Descriptive Finding Guide for Papers of Francis O. Smith Special Collection Prepared by: Luis Luna December 2, 2013 1
Cataloging Information ACC#: L.C. MS. #: TL 540.S63. A3 SCP Location: Quarter Moon Room Restrictions: None URL: Location Code: Copyright: SDASM Provenance The materials in this collection were given to the San Diego Air & Space Museum. The collection has been fully processed and is open for research with no restrictions. History Francis O. Smith began flying lessons in 1933 and earned his pilot s license in 1935. On January 2, 1942 he joined the Army Air Corps Ferrying Command as a civilian pilot, then was commissioned as an officer on July 14, 1942. He served as a Hump Pilot during World War II. A Hump pilot was a pilot that flew over the Himalayas, from India to China, during World War II. He received many awards, including the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Air Medal with oak leaf clusters, and others. He was honorably discharged from the army on January 15, 1946. After his service, he was employed by the Federal Aviation Agency in February 1962 and worked there until he retired on July 31, 1946. Smith died on May 18, 1998, in Sacramento, California due to cancer. Scope & Content Notes 1 box, 12 x 2.5 x 10. This collection contains photos, records, letters and newspaper clippings of Francis O. Smith. It has photos of Francis teaching RAF students and records of his time in the army. Related SDASM Resources: Related Research Institutions: Secondary Sources: 7 th Ferrying group Important Personalities & Subjects 2
Aerobatic Pilot Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express Captain Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Flight Inspector The Hump (Himalayas). Thunderbird US Army Air Corps World War II Content & Series Description Box 1 Box Listing Folder 01- Letters of Francis O. Smith from Aug 21, 1943 - Dec 5, 1988 1. Letter dated Aug 21, 1943 to Mrs. Mildred from M. Smith. 2. Letter dated Aug 25, 1943 to Mrs. Mildred from M. Smith. 3. Letter dated Sep 19, 1943 to Mrs. Mildred from M. Smith. 4. Letter with drawings dated Sep 1943. 5. Letter dated Nov, 10 1943 to Mrs. Mildred from M. Smith. 6. Letter dated Jan 11, 1944 to Mrs. Mildred from M. Smith. 7. Letter dated Feb 14, 1944 to Mrs. Mildred from M. Smith. 8. Letter dated Feb 16, 1944 to Mrs. Mildred from M. Smith. 9. Letter dated Feb 20, 1944 to Mrs. Mildred rom M. Smith. 10. Letter dated Capt. F.O. Smith from War & Navy Department Letter dated 5 30, 1944. 11. Letter dated July 15, 1944 to Millie. 12. Letter dated July 18, 1944 from E.E Hughes to Pal Smith. 13. Letter dated Sep 27, 1944 to Smithy. 14. Envelope dated Sep 28, 194 to Mrs. Mildred from M. Smith, Empty envelope. 15. Letter dated 4/27/1988 to Smith from Alan Lastbun, Two photos included with people at a table. 16. Letter dated July 22, 1988 to Mr. Smith from Vic Lewis. 17. Letter dated Aug 2, 1988 to Mr. Smith from Leslie True. Folder 02- Departure/ Arrival notebook 1. Notebook with arrival and departure times. 2. Folder #03- Newspaper Clipping 22 Oct 1941 3. Newspaper about a British war flier that died in a plane crash. 4. Folder #04- Air Transport command correspondence 5. Station 16 India China Wing Air Transport Command Extract. 6. Station 17 India China Wing Air Transport Command Extract. 7. Headquarters-India China Wing Air Transport Command Station #1 8. Individual Flight Record. 3
9. Station number 5 India China Wing Air Transport Command. 10. Extract of an award letter. 11. Extract of an award letter listing over 50 pilots. 12. Allotment letter for Francis O Smith. 13. Army Air Forces Headquarters, 7 th Ferrying Group Ferry Division Air Transport Command Extract. 14. Army Air Forces Headquarters, 7 th Ferrying Group Ferry Division Air Transport Command Clearance Form. 15. War Department Headquarters Ninth Corps Area Office of the Air Officer. 16. War Department the Adjutant General s Office Official Statement of Commissioned 17. War Department the Adjutant General s Office Official Statement of Commissioned 18. Francis O Smith Termination (resignation without prejudice). 