Descriptive Finding Guide for the Francis Oscar Smith Personal Papers SDASM.SC.10134
Alan Renga
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
11/13/2014
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Francis O. Smith Personal Papers
source:
Smith, Francis O.
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10134
Physical Description:
0.17 Cubic Feet
One box: 12”x 2.5”x 10”
Date (inclusive): 1917-1998
Abstract: Francis Smith was WWII pilot who flew 'over the Hump' - the route over the Himalayas between India and China. He received
various accolades and after his service, he worked at the FAA from 1962 to 1998.
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
One box: 12”x 2.5”x 10” - This collection includes photographs, military records, letters and newspaper clippings which involve
Francis O. Smith. It includes images of Smith in Arizona as a flight instructor in 1941, with Royal Air Force student pilots,
as well detailed military records documenting his extensive Army Air Forces service.
Francis Smith was WWII pilot who flew 'over the Hump' - the route over the Himalayas between India and China. He received
various accolades and after his service, he worked at the FAA from 1962 to 1998.
Born in Placer County, California on June 17, 1917, his family relocated to Butte County when he was a young boy, where he
received his formal education. Francis Oscar “Smitty” Smith began flying lessons in 1933, earning his private pilot’s license
in 1935. Before World War II he was involved in a variety of flying activities, working as a crop duster, air charter pilot,
and as a flight instructor. In 1941, he taught Royal Air Force pilots at Falcon and Thunderbird Fields in Arizona.
Francis O. Smith joined the Army Air Corps Ferrying Command on June 2, 1942 as a civilian pilot, and then was commissioned
as an officer on July 14, 1942. He served as a Hump Pilot during World War II, flying 60 round trips over the Himalayas, from
India to China. As with other Hump pilots, he flew at high altitudes, often in terrible weather conditions. His many awards
include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with oak leaf clusters, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, and others.
During his distinguished military flying career, Smith piloted a wide range of vehicles, including, among others, the Stearman
PT-17, Fairchild PT-19, Ryan PT-22, Stearman PT-27, PQ-8 Cadet, AT-6 Texan, AT-9 Jeep, AT-11 Beech Twin, BT-13 and BT-15 Valiant,
AT-17 Cessna Bobcat, Anson AT-20, Taylorcraft L-2A and L-2B Grasshopper, Piper L-4B Grasshopper, A-29 Hudson, B-17F Flying
Fortress, Douglas B-18 bomber, B-24D Liberator, B-25D Mitchell, B-26B Marauder, Douglas DC-3 transport, Lockheed C-36A, C-47
Skytrain, C-53 Skytrooper, C-56 and C-60 Lodestar, Boeing C-73, Cessna C-78, and the Fairchild C-82.
Later, Smith flew transports for the Air Transport Command in South America, Africa, and India. He was discharged from the
Army Air Forces on January 15, 1946, and then worked various flying jobs, such as aerobatic pilot, crop duster, charter pilot,
and airline pilot. He joined the Federal Aviation Agency in 1962, remaining there until he retired in 1975. At the FAA, he
worked as a flight inspector, flight procedures specialist and check pilot. Due to cancer, Smith died on May 18, 1998 in Sacramento,
California.
SDASM China Burma India Subject File.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Douglas DC-3 Family
World War, 1939-1945
United States. Federal Aviation Administration. FAA
United States. Army Air Forces. Air Transport Command. Ferrying Group, 7th
United States. Army Air Forces. Bombardment Group, 100th
Consolidated B-24 Liberator Family
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Family
Curtiss C-47 Commando
China Burma India Theater (CBI)
Smith, Francis O.
Box 01
Folder 01- Francis O. Smith Personal Letters from Aug 11, 1943 to Dec 5, 1988
Physical Description: 1. Letter dated Aug 11, 1943 to Mrs. Mildred Smith.
2. Letter dated Aug 20, 1943 to Mrs. Mildred Smith.
3. Letter dated Sep 19, 1943 to Mrs. Mildred Smith.
4. Letter with drawings of medals awarded, dated Sep 1943.
5. Letter dated Nov, 11 1943 to Mrs. Mildred Smith.
6. Letter dated Jan 9, 1944 to Mrs. Mildred Smith.
7. Letter dated Feb 14, 1944 to Mrs. Mildred Smith.
8. Letter dated Feb 15, 1944 to Mrs. Mildred Smith.
9. Letter dated Feb 20, 1944 to Mrs. Mildred Smith.
10. Letter dated May 30, 1944, to Capt. F.O. Smith from War & Navy Departments.
11. Letter dated July 15, 1944 to Mrs. Mildred Smith.
12. Letter dated July 18, 1944 from Earl E. Hughes to F.O. Smith, War Department.
13. Letter dated Sep 26, 1944 to F.O. Smith from Mrs. Jess Ward.
14. Envelope dated Sep 26, 1944 to Mrs. Mildred Smith (Empty).
15. Letter dated 4/27/1988 to F.O. Smith from Alan Lastbun, Two photos included with F.O. Smith and others at table.
16. Letter dated July 22, 1988 to F.O. Smith from Vic Lewis.
17. Letter dated Dec 5, 1988 to F.O. Smith from Leslie True.
Folder 04- Air Transport Command Official Correspondence
Physical Description: 2. War Department Headquarters Ninth Corps Area, Office of the Air Officer, civilian pilot file, May 16,
1938.
3. Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. employment letter, July 22, 1940.
4. Newly appointed Officers of the United States Army information packet, June 23, 1942.
5. Amendment of Orders, July 16, 1942.
6. Army Air Forces, Francis O Smith Termination (resignation without prejudice), July 16, 1942.
7. Temporary Appointment Letter to Francis O Smith, July 13, 1942.
8. Active Duty Officer order, July 14, 1942.
9. War Department, Headquarters of the Army Air Forces Orders, July 13, 1942.
10. Allotment notification for Francis O Smith, August 1942.
11. War Department the Adjutant General’s Office, Official Statement of Commissioned Service, August 15, 1942.
12. Promotion to captain letter, March 24, 1943.
13. Authorization to wear theater campaign service ribbon, May 27, 1943.
14. Army Air Forces Headquarters, 7th Ferrying Group Ferry Division Air Transport Command Order, July 17, 1943.
15. Army Air Forces Headquarters, 7th Ferrying Group Ferry Division Air Transport Command, Clearance Form, July 20, 1943.
16. Individual Flight Record, February 1944.
17. Distinguished Flying Cross award letter, listing over 75 pilots, June 10, 1944.
18. India China Wing Air Transport Command, Flight Record, June 10, 1944.
19. India China Wing Air Transport Command Order, July 18, 1944.
20. India China Wing Air Transport Command Extract, August 1, 1944.
21. India China Wing Air Transport Command Extract, August 4, 1944.
22. Air Medal award letter, September 4, 1944.
Folder 06- Postwar commercial Flying operation
Physical Description: 1. Photo of a close up of DC-3 and engine.
2. Picture of moving of a DC-3 engine and DC-3 flyby.
3. Photo of preparing to install DC-3 engine.
4. Picture of installing DC-3 engine.
5. Picture of a DC-3 flying.
6. Picture of a F.O. Smith next to an engine.
7. Photo of moving DC-3 engine.
8. Photo of F.O. Smith and others next to a plane.
9. Folder 07- WW II flight training photographs with RAF Students.
10. F.O Smith 1941 Falcon Field Arizona Negatives.
11. Picture of Francis O. Smith next to his early bi-plane.
12. Picture of a mountain.
13. Picture of F.O. Smith and four RAF pilots (1941).
14. Various snapshots at Falcon Field.
15. Photo of F.O. Smith and RAF pilots.
16. Falcon Field, Arizona, 1941, F.O. Smith and RAF Students.
Folder 08- Individual Flight Records
Physical Description: 1. Francis O. Smith flight record on April- May, 1942.
2. Duplicate of Francis O. Smith flight record on April- May, 1942.
3. Francis O. Smith flight record on February- March, 1942.
4. Duplicate of Francis O. Smith flight record on February- March, 1942.
5. Francis O. Smith flight record on July, 1942.
6. Francis O. Smith flight record on August, 1942.
7. Francis O. Smith flight record on September, 1942.
8. Francis O. Smith flight record on October, 1942.
9. Francis O. Smith flight record on November, 1942.
10. Francis O. Smith flight record on December, 1942.
11. Francis O. Smith flight record on January, 1943.
12. Francis O. Smith flight record on February, 1943.
13. Francis O. Smith flight record on February, 1943.
14. Francis O. Smith flight record on March, 1943.
15. Francis O. Smith flight record on April, 1943.
16. Francis O. Smith flight record on May, 1943.
17. Francis O. Smith flight record on May, 1943.
18. Francis O. Smith flight record on June, 1943.
19. Francis O. Smith flight record on July, 1943.
20. Francis O. Smith flight record on July, 1943.
21. Francis O. Smith flight record on August, 1943.
22. Francis O. Smith flight record on September, 1943.
23. Francis O. Smith flight record on October, 1943.
24. Francis O. Smith flight record on November, 1943.
25. Francis O. Smith flight record on December, 1943.
26. Francis O. Smith flight record on January, 1944.
27. Francis O. Smith flight record on February, 1944.
28. Francis O. Smith flight record on March, 1944.
29. Francis O. Smith flight record on April, 1944.
30. Francis O. Smith flight record on May, 1944.
31. Francis O. Smith flight record on May, 1944.
32. Francis O. Smith flight record on June, 1944.
33. Francis O. Smith flight record on July, 1944.
34. Francis O. Smith flight record on July, 1944.
35. Francis O. Smith flight record on August, 1944.
36. Francis O. Smith flight record on September, 1944.
37. Francis O. Smith flight record on October, 1944.
38. Francis O. Smith flight record on November & December, 1944.
39. Francis O. Smith flight record on December, 1944.
40. Francis O. Smith flight record on January, 1945.
41. Francis O. Smith flight record on January, 1945.
42. Francis O. Smith flight record on February, 1945.
43. Francis O. Smith flight record on March, 1945.
44. Francis O. Smith flight record on April, 1945.
45. Francis O. Smith flight record on May, 1945.
46. Francis O. Smith flight record on June, 1945.
47. Francis O. Smith flight record on July, 1945.
48. Francis O. Smith flight record on August, 1945.
49. Francis O. Smith flight record on September, 1945.
50. Francis O. Smith flight record on October, 1945.
51. Paper with Flight times.