Francis Ryan Smith, was an Australian flying ace of the First World War, credited with 16 aerial victories. Following the war, he studied engineering and worked in China, eventually starting his own aviation business. During the Second World War, Smith served in the

Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...

, as a squadron leader.

World War I service

Francis Ryan Smith was born 23 July 1896, in Brisbane, Queensland. He worked as a clerk before joining the Australian Imperial Force on 20 July 1915, during the First World War. As an infantry officer, he served with distinction in the 31st Battalion, seeing action on the

Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers *Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a majo ...

Fromelles Fromelles () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. it had a population of 1,041; its inhabitants are called ''Fromellois''. It is located about to the west of Lille. First World War The village of Fromelles was captured by a ...

and then later around Armentieres in 1916, for which he was awarded the Military Cross, for bravery under fire. He transferred to the Australian Flying Corps for training, then joined No. 2 Squadron AFC as a pilot on 28 February 1918. Piloting a RAF SE.5a, he was credited with a total of 16 aerial victories,Franks 2007, p. 42. consisting of nine enemy aircraft sent down out of control, and seven others destroyed including one shared. Along the way, Smith became a Flight Leader by mid-September 1918; he also became his squadron's leading ace. Additionally, he became the squadron's final casualty, being shot down on 10 November 1918. Although downed behind enemy lines, he evaded capture by donning civilian clothing and covering 40 miles back to his squadron mess. He found his squadron-mates celebrating the Armistice ending the war. He returned to Australia on 6 May 1919. By 18 June, he had been discharged.

Later life

Post war, Smith studied engineering at St Leo's College, in Brisbane, and in 1920 moved to Amoy, in China to work for a merchant company. He later moved to Shanghai as he progressed in the company and in 1935 started an aviation company in Hong Kong. He married his cousin, Annie (Nancy) Power, while in China and had two children. He returned to Australia in 1941, and during the Second World War, Smith served in the

Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...

, achieving the rank of squadron leader before being discharged in January 1944. His final posting on discharge was No. 3 Wing, Air Training Corps. In 1951, Smith leased an auto service station in

Willandra, Ryde Willandra is a heritage-listed former service station and homestead and now community facility located at 782 Victoria Road, Ryde, New South Wales, Australia. Its design is attributed to William Weaver and built from 1841 to 1844 by James D ...

, New South Wales. He died on 24 December 1961 in Balmain, New South Wales.

Honours and awards

Military Cross (MC): Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC):

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Francis 1896 births 1961 deaths Australian Army officers Australian Flying Corps officers Australian military personnel of World War I Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II Australian World War I flying aces Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) Recipients of the Military Cross Royal Australian Air Force officers Military personnel from Brisbane