ROBERT P. SMYTH

SMYTH ROBERT P. SMYTH May 31. 1921 - March 24, 2012 Captain Robert P. Smyth, US Navy (Retired), died in Colorado Springs, Colorado on 24 March 2012. He was 90. "Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Put out my hand, and touched the face of God." Bob was born, raised and went to school in Yonkers, New York. He was married to Loyce Ivey Smyth (nee Slocum) from Pensacola, Florida on June 15 1946, who preceded him in death on August 27, 2002, and is interred in Arlington National Cemetery. He is survived by two daughters, Christine S. Bellino with family in Virginia and Nancy S. Moore with family in Colorado; two sons, Robert L. Smyth (Diane K. Thayer) of North Carolina and Jeffrey J. Smyth (Katie Scholl) of Denver, CO; eight grandchildren, Elizabeth C. Bellino, MD, Caroline E. Bellino Marvel, Rachel E. Moore, Thomas R. Moore, Robert P. Smyth, John L. Smyth, Tanner A. Smyth and Grant W. Smyth; and great-grandson's Robert O. Smyth, Axel P. Smyth and Kellan L. Smyth; and great- granddaughter, Alana E. Hunt. Bob attended St. John's University in New York City before joining the US Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet in July 1942 during World War II. He trained as a Naval Aviator in Pensacola, Florida, receiving his Navy wings, and Ensign USNR commission in October 1943. During World War II he served first as an advanced flight instructor at Pensacola, and later as an R4D/R5D pilot in the Western Pacific in support of the Seventh Fleet. He was in the Philippines when the war ended on August 15, 1945. In 1946 he became a US Navy career officer, being selected and commissioned as an officer in the Regular Navy. After the war he served in various USN ships, squadrons and staffs including Patrol Squadrons Three, and Patrol Squadron Five; the aircraft carriers USS Bennington, USS Oriskany, USS Yorktown and the USS Randolph; staff Carrier Division Three, as Air Defense Officer on Carrier Task Force 77, the HQ Commander-in-Chief Pacific, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon, the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, and lastly as Assistant Chief of Staff Intelligence at the HQ North American Defense Command (NORAD) in Colorado Springs. He was executive officer of the aircraft carrier USS Randolph, Commanding Officer of Patrol Squadron Five (VP-5), Captain of the USS Tanner (AGS -15) commanding a three ship Navy task unit off Vietnam. He had a four-war career in the US Navy, serving during WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War. Serving in six Navy air squadrons, he accumulated thirteen thousand flying hours in ten types of Navy aircraft. During his Navy years, he graduated with a BA degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and with an MS degree from the University of Southern California. In July 1974 he retired from the Navy with the rank of Captain, USN, settling in Colorado Springs, CO. He later was employed by various aerospace companies including TRW Corp., and the Aerospace Corp. He authored the book "The Memoirs of Capt. Robert P. Smyth, US Navy - Sea Stories". A memorial service will be held at the Fort Myer Old Fort Chapel, Arlington, Virginia, Thursday, August 16, 11 a.m., followed immediately by interment with Full Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery alongside his wife. A memorial service will be held at the Fort Myer Old Fort Chapel, Arlington, Virginia, Thursday, August 16, 11 a.m., followed immediately by interment with Full Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery alongside his wife.