Captain John Jackie ‘JJ' ‘Jack' Smallwood was the son of Lois Sorrow (1922-2001) and Hugh A. Smallwood (1917-1993).
Jack graduated from Marietta High School, Marietta, Georgia in 1963.
Jack graduated from Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather Air Force Base (AFB), Sacramento, California in 1968. Two of his Nav training classmates have left notes on VirtualWall.org. Classmate, Al Wilson said, ‘Jack was my best friend throughout the entire 9 month Navigator Training program at Mather AFB, Sacramento, CA. We made ski trips, trips to Reno, etc., with a few other guys in our class. I'll never forget the cool car (Olds Cutlass, I believe, green with beige top?) he had. … I loved Jack. He was from Marietta and I from Charlotte, so we had the "Southerner thing" in common. Jack had a great sense of humor and kept me laughing whenever I was around him. Anyone who knew him knew this!' And another classmate, Scott Freeman, said ‘I too was a classmate of Al and Jack in Nav school. … I believe that Jack's Cutlass was a 442 red convertible - a real beauty - he used to come by my apartment with Mick Kuja and harass my wife (Jackie) and I. He was a real southern gentleman and a blast to be around.' Another classmate, Charles Speh, left a note on TheWall-USA.com saying Jack 'KARST' Smallwood was not only a classmate of mine, but a very special person. I had the privilege of refueling Jack, and his Pilot Lt. Col. Phil Handley only a few minutes after their historic 'shooting down' of the Mig in June 1972. Jack's personality was only outshown by his courage and dedication to flying. A real example for younger generation today, and a true Southern Gentleman.
On April 29, 1972, the 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, flying F-4E ‘Phantom II's, deployed to the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (TRW) at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand under operation 'Constant Guard' aka the 'Summer Help Program'.
On June 2, 1972, Major Philip W. ‘Phil' Handley and his WSO, 1st Lieutenant John Jackie Smallwood, of the 58th TFS shot down a MIG-19. Major Handley said "After about 15 minutes on station, aircraft 3 and 4 became separated from the first element during a particularly violent SAM break. At the same time, we hit Bingo fuel and began egress. Shortly thereafter, while my wingman and I were egressing, we were attacked from 6 o'clock low by a flight of two MIG-19's. After a brief engagement, I shot down the number two MIG-19 with 20-mm cannon fire at a slant range of about 300 feet. The MIG-19 was observed to roll slowly off on his right wing and begin to trail smoke from his left wing root. His nose continued to drop, and he crashed almost vertically into a green meadow 8 seconds after I fired a 300 round burst."
On October 14, 1972, the 58th TFS returned to Eglin AFB, Florida and nine months later, on June 8, 1973, they deployed again to the 432nd TRW, Udorn RTAFB. I am unable to determine how Jack got re-assigned from Udorn to Ubon RTAFB less than a week later.
On June 16, 1973, then Captain Samuel Blackmar Cornelius, Aircraft Commander, 336th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and Captain John Jackie Smallwood, Weapons Systems Officer, comprised the crew of F-4E, sn 67-0374, call sign Wolf. Over the target area, their F4E was hit by hostile fire and crashed. No parachutes were seen, and no emergency beepers were heard. Their approximate location was 13-35 North, 106-37 East in Cambodia. Both were declared Missing in Action on June 16, 1973.
On October 4, 1979, Jack's status was changed to Killed in Action.
His decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, two Air Medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Vietnam Memorial Wall Panel 01W, Line 119
On July 25, 1998, Marietta High School renamed their baseball field in memory of John Smallwood.
Jack graduated from Marietta High School, Marietta, Georgia in 1963.
Jack graduated from Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather Air Force Base (AFB), Sacramento, California in 1968. Two of his Nav training classmates have left notes on VirtualWall.org. Classmate, Al Wilson said, ‘Jack was my best friend throughout the entire 9 month Navigator Training program at Mather AFB, Sacramento, CA. We made ski trips, trips to Reno, etc., with a few other guys in our class. I'll never forget the cool car (Olds Cutlass, I believe, green with beige top?) he had. … I loved Jack. He was from Marietta and I from Charlotte, so we had the "Southerner thing" in common. Jack had a great sense of humor and kept me laughing whenever I was around him. Anyone who knew him knew this!' And another classmate, Scott Freeman, said ‘I too was a classmate of Al and Jack in Nav school. … I believe that Jack's Cutlass was a 442 red convertible - a real beauty - he used to come by my apartment with Mick Kuja and harass my wife (Jackie) and I. He was a real southern gentleman and a blast to be around.' Another classmate, Charles Speh, left a note on TheWall-USA.com saying Jack 'KARST' Smallwood was not only a classmate of mine, but a very special person. I had the privilege of refueling Jack, and his Pilot Lt. Col. Phil Handley only a few minutes after their historic 'shooting down' of the Mig in June 1972. Jack's personality was only outshown by his courage and dedication to flying. A real example for younger generation today, and a true Southern Gentleman.
