The Papers of J Philip Smith

J Philip Smith (known as Phil Smith) was born in 1915. He attended the de Havilland Aeronautical Technical School (1934-1936) and worked for the de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited in Hatfield, Hertfordshire throughout his working life (from 1937-1980). Between 1937-1944 he worked on Moth Minor, Mosquito and Vampire aircraft; from 1944-1947 on the Dove; and from 1947-1954 on the DH 110. His positions included Deputy Chief Designer (1954); Divisional Director and Chief Engineer (1963); Executive Director and Chief Engineer; Director and Chief Engineer (1968). He was awarded the CBE in 1975. Smith's achievements include being one of the first passengers to exceed Mach 1 in the prototype DH 110 which he designed and designing the 121 Trident which in its day was the fastest civil airliner.

The collection includes Smith's files on individual aircraft including the Airbus; plans and technical drawings and correspondence relating to the aircraft industry and aircraft design.

The papers were deposited at Churchill Archives Centre by J Philip Smith and Margaret Smith.

The collection has been arranged in four series and comprises files organised by J Philip Smith.

The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge. Churchill Archives Centre is open from Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. A prior appointment and two forms of identification are required.

Material in this collection is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue.

Researchers wishing to publish excerpts from the papers must obtain prior permission from the copyright holders and should seek advice from Archives Centre staff.

Please cite as Churchill Archives Centre, The Papers of J Philip Smith, SMTH

This collection (fonds) level description and catalogue were prepared by Natalie Adams at Churchill Archives Centre. The collection was sorted, arranged and listed by Natalie Adams, Louise King and Ruth Hammond. Information was obtained from J Philip Smith's curriculum vitae and an issue of the de Havilland Aircraft Company's staff newsletter (1980).