Philip E. Smith

==Capture==

==Capture==

[[File:83d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron F-104As escort a Lockheed EC-121.jpg|thumb|right|USAF F-104s escort an EC-121, the same mission Smith was performing prior to being shot down]]

[[File:Amerikaans vliegende wachtposten onder Lockheed Warning Stars boven Lockheed Sta, Bestanddeelnr 910-8172.jpg|thumb|right|USAF F-104s escort an EC-121, the same mission Smith was performing prior to being shot down]]

On 20 September 1965 Smith was flying his F-104C #56-883 on a mission to escort an [[Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star|EC-121]] over the [[Gulf of Tonkin]] when due to equipment failure and incorrect navigational commands he strayed into Chinese airspace over [[Hainan]]. His aircraft was intercepted and shot down by two [[Shenyang J-6]] fighters of the [[People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force]] near [[Haikou]]. Smith ejected successfully and was captured by PLA forces.{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Philip|title=Journey Into Darkness: the Gripping Story of an American Pow's Seven Years Trapped Inside Red China During the Vietnam War|publisher=Pocket Books|year=1992|isbn=0671728237|pages=29–35}}{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|title=Peking reports downing U.S. jet over China isle|author=Ian Stewart|date=21 September 1965|page=1}} On 21 September the U.S. military acknowledged that Smith was missing and reported that Smith had radioed that he was experiencing mechanical problems and fuel shortage, but did not confirm that he had been shot down.{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|title=U.S. air loss sets record for day in Vietnam War|author=R.W. Apple|date=22 September 1965|page=1}}

On 20 September 1965 Smith was flying his F-104C #56-883 on a mission to escort an [[Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star|EC-121]] over the [[Gulf of Tonkin]] when due to equipment failure and incorrect navigational commands he strayed into Chinese airspace over [[Hainan]]. His aircraft was intercepted and shot down by two [[Shenyang J-6]] fighters of the [[People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force]] near [[Haikou]]. Smith ejected successfully and was captured by PLA forces.{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Philip|title=Journey Into Darkness: the Gripping Story of an American Pow's Seven Years Trapped Inside Red China During the Vietnam War|publisher=Pocket Books|year=1992|isbn=0671728237|pages=29–35}}{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|title=Peking reports downing U.S. jet over China isle|author=Ian Stewart|date=21 September 1965|page=1}} On 21 September the U.S. military acknowledged that Smith was missing and reported that Smith had radioed that he was experiencing mechanical problems and fuel shortage, but did not confirm that he had been shot down.{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|title=U.S. air loss sets record for day in Vietnam War|author=R.W. Apple|date=22 September 1965|page=1}}