World War II Honoree

Clare Hall Smith

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Baltimore, Maryland

Honored By

Alexis Kirchenbauer

Relationship

Extended family

GRADUATED FROM OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL IN OCTOBER OF 1942 AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT. HER FIRST ASSIGNMENT IN DECEMBER 1942 WAS TO THE AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE IN MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA. SHE WAS THEN PROMOTED TO FIRST LIEUTENANT AND THEN CAPTAIN. IN AUGUST 1944 SHE WAS TRANSFERRED TO U.S. STRATEGIC TACTICAL AIR FORCE, HEADQUARTERS UNDER GENERAL TOOEY SPAATZ IN LONDON, ENGLAND. THIS HEADQUARTERS WAS TRANSFERRED TO PARIS, FRANCE RIGHT AFTER PARIS WAS LIBERATED. AFTER V-E DAY SHE WAS ASSIGNED TO MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN JULY 1945 FAR EAST AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS UNDER GENERAL GEORGE KENNEY. SHE LEFT SERVICE IN APRIL OF 1946 TO WORK FOR THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (CIA) IN WASHINGTON.