Greetings, and blue skies to all! My father, Lt. James R. Smith, was Radar Observer aboard the Jing-Bow Joy-Ride, a P-61 attached to the 426th Night Fighter Squadron in the China-Burma-India theater. He and pilot Carl Absmeier were the high-scoring team in their unit, with two air-to-air victories and a number of successful intruder missions. They even flew a hazardous mission to destroy the strategically significant Yellow River Bridge with their orders to return home sweat-stained in their pockets. My father left a detailed memoir of his service days, which has now been posted in its entirety at www.nightfighter.info. There is little written about the "forgotten theater" of the CBI, or about night fighters in general. Please visit for these stories of courage, honor and humor. Thanks, and hope to see you there!
