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MANCHESTER — Col. Paul Richard Smith, 91, of Derry died Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011, at Elliot Hospital in Manchester, after a period of declining health.
Col. Smith was born Aug. 5, 1919, and was a son of the late James H. and Annie F. (Martin) Smith. He was a graduate of Pinkerton High School, and a lifelong resident of Derry.
He served on active duty with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, and with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. Col. Smith began flying right after high school, and joined the Army Air Corps in 1940. As a member of the Air Cadets, he received his pilot rating on March 18, 1942. He later served as an instructor pilot in many airfields in Texas including Randolph Air Force Base. He later served as a combat fighter pilot in Europe during 1944 and 45 (P-47s). He was an air cover pilot during many missions in France including the invasion of Normandy. He would later receive the "Croix de Guerre" (Cross of War) from the French Government.
After World War II, he became one of the first U.S. pilots to fly jet fighters. and was in the second training of P-80 pilots. In 1947, he joined the N.H. Air National Guard, eventually becoming commander of the 133rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron.
Col. Smith served as Air Attaché to Gov. Lane Dwinell in the 1950s and later became Chief of Staff of the N.H. Air Guard and commanded the 157th Air Transport Group. During his long and distinguished career, he was among the earliest pilots to be trained for instrument flight. Prior to his retirement in 1977, Col. Smith flew many different aircraft, including the F-51H, F-94B, F-86L, C-97, C-124, C-130 and KC-135 and retired as a Command Pilot having logged more than 14,000 flight hours.
As a testament to his legacy, Col. Smith and his late brother Myron Smith, inspired seven of their immediate family members to become pilots, in military, commercial and private applications. He made his last flight in 2009 at the age of 90, with his grandson Christopher.
Members of the family include his wife of 65 years, Ruth M. (Farrell) Smith of Derry, two sons and their wives, Paul R., Jr. and Jennifer Smith of Hubbardston, Mass., and Maj. Dale C. and Sharon Smith of Rochester, N.H.,; a daughter and her husband, Debra A. and Col. John Ladieu of Newport News, Va.; and four grandchildren, Amy and Sarah Ladieu, Andrea and Christopher Smith.
Calling hours are Sunday, Feb. 13, from 12 to 3 p.m., at the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St. Derry, N.H., with a funeral service following immediately after at 3 p.m. A spring interment with military honors is planned for the Cemetery on the Hill in Windham.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The National Kidney Foundation , 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016.
To send a condolence, or for more information, please visit www.peabodyfuneralhome.com.
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