Ernest Carl Smith

There is a saying that angels must earn their wings, Ernest Carl Smith arrives in the great beyond already with his wings. Carl (his preferred name) was a pilot and aviation pioneer.

When Carl was a boy growing up among the bayous of the mighty Mississippi River, his heroes were the Tuskegee Airmen who were contributing to the nation’s efforts in WW2. Carl aspired to be a pilot and joined the USAF in 1951, at a time of war in Asia. Unlike his heroes, he joined an integrated USAF putting him among the first generation of African-American men who could achieve their ambitions in aviation. Achieve he did, becoming the chief navigator of a B36 “Peacemaker” strategic bomber (the primary USA nuclear weapons delivery vehicle from 1948 – 1955).

Fortunately, these weapons have not been used since 1945, so Carl’s primary activity on board the plane for 40-hour missions was reconnaissance. He turned this experience into a career as an innovator in technology for both military and commercial aviation and the nascent satellite industry with the leading firms of that era. But his great joy was flying as a proud AOPA (Aircraft Owner & Pilots Assn) member.

Watching National Geographic’s “From Above” series provides the best insight into Carl’s life and contribution to society. “From Above” -- he trained a generation of pilots of color from Compton Airport for jobs in passenger aviation. “From Above” -- he generously took friends up into the skies to see the ocean, the islands, the mountains, the deserts, their homes, and their schools. “From Above” – he flew his family to witness the awesome natural wonders of North America.

Carl has been married to and is survived by his wife of 66 years, Vivian Richardson. They’ve known each other over 80 years but didn’t marry until Vivian graduated from Jackson State University in 1955 and Carl returned from the air force to complete an engineering degree at Tennessee State University in 1959. Carl & Vivian subsequently joined the Great Migration by making their way to Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles, they raised their family in a supportive network of HBCU alumni who provided professional role models as educators, doctors, lawyers, engineers, and career military. They raised their family in a community where neighbors became family, especially The Copelands. They raised their family where friends came from all over the world.

Carl is survived by his four children and their spouses: Cedric Smith & Preston Fitzgerald of London, England; Renee Smith Murphy & Robert Murphy of Atlanta; Georgia; Kevin Smith of Carson, California; and Kimberly Smith Leveaux & Christopher Leveaux of Carson, California. He is survived by his grandchildren: Christopher LeVeaux II (Maya), April LeVeaux, Sierra Smith and Veronica LeVeaux. On his 90th birthday his family joyfully welcomed the 4th generation; his great grandson Amir LeVeaux.

Carl was born to Jimmie Mae Wright and Ernest Smith. He is survived by his brother, James Ellis of Detroit, Michigan, and his descendants. Raised in the supportive household of the Wrights, he is survived by his cousins Ronnie Isaac, Marilyn Terrell, Derrek Isaac and Carla Isaac and their descendants. Married into the Richardsons, he is survived by generations of nephews and nieces who remember that Uncle Carl flew the plane to visit them.

Ernest Carl Smith saw the world – Japan, Europe, Central & South America, and India – locations that are episodes in his personal series of “From Above”.

God has put a Rainbow in the Sky…