Charles Harvard Gibbs-Smith

Charles Harvard Gibbs-Smith (22 March 1909 – 3 December 1981) was a British polymath who studied the history of airplanes and flying. He wrote many books and articles about how people first learned to fly, especially in Europe and America.

Experts liked his work a lot. One aviation historian, Richard P. Hallion, said Gibbs-Smith was "The greatest of all historians of early aviation." His careful research helped people understand important moments in the story of flight.

Gibbs-Smith’s books are still used by students and teachers who want to learn about the early days of aviation. His work showed how clever and brave the first pilots were, and it helped us all remember their achievements. His obituary in The Times called him "the recognised authority on the early development of flying in Europe and America."

Biography

Charles Gibbs-Smith was born in Teddington, Greater London in 1909. He went to school at King's College School, Cambridge and Westminster School. He later earned a Master of Arts degree from Harvard University in 1932. That year, he started working at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

During the Second World War, he helped people learn to recognize aircraft for the Royal Observer Corps. After the war, he continued to work at the Victoria and Albert Museum, where he organized exhibitions and studied many subjects. He also looked at the papers of the Wright brothers during a time at the National Air and Space Museum in the United States.

Research and writings

In his book The Invention of the Aeroplane 1799–1909, Gibbs-Smith wrote about the early days of airplanes. He thought the American Wright Brothers were the first to make a real flight because their Wright Flyer flew a long way. He also talked about how French Army Captain Ferdinand Ferber helped make the Wright Brothers famous in Europe.

Gibbs-Smith studied the work of inventor Clément Ader and showed that Ader did not actually fly in 1897 as he later said. He also wrote about Henri Coandă’s early airplane, the Coandă-1910, explaining why it was not the first jet aircraft. Gibbs-Smith also looked into subjects like parapsychology and paranormal phenomena.

Honours

Charles Harvard Gibbs-Smith was recognised for his work in aviation history. The Danish government honoured him by appointing him to the Order of the Dannebrog. He also received an Honorary Companionship from the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Selected publications

Charles Harvard Gibbs-Smith wrote many books about airplanes and early flying. Some of his well-known works include The Wright Brothers: A Brief Account of their Work, 1899–1911, The Invention of the Aeroplane 1799–1909, and Aviation: an historical survey from its origins to the end of World War II.

His books talk about the first airplanes, famous pilots, and important moments in aviation history. Others include The Great Exhibition of 1851, about a famous show in London, and The Bayeux Tapestry, which tells an old story through pictures.