The Five Hundredth

In the United States the Coast Guard is a fully paid up branch of the military. Its men and women have served with valour in many conflicts and I’m going to tell you about one such event, the rescue of Misty 11.

 

The badge of the US Coast Guard

 

An F100 Fast FAC Misty crew

 

An OV10 Bronco

 

Spads escorting a Jolly Green Giant

 

The jungle penetrator.

 

Landing in difficult terrain

 

500 saves

 

The approach into the valley

 

The rescue

 

Technical Sergeant Donald G. Smith

 

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to the USAF National Museum, the USAF, USAF National Museum, USGOV-PD, Digital Public Library of America, Defence Imagery, the US Coast Guard and US Gov.