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Smithy: The Life of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith
The epic account of one of the heroes of the pioneer age of aviation.
Perfect for fans of Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh and the Wright brothers.
On 31st May 1928 Charles Kingsford Smith left the coast of California and landed on Australian soil on 9th June. This was the first transpacific flight in history.
Over the course of the next seven years Kingsford Smith would make many more record flights including the first non-stop crossing of the Australian mainland, the first flights between Australia and New Zealand, the first eastward Pacific crossing from Australia to the United States as well as flying from Australia to London in the record time of just ten and a half days.
Yet just seven years after his first transpacific flight Kingsford Smith’s aircraft Lady Southern Cross mysteriously disappeared in the dark of a tropical night off the coast of Burma. The man who had enthralled the world with his dangerous pioneering journeys was gone.
Ian Mackersey’s astounding biography, written with the co-operation of Kingsford Smith’s widow and family, uncovers the life of this fascinating man who was obsessed with pushing his aircraft to the limits whilst having a morbid fear of the sea which he flew over. The book explores Kingsford Smith’s life before he rose to prominence and how his experiences during World War One shaped him through to his tragic last flight.
‘A brilliant amalgam of high adventure and psychological probing’ Independent on Sunday
‘A good biography of this Stanley of the skies was badly needed but we could hardly have expected such a magnificent book as this’ Evening Standard
Perfect for fans of Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh and the Wright brothers.
On 31st May 1928 Charles Kingsford Smith left the coast of California and landed on Australian soil on 9th June. This was the first transpacific flight in history.
Over the course of the next seven years Kingsford Smith would make many more record flights including the first non-stop crossing of the Australian mainland, the first flights between Australia and New Zealand, the first eastward Pacific crossing from Australia to the United States as well as flying from Australia to London in the record time of just ten and a half days.
Yet just seven years after his first transpacific flight Kingsford Smith’s aircraft Lady Southern Cross mysteriously disappeared in the dark of a tropical night off the coast of Burma. The man who had enthralled the world with his dangerous pioneering journeys was gone.
Ian Mackersey’s astounding biography, written with the co-operation of Kingsford Smith’s widow and family, uncovers the life of this fascinating man who was obsessed with pushing his aircraft to the limits whilst having a morbid fear of the sea which he flew over. The book explores Kingsford Smith’s life before he rose to prominence and how his experiences during World War One shaped him through to his tragic last flight.
‘A brilliant amalgam of high adventure and psychological probing’ Independent on Sunday
‘A good biography of this Stanley of the skies was badly needed but we could hardly have expected such a magnificent book as this’ Evening Standard
589 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 17, 2025
A masterful account of the Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith. It was written in the 90s, when people were still around who had known Smithy. The author seems to have gone to every possible length to make sense of Smithy's life, and the result is an excellent autobiography. Reading the accounts of his Smithy's flights is breathtaking, the dangers taken and how close they came to disaster. Smithy seems, though, to have got stuck in a loop of making "one last" flight which ended up having less and less meaning, and eventually the inevitable tragedy struck - amazing really, it hadn't happened sooner as he'd had so many close shaves. He sounds a loveable rogue, probable alcoholic, adored by women, hopeless with money, and totally disorganised.
March 27, 2023
Smithy
It’s a fascinating book with a big disappointment: there are no photographs (at least not in my e-book version). Historic images are frequently mentioned in the narrative, but there’s not a single one to be seen. The author tantalizingly mentions photos, diagrams, maps, charts, and even an accident report, but this reader saw none of those. It’s quite puzzling that all of these valuable pieces of information were omitted from an otherwise outstanding account. That said, it’s still a great read.
It’s a fascinating book with a big disappointment: there are no photographs (at least not in my e-book version). Historic images are frequently mentioned in the narrative, but there’s not a single one to be seen. The author tantalizingly mentions photos, diagrams, maps, charts, and even an accident report, but this reader saw none of those. It’s quite puzzling that all of these valuable pieces of information were omitted from an otherwise outstanding account. That said, it’s still a great read.
February 26, 2024
Wings down under
Astonishing adventure of a modern day winged knight. Little known in US, outside of aviation enthusiasts his exploits and escapades contrast with the reserved puritanical Wright brothers. Counting on bravery and a daredevil attitude, his exploits match other air pioneers in endurance and stretched the envelope and made transcontinental and transoceanic flights a regular event😊
Astonishing adventure of a modern day winged knight. Little known in US, outside of aviation enthusiasts his exploits and escapades contrast with the reserved puritanical Wright brothers. Counting on bravery and a daredevil attitude, his exploits match other air pioneers in endurance and stretched the envelope and made transcontinental and transoceanic flights a regular event😊
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews