Sir Charles Kingsford Smith remains one of Australia’s most celebrated icons. This gripping narrative recounts the life of a Brisbane boy who transformed from a frontline soldier at Gallipoli and the Western Front into the most daring aviation pioneer of his generation. Awarded the Military Cross for gallantry while battling in the skies against the Red Baron, "Smithy" would go on to achieve what once seemed impossible.
Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Peter FitzSimons tracks the golden age of flight, detailing the monumental firsts that defined the era: the first trans-Pacific crossing, the initial Tasman Sea flight, and a record-breaking journey from England to Australia. Beyond Kingsford Smith’s personal journey, this book captures the spirit of an age, exploring the broader breakthroughs of aviation heroes who risked everything to conquer the clouds. From the formation of Qantas to the peril of the Great Centenary Air Race, this is an action-packed account of courage, engineering ambition, and the relentless human desire to reach the unknown. It is essential reading for anyone captivated by the romance and danger of the early skies.
Used (good, see images, some initial pages folding) Softcover ISBN 9781460751909
