Ross Macpherson Smith

Ross Macpherson Smith was a pioneering Australian aviator and military pilot celebrated for completing the first flight from England to Australia. His distinguished service during the First World War earned him multiple decorations for gallantry, establishing him as one of the most decorated Australian Flying Corps pilots. Alongside his brother, Sir Keith Smith, and mechanics Jim Bennett and Wally Shiers, he achieved global fame by winning the £10,000 prize offered by the Australian government for the feat. His promising career was tragically cut short by a fatal air crash during a test flight in England.

Early life and military service

Born in Semaphore, South Australia, he was the third son of Andrew Smith, a Scottish-born pastoralist. He was educated at Queen's School and later attended the University of Adelaide's War Memorial Agricultural High School. At the outbreak of the First World War, he enlisted in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and saw action during the Gallipoli campaign. Transferring to the Australian Flying Corps in 1917, he served with No. 1 Squadron in the Middle Eastern theatre, flying Bristol F.2 Fighter aircraft on reconnaissance and bombing missions over Palestine and Jordan. His exceptional skill and leadership in aerial combat, including engagements against the Ottoman Air Force and German Air Force, earned him the Military Cross and a bar, as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross with two bars.

Aviation career and record flights

Following the Armistice of 11 November 1918, Smith was selected for several significant long-distance flights that demonstrated the potential of aviation for imperial communication. In 1919, he piloted a Vickers Vimy bomber on a survey flight from Cairo to Calcutta, a journey that set a new distance record. This experience proved invaluable preparation for the forthcoming challenge to fly from England. His reputation as a superb navigator and pilot was solidified during these post-war years, often flying alongside his brother Keith and the trusted mechanics from his wartime squadron, Sergeant Jim Bennett and Sergeant Wally Shiers.

England to Australia flight

The pinnacle of his career was the successful attempt to claim the Australian government's prize for the first flight from England to Australia. Commanding a modified Vickers Vimy with his brother Keith as co-pilot and navigator, and Bennett and Shiers as engineers, the team departed Hounslow Heath Aerodrome on 12 November 1919. Their epic 28-day journey covered approximately 11,340 miles, with stops including Paris, Rome, Cairo, Damascus, Karachi, Delhi, Calcutta, Singapore, and Darwin. They landed in Darwin on 10 December 1919, successfully winning the £10,000 prize and receiving a hero's welcome across the British Empire. The flight proved the feasibility of long-distance air travel and a future airmail route connecting Britain with its Dominion.

Later life and legacy

Knighted by King George V in 1920, he undertook a promotional tour across Australia and authored an account of the journey. In early 1922, he returned to England to prepare for an ambitious attempt at the first circumnavigation of the world by air, sponsored by Vickers Limited. While testing a new Vickers Viking amphibian aircraft at Brooklands with Bennett as his mechanic, the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff on 13 April 1922, killing both men instantly. His death was mourned internationally, and he was buried in St. Mary's Church, Harefield in Middlesex. The Smith brothers' Vimy aircraft is preserved and displayed at Adelaide Airport's terminal building, a national memorial to their achievement.

Honours and awards

For his aviation achievements and military service, he received numerous honours. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1920. His military decorations included the Military Cross and Bar, the Distinguished Flying Cross and Two Bars, and the Air Force Cross. He was also awarded the 1914–15 Star, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal, and was made a Knight of the Order of the Crown by Belgium. In 1983, he was posthumously inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Category:Australian aviators Category:Australian military personnel of World War I Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)