Dean Smith | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:D_C_Smith_airmail_pilot.jpg) Smith c. 1924 | |
| Born | Dean Cullen Smith September 27, 1899 |
| Died | March 4, 1987 (aged 87) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | The Dean |
| Occupation | Pilot |
| Employers | |
| Known for | Byrd expedition |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
Dean Cullen Smith (September 27, 1899 – March 4, 1987) was a pioneer American mail pilot, test pilot, flying instructor, Antarctic pilot, and airline pilot. At 17 years of age, he became the youngest flight instructor in U.S. Army history. He was a lead pilot for the U.S. Postal Service's airmail service, and was the first pilot to initiate night air mail flights. He was an executive for many airlines and aircraft companies.
Smith was a pilot for the Byrd Antarctic Expedition of 1928–1930 involved in aerial overflights to discover new land that could be claimed for the benefit of the United States. The land was later viewed by Byrd and named after his wife. Smith was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Congressional Gold Medal. An Antarctic peak bears his name. He was inducted into the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame in 1986.