The Memphis Commercial Appeal
December 14/15, 1999
COL EDWARD F. SMITH, 75, of Memphis, retired from the Air Force, died of heart failure Monday at St. Peter Villa. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. Memphis Funeral Home Stage Road Chapel has charge. He was a World War II fighter pilot veteran, a member of NORAD Air Defense Command, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. Mr. Smith, the husband of Merle Smith, also leaves two sons, Dr. Mark Smith of Eads and Gregg Smith of New Orleans; a sister, Dolores DuBois of Saratoga, Calif., and three granddaughters.
Major Smith was a very nice officer. So when his promotion to Lt. Colonel arrived in 1959 coupled with a desk transfer down the street to Executive Officer, we all had mixed emotions about it. I don't think he had made an enemy as Operations Officer in the 482nd.
But, for whatever reason...maybe age, other interests and responsibilities, physical changes...Major Smith hated to fly the F-102. But he needed the flight pay.
So every other month, this was the drill. Day before the last day of the month, he hit the simulator. Last day of the month, he was on the flight line bright and early and flew all day until the minimum time of four hours per month was accomplished. Next day, the first of the month, he was on the flight line again, bright and early. Flew all day. We didn't see him out there again for the next 58 days, plus or minus.
In one of the photographs of the 1958 William Tell team at Oceana, you'll note the plane has Major Smith's name on it, freshly painted for the missile meet. He had given up his place on the team to make room for Colonel Caviness when it was learned a Colonel had to command each team. When his promotion to Lt. Colonel came down, Major Smith received a great deal of kidding about this exact point, being accused of having cut a quid pro quo deal. I suspect he was always relieved by the graceful way out.
About the time I left, Lt. Colonel Smith was tapped to replace Lt. Colonel Thomas who was transferred to Germany [and I always wondered how Ed handled the flight time]. Major Stockman became the Operation's Officer and things ran pretty much as they had under Lt. Col. Thomas. It wasn't until the transfer of Lt. Col. Smith and the onset of the Cuban Crisis that the squadron changed into a different organization.
Across the years, from time to time, I would think back on the men of the 482nd. Edward Smith was among those whose face I could see and voice I could hear. He was the kind of leader who gathers in affection along with respect ... and you didn't want to be on the receiving end of one of his practical jokes.