Lowell Smith
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Lowell Herbert Smith (October 8, 1892 – November 4, 1945) was a pioneer American airman who piloted the first airplane to receive a complete mid-
air refueling Aerial refueling (American English, en-us), or aerial refuelling (British English, en-gb), also referred to as air refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from ...
(along with Lt. John P. Richter) on June 27, 1923, and later set an endurance record of 37 hours on August 28, both in a De Havilland DH-4B. Smith also piloted the Douglas World Cruiser ''Chicago'', which along with one other made the
first aerial circumnavigation The first aerial circumnavigation of the world was completed in 1924 by four aviators from an eight-man team of the United States Army Air Service, the precursor of the United States Air Force. The 175-day journey from April to September covered ...
in 1924. Smith held 16 records for military aircraft in speed, endurance and distance. He was awarded the best achievement in flight
Mackay Trophy The Mackay Trophy is awarded yearly by the United States Air Force for the "most meritorious flight of the year" by an Air Force person, persons, or organization. The trophy is housed in the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museu ...
twice.


Early life

Smith was born October 8, 1892, in
Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara (, meaning ) is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States excepting A ...
, to the Rev. Jasper G Smith, the second of four children. The family subsequently moved to North Yakima and Spokane in Washington, then to San Fernando, California, as his father sought work as a mechanical and electrical engineer. Smith received his high school education in San Fernando and went on to college but left his studies to work in a pumping plant in the
Mojave Desert The Mojave Desert (; ; ) is a desert in the rain shadow of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains and Transverse Ranges in the Southwestern United States. Named for the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous Mohave people, it is located pr ...
and then as a mechanic in an automobile repair shop. He learned to fly after finding work in mines south of Battle Mountain, Nevada. Smith then decided to join
Pancho Villa Francisco "Pancho" Villa ( , , ; born José Doroteo Arango Arámbula; 5 June 1878 – 20 July 1923) was a Mexican revolutionary and prominent figure in the Mexican Revolution. He was a key figure in the revolutionary movement that forced ...
's revolutionary army in Mexico where he became engineering officer of its tiny three-aircraft air service and he subsequently flew reconnaissance for a time in 1915 before all three aircraft were lost.


Aviator

Back at Battle Mountain in 1917, the entry of the United States into the First World War inspired Smith's joining the Air Service in San Francisco. He took a course in aeronautics at the University of California and he was posted to Rockwell Field, near San Diego, and then Kelly Field, Texas, as a flying instructor. He did not see active service in the war. After a period as Engineering Officer at Rockwell Field after the war, he was given command of the 20 aircraft 91st Squadron, flying fire patrols in the Pacific Northwest, where he served for four years. In 1919, he found himself able to participate in the Trans-Continental Speed, Reliability and Endurance Contest. However, on the evening of October 15 his aircraft was destroyed by fire when lanterns being used by mechanics ignited a wing. Smith received permission to continue the race if he could find a replacement aircraft. Prospects seemed dim until Major
Carl Andrew Spaatz Carl Andrew Spaatz (born Spatz; 28 June 1891 – 14 July 1974), nicknamed "Tooey", was an American World War II general. As commander of Strategic Air Forces in Europe in 1944, he successfully pressed for the bombing of the enemy's oil productio ...
arrived on October 17. It took only a little pleading before Spaatz agreed to turn over his plane to Smith. Going on to conquer wind and weather, Smith became the first person to fly from San Francisco to Chicago and the first West Coast flier to complete the round trip, on October 21. In June 1923, Smith and Lt. Paul Richter performed the first ever mid-air refuelling, between a pair of De Havilland
Airco DH.4 The Airco DH.4 is a British two-seat biplane day bomber of the First World War. It was designed by Geoffrey de Havilland (hence "DH") for Airco, and was the first British two-seat light day-bomber capable of defending itself. It was desig ...
Bs. During the flight, he broke 16 world records for flight distance, speed and duration, remaining airborne for 37 hours 15 minutes. By the time of the round the world flight, Smith had accumulated over 2,000 hours' flying time. In 1924, Smith then a lieutenant, was made flight commander of the mission to be the first to fly around the world. Major Frederick L. Martin originally led the flight from Seattle, but crashed his plane in Alaska, therefore, Smith took over leadership of the expedition. During the stopover in Thailand he developed dysentery from which he did not recover until the expeditionary flight was completed. Smith (as well as the other World Fliers) received the Distinguished Service Cross for the circumnavigation. In 1936, Smith was promoted to major and appointed to the War Department Board for standardizing airplane design and procurement procedures. He was promoted to colonel in March 1941. Under his guidance from February 1942 to March 1943, Davis-Monthan became the top training base for
B-17 The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engined heavy bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). A fast and high-flying bomber, the B-17 dropped more bombs than any other aircraft during ...
and
B-24 The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models desi ...
crews during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. In March 1945, Smith was in charge of anti-submarine patrols off of South American coasts. After the war's end, Smith died in November 1945 from injuries suffered when he fell from a horse in the
Catalina Foothills, Arizona Catalina Foothills is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located north of Tucson in Pima County, Arizona, United States. Situated in the southern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Catalina Foothills had a po ...
. He was buried at
Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...
, in
Arlington, Virginia Arlington County, or simply Arlington, is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Virginia. The county is located in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from Washington, D.C., the nati ...
. Lowell H. Smith Elementary School in
Tucson, Arizona Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...
, was named after him.


