MIA Victor A. Smith

SYNOPSIS:
The Phantom, used by Air Force, Marine and Navy air wings, served a multitude of functions including fighter-bomber and interceptor, photo and electronic surveillance. The two man aircraft was extremely fast (Mach 2), and had a long range (900 - 2300 miles, depending on stores and mission type). The F4 was also extremely maneuverable and handled well at low and high altitudes. The F4 was selected for a number of state-of-the-art electronics conversions, which improved radar intercept and computer bombing capabilities enormously. Most pilots considered it one of the "hottest" planes around.

Capt. Victor A. Smith was trained to serve as systems operator in the Phantom. Smith, who graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1965, had served a tour in the U.S. Marine Corps before attending the Academy and joining the Air Force.

On January 17, 1969, Smith was sent on a mission over Laos. When his aircraft was about 10 miles northeast of the city of Sepone in Savannakhet Province, it was shot down. Smith, the rear-seater, would, according to procedure, have ejected from the aircraft first. Thus it would not be unusual for him to be separated from his pilot by some distance.

The fate of the pilot is unknown. As he is not missing, it is presumed that he was safely rescued. Smith was listed Missing in Action, and it was hoped that he was captured and would be released at the end of the war.

When the war ended, however, the families of those men lost in Laos were horrified to learn that the U.S. had not negotiated the freedom of those Americans held by the Pathet Lao. Since that time, no American held in Laos has been released -- or negotiated for.

Nearly 600 Americans were shot down in Laos by the same missiles and anti-aircraft fire used in Vietnam. The percentage of survival should have been roughly the same. Yet, because of our unwillingness to negotiate with a government faction we did not recognize, these men were abandoned.

Since the war ended, over 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S. While many authorities, having examined this largely-classified information have concluded that hundreds of them are still alive, the U.S. Government cannot seem to make up its mind.

Meanwhile, men like Victor Smith may be alive wondering why the country they proudly served has not come for them.