Background
Smith was born in Weldon, Texas. His father moved to East Chicago, Indiana to look for a job.
Smith was born in Weldon, Texas. His father moved to East Chicago, Indiana to look for a job.
He attended Washington High School, where his focus was on music rather than athletics.
Smith, along with the rest of his family, joined him there a few years later. Smith did not yearn to fly like the rest of his colleagues. At the time, military planes were assigned to White pilots.
Smith flew "primary" planes known as service aircraft.
He served as a flight instructor for "primaries" at the Institute. Smith weighed 200 pounds and was too big for a P-40 or P-51.
Instead he was made a bombardier. First Lieutenant Smith spent time at Fort Knox near Louisville.
He was transferred to Freeman Field in Indiana.
Since Smith was an officer he was technically allowed to enter any officers club, but the military was still segregated. Black officers were prohibited from the officers club, tennis court, and swimming pool. They were only allowed to use the facilities during hours when they were supposed to be working.
Along with 100 officers, Smith refused to sign a new directive about segregation in officers clubs.
They were sent to prison at Fort Leavenworth. Shortly after, they were sent back to Freeman Field because there was not enough room for 101 black prisoners at Fort Leavenworth.
Smith received an honorable discharge on an order from then President Harry Truman More than fifty years later, Smith and the 100 other black officers" service records would be formally cleared of the incident. This is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the United States Congress.
lieutenant was stolen during a break-in, but was replaced at a special ceremony in 2012.
Smith earned his master"s degree in English. He took on various roles in schools. He taught English at Roosevelt High School, served as a guidance counselor, and then went on to become a high school principal at West Side High School in Indiana.
Later in his life he was made the director of secondary education for Gary, Indiana.
Smith also created the Gary Emerson High School for Visual and Performing Arts. Doctor Quentin P. Smith died on January 15, 2013.
He was 94 years old. After his passing, an airport bridge at the Gary/Chicago International Airport was named in his honor.
Smith was a former president of the Gary Airport Authority.
Smith was a member of the Airmen 477th Composite Group. He sat on several aviation and education boards, and was a member of the Chicago Chapter of Airmen, an organization of black pilots.