Foil: 6 Panel: Distinguished Flying Cross Society Column: 2 Line: 45

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Lt. Myron G. Smith received his pilot's wings and commission as a second lieutenant upon graduation from the Army Air Corps Cadet class of 43 G on July 1943. On June 7, 1944, his crew flew a B-24 bomber overseas to England. He was assigned to the 93rd Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force.
On his 11th mission on August 2, 1944, his plane was hit by flak as it was returning from a bridge bombing mission in Eastern France. Lt. Smith had injuries in the forehead, left hand, left biceps and left thigh. As a result of heavy bleeding, the plane was routed to the nearest airfield on the cliffs of Dover.
Smith spent five months at two hospitals in England and returned to the 93rd BG in January 1945. A remaining 24 combat missions were completed on April 11, 1945. On most of these missions he broke in new pilots with a make shift crew. Upon leaving the 93rd BG, the commanding Colonel congratulated Lt. Smith with having the lowest gasoline consumption per hour of flying of any of the pilots of the Group.
Smith was awarded the Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After WWII, Smith served at seven overseas posts in Asia and Africa with the U.S. Agency For International Development for 23 years. He served as an Agricultural Development Officer (ADO) assisting the newly created governments, which were former foreign colonies, with the development of their economies. He was the senior U.S. ADO in these countries for the last 10 years.
Smith has been listed in Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World since 1980.