Francis Ryan Smith MC, DFC was an Australian flying ace of the First World War, credited with 16 aerial victories. Francis Ryan Smith worked as a clerk before joining the Australian Imperial Force on 20 July 1915. He served with distinction in the 31st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment and winning the Military Cross in 1916, for bravery under fire. He transferred to the Australian Flying Corps for training, then joined No. 2 Squadron AFC as a pilot on 28 February 1918. He returned to Australia on 6 May 1919. By 18 June, he had been discharged.