Francis Ryan Smith, MC, DFC was an Australian flying ace of the First World War, credited with 16 aerial victories.

As an infantry officer, he served with distinction in the 31st Battalion, seeing action on the Western Front at Fromelles and then later around Armentieres in 1916,[3] for which he was awarded the Military Cross, for bravery under fire.

[4] Piloting a RAF SE.5a, he was credited with a total of 16 aerial victories,[2][5] consisting of nine enemy aircraft sent down out of control, and seven others destroyed including one shared.

Although downed behind enemy lines, he evaded capture by donning civilian clothing and covering 40 miles back to his squadron mess.

[7] Post war, Smith studied engineering at St Leo's College, in Brisbane, and in 1920 moved to Amoy, in China to work for a merchant company.

[3][8] He returned to Australia in 1941,[8] and during the Second World War, Smith served in the Royal Australian Air Force, achieving the rank of squadron leader before being discharged in January 1944.

The Fokkers were then reinforced by eight more machines, and in the ensuing combat Lt. Smith shot down one in flames, his patrol destroying two others.