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.