HAROLD J. SMITH, LT, USN
Harold Smith '44
Lucky Bag
From the 1944 Lucky Bag:
Harold James Smith
Baltimore, Maryland
During our three years here we could find "Smitty" any afternoon at the wrestling loft or on the football field. Rewards for the many hours he spent were his numerous letters and numerals, as well as his reputation for being a good sport. Harold took academics in stride, having ups and downs along with his classmates. He did not "star," but he displayed a well-rounded practical knowledge in all his subjects. Harold goes into the fleet with a practical mind, a good professional knowledge, and an athletic background to fit him for war service. We are sure that he will be a valuable addition.
The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Harold James Smith
Baltimore, Maryland
During our three years here we could find "Smitty" any afternoon at the wrestling loft or on the football field. Rewards for the many hours he spent were his numerous letters and numerals, as well as his reputation for being a good sport. Harold took academics in stride, having ups and downs along with his classmates. He did not "star," but he displayed a well-rounded practical knowledge in all his subjects. Harold goes into the fleet with a practical mind, a good professional knowledge, and an athletic background to fit him for war service. We are sure that he will be a valuable addition.
The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
Harold was lost in a mid-air collision of two Navy Hellcat fighter planes during a storm over the Everglades. The other pilot, Lt(jg) Walter E. Mattis, survived.
Other Information
From the Baltimore Sun on May 15, 1946:
Lieut. Harold James Smith, of 522 Chateau avenue, was killed Monday afternoon when the navy fighter plane he was flying crashed after a collision with another aircraft near the Miami Naval Air Station, his parents were informed by the Navy Department yesterday.
Lieutenant Smith, 24, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert H. Smith, of the Chateau avenue address. After winning four battle stars as a line officer aboard a destroyer in the Pacific, he had just recently won his wings as a navy flyer and was on a training flight at the time of the crash, his family was informed.
Named To Naval Academy
As a youth, Lieutenant Smith was a leader of his class in Baltimore City College, where he was vice president of the senior class in 1939. He was also All-Maryland center on the football team, and held the interscholastic wrestling championship, according to Major Albert H. Smith, Jr., his brother.From City College, young Smith went to the Bullis Preparatory School at Silver Spring, Md., and while there he won, by-competitive examination, an appointment to the Naval Academy.
The appointment came in 1940, and the young midshipman took an accelerated wartime course, to receive his commission in 1943.
Served In Pacific
Nevertheless, he played football for the Navy for two years, and also was a member of the wrestling team.Lieutenant Smith’s first war assignment was aboard the destroyer Ralph Talbot, his brother said. He won his battle stars at New Guinea, Saipan, New Britain, and the Philippines, and was flown back to begin his flying training in Texas in 1945.
Major Smith, elder brother of the flyer, said he was told by the commanding officer of the station that two Hellcats, navy fighting planes, collided in a storm over the Everglades yesterday afternoon.
14 Miles From Station
One pilot, Lieut. (jg) Walter E. Mattis, of Atlantic City, N.J., reported he was unaware of the crash, and was able to bring his craft to a safe landing, although a wing had been smashed.Lieutenant Smith’s body and wreckage of the second plane were found 14 miles from the station.
Under the escort of a naval officer, Lieutenant Smith’s body will be brought by train to Washington Friday, and will be buried with naval honors in Arlington Cemetery.
Besides his parents and Major Smith, survivors are two younger brothers, Kenneth and Garey Smith.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
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