Sir Charles Kingsford Smith

One amazing pilot

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

Charles Kingsford Edward Smith Nicknamed “Smithy” Born in Brisbane in 1897 His spirit of adventure led to him being called the world’s

greatest pilot Most Australians loved his dare-devil attitude and his

larrikin streak. He was married twice and had one son, also called Charles While attempting a record-breaking flight in 1935 his plane

went missing off Burma – he was 38 years old – his plane has never been found.

Graduated from Sydney Technical College as an Electrical Engineer at age 16

He enrolled in the Australian Military Forces in 1915, serving in the Middle East and then in 1917 he was a fighter pilot in France. He was awarded a Military Cross for gallantry in action.

From 1919 to 1927 he performed at aerial circuses and pioneered commercial aviation throughout Australia.

In 1927 he bought a Fokker Trimoto aircraft from America which he named the “Southern Cross”.

On May 31, 1928 he took off from California and flew to Brisbane in his new aircraft (via Honolulu).

In his new aircraft, he made the first non-stop flight across the Australian Continent and the first flight across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand.

Charles Kingsford Edward Smith, was the first pilot ever to cross over the Pacific Ocean! This man did not do this all by himself he did it with a few other pioneers as you can see from this picture down here.

Before Charles crossed the Pacific Ocean, he fought in World War 1 and was a Fighter Jet Pilot, it was a hard job he used to say, and I would imagine it to be too. This is what Charles would have flown in many years ago, look at the difference. He became a signaler and dispatch-rider and was service on Gallipoli and Egypt and France before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC)

Olden Day Fighter Jet Modern day Fighter Jet

When Charles was five years old he and his family moved to Canada where his dad worked on The Canadian Pacific Railway.

Canadian Pacific Railway Logo

At the age of 10 Charles and his family moved to Australia and settled in Sydney.

Sydney Harbour

One day in 1906 , when Charles was in Australia he and his friend went to Bondi Beach, they were having fun until the gushing waves of the sea swept them out to sea. He nearly drowned but the Bondi Lifesavers rescued him.

This scary experience stayed with Charles all his life. It left Charles with a phobia of water and gave him many panic attacks when he travelled over oceans later in his life.

Bondi Beach

Recognition of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s Achievements:

• Charles Kingsford Smith was knighted on 3 June 1932 by the Australian Governor-General Sir Isaac Isaacs for services to aviation and later was appointed honorary Air Commodore of the Royal Australian Air Force.

• Sydney’s Kingsford Smith International Airport was named in his honour. The suburb around the airport is called Kingsford and the federal electorate is named Division of Kingsford Smith.

• His most famous aircraft, the Southern Cross, is now preserved and displayed in a memorial to Sir Charles Kingsford Smith near the International Terminal at Brisbane Airport.

The Kingsford Smith Memorial, Brisbane, housing the Southern Cross

Kingsford Smith International Airport

• In 2009, Kingsford Smith School in the Canberra suburb of Holt was named after him, as was the Sir Charles Kingsford Smith Elementary School in Vancouver.

• He was pictured on the Australian $20 paper note (in circulation from 1966 until 1994). He was also pictured on the Australian one-dollar coin of 1997.

• There are many more memorials dedicated to Charles Kingsford Smith, including parks, streets and even postage stamps.

In conclusion, this man is a true Australian as he was the first man to fly over the Pacific Ocean.

He also fought in World War 1 as a Fighter Jet Pilot and was awarded with the Military Cross because he showed great bravery.

His achievements in aviation are such an important part of Australian History that our Sydney Airport was named in his honour.

He is truly an Australian identity to be proud of.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Australian War Memorial websiteFinding Smithy from the National Museum of

Australia and Ryebuck Media 2003www.century-of-flightwww.australia.gov.au/about-australia-australia

n-story/charles-kingsford-smithwww.adb.anu.edu.au/biography/kingsford-smit

h-sir-charles-edwardwww.ctie.monash.edu.auWikipedia