SMITHY THE UKULELE PLAYER

This photo of Smithy holding a ukulele was taken at Wheeler Field in Hawaii in October 1934. Smithy is sitting on the cockpit canopy of the Lockheed Altair VH-USB Lady Southern Cross which he and P.G. Taylor were flying from Australia to the United States in what was to be the first west to east flight across the Pacific. Smithy, who taught himself to play the ukulele, was an accomplished player.Photo: The Tim Kalina Collection