Smith_Capt. Richard Arthur (Dick)_3 Oct 1929

Capt. Richard Arthur (Dick) Smith, a native of Holbrook, was one of nine persons killed in the crash of an Air Force C123 in the Arctic Saturday.

A son of Mr. and Mrs. Willard R. Smith, Capt. Smith was serving as the co-pilot of the plane which was making a landing approach at Cape Lisburne which is about 300 miles north of Nome. The plane apparently stalled as the pilot decided to pull up for a second approach to the landing strip and the transport plunged into the Arctic Ocean where the water is estimated to be 24 to 36 feet deep. Weather was poor at the time of the crash with a heavy cloud cover and winds gusting to 28 knots according to the Alaska Air Command.

Other two victims immediately identified were Mr. and Mrs. Hugh H. Yancey of Los Angeles and former Salt Lake City residents, Mr. and Mrs. Yancey were on a USO tour and were scheduled to present their show, “Paint Your Blues Away” at Cape Lisburne.

Mr. Yancey was a painter and kept up a monologue of jokes and homey philosophy while he painted. With Mrs. Yancey as his assistant, he had given hundreds of shows for servicemen.

Both the Air force and the Navy are engaged in diving operations to recover the aircraft and the bodies of Capt. Smith, the Yanceys and six other servicemen aboard.

An Air Force spokesman informed Capt. Smith’s family Tuesday that although parts of the plane have been found by divers, operations have been hindered by the choppy, extremely cold water and strong undertow. He added, however, that those in charge believe that the bodies can be recovered when weather conditions improve.

Memorial services for the fallen fliers were held Wednesday at the Archorage(sic) Air Force Base.

A veteran of 11 years in the Air Force, Capt. Smith arrived in Alaska July 4th with his family to begin a three-year tour of duty there.

He was born Oct. 3, 1929 at Holbrook, the son of Willard R. and Katie L. McIntosh Smith.

A graduate of Malad High School and Brigham Young University, he had served a mission for the LDS Church in the Southern States. He married Charlene Van Wagenen of Ogden. Sept. 2, 1955, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple.

Capt. Smith is survived by his parents, widow and four children, Peggy Jean, Kathryn, Richard and Angela Maria; two brothers, Reed, Malad; Mac, Holbrook; three sisters, Mrs. Dee (Vernona) Arbon, Tremonton; Mrs. Merrell (Emogene) Durfee, Fullerton, California; Mrs. Joe (Marjorie) Steed, Stone.