Johns, Paul Frederick, Col

POSTED BY: JOSEPH E. SMITH, MAJOR, USAF (RET), I REMEMBER PAUL. Paul and I flew several combat missions over Laos in O1-E, "Birddog" aircraft, operating from dirt airstrips, in the Bolovens Plateau area of Laos. Paul was the pilot and I was the observer and intel advisor, spotting targets along the trail areas in Laos. On one occasion, Paul felt that there had to be VC in one area but all appeared quiet. He said, "let's go lower to take a close look." With that, he throttled back, and we went down to about 100 feet off the deck, looking into the trees to the left and right, and sure enough, there they were and the firing began! Having drawn the VC out a bit, Paul applied power and we radioed for strike aircraft that had been lingering above. That was Paul: brave, tenacious and innovative. We shared more than a few "interesting" missions until he rotated back to the US. A little later, I heard that he had volunteered for another tour of duty, this time in A1-E's, and shortly afterward, I found out that he had gone down on a mission. He was a great friend; he was a terrific guy. I remember him and I miss him.

This Veteran has an (IMO) In Memory Of Headstone in Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial, Hawaii, as well as one in New Albany National Cemetery, New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana and the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Kentucky. 

Sources:

http://www.skyraider.org/skyassn/spadgrup/wingrps.htm (unit photo at Skyraider school)