★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★
LTjg John Smith, Jr. '77, USN was lost on December 8, 1979 in the crash of his S-3A Viking near Rota, Spain.
From the March 1980 issue of Shipmate:
Born in Fort Lee, Virginia, he was the elder son in a family of six children and was appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of Virginia. While at the Academy, he was an active member of the karate club. Upon graduation with the Class of 1977, he was assigned to VP-45 as assistant to the administration officer and first lieutenant until reporting for flight training in January of 1978. He was designated naval flight officer on 19 October 1978 and following completion of the replacement air group syllabus at VS-41, reported to VS-30 in September, 1979.
His absence will be deeply felt by his family and friends, the aviation community, and especially by those who grew to know and depend on him — the men of Air Antisubmarine Squadron 30.
He is survived by his widow Phyliss, of Jacksonville, FL.
To Honor! ⚓
https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JOHN_W._SMITH,_JR.,_LTJG,_USN