- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Frederic Harrison Smith III
- Creator:
- Galloway, Joseph L.
Smith, Frederic Harrison, III, 1935- - Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Kenan Research Center
- Date of Original:
- 2015-04-26
- Subject:
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Aerial operations, American
Medal of Honor
Distinguished Flying Cross (Medal)
Phantom II (Jet fighter plane)
Napalm
T-28 (Training plane)
United States. Air Force. Air Defense Command
United States. Air Force. Tactical Fighter Wing, 12th
Harvard Business School
United States. Air Force. Tactical Air Command
United States. Air Force. Tactical Fighter Squadron, 558th - People:
- Jackson, Joe M., 1923-2019
- Location:
- United States, Florida, Jackson County, Marianna, 30.77436, -85.22687
United States, Maryland, Prince George's County, Andrews AFB, 38.80531, -76.8746
United States, Texas, Webb County, Laredo, 27.50641, -99.50754 - Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
- Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- In this interview, Frederic Smith recalls his service in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He recalls growing up an "Air Force Brat," graduating from West Point in 1957 and serving one tour of duty in Vietnam and another in Thailand. He remembers his first impressions of Vietnam, his living conditions there, and off-duty activities. He describes his duties as a tactical fighter pilot, the criteria for becoming a flight leader, and how missions were planned, briefed, and executed. He recalls several combat experiences, including extracting downed Air Force personnel after the battle of Kham Duc, and losing an entire air crew when their instrument panel fogged up during take-off and the plane crashed. He describes his encounters with allied forces including South Korean and Australian personnel. He comments on the concerns he and others felt about racial tensions in Vietnam and comments on the superb Black NCOs in his unit. He expresses his feelings about serving in Vietnam and the "binding force" of friendship and camaraderie among all military pilots.
479th Tactical Fighter Squadron; close air support; wing man; Tactical Air Control Center; flight commander; Airborne Command and Control; "Red River Rats"; I Corps; Cluster Bomb Units (CBUs); "White Horse Division" (South Korean military unit); flailing injuries; F-4 (Jet fighter plane);
Frederic Smith was an F-4 pilot in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. - Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/799
- Additional Rights Information:
- This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.
- Extent:
- 32:38
- Original Collection:
- Veterans History Project oral history recordings
Veterans History Project collection, MSS 1010, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center - Holding Institution:
- Atlanta History Center
- Rights:
-
