Retired Col. Elmer F. Smith, co-pilot on the first presidential air crew, the forerunner of today's "Air Force One," died Wednesday at Reston Hospital Center in Reston, Virginia. He was 97.

Smith was selected for the presidential air crew assignment as an Army Air Corps second lieutenant in 1942, according to an obituary submitted by his son-in-law, retired Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Ralph Hitchens.

Smith flew President Franklin Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference and flew other to trips with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Cabinet members, senators and Congress members, foreign dignitaries, and senior military officers to include generals George Marshall, Dwight Eisenhower and Omar Bradley.

He continued in the Presidential Flight of the Air Transport Command during the Truman administration, flying the president to the Potsdam Conference and other destinations, to include the famous meeting with General MacArthur at Wake Island during the Korean War.

Smith's subsequent Air Force career included commanding a supply squadron and spending several years working in aircraft development and procurement before retiring in 1970. He concluded his government service with the Energy Department, working on energy efficiency programs.

He is survived by his three daughters -- Janet Hitchens, of Poolesville, MD; Linda Barry, of San Diego, CA; and Nancy Alexander of Norcross, GA -- and five granddaughters: Katie Barry, Kerry and Christine Alexander, and Elizabeth and Emily Hitchens. He was predeceased by another granddaughter, Melissa Barry. Col. Smith will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery alongside his wife of 53 years, Joyce Robinson Smith, who died in 1996.

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