19. Amendment of Orders. 20. War Department Headquarters of the Army Air Forces Extract. 21. War Department Headquarters of the Army Air Forces Extract. 22. Promotion letter. 23. Extract that states the Francis O Smith will become an Active Duty Officer. 24. Extract that states the Francis O Smith will become an Active Duty Officer. 25. Extract stating that the officers here may wear their theater campaign service ribbon. 26. Temporary Appointment to Francis O Smith. 27. Newly appointed Officers of the United States information packet. 28. Letter from Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. Folder 03- Newspaper Clipping 22 Oct 1941 1. Newspaper about a British war flier that died in a plane crash. Folder 04- Air Transport command correspondence 1. Station 16 India China Wing Air Transport Command Extract. 2. Station 17 India China Wing Air Transport Command Extract. 3. Headquarters-India China Wing Air Transport Command Station #1 4. Individual Flight Record. 5. Station number 5 India China Wing Air Transport Command. 6. Extract of an award letter. 7. Extract of an award letter listing over 50 pilots. 8. Allotment letter for Francis O Smith. 9. Army Air Forces Headquarters, 7 th Ferrying Group Ferry Division Air Transport Command Extract. 10. Army Air Forces Headquarters, 7 th Ferrying Group Ferry Division Air Transport Command Clearance Form. 11. War Department Headquarters Ninth Corps Area Office of the Air Officer. 12. War Department the Adjutant General s Office Official Statement of Commissioned 4
13. War Department the Adjutant General s Office Official Statement of Commissioned 14. Francis O Smith Termination (resignation without prejudice). 15. Amendment of Orders. 16. War Department Headquarters of the Army Air Forces Extract. 17. War Department Headquarters of the Army Air Forces Extract. 18. Promotion letter. 19. Extract that states the Francis O Smith will become an Active Duty Officer. 20. Extract that states the Francis O Smith will become an Active Duty Officer. 21. Extract stating that the officers here may wear their theater campaign service ribbon. 22. Temporary Appointment to Francis O Smith. 23. Newly appointed Officers of the United States information packet. 24. Letter from Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. Folder 05- The Falcon Reunion Booklet Apr 8-11, 1988 1. The Thunderbird Pilots booklet. 2. The Falcon Reunion booklet. 3. Folder #06- Postwar Commercial Flying operation 4. Photo of a close up on a pane. 5. Picture of moving of an engine. 6. Photo of preparing for the engine. 7. Picture of installing of the engine. 8. Picture of a plane flying. 9. Picture of a man next to an engine. 10. Photo of moving an engine. 11. Photo of people next to a plane. Folder 06- Postwar commercial Flying operation 1. Photo of a close up on a pane. 2. Picture of moving of an engine. 3. Photo of preparing for the engine. 4. Picture of installing of the engine. 5. Picture of a plane flying. 6. Picture of a man next to an engine. 7. Photo of moving an engine. 8. Photo of people next to a plane. Folder 07- WW II flight training with RAF Students 1. F.O Smith 1941 Falcon Field Ariz Negatives. 2. Picture of Francis O. Smith next to his plane. 3. Picture of a mountain. 4. Picture of 5 pilots. 5. Picture of a mounted gun. 5
6. Photo of people on a beach. 7. Picture of 3 people with a small dog. 8. Photos of soldiers in tall grass. 9. Picture of 6 pilots next to a plane. 10. Photo of 5 pilots near a plane. 11. Picture of 3 soldiers in the grass. 12. Falcon Field, AZ, 1941 RAF Students F.O. Smith. Folder 08- Museum display of WW II uniforms 1. Photo of a uniform with a British flag on it. 2. Picture of 6 uniforms from the back. 3. Picture of 5 uniforms from the front. 4. Photo of a British flag on a uniform. 5. Picture of 6 uniforms from the front. 6. Photo of 6 uniforms from the right. 7. Picture of 6 uniforms from the left. 8. Picture of 6 uniforms from the front. Folder 09- Individual Flight Records 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. 6
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. End of Box Listing 7