Awards

* Command Pilot Wings * Distinguished Service Medal * Distinguished Flying Cross * World War I Victory Medal *
American Defense Service Medal The American Defense Service Medal was a United States service medals of the World Wars, military award of the United States Armed Forces, established by , by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on June 28, 1941. The medal was intended to recogniz ...
*
American Campaign Medal The American Campaign Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was first created on November 6, 1942, by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was intended to recognize those military members who had per ...
*
World War II Victory Medal The World War II Victory Medal was a service medal of the United States military which was established by an Act of Congress on 6 July 1945 (Public Law 135, 79th Congress) and promulgated by Section V, War Department Bulletin 12, 1945. Histo ...
*
MacKay Trophy The Mackay Trophy is awarded yearly by the United States Air Force for the "most meritorious flight of the year" by an Air Force person, persons, or organization. The trophy is housed in the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museu ...
twice awarded


Distinguished Service Medal Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Captain (Air Service) Lowell H. Smith, United States Army Air Service, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. Lieutenant Smith, as Pilot of the Airplane No. 2, the "Chicago," and later when placed in command of the United States Army Air Service around-the-world flight from 6 April 1924 to 28 September 1924, displayed untiring energy, courage, and resourcefulness during the entire period that the Air Service expedition was upon its hazardous undertaking. His leadership, sound judgment, and tenacity of purpose were material factors in the success of this pioneer flight of airplanes around the world. In the performance of his great task he brought to himself and to the military forces of the United States the signal honor of an achievement which is a testimonial to American thoroughness, courage, and resourcefulness. General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 14 (1925) Action Date: April 6 – September 28, 1924
/ref>


Distinguished Flying Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Lowell H. Smith, U.S. Army Air Service, for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. Lieutenant Smith and Lieutenant John P. Richter were the pioneers in establishing the practicability in refueling airplanes while in flight, and on 28–29 June 1923, they piloted an airplane refueled in flight for 37 hours, 15 minutes and 14 and a half seconds, breaking the endurance record, the speed records from 2,500 to 5,000 kilometers, and the distance record (5,300 kilometers). By their endurance, resourcefulness, and determination they reflected great credit upon themselves and the Army of the United States. General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 16 (1929) Action Date: June 28–29, 1923


Dates of rank

* Enlisted: 7 June 1917 * 1st Lieutenant, Officer Reserve Corps: 13 December 1917 * Captain, National Army: 23 October 1918 * Captain, Regular Army: 1 July 1920 * 1st Lieutenant, Regular Army: 18 November 1922 * Captain, Regular Army: 4 December 1924 * Major, Temporary: 16 June 1936 * Major, Regular Army: 26 June 1936 * Lieutenant Colonel, Temporary: 1 March 1940 * Lieutenant Colonel, Regular Army: 30 August 1940 * Colonel, Temporary: 14 March 1941 * Colonel, Army of the United States: 1 February 1942Official Register of Commissioned Officers of the United States Army, 1945. p. 866.


References


External links


FirstFlight.org First flight.com
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Lowell H. 1892 births 1945 deaths Military personnel from Santa Barbara, California Air Corps Tactical School alumni American aviation record holders American aviation pioneers Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Flight endurance record holders Military personnel from Tucson, Arizona Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) United States Army Air Forces colonels United States Army Air Service pilots of World War I American expatriates in Mexico American military personnel of World War II