Back in March 1924, Santa Barbara pilot Capt. Lowell Smith joined a group of U.S. pilots who were trying to be the first group of pilots to fly around the world. Finally, after close to six months, the record-breaking group landed in Santa Monica completing the first-ever round-the-world aerial journey. The leading plane was piloted by Smith. The ‘greatest reception any place in the world’ greeted the fliers . . . There were more than 100,000 on the field to roar a welcome to the fliers.”