*(Unconfirmed):
A quick search of the Library of Congress' POW/MIA database revealed several
records which seem to indicate that Major Smith belonged to the 20th Tactical
Air Support Squadron (TASS). Additionally, search indicates that Major
Smith's callsign at the time of loss may have been "Covey 535"
Major Lewis P. Smith III majored in music at Penn State and graduated in 1964. He planned to teach music after his obligation to the Air Force was over. While at Penn State, Lewis received the Cessna Award for outstanding performance as a student pilot in relation to his AFROTC duties.
Upon graduation from Penn State, Smith was trained on
the T-38 and C130 aircraft for the next 3 years, and then went on to small craft training for his new assignment as a Forward Air
Controller (FAC). After completing FAC school, Smith was sent to Vietnam.
Forward Air Control was as dangerous a flying job as could be had in Vietnam, partly because of the small aircraft used was largely unarmed; partly because the nature of the job kept the pilot close to the ground and therefore he was vulnerable to ground attack by small arms fire. It was also an essential job, as the target marking and visual reconnaissance missions flown were vital to the success and versatility of air and ground offensives directed by
FAC.
On May 30, 1968, Smith piloted an O2A aircraft assigned a FAC mission about 15
miles east of the city of Chavane in Saravane Province, Laos. During the mission, Smith encountered enemy fire, resulting in the crash of his plane. Electronic signals were heard at the scene, indicating that he
had survived the crash, but he was not rescued. Smith was listed Missing in Action.
A September 13, 1968, a
statement by Lao leader Soth Pethrasi indicated that Smith survived to be captured. This statement, monitored from Puerto Rico, mentioned "Smith,
Christiano, Jeffords, and Mauterer" as being part of "several dozen captured American airmen" whom the Pathet Lao were "treating correctly and who [were] still in Laos." There are only three Smiths listed missing in Laos prior to September 13, 1968. These are Harding E. Smith, Jr., Lewis P. Smith and Warren P. Smith.
Following the signing of the Paris Peace Agreements, 591 American prisoners were released from North Vietnam. Lewis Smith was not one of them. In fact, not one of the nearly 600 who were lost in Laos was released. Many of them survived their loss incident and some, like Smith sent emergency signals. Some were in voice contact and some were even photographed in captivity. Government officials later expressed their shock that "hundreds" more Americans that were expected to be released were not. The U.S. Government has been unable to secure the freedom of any more prisoners held in Vietnam, even though over 10,000 reports have been received concerning Americans still alive in Southeast Asia.
Incidental Information
