC (4 December 1892 – 13 April 1922) was an Australian aviator. He and his brother, Sir Keith Macpherson Smith, were the first pilots to fly from England to Australia, in 1919.
His father migrated to Western Australia from Scotland and became a pastoralist in South Australia. His mother was born near New Norcia, Western Australia, the daughter of a pioneer from Scotland. The boys boarded in Adelaide, at Queen's School, and for two years, in Scotland.
He enlisted in 1914 in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment, landing at Gallipoli 13 May 1915. In 1917, he volunteered for the Australian Flying Corps. He was later twice awarded the Military Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross three times, becoming an air ace with 11 confirmed aerial victories.
Smith was pilot for T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and fought in aerial combat missions in the Middle East. He is mentioned several times in Lawrence's book, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, Chapter 114.
In 1919, he and brother Keith, Sergeant James Mallett (Jim) Bennett and Sergeant Wally Shiers flew from Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, England, on 12 November 1919 in a Vickers Vimy, eventually landing in Darwin Australia on 10 December, taking less than 28 days, with actual flying time of 135 hours. The four men shared the £10,000 prize money put forward by the Australian government.
...
Wikipedia