GEORGE
WINFERED SMYTHE, Jr.
NO. 17038 Died April 22, 1958, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, aged
31 years.
"Train a child up in the way he should go, and when he is old he will
not depart from it," applied throughout the rewarding, but
foreshortened, life of George W.
Smythe, Jr. From his earliest years, George became indoctrinated
with the military spirit, and the goal which he set for himself, "to
serve his Country." He could not have lived any other way, nor would he
have chosen any other way of life.
George was the elder son of Major General and Mrs. George W. Smythe
(USMA 1924) who are living in retirement in Arlington, Virginia. His
brother, 1st Lieutenant John D. Smythe (USMA 1953), always a close
companion, is an officer in the 3d Infantry Regiment (Old Guard)
presently stationed at Fort Myer, Virginia.
The climb up the ladder toward his objective commenced with Cub Scouts
at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, followed by Boy Rangers and Boy Scouts at
West Point, N.Y., and culminating in the receipt of the coveted Eagle
Scout Award at Honolulu, T.H., in February 1942. Thus his efforts in
scouting exemplified the zeal and spirit with which George applied
himself in his activities outside the home and school.
George was subjected to the normal changes from one military
reservation to another, involving periodic adjustments in his
schooling, and managed to increase the tempo with each succeeding
change. The first highlight occurred in his attendance and graduation
from the elementary school at West Point, N.Y. Here also he was able to
observe the life and activities of the cadets at the Academy. He
derived great satisfaction in his association with the cadets,
particularly in being taught by them in the Post Sunday School. Later
he became one of the mascots on the Army baseball team, which kept him
active and alert to athletic games.
Schofield Barracks, T.H., was to be a place of great opportunity for
him, and he took special pride in attending the Punahou Academy in
Honolulu. Unfortunately, this schooling was to be interrupted by the
attack on December 7, 1941, at which time Punahou was taken over for
military purposes. The air attack which occurred ay Wheeler Field
that Sunday morning enabled George to watch and observe the maneuvers
of the Japanese planes as they were diving in on the installations.
Later, when conditions became more stable on Hawaii, schooling was
resumed in the various homes in the vicinity of Punahou.
`While being evacuated from Hawaii in March 1942, an unusual
opportunity came to George on the Transport Republic. He was one of two
youngsters who were old enough to be assigned as ammunition passers on
the tail anti-aircraft gun of the Transport. Up before dawn every
morning while at sea, to him it was a task to be accomplished with
willingness and obedience on his part, despite the possible dangers
which lurked in the Pacific at that time.
Following his return to the United States, George attended and was
graduated from Washington and Lee High School, Arlington, Virginia,
where he met his future wife, Eleanor Murray Spence, who was to be his
helpmate during his subsequent Air Force career. After a year at
Sullivan's School in Washington, the next important step in his
education can best be described in a telegram sent on July 1,1945, to
his Dad who was overseas, "Following in your footsteps. Entering the
Military Academy today," signed, "George,
Jr”
While a cadet at West Point, George had his ups and downs with the
academic work, particularly English and Portuguese, but excelled in
mathematics. He participated in fencing where his ability as a
left-handed foilsman enabled him to win his "A" under the tutelage of
the old fencing master, Jack Diamond.
Following graduation from the Military Academy, 1949, George took his
basic flight training at Randolph Air Force Base, and it soon became
apparent that he had a natural gift for flying. When he was graduated
from jet training at Williams Air Force Base he was sent to Germany,
where he served for three years in the 525th Fighter-Bomber Squadron,
86th Fighter-Bomber Group, first as a pilot, then as a flight
commander, and then as operations officer. His love of flying and his
skill as a pilot, along with his intelligence, common sense, and
likeable personality, showed him to have outstanding ability as a
leader of men, an Air Force Officer, and a flight commander. He well
knew and understood the need for an ever ready Air Force. prepared at
any time to provide our country the necessary defense. This thought,
always before hiin, led him to carry out his administrative duties
rapidly and efficiently so that he might spend as much time in the air
as possible. Constantly called upon to carry additional administrative
duties, George. still managed to amass a great number of flying hours,
steadily practicing and perfecting his skill as a jet fighter pilot.
On his return from Germany, George was assigned to the Air Force
Operational Test Center, Air Proving Ground, Eglin AFB, Florida, as a
test pilot and project officer. For five years he flew operational
suitability test missions on the latest Air Force aircraft and was
widely known as one of the finest test pilots in the Air Force. He was
also responsible for the preparation of a large number of invaluable
evaluation reports on the late model aircraft published by the Air
Proving Ground Command.
In recognition of his superior ability, he was chosen several times to
fly the highlighted "one man Air Force" mission in the Air Force Fire
Power Demonstrations, where crowds of thousands, including observers
from all over the world, were thrilled at seeing a target completely
demolished by napalm, bombs, rockets, and 50-cal. guns, all delivered
with superb accuracy in rapid succession from George's aircraft.
It was while on a practice flight for a Fire Power Demonstration in an
F-100 D aircraft that George met his death. He experienced an engine
failure while at low level. Instead of immediately seeking to abandon
the aircraft with its valuable test equipment, he first sought to
restart the engine in a futile attempt to save the aircraft. Then,
being too low to bail out, he tried unsuccessfully to crash land on the
rough terrain of the bombing range. The aircraft exploded upon impact.
Just a few months earlier, he had experienced a similar engine failure,
and, though the normal procedure indicated abandoning the aircraft,
George skillfully managed to return to base. For this action he was
awarded the Air Medal.
George lived up to the finest traditions of "Duty, Honor, Country." He
always did his job quickly, quietly, and to the best of his ability,
and this he inspired in those who served with him. He won the hearts
and admiration of both his fellow officers and the enlisted crewmen up
and down the flightline.
And yet with his deep dedication to his work, George was also a devoted
husband and father. He was married immediately after graduation from
the Military Academy to Eleanor "Tracy" Spence, who resides in Fort
Walton Beach, Florida, with their two boys, David, age 7, and Donald,
age 5. He brought to his home the finest moral standards combined with
love, understanding and patience. He gave to all of his friends
unwavering loyalty and support. All of us who knew and loved George
feel thankful for all that he gave to our relationship and left to us
as his legacy- his love, his example of faithfulness and devotion to
duty, his generosity and thoughtfulness in all things. Our lives are
richer for having known him.
It is not the number of years that a man has to live that really
matters, rather it is the way in which a man chooses to live the years
that he has. For the exemplary way in which George W. Smythe,
Jr., lived and served his country and his fellow men, I am sure that
the Lord and Father of us all said unto him, “well done, good and
faithful servant, you have been faithful over a little. I will set you
over much, enter into the joy of your master.”
The Rev. Maurice M. Benitez USMA 1949
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