CHARLES LEE SMITH, born March 1, 1924 in Tulsa, Okla., where he attended school through the fifth grade. The family moved to Skiatook, Okla., where he was graduated from high school in May 1941.

In March 1942 he applied for the Aviation Cadet program and was accepted. He was sworn in April 21, 1942 as a private in the U.S. Army Air Corps awaiting a call as an Aviation Cadet. Called as a cadet for the class of 43-E, he received training in the southeast training command receiving his wings at Napier Field, Dothan, Ala., in July, 1943 in the class of 43-G. In advanced training, he was awarded the "Star Pot" for the best air-to-ground gunnery score in his class. He received transitional training for the P-47 in Richmond, Va., soloing Aug. 15, 1943. He was assigned, as a charter member, to the 366th Fighter Group, 391st Fighter Squadron, "D" Flight which was being formed and trained at Bluethenthal Field, Wilmington, N.C., under the command of Col. Dyke Meyer. After training, the 366th left the U.S. for England in Dec. 1943.

He flew 96 missions plus three flights for which he received combat time but no mission credit. He remembers the sixth of June, D-Day, very well, but he remembers the 12th of June even better. "D" Flight Commander Maxey McGuire blew a cylinder (Jug) on his engine and crash landed near an airstrip being constructed by the British. Smith, with gear down, drug the field until all equipment and personnel were removed from the strip.

After landing, he explained to the British Major that he wanted to check on his flight commander. McGuire walked into the area with his only injury of a cut on his forehead. Not wishing to wait for a boat back to England, McGuire suggested that he ride back with Smith. Smith stowed his parachute in the radio compartment, gave the seat cushion to the British, helped McGuire into the cockpit and buckled him in. Smith sat on McGuire's lap and flew back to England.

Smith isn't sure but he thinks he made the first landing and takeoff in France by an allied P-47 . He also thinks this was the first "piggyback" ride in a combat zone.

Smith became "D" Flight Commander, was awarded the DFC, the Air Medal with 18 Oak Leaf Clusters, the EAME medal with 4 battle stars, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Belgian Fourragere. He had 237:50 hours combat in the P-47 and 463:55 total hours in the P-47.

Returning to civilian life, he was graduated from Stanford University with a degree in economics. While at Stanford, he married a classmate, Dorothy. They have three children, Lee Stephen, Laura Gernon and Jeffrey Andrews. Smith spent three years in the Okla. Air National Guard where he flew the P.51 and the F-80. He was retired from the Air Force Reserves in 1968 as a Lt. Col.

Smith is self-employed as a manual systems specialist in the medical and industrial fields.