Charles Harvard Gibbs-Smith

Charles Harvard Gibbs-Smith (22 March 1909 – 3 December 1981) was a British polymath who became well known for studying 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 the 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 studied at King's College School, Cambridge and Westminster School, then earned a Master of Arts degree at Harvard University in 1932. That same year, he began working at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

During the Second World War, he helped train people to recognize aircraft for the Royal Observer Corps. After the war, he worked at the Victoria and Albert Museum, organizing exhibitions and researching many topics. Later, he studied the papers of the Wright brothers during a fellowship 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 described the early development of airplanes. He believed the American Wright Brothers were the first to achieve a real flight because their Wright Flyer flew a long distance. He also talked about the help given by French Army Captain Ferdinand Ferber to make the Wright Brothers famous in Europe.

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

Honours

Charles Harvard Gibbs-Smith received notable recognitions for his contributions to aviation history. The Danish government honoured him by appointing him to the Order of the Dannebrog for his work on a 1948 exhibition. Additionally, he was awarded an Honorary Companionship by 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 cover topics like the first airplanes, famous aviators, 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.