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using a Benoist hydro aeroplane, and was granted F.A.I. Hydro License No. 51 on June 28th, 1916.

In February, 1917 Smith flight tested a twin-float pusher hydro aeroplane with Curtiss OX engine for the General Aeroplane Company of Detroit, Michigan. There is evidence that he was engaged in aircraft inspection and maintenance work during World War I.

In 1919 he became engineer in charge of the building of a special plane for Major R. W. Schroeder to compete in the 1920 Gordon Bennett Races in France. Following tests of the plane here Smith was mechanic in charge of the crew that went to Europe in October, 1920 for that competitive event.

In 1921 Smith was mechanic in charge for Major C. C. Moseley in the Pulitzer Races held on Thanksgiving Day at Omaha, Nebraska.

Following his early aviation career Smith settled in St. Petersburg, Florida and became a real estate speculator, at which occupation he remained for the rest of his life, except for a period in World War II, when again he was an aviation engineer for the Government in Florida.

On January 1st, 1950 Smith assisted in a ceremony at St. Petersburg commemo[[strikethrough]]r[[/strikethrough]]rating the first airline there in 1914. This was a local civic affair and a flight was made from St. Petersburg to Tamps by a commercial airline plane, with Smith as honored guest passenger.

Smith passed away at St. Petersburg, Florida on March 11, 1963 at age 74,survived by his wife, two brothers and a sister. He had joined the Early Birds in 1936 and was a member of the Masonic Order.

Early Bird, Flying Pioneer Jay D. Smith was a hard working, energetic aviation enthusiast who did a lot of flying with no serious accidents. He also contributed much toward the development and maintenance of the early aircraft of that era and rightfully deserves a worthy place in the annals of American aviation history.

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