RICHARD S. SMITH, 1LT, USAF

Richard Smith '55

Date of birth: October 12, 1932

Date of death: January 22, 1959

Age: 26

Lucky Bag

From the 1955 Lucky Bag:

RICHARD SHERWOOD SMITH

Chicago, Illinois

Dick was born in River Fall, Wisconsin, and since has globe-trotted over a large part of the country. For a while he lived in Cheyenne, Denver, and Minneapolis before moving to his present home in Chicago. In June of 1950 Dick graduated from Lane Technical High School in Chicago. He then attended Wright Junior College in the same city for one year before coming to the Naval Academy. During his periods of leave Dick liked to spend his time out of doors fishing, hunting, and skiing. In the past Dick spent a large part of his summers in northern Wisconsin and Canada on fishing and hunting trips.

RICHARD SHERWOOD SMITH

Chicago, Illinois

Dick was born in River Fall, Wisconsin, and since has globe-trotted over a large part of the country. For a while he lived in Cheyenne, Denver, and Minneapolis before moving to his present home in Chicago. In June of 1950 Dick graduated from Lane Technical High School in Chicago. He then attended Wright Junior College in the same city for one year before coming to the Naval Academy. During his periods of leave Dick liked to spend his time out of doors fishing, hunting, and skiing. In the past Dick spent a large part of his summers in northern Wisconsin and Canada on fishing and hunting trips.

Loss

Dick was lost on January 22, 1959 when the KB-50J refueling tanker he was co-piloting crashed shortly after takeoff from England Air Force base, Louisiana. All five other crewmen aboard also perished; they were members of the 622nd Air Refueling Squadron.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz: "At Lane Technical, he was known as Dick. National Honor Society, German Club, Spur and Saddle Club, Slide Rule Club, I. M. Sports."

He is buried in Louisiana. Dick was survived by his wife, Phyllis, daughter, and parents.

Note: The Register of Alumni and a Class of 1955 decedent affairs representative both list the date of his loss as January 1, 1958.

Class of 1955

Richard is one of 34 members of the Class of 1955 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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