John Malcolm Smith (April 2, 1922 – June 9, 1981) was an American combat pilot who was a United States Navy fighter ace during World War II. He was credited with shooting down 10 enemy aircraft during the war. Smith received his law degree in 1950 and served in the United States Naval Reserve until his retirement in 1972.
John Malcolm Smith | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Smitty" |
| Born | April 2, 1922 Owatonna, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | June 9, 1981 (aged 59) Owatonna, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–1972 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross (5) |
Early life
editSmith was born in Owatonna, Minnesota, on April 2, 1922 and graduated from Owatonna High School in 1939. He briefly attended Saint Mary's College in Winona, Minnesota,[1] before he enlisted in the Navy in 1942.[2]
Military career
editSmith enlisted for flight training on May 22, 1942, and became a qualified naval aviator on June 1, 1943. He was commissioned as an ensign that same day. He was assigned to fighter squadron VF-17 in December[2] which was flying the Chance Vought F4U Corsair in the South Pacific. The unit was in reserve at that time, but flew to Torokina Airfield on Bougainville Island on January 24, 1944, to begin combat missions.[3]
References
editBibliography
edit- Blackburn, Tom (1989). The Jolly Rogers: The Story of Tom Blackburn and Navy Fighting Squadron VF-17. New York: Orion Books. ISBN 0-517-57075-0.
- Cook, Lee (1998). The Skull & Cross Bones Squadron: VF-17 in World War II. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 0-7643-0475-5.
- Hammel, Eric (1998). Air War Pacific Chronology: America's Air War against Japan in East Asia and the Pacific, 1941–1945. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Press. ISBN 0-935553-26-6.
- Irons, Martin (2021). Corsair Down!: Tales of Rescue and Survival during World War II. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-6224-8.
- Jacobs, Jan & Tillman, Barrett (August 1990). "The Wolf Gang: A History of Carrier Air Group 84". The Hook: Journal of Carrier Aviation. 18 (Special Issue): 78–87. ISSN 0736-9220.
- Olynyk, Frank J. (1995). Stars and Bars: A Tribute to the American Fighter Ace 1920–1973. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-898697-17-5.
- Staff (June 10, 1981). "John M. Smith Dies at Age 59". Owatonna People's Press. ISSN 0890-2860.