On April 29, 1972, the 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, flying F-4E ‘Phantom II's, deployed to the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (TRW) at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand under operation 'Constant Guard' aka the 'Summer Help Program'.
On June 2, 1972, Major Philip W. ‘Phil' Handley and his WSO, 1st Lieutenant John Jackie Smallwood, of the 58th TFS shot down a MIG-19. Major Handley said "After about 15 minutes on station, aircraft 3 and 4 became separated from the first element during a particularly violent SAM break. At the same time, we hit Bingo fuel and began egress. Shortly thereafter, while my wingman and I were egressing, we were attacked from 6 o'clock low by a flight of two MIG-19's. After a brief engagement, I shot down the number two MIG-19 with 20-mm cannon fire at a slant range of about 300 feet. The MIG-19 was observed to roll slowly off on his right wing and begin to trail smoke from his left wing root. His nose continued to drop, and he crashed almost vertically into a green meadow 8 seconds after I fired a 300 round burst."
On October 14, 1972, the 58th TFS returned to Eglin AFB, Florida and nine months later, on June 8, 1973, they deployed again to the 432nd TRW, Udorn RTAFB. I am unable to determine how Jack got re-assigned from Udorn to Ubon RTAFB less than a week later.
On June 16, 1973, then Captain Samuel Blackmar Cornelius, Aircraft Commander, 336th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and Captain John Jackie Smallwood, Weapons Systems Officer, comprised the crew of F-4E, sn 67-0374, call sign Wolf. Over the target area, their F4E was hit by hostile fire and crashed. No parachutes were seen, and no emergency beepers were heard. Their approximate location was 13-35 North, 106-37 East in Cambodia. Both were declared Missing in Action on June 16, 1973.
On October 4, 1979, Jack's status was changed to Killed in Action.
His decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, two Air Medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Vietnam Memorial Wall Panel 01W, Line 119
On July 25, 1998, Marietta High School renamed their baseball field in memory of John Smallwood.
Captain John Jackie ‘JJ' ‘Jack' Smallwood was the son of Lois Sorrow (1922-2001) and Hugh A. Smallwood (1917-1993).
Jack graduated from Marietta High School, Marietta, Georgia in 1963.
Jack graduated from Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather Air Force Base (AFB), Sacramento, California in 1968. Two of his Nav training classmates have left notes on VirtualWall.org. Classmate, Al Wilson said, ‘Jack was my best friend throughout the entire 9 month Navigator Training program at Mather AFB, Sacramento, CA. We made ski trips, trips to Reno, etc., with a few other guys in our class. I'll never forget the cool car (Olds Cutlass, I believe, green with beige top?) he had. … I loved Jack. He was from Marietta and I from Charlotte, so we had the "Southerner thing" in common. Jack had a great sense of humor and kept me laughing whenever I was around him. Anyone who knew him knew this!' And another classmate, Scott Freeman, said ‘I too was a classmate of Al and Jack in Nav school. … I believe that Jack's Cutlass was a 442 red convertible - a real beauty - he used to come by my apartment with Mick Kuja and harass my wife (Jackie) and I. He was a real southern gentleman and a blast to be around.' Another classmate, Charles Speh, left a note on TheWall-USA.com saying Jack 'KARST' Smallwood was not only a classmate of mine, but a very special person. I had the privilege of refueling Jack, and his Pilot Lt. Col. Phil Handley only a few minutes after their historic 'shooting down' of the Mig in June 1972. Jack's personality was only outshown by his courage and dedication to flying. A real example for younger generation today, and a true Southern Gentleman.
On April 29, 1972, the 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, flying F-4E ‘Phantom II's, deployed to the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (TRW) at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand under operation 'Constant Guard' aka the 'Summer Help Program'.
On June 2, 1972, Major Philip W. ‘Phil' Handley and his WSO, 1st Lieutenant John Jackie Smallwood, of the 58th TFS shot down a MIG-19. Major Handley said "After about 15 minutes on station, aircraft 3 and 4 became separated from the first element during a particularly violent SAM break. At the same time, we hit Bingo fuel and began egress. Shortly thereafter, while my wingman and I were egressing, we were attacked from 6 o'clock low by a flight of two MIG-19's. After a brief engagement, I shot down the number two MIG-19 with 20-mm cannon fire at a slant range of about 300 feet. The MIG-19 was observed to roll slowly off on his right wing and begin to trail smoke from his left wing root. His nose continued to drop, and he crashed almost vertically into a green meadow 8 seconds after I fired a 300 round burst."
