Foil: 9 Panel: 4 Column: 1 Line: 110

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Melvin Luter

Lt. Col John Neil Smith, USAF (Ret) was born January 11, 1920 at Tylertown, Mississippi. Entered service as Aviation Cadet on January 6, 1942. Received wings and commissioned at Spence Field, Moultrie, Georgia in class of 42H. Attached to 36th Fighter Group, 23rd Fighter Squadron flying P-39 in Puerto Rico, later to 22nd Fighter Squadron in Trinidad. Transferred to P-47 and deployed to England in March, 1944. Flew first combat mission over France on May 8, 1944 and 3 missions for 10 hours over the invasion beaches on D-Day. Was with the 22nd Fighter Squadron until VE Day and flew a total of 72 combat missions. Awards include Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 12 Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Unit Citation with one OLC, ETO Ribbon and 6 Battle Stars, and the Belgian Fourragere. Remained in Active Reserve and retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1980. After service, was a teacher and served in Mississippi Legislature for 8 years. Married to the former Donis Luter of Tylertown, MS and they have 3 sons.