The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Bobbie Leroy Smith (AFSN: AO-1908596), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action against an enemy on 31 May 1951 as Pilot of an F-86 Sabrejet Fighter-Bomber of the 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group, FIFTH Air Force. Leading an element of two F-86 planes in a group formation on a bomber escort mission in the Sinanju area of North Korea, Lieutenant Smith broke escort with the rest of the Group when minimum fuel was reached. As the Group turned South to return to home base, Lieutenant Smith sighted an enemy force of 12 MiG-15 aircraft heading to intercept the bomber force. As the last to become airborne, Lieutenant Smith’s element had more fuel remaining than the rest of the Group. Ordering “drop tanks”, he and his wingman returned to the bomber formation. Arriving over the bombers just as the enemy formation initiated their first attack, Lieutenant Smith unhesitatingly turned into the enemy formation to engage them in a head-on pass, thereby diverting and disrupting the enemy attack. Although outnumbered six to one, and with the additional disadvantage of a drop tank which failed to release, Lieutenant Smith maintained his position over the bombers and time and again repulsed the enemy by making head-on attacks. Lieutenant Smith’s gallant defense of the bomber formation during this 15-minute running battle, resulted in his destroying one enemy MiG-15 in a head-on pass and severely damaging another before running out of ammunition. Realizing that his departure from the bombers would leave them open to attack, and although he was out of ammunition and handicapped by the external tank, Lieutenant Smith instructed his wingman to take over the lead while he flew wing. Every attack made by the enemy was parried and all bombers were safely escorted from the target area. Lieutenant Smith’s leadership and gallantry in action in the face of overwhelming odds, reflected great credit upon himself, the FAR EAST Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.