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Today in History – April 5, 1962 – 1962 Neil Armstrong takes X-15 to 54,600m

Neil Armstrong and the X-15 by Bob van der Linden, Posted on Tue, July 23, 2019, Aeronautics Department, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum “Released from duty in mid-1952, Armstrong returned to Purdue where he earned his degree in aeronautical engineering in 1955. His love of flight and engineering drew him to the National Advisory

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Smart, Ford H.

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  • Smart, Ford H.

Ford Heard Smart

Preferred Name: Ford
Date of Birth: August 7, 1929
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Lexington, KY
Headed West Date: March 25, 2020
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

Ford Smart says he “Dead-sticked a F-105 at Wheelus Nuc Range Garvel 3000’ strip in Jun 1965”. He also flew 100 missions over North Vietnam in the F-105D and medically Retired in 1977.

Units Assigned

  • 1946 Army Basic Training, Ft Knox, KY
  • 1947 11th Airborne, 187 Paraglider Inf, Sapporo, Japan
  • 1947-1948 Medic 11th AB, Sendai, Japan
  • 1954-1958 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron/36th Tactical Fighter Wing, Bitburg, Germany (F-86F, F-100C )
  • 1962-1965 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron/4th Tactical Fighter Wing, AFROTC Inst- Assist Professor, Akron, Oh/Seymour Johnson AFB & Eglin AFB (F-105D)
  • 1965 8th Tactical Fighter Squaron/49th Tactical Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany (F-105D)
  • 1965-1967 2nd Germany Corps HQ Liaison/Classified duties, Ulm, Germany
  • 1967-1968469th Tactical Fighter Squadron/366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Korat, Thailand (F-105D)
  • 1968-1972 Pentagon, XOOC & Studies Analysis
  • 1972 TAWC Ch Ftr Att. Div F-15/F-16/A-10 programs Eglin AFB w/det @ Edwards AFB, CA
  • 1972-1973 Defense Language Institute (French) Presidio Monterey, CA
  • 1973-1974 US Embassy Comdr Muslo/ with missions for CIA

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

F-86F
F-100 C
F-105 D

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • 1953 USAF Pilot Training
  • 1958 Academic Instructor Course, Air Command & Staff College
  • 1959 SOS, Air University
  • 1962 AGOS, Keelser AFB, MS
  • 1963 Airborne Parachutist Course, Ft Bragg, NC
  • 1971 Tactical Fighter Commander Course, Nellis AF, NV
  • 1972 Industrial College Armed Forces, Pentagon
  • 1973 Defense Language Institute, Washington DC
  • 1973 Special Operations School, Washington DC
  • 1975 USAF Commander Seminar

Civilian Education:

  • 1952 BA/Geology & Zoology, Ohio Wesleyan University
  • 1962 MA Clinical Psychology, Akron University

Ford H. Smart, Col USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on March 25, 2020.

Retired Col. Ford H. Smart, age 90, passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at the place of his choosing, his home, in Ft. Walton Beach, FL.  He leaves behind, his son, Clifford Merz, his companion, Clara “Kit” Starks and many friends whom he loved.

Ford was born in Lexington, KY in 1929. He grew up and attended school in Erie, PA.  He joined the Army in 1946 after graduating high school until his Honorable Discharge in 1948.

Ford graduated from Ohio Wesleyan in 1952 and joined the Air Force ROTC. He entered the Air Force Pilot Training program at Malden, MO. In 1952, this is when his real calling in life began as an Air Force Pilot.  Ford flew many planes such as the F-86, F-100, and the F-105.  He served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, in the Pentagon as Chief of MEAFSA, also as Chief of TAC Fighter Division Program for the F-15’s.  Ford ended his military career as Chief Liaison between the United States and Morocco.

After retirement from the Air Force in 1975, Ford pursued his creative artistic talents at his home in Fort Walton Beach, FL.

Col. Smart dedicated his life for us serving 27 years of active duty military service, Col. Smart was a highly decorated pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Ford will be missed.  Expressions of love and sympathy may be placed and viewed online at www.mclaughlinmortuary.com

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