Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith (31 October 1901 – 19 May 1993) was a United States Air Force lieutenant general. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in June 1923 and was commissioned in the Cavalry but transferred to the United States Army Air Corps in 1929. During World War II, he served in the China-Burma-India Theater and on Okinawa. After the war he became the commandant of the Air Tactical School. He commanded the Military Air Transport Service from 1952 until his retirement in 1958.

Early life and career Joseph Smith was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on 31 October 1901. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, on 13 June 1919 and graduated on 12 June 1923, ranked 134th in his class. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Cavalry and posted to the 8th Cavalry at Fort Bliss, Texas. In October 1924, he joined the 2nd Machine Gun Squadron, becoming its adjutant in February 1926.

Although Smith was always fond of horses and owned a couple himself, he realized that the days of horse cavalry were coming to a close. He therefore volunteered for pilot training. He transferred to the Air Corps on 22 January 1929.

Smith served with the 66th Service Squadron at Nichols Field in the Philippines from 2 April 1929 to 12 March 1931. He then returned to Brooks Field as the post education and recreation officer. In October 1931, he moved to Kelly Field as education and recreation officer and in July 1932, assumed command of the Flying Cadet Detachment at the Air Corps Advanced Flying School.

From 21 February to 7 May 1934, Smith was a pilot with the Army Air Corps-Mail Operations, flying the Salt Lake City, Utah, to Cheyenne, Wyoming, route under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Henry H. Arnold. He was awarded an oak leaf cluster to his Legion of Merit.

Following his retirement, Smith was appointed to the Bolte Board, which was established by the United States Secretary of Defense to review the promotion and separation laws for Army, Navy and Air Force officers. He was concerned about the welfare of the troops fighting in the Vietnam War, and was a founder of the National Association of Uniformed Services (NAUS) in 1968, and was a director of its political action committee. and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Dates of rank