SIR CHARLES KINGSFORD SMITH By Jeremy Jones

INFORMATION Charles Kingsford Edward Smith: Born – 9th February 1897; Hamilton, Brisbane, Queensland He was the youngest of seven children, and born to William Charles Smith and Catherine May Kingsford From 1903 to 1907, his family lived in Vancouver, Canada When he returned to Australia, he attended St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney He then studied electrical engineering at Sydney Technical College He was twice married: His first marriage was to Thelma Eileen Corboy on 6 June 1923, and divorced in 1928. His second marriage was to Mary Powell on 10 December 1930. They had one son, Charles Arthur Kingsford Smith.

WORLD WAR I In 1915, he enlisted in the AIF and served at Gallipoli. He initially preformed duty as a motorcycle dispatch rider (delivers urgent military messages between headquarters and military units), but then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, becoming a pilot in 1917. In August 1917, while serving with No. 23 Squadron, was shot down and required amputation of a large part of his left foot, causing him to be demobilised in England. For his efforts in the war he was awarded the Military Cross. On 1st April 1918, along with other members of the Royal Flying Corps, he was transferred to the newly established Royal Air Force.

POST WWI As he was demobilised in England, in early 1919, he joined Tasmania Cyril Mannocks, to form Kingsford Smith, Mannocks Aeros Ltd, providing joy airplane rides in North England. Later Kingsford Smith worked as a barnstormer (airplane acrobatics) in the US, before returning to Australia in 1921, becoming a barnstormer, also flew airmail services and then became commercial pilot.

QANTAS In 1920 a company called Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service, or better known as QANTAS, began operating as a airmail service in western Queensland. Western Australian Airways Limited was established in 1921, with Kingsford Smith being hired as one of the five pilots.

RECORD BREAKING FLIGHTS Examples of these included: At 8:54 am on 31st May 1928, Kingsford Smith, and his crew, left California, on a plane named the Southern Cross, to fly to Australia, to make the first trans-Pacific flight. The flight was in three stages; California to Hawaii, then to Fiji, and through to Brisbane, landing there on 9th June. At 2:00 pm on 10th September, Kingsford Smith, and his crew, left Sydney to Christchurch in New Zealand, completing the first successful trans-Tasman flight. There was a pervious failed attempt by New Zealanders John Moncrieff and George Hood, but were lost during the flight. The Southern Cross Kingsford Smith and crew member

DISAPPEARANCE AND DEATH Kingsford Smith and co-pilot Tommy Pethybridge were flying the Lady Southern Cross from India to Singapore, as an attempt to break the record flight from England to Australia. During this flight they disappeared over the Andaman Sea in the early hours of 8th November 1935. Their bodies were never found.

LEGEND Charles Kingsford Smith was regarded as a aviation legend within Australia, with many flocking to see his departures and arrivals, his stunts, and to greet him on the completion of many record breaking flights. He was regarded as a pioneer of flying, conquering the isolation of Australia.