The Air Force Cross is presented to John Smith Hamilton, Colonel, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as an A-1E Pilot in North Vietnam on 19 April 1967. On that date, Colonel Hamilton was engaged in a search and rescue mission near Hoa Binh City when his aircraft was shot down by North Vietnamese MiG-17s. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Colonel Hamilton reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force