Norman Schmidt

Norman Schmidt enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 1, 1944, and after completing basic training he was trained in Aviation Ordnance, as a Radar Operator, and as a Combat Aircrew Member before serving on Kwajalein in the Pacific Ocean until he left active duty on June 14, 1946. Schmidt then completed his bachelor's degree at San Jose State College and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force ROTC program. Lieutenant Schmidt completed flight training and was awarded his pilot wings in September 1951, and then completed F-51 Mustang Combat Crew Training before deploying to Korea. He flew 75 combat missions in Korea in the F-51 and the F-86 Sabre before returning to the U.S. in October 1952. His next assignment was as a test pilot with the 4927th Test Squadron and the 4925th Test Group at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, followed by service as an Operations Officer with Headquarters 13th Air Force on Taiwan. Major Schmidt served on the staff of the 4500th Operations Squadron at Langley AFB, Virginia, and then as an F-104 Starfighter pilot with the 476th Tactical Fighter Squadron at George AFB, California. During this time, he flew 27 combat missions in Southeast Asia while on temporary duty from April to July 1965. His next assignment was as an F-104 pilot with the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron at George AFB, and then deployed to Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from July 1966 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on September 1, 1966.