On October 14, 1972, the 58th TFS returned to Eglin AFB, Florida and nine months later, on June 8, 1973, they deployed again to the 432nd TRW, Udorn RTAFB. I am unable to determine how Jack got re-assigned from Udorn to Ubon RTAFB less than a week later.
On June 16, 1973, then Captain Samuel Blackmar Cornelius, Aircraft Commander, 336th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and Captain John Jackie Smallwood, Weapons Systems Officer, comprised the crew of F-4E, sn 67-0374, call sign Wolf. Over the target area, their F4E was hit by hostile fire and crashed. No parachutes were seen, and no emergency beepers were heard. Their approximate location was 13-35 North, 106-37 East in Cambodia. Both were declared Missing in Action on June 16, 1973.
On October 4, 1979, Jack's status was changed to Killed in Action.
His decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, two Air Medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Vietnam Memorial Wall Panel 01W, Line 119
On July 25, 1998, Marietta High School renamed their baseball field in memory of John Smallwood.
Jack graduated from Marietta High School, Marietta, Georgia in 1963.
Jack graduated from Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather Air Force Base (AFB), Sacramento, California in 1968. Two of his Nav training classmates have left notes on VirtualWall.org. Classmate, Al Wilson said, ‘Jack was my best friend throughout the entire 9 month Navigator Training program at Mather AFB, Sacramento, CA. We made ski trips, trips to Reno, etc., with a few other guys in our class. I'll never forget the cool car (Olds Cutlass, I believe, green with beige top?) he had. … I loved Jack. He was from Marietta and I from Charlotte, so we had the "Southerner thing" in common. Jack had a great sense of humor and kept me laughing whenever I was around him. Anyone who knew him knew this!' And another classmate, Scott Freeman, said ‘I too was a classmate of Al and Jack in Nav school. … I believe that Jack's Cutlass was a 442 red convertible - a real beauty - he used to come by my apartment with Mick Kuja and harass my wife (Jackie) and I. He was a real southern gentleman and a blast to be around.' Another classmate, Charles Speh, left a note on TheWall-USA.com saying Jack 'KARST' Smallwood was not only a classmate of mine, but a very special person. I had the privilege of refueling Jack, and his Pilot Lt. Col. Phil Handley only a few minutes after their historic 'shooting down' of the Mig in June 1972. Jack's personality was only outshown by his courage and dedication to flying. A real example for younger generation today, and a true Southern Gentleman.
On April 29, 1972, the 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, flying F-4E ‘Phantom II's, deployed to the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (TRW) at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand under operation 'Constant Guard' aka the 'Summer Help Program'.
On June 2, 1972, Major Philip W. ‘Phil' Handley and his WSO, 1st Lieutenant John Jackie Smallwood, of the 58th TFS shot down a MIG-19. Major Handley said "After about 15 minutes on station, aircraft 3 and 4 became separated from the first element during a particularly violent SAM break. At the same time, we hit Bingo fuel and began egress. Shortly thereafter, while my wingman and I were egressing, we were attacked from 6 o'clock low by a flight of two MIG-19's. After a brief engagement, I shot down the number two MIG-19 with 20-mm cannon fire at a slant range of about 300 feet. The MIG-19 was observed to roll slowly off on his right wing and begin to trail smoke from his left wing root. His nose continued to drop, and he crashed almost vertically into a green meadow 8 seconds after I fired a 300 round burst."
On October 14, 1972, the 58th TFS returned to Eglin AFB, Florida and nine months later, on June 8, 1973, they deployed again to the 432nd TRW, Udorn RTAFB. I am unable to determine how Jack got re-assigned from Udorn to Ubon RTAFB less than a week later.
On June 16, 1973, then Captain Samuel Blackmar Cornelius, Aircraft Commander, 336th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and Captain John Jackie Smallwood, Weapons Systems Officer, comprised the crew of F-4E, sn 67-0374, call sign Wolf. Over the target area, their F4E was hit by hostile fire and crashed. No parachutes were seen, and no emergency beepers were heard. Their approximate location was 13-35 North, 106-37 East in Cambodia. Both were declared Missing in Action on June 16, 1973.
On October 4, 1979, Jack's status was changed to Killed in Action.
His decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, two Air Medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Vietnam Memorial Wall Panel 01W, Line 119
On July 25, 1998, Marietta High School renamed their baseball field in memory of John Smallwood.
Bio by: Lee A. Hillard
Inscription
In Honor Of John J. Smallwood, Capt US AF
Born Oct 7, 1945
MIA, Cambodia June 16, 1973
Medals Received
The Air Medal (2)
The Silver Star
The Air Force Commendation Medal
The Distinguished Flying Cross
The Purple Heart
