Smithsonian Institution’s Post

A proud member of the Tuskegee Airmen, Colonel James E. Randall served in the United States military for 36 years. Following his service during World War II, he joined the newly formed United States Air Force. A flight instructor and fighter pilot, Randall flew 75 combat missions in the Korean War and 44 in Vietnam. It was during a mission over North Vietnam in 1965 that Randall’s F-105 Thunderchief “Thud” fighter-bomber was shot down. Ejecting himself and parachuting to the ground, a wounded Randall avoided capture and called for help. His helmet was lost, but Randall was safely rescued. In 1990, a collector found the helmet at an Army surplus stall in Ho Chi Minh City and spent the next two decades trying to track down Randall, with the help of another Vietnam veteran. The two reunited 86-year-old Randall with his helmet in 2013, nearly 50 years after it was lost. Today, it’s in the collections of our Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. Randall’s Purple Heart, awarded to service members who have been wounded or killed by enemy action, is also in the collections of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. #PurpleHeartDay 📷: James Randall in an F-51 Mustang fighter aircraft at a base in South Korea, ca. 1952. Courtesy of the Pikes Peak Library District.