Benjamin Roxburgh-Smith DFC* (1884–1951) was a British World War I fighter ace credited with 22 aerial victories.
[1][2] Though a married man with two children, and old enough to be nicknamed "Dad", he initially joined up as a private in the Inns of Court Regiment, which was then functioning as an officer cadet unit.
Once there, he brushed up on his flying skills, and obtained a private pilot's license,[8] after joining London Aeroplane Club.
[9][10] Upon his return to Rhodesia in June 1927, he accepted a job flying as second pilot on an aerial survey for the Aircraft Operating Company.
With this backing, he was able to raise enough local financial aid to start the Rhodesian Aviation Syndicate, which was eventually absorbed into Imperial Airways.
[8] In 1932 Benjamin Roxburgh-Smith was appointed Superintendent of the Salisbury Municipal Aerodrome (later renamed Belvedere Airport).
[8] Roxburgh-Smith returned to service in World War II, having first joined the Southern Rhodesian Air Force, he received an emergency (for the duration of hostilities) commission in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 1 March 1940 as a pilot officer, at the advanced age of 55.
[12] He eventually relinquished his RAFVR commission, and was transferred to the Southern Rhodesian Air Force Reserve of Officers on 1 October 1943.