Albert Daniel Smith (February 6, 1887 – January 20, 1970) was a pioneer aviator and later a Brigadier General.
He was born on February 6, 1887. He trained to fly and was awarded Aero Club of America license #354.[1]
Albert D. Smith won an American Hydroplane duration record on February 19, 1916[2]
In March 1918 he crashed at Wright FieldinDayton, Ohio and was injured.[1]
He arranged the first transcontinental flight for the United States Army in 1918.[1] Under his command the first transcontinental flight for the United States Army was made in 1918 using four JN-4 aircraft. On December 4, 1918, they left San Diego, California. They landed Jacksonville, Florida on December 22, 1918.[3][4]
In 1919 he joined Henry H. Arnold's Northwestern Forest Fire Patrol and was released from service in 1923 because of his disability from his previous crash.[1]
He died on January 20, 1970, in Newport Beach, California.[1]
