Clarence ‘Del’ Smith, 86; official pilot for California governors
- Share via
Clarence “Del” Smith, 86, a World War II aviator who became the official pilot for several California governors, died Dec. 9 of natural causes in Roseville, Calif.
Smith flew California One, the official state plane used by Govs. Earl Warren, Goodwin Knight and Pat Brown. He got the job when he was approached at Van Nuys Airport by Warren, who needed a flight to Sacramento. He became Warren’s personal pilot on a converted cargo plane nicknamed “The Grizzly” for the state bear painted on the aircraft’s nose.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Smith flew for the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.
After the war, he joined the California Air National Guard as a captain and in 1965 was named an assistant adjutant general. He retired in 1968 as a brigadier general.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
