Lecture from USAF Col.(Ret.) Ron Smith

Lecture from USAF Col.(Ret.) Ron Smith, Air Force Cross recipient, flew "The Proud American"(Douglas A-1H Skyraider) on the deepest-ever SAR into North Vietnam on 2 June 1972.

The aircraft on display represents Captain Ronald Smith’s A-1H The Proud American (Serial Number 52-139738) as it appeared during his SAR mission in June 1972 as part of the 1st Special Operations Squadron, Nakhon Phanom (NKP) Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. Captain Smith was awarded the Air Force Cross for the rescue of a downed F-4 Phantom crewman near a North Vietnamese airfield.

[michaelthomasgraham]

October 21, 2024. Had the pleasure of hearing Ron Smith speak at our annual reunion. The SANQB annual reunion and GOVERNOR’s conference was held at the BAHIa hotel in San Diego. Colonel Smith was a guest speaker at our evening‘s banquet And everybody enjoyed his stories and his courageous acts during Vietnam war. MTg, MESA, AZ USA.

[SatelliteYL]

Great story, thank you for the upload. Glad I found this channel

[CSltz]

Thanks for keeping these stories alive.

[btipton]

I wish I was here for this. Great talk from some great guys. ♥️ the Vietnam vets.

[simonejassmann]

Thank you for your service and for the very important museum of the US Air Force to keep history and its lessons alive God Bless

[LINJ]

What an honor!!! Great story!!!! I wish this was open for the public to attend the event.