1916

Art Smith Medal

Aviator Arthur (Art) Smith thrilled crowds in the United States with aerial acrobatics from 1911 through 1915 and was decorated with many medals during his high-flying stunt career. His numerous ex-hibition flights around the country came to the attention of promoters of the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco who invited him to fly over the crowds at the worlds fair from April to December 1915. "Bird Boy" Art Smith became a national celebrity and this exposure led to an invitation to tour Japan to promote aviation. In 1916 Art Smith put on numerous demonstrations and stunt flights, acting as an international ambassador for aviation. Throughout his tour dignitaries and spectators alike lavished him with gifts and more medals commemorating his acrobatic flights. Tens of thousands turned out watch the intrepid pilot-80,000 during his first flight in Tokyo 8 April 1916. This silver Maltese-style cross medallion with propeller-shaped cross pieces and garnet center is engraved "To Mister Art Smith Tokyo, 10-4, 1916 National Aviation Kokumin Hikokai." Smith crashed during his second flight at Sapporo, Japan on 16 June and was injured with a broken leg. After recuperating in the United States, he returned to complete his tour with additional flights in 1917.