In 1891, Harry George "Reggie" Smart[1] was born in Newmarket, Suffolk, in the United Kingdom.

[4] The squadron was located in Mosul in the British Mandate of Iraq and flew Bristol F2B fighters.

[3] On 4 Feb 1923, Squadron Leader Smart became a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) at the Central Flying School (CFS).

Two weeks after completing the move, Smart was sent to the United States to study American instructional methods.

[3] On 18 Jan 1937, Group Captain Smart took command of the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at RAF Martlesham Heath[4] where he soon made his opinion of contractors known: "Our job is to test aircraft, not to tell the constructors how to design them."

[4] Air Vice Marshal Smart was the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) at RAF Habbaniya in the Kingdom of Iraq when Iraqi rebels took up strong positions on the plateau overlooking the base with the objective of overrunning the base.

During the tense period of time after the Iraqis positioned themselves on the plateau, Smart communicated directly with the British Ambassador to Iraq, Kinahan Cornwallis who was also in contact with London.

Smart's tactics to defend the Habbaniya cantonment was to mount continuous bombing and strafing attacks with as many aircraft as possible.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill hoped that Smart would be able to hold out at Habbaniya until Habforce could advance from Palestine and relieve him on 12 May.

[11] Colonel Ouvry Roberts assumed de facto command of the land operations at RAF Habbaniya.