Donavon F. Smith

Donavon Francis Smith (October 2, 1922 – September 10, 1974) was a United States Air Force lieutenant general. During World War II, he was a flying ace, credited with 5.5 aerial victories. After World War II, Smith served as commander of the 21st Fighter Bomber Group in France, chief of the Air Force Advisory Group in South Vietnam and commander of the Sixth Allied Tactical Air Force in Turkey. He also served in key strategic and operational positions within the Air Defense Command and at Headquarters of the United States Air Force during the Cold War. He retired from the Air Force on November 1, 1973.

Early life Smith was born on October 2, 1922, in Dowagiac, Michigan. He graduated from Niles High School in Niles, Michigan, in 1940.

World War II

He entered the aviation cadet program in January 1942 and commenced his primary training at Bruce Field, Texas on March 30, 1942; he soloed the Fairchild PT-19 after seven hours and 16 minutes of instruction. He later moved to Randolph Field, Texas, for basic training and advanced training at Foster Field, Texas. Smith was awarded his pilot wings on October 9, 1942. After completing P-47 Thunderbolt training, Smith joined the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group at Bridgeport, Connecticut, in November 1942.

He was deployed with the group to England in January 1943. Arriving at RAF Kings Cliffe in January 1943, he flew his first mission from RAF Horsham St. Faith on May 4. In July 1943, the group moved to RAF Halesworth. In April 1944, Smith finished his operational tour, then took 30 days of shore leave. In July 1944, he returned for a second tour with the 56th Fighter Group, which was equipped with the new "bubbletop" P-47s and was stationed at RAF Boxted. He was appointed as commander of the 61st Fighter Squadron in September 1944. He flew his 124th and final combat mission with the 56th FG on January 5, 1945. He earned the nickname "Dieppe" for skillfully evading enemy anti-aircraft fire while flying over the French port city.

United States Air Force career Smith returned to the United States in March 1945 and was assigned as project officer in the Tactics Division, Army Air Forces Board, at Orlando Army Air Field in Florida. In November 1945, he was transferred to Headquarters Army Air Forces in Washington, D.C., as an air staff officer in Intelligence. In May 1946, he was assigned to the Strategic Air Command at Selfridge Field in Michigan, where he rejoined the 56th Fighter Group as commander of the 61st Fighter Squadron. He then served as operations officer for the 56th Fighter Group and later as chief of supply for the 56th Fighter Wing. In 1948, he participated as operations officer in the first overseas deployment of jet fighter aircraft from Selfridge Air Force Base to West Germany and back. He served as the U.S. Air Force/Royal Air Force exchange officer from August 1949 to September 1950 and commanded No. 1 Squadron RAF at Tangmere, England. From October 1950 to July 1956, he served with the Air Defense Command in various roles including inspector general for the 56th Fighter Interceptor Group at Selfridge Air Force Base, commander of the 63rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Michigan, commander of the 518th Air Defense Group at Niagara Falls Air Force Base in New York, and director of military personnel at Headquarters Air Defense Command in Ent Air Force Base in Colorado.

Aerial victory credits SOURCES: Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II

Awards and decorations During his lengthy career, Smith earned many decorations, including:

Effective dates of promotion