US Navy veteran.
AO2 Mike Smith served in VP-22 during 1952 and on through 1954. His primary assignment was as an air crewman in the Far East while based at Naha/Kadena, Okinawa and in the Arctic area while based at Kodiak, Alaska. He was part of the Squadron Ordnance Section and flew as the tail gunner in P2V-4s and P2V-5s. He was a fine tail gunner and an excellent crew member--always willing to help. He often said that the most exciting and proud moments were to have been part of the search and rescue efforts looking for and aiding Crew 7 after their plane was fired upon over Swatow, China and ditched in the South Formosa Straits. He remembered the Crew being in the water and life rafts and equipment were dropped to them. And, he recalled his saddest time--as the Coast Guard PBM spun in and crashed while attempting to take off with all of the Coast Guard PBM and the Navy P2V crews aboard.
Mike left the U S Navy and was employed in the Bakersfield, CA area. He also worked as a private contractor in supporting various U S Government programs. Later in life, he retired to Guatemala City, Guatemala and lived there until his passing. He was interred in a Guatemala City Cemetery. He had many friends in Guatemala, Bakersfield, the U S Navy and wherever he went. He was the father of a son (two grand children) in Bakersfield, CA and a step son in Guatemala City, Guatemala. May he rest in peace.
AO2 Mike Smith served in VP-22 during 1952 and on through 1954. His primary assignment was as an air crewman in the Far East while based at Naha/Kadena, Okinawa and in the Arctic area while based at Kodiak, Alaska. He was part of the Squadron Ordnance Section and flew as the tail gunner in P2V-4s and P2V-5s. He was a fine tail gunner and an excellent crew member--always willing to help. He often said that the most exciting and proud moments were to have been part of the search and rescue efforts looking for and aiding Crew 7 after their plane was fired upon over Swatow, China and ditched in the South Formosa Straits. He remembered the Crew being in the water and life rafts and equipment were dropped to them. And, he recalled his saddest time--as the Coast Guard PBM spun in and crashed while attempting to take off with all of the Coast Guard PBM and the Navy P2V crews aboard.
Mike left the U S Navy and was employed in the Bakersfield, CA area. He also worked as a private contractor in supporting various U S Government programs. Later in life, he retired to Guatemala City, Guatemala and lived there until his passing. He was interred in a Guatemala City Cemetery. He had many friends in Guatemala, Bakersfield, the U S Navy and wherever he went. He was the father of a son (two grand children) in Bakersfield, CA and a step son in Guatemala City, Guatemala. May he rest in peace.
US Navy veteran.
AO2 Mike Smith served in VP-22 during 1952 and on through 1954. His primary assignment was as an air crewman in the Far East while based at Naha/Kadena, Okinawa and in the Arctic area while based at Kodiak, Alaska. He was part of the Squadron Ordnance Section and flew as the tail gunner in P2V-4s and P2V-5s. He was a fine tail gunner and an excellent crew member--always willing to help. He often said that the most exciting and proud moments were to have been part of the search and rescue efforts looking for and aiding Crew 7 after their plane was fired upon over Swatow, China and ditched in the South Formosa Straits. He remembered the Crew being in the water and life rafts and equipment were dropped to them. And, he recalled his saddest time--as the Coast Guard PBM spun in and crashed while attempting to take off with all of the Coast Guard PBM and the Navy P2V crews aboard.
Mike left the U S Navy and was employed in the Bakersfield, CA area. He also worked as a private contractor in supporting various U S Government programs. Later in life, he retired to Guatemala City, Guatemala and lived there until his passing. He was interred in a Guatemala City Cemetery. He had many friends in Guatemala, Bakersfield, the U S Navy and wherever he went. He was the father of a son (two grand children) in Bakersfield, CA and a step son in Guatemala City, Guatemala. May he rest in peace.
AO2 Mike Smith served in VP-22 during 1952 and on through 1954. His primary assignment was as an air crewman in the Far East while based at Naha/Kadena, Okinawa and in the Arctic area while based at Kodiak, Alaska. He was part of the Squadron Ordnance Section and flew as the tail gunner in P2V-4s and P2V-5s. He was a fine tail gunner and an excellent crew member--always willing to help. He often said that the most exciting and proud moments were to have been part of the search and rescue efforts looking for and aiding Crew 7 after their plane was fired upon over Swatow, China and ditched in the South Formosa Straits. He remembered the Crew being in the water and life rafts and equipment were dropped to them. And, he recalled his saddest time--as the Coast Guard PBM spun in and crashed while attempting to take off with all of the Coast Guard PBM and the Navy P2V crews aboard.
Mike left the U S Navy and was employed in the Bakersfield, CA area. He also worked as a private contractor in supporting various U S Government programs. Later in life, he retired to Guatemala City, Guatemala and lived there until his passing. He was interred in a Guatemala City Cemetery. He had many friends in Guatemala, Bakersfield, the U S Navy and wherever he went. He was the father of a son (two grand children) in Bakersfield, CA and a step son in Guatemala City, Guatemala. May he rest in peace.
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