Doug was one of the first Americans into Hanoi where he documented the
return of our POWs from Vietnam.
Doug Lay, SMSgt (ret) – July 1, 1949 – April 17, 2019
With a heavy heart we must inform you of the passing of Mr. Doug Lay. Services will be held April 26, 2019 at Lindquist Mortuary. Layton, UT 84040 at 2 pm. Visitation proceeding service 12:45 – 1:45. Per Doug’s request, he will be interred at Camp Williams at a later date.
Some called him “Old School,” a moniker earned documenting Air Force history for over 45-years. Mr. Doug Lay was a mentor, a role model, a taskmaster and a father figure to many Airmen over his military and civilian career.
He enlisted in the Air Force in 1969 as a still photographer. In 1971 he cross-trained into Motion Picture Cameras and attended Combat Camera School at Lowry AFB, CO.
As an Aerial Motion Picture Cameraman stationed in the Philippines, he flew F-4 and C-130 missions over Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He was one of the first Americans into Hanoi where he documented the return of our POWs. He earned many awards over his military and civilian career including the Darryl G. Winters award for excellence in combat photography.
While stationed at the 601st Photo Sq, Royal Thai Air Base. He filmed Lon Nol, Prime Minister of Cambodia as the Khmer Rouge took over and he fled the country. He also filmed the flood of people and aircraft escaping Vietnam as Saigon fell and the return of Marines after rescuing USS Mayaguez personnel. Mr. Lay filmed the first women to enter the Air Force Academy.
Mr. Lay was a reluctant but early adopter of new technology and techniques. His first TV unit was DET-1, 1365th. Eventually, the unit became an Audiovisual Squadron and Editors, Sound Engineers, and Cameramen combined to become Audio Visual Technicians.
In the 80’s he was with the 3246th Test Wing at Eglin AFB where he documented many of the weapons used today, the AMRAAM, Maverick and GBU series.
At DET-7, 1365rd AVS he flew numerous exercises throughout Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Diego Garcia. He was Chief, Production at the 3480th Technical Training Wing and helped designed the first and only Laser Film facility in DoD.
In 1992, he was assigned to DET-8, 1365 AVS, Hill AFB and was instrumental in the transition to non-linear digital editing.
He retired from active duty in 1992 as a Senior Master Sergeant but eventually came back as a civilian Producer/Director with his old DET-8, AVS unit that had merged with the 367th TRSS. As a civilian, he produced countless maintenance training videos for ACC, AMC and SERE courses for the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency. He was also a Director for multiple live truck missions to include Rodeo, Aerospace Power, AF Academy Graduation, and a Defense Secretary Town Hall Meeting, Joint Propulsion Lab’s Genesis Satellite return from deep space, AMC ICON, and AMC TedX events. Before retiring as a civilian in 2015, he worked closely with US NORTHERN COMMAND developing Synthetic Media training for Joint and National Guard Regional Exercises.