American Aviation Historical Society
 R.G. Smith

May 7, 1914 - May 29, 2001
Robert Grant, "R.G.," Smith, Internationally known aviation artist, died May 29, at his home in Rancho Mirage, California from complications of a Parkinson's related disease.. He was 87.
    He was born in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles, CA, but grew up and was educated in Oakland, where his father was a businessman and political consultant. Educated as an aeronautical engineer, the largely self-taught artist was best known for his paintings of military and commercial aircraft in realistic environments.
    Smith began his career at Douglas Aircraft Company in 1936 as a configuration engineer. And for the next two decades he was involved in the development all Navy combat aircraft built by Douglas and its successor, McDonnell Douglas.
    An early drawing of a gun turret made by Smith in his spare time caught the eye of Jack Northrop who was impressed with his talent. Soon he was creating drawings and paintings of Douglas planes for corporate marketing use in calendars, publications and sales proposals.
    With his training as an engineer and his great talent as an artist, he had an intimate knowledge of his subject and its environment. He also had the rare ability of knowing what details to put in his paintings and what to leave out for maximum drama and interest. He painted with a tight simplicity that wedded the aircraft subject with its landscape creating instants in aviation history unsurpassed.
    Smith created 2,000 paintings and drawings over five decades. His best-known work depicts aerial scenes of Navy fighter planes in combat. His paintings has been displayed at the Pentagon, the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Fla., the U.S, Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, on military bases around the world and on thousands of recruitment posters. 
    The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington held a six-month exhibition of his aviation paintings and drawings last year.
    "Among the fraternity of artists who have recorded the history of flight on canvas, R.G. Smith is regarded by many as the American Master." Tom Crouch, senior curator of the Smithsonian's aeronautics division, said when the exhibit opened.
    Smith's work is so highly regarded in military circles that in 1973 he was designated "Honorary Naval Aviator No. 10," a distinction previously bestowed on such notables as Bob Hope and Adm. Hyman Rickover. As an artist, Smith was largely self-taught, but was influenced by the watercolorist Arthur Beaumont, who gave classes by the harbor in San Pedro in the late 1940s. One of the most important lessons Beaumont taught him was how to paint and sketch from memory. Smith ensured accuracy by studying his subjects from all angles, collecting paint chips from the planes and observing them in combat and at sea. He sometimes built models of the planes as guides.
    At the start of WWII, Smith was told his work at Douglas was vital to the war effort and was barred from enlisting. To aid in new aircraft designs he was allowed to observe planes during carrier operations under combat conditions. But he always regretted not being able to fight in the war.
    When the opportunity arose, nearly 30 years later, to tour Vietnam as a sketch artist, "he jumped at the opportunity," his daughter said. He went on two month-long tours in 1968 and 1969. The Navy wanted him to portray its aircraft in action and made him a captain to enable him to travel freely within the war zone. He joined river patrols along the Mekong Delta, search-and-rescue operations in Huey helicopters, 0V-10 Bronco attack missions and carrier operations in the Gulf of Tonkin.
    Although Smith went to Vietnam when he was in his mid-50s, he relished being in combat because, he wrote, "It was the only way to document the way it really was."
    In addition to his daughter. Smith is survived by his wife of 64 years, Betty; a son, Richard, of Thousand Oaks; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
    A memorial service for Smith was held at the Officer's Club at the Miramar Marine Corp. Air Station in San Diego County, CA.
Photos and images found on this Web site are the property of the American Aviation Historical Society or have been reproduced with permission of the copyright holder.  They are presented here solely for your interest and education and may not be used or otherwise reproduced without the written permission of the American Aviation Historical Society.
[BACK]