‘Copter Lifts Flier’s Body
Bristol Herald Courier
Tuesday, March 23, 1954
Tazewell, Virginia: An Air Force team from Langley Air Base went into rugged Burke’s Garden section by helicopter today to investigate the crash of an F-51 fighter plane in which a Lansing, Michigan, pilot died.
The body of pilot, Lt. R. B. Smith of the Michigan Air National Guard, was placed on an Air Force plane which left for Michigan this afternoon, a Tazewell funeral home spokesman said.
But Air Force personnel conducting the investigation said any information turned up would have to be cleared through Langley AFB before release.
A state policeman said the battered remains of the speedy fighter were being painted yellow to distinguish the wreckage in any future search of the area for another downed plane.