Badley, James Linsday, 1st Lt

Source of excerpt: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/afrotc/aas/bio.php

"In June 1965, he received his commission and began flight training at Williams A.F.B., Arizona. In October 1966 he received his Pilot Wings and was assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB for combat training in the F-4 Phantom.  After graduating in August 1967, he requested combat duty at DaNang, Vietnam. He started flying combat missions on the 22nd of September 1967. On 20 November 1967 while flying his 25th mission in North Vietnam, Lt. Badley's aircraft was shot down and he was forced to bail out. He remained calm under the pressure of intense small arms fire and vectored the rescue helicopter to his position within seconds of Viet Cong capture. For his heroic actions, he received the Silver Star for Gallantry and the Air Medal for Meritorious Achievement.

Lt. Badley was selected as a regular Air Force officer in November, and was also nominated for 'Junior Officer of the Year' by his wing (366th TAC Fighter Wing). His additional duties at DaNang included: Assistant Operations Officer, Assistant Finance Officer, MPC Conversion Officer, United Fund Officer, Assistant Alert Facility Officer, and Awards and Decorations Officer. Later that month, Lt. Badley volunteered for fifty additional North Vietnam missions in addition to his required one hundred. He was scheduled to upgrade to Command Pilot on 15 April 1968. Lt. Badley displayed his bravery again on 14 March 1968. On this day, with marginal weather conditions, he helped in the rescue of two downed pilots. He continued to attack and drew enemy fire away from the rescue aircraft, even after expending all available ordinance. For his selfless role in the rescue, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism and the Air Force Commendation Medal. While flying his eighty-fifth mission on 27 March 1968, Lt. Badley was shot down and thereafter listed Missing In Action (MIA). 1Lt. James L. Badley was officially declared Killed In Action (KIA) on 8 May 1968."

This Veteran has an (IMO) In Memory Of Headstone in Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial, Hawaii and another memorial in Williamette National Cemetery. 
 

Silver Star Citation:

The President of the United States takes Pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to James Linsday Badley, First Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force (Reserve), for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against a hostile force during an air mission in the Republic of Vietnam. First Lieutenant Badley distinguished himself by intrepid actions on 20 November 1967 while serving with 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force. His unquestionable valor in close combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 7th Air Force, and the United States Air Force.

Notes/Links:

I served with Lt. Badley at DaNang AB, 480 TFS.  I was an A1C/Sgt, Orderly Room Clerk.
Bob Storey

http://www.AngelsUnknown.net/
http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=1859 See Lynda Twyman Paffrath's book: Angels Unknown: The Story of Healing After Vietnam which is the story that Lynda wrote after trying to find out about her beau, James Badley, when he was shot down and listed as missing.)