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Jungle
Survival School in the Philippines. During the rescue operation, five aircraft were shot down, 11 airmen were killed in action, and 2 were captured. Nine additional aircraft and helicopters were badly damaged during the ongoing rescue attempts.
1049:
Mysteries of the
Unknown - Season 3, Episode 129, Aired on May 13, 2024, did a segment recounting Hambleton's amazing escape and rescue, detailing how the US used coded messages to direct Hambleton to a safe rescue point.
1046:, based on a large amount of declassified information, was written by Col. Darrel D. Whitcomb and published in 1998. Whitcomb was a decorated pilot, and from 1972 to 1974 a forward air controller based in Southeast Asia.
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would have been of tremendous benefit to them and the Soviet Union. Hambleton said after the war that he felt sure if he were captured that he would never have been taken to Hanoi.
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Hambleton died on
September 19, 2004, in Tucson, Arizona, at age 85. The cause of death was pneumonia related to lung cancer, according to a family member. He was interred in
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was Bat 21. As the ranking navigator/EWO on the aircraft, he was seated immediately behind the pilot, giving him the call sign "Bat 21 Bravo". He survived for
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without seeing any combat. Released from active duty at the end of the war, he retained a reserve commission and was recalled back to active duty by the
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Hambleton was the only one of the three-man crew able to eject from the crashing aircraft. He parachuted into the middle of the North
Vietnamese
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499:. Nguyen was the only South Vietnamese sailor given that award during the war. Norris would go on to become a founding member of the
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ordered that no further air rescue operations should be attempted, but ordered a ground rescue operation. Hambleton was a USAF
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aircraft that flew radar and communications jamming missions to disrupt enemy defenses and early warning capabilities.
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in a covert, night-time infiltration 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) behind enemy lines. Norris was awarded the
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Beyond Hell and Back: How
America's Special Operations Forces Became the World's Greatest Fighting Unit
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days behind enemy lines until he was retrieved in a ground operation. His rescue was
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the longest and most costly search and rescue mission during the entire
Vietnam War
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at about 30,000 feet (9,100 m), the aircraft was destroyed by a Soviet-built
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and landed in the midst of tens of thousands of North
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Fighting to Leave: The Final Years of
America's War in Vietnam, 1972–1973
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The story of
Hambleton's evasion and rescue was told in the 1980 book,
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Stoffey, Col. Robert E.; Holloway III, Admiral James L. (2008).
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expert with a Top Secret/SCI clearance and his capture by the
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Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
1207:"Interdiction of Communist Infiltration Routes in Vietnam"
1183:. Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania: U.S. Army War College.
366:, Thailand as a navigator. The 42 TEWS was equipped with
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United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II
1377:"The Unsung Hero in the Amazing Rescue of Bat 21 Bravo"
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On his 63rd mission, on April 2, 1972, Hambleton was a
214:(November 16, 1918 – September 19, 2004) was a career
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bombers tasked with attacking entrance passes to the
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Hambleton switched from the Strategic Air Command to
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who was shot down over South Vietnam during the 1972
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United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War
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United States Air Force personnel of the Korean War
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434:Hambleton had received water survival training at
389:. The aircraft was helping escort a cell of three
991:Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
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1075:. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. p.
310:He then worked during the 1960s on various USAF
1028:. This was followed by the dramatic 1988 film,
1231:"E/R/W/B-66 Production, Attrition and History"
1105:Zimmerman, Dwight Jon; Gresham, John (2008).
1621:Burials at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
1402:
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1042:as a forward air controller. A second book,
986:Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
423:was the "largest, longest, and most complex
1413:. New York: Ballantine Books. p. 352.
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1174:Busboom, Lt. Col. Stanley (April 2, 1990).
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360:42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron
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1438:McLellan, Dennis (September 27, 2004).
1386:. HistoryNet.com: 45–51. Archived from
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421:eventual rescue from behind enemy lines
1596:United States Army Air Forces officers
1576:People from Vermilion County, Illinois
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1497:McLellan, Dennis (27 September 2004).
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1219:from the original on 16 November 2017.
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326:. From 1965 to 1971, he commanded the
1509:from the original on January 12, 2012
1111:. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 320.
981:Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
1532:King Hawes – A Tale of Two Airplanes
1350:"A Story of the Brotherhood of Arms"
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1140:"Lieutenant-Colonel Iceal Hambleton"
900:Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
442:training and survival basics at the
291:(USAF) during the 1950s. During the
1311:
1187:from the original on March 20, 2012
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13:
1375:Haseman, John B. (December 2008).
1329:from the original on July 23, 2011
1003:Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
274:
14:
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1466:Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
1356:from the original on 23 July 2011
1265:from the original on June 5, 2011
967:Air Force Longevity Service Award
963:with three bronze campaign stars
513:Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
91:Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
1626:Military personnel from Illinois
1601:United States Air Force officers
1427:from the original on 2017-11-16.
1125:from the original on 2017-11-16.
1024:, written by Air Force Colonel
907:Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
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148:571st Strategic Missile Squadron
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16:United States Air Force officer
1321:Mack, Amy P. (July 26, 2010).
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938:National Defense Service Medal
427:" operation during the entire
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1566:Recipients of the Silver Star
1476:Anderson, William C. (1980).
1410:Vietnam Medal of Honor Heroes
1290:. Zenith Press. p. 336.
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970:with silver oak leaf cluster
910:with bronze oak leaf cluster
903:with bronze oak leaf cluster
281:United States Army Air Forces
116:United States Army Air Forces
1067:Whitcomb, Darrel D. (1998).
895:Air Force Commendation Medal
465:Hambleton was rescued after
344:390th Strategic Missile Wing
332:Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
7:
1606:Recipients of the Air Medal
854:USAF Master Navigator badge
10:
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1537:LTC Iceal “Gene” Hambleton
1407:Murphy, Edward F. (2005).
998:United Nations Korea Medal
974:Armed Forces Reserve Medal
933:World War II Victory Medal
866:Distinguished Flying Cross
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533:Distinguished Flying Cross
527:Hambleton was awarded the
397:. While just south of the
257:Distinguished Flying Cross
180:Distinguished Flying Cross
1146:. London. October 1, 2004
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1026:William Charles Anderson
1008:Korean War Service Medal
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436:Homestead Air Force Base
358:and was assigned to the
279:Hambleton served in the
1260:"Bio, Walker, Bruce C."
926:American Campaign Medal
921:Army Good Conduct Medal
501:FBI Hostage Rescue Team
289:United States Air Force
216:United States Air Force
120:United States Air Force
1323:"The Rescue of BAT-21"
916:Combat Readiness Medal
523:Awards and decorations
410:surface-to-air missile
346:at Davis-Monthan AFB.
23:Iceal Eugene Hambleton
1212:. CIA. 24 June 1965.
960:Vietnam Service Medal
460:North Vietnamese Army
340:Strategic Air Command
314:projects such as the
126:Years of service
35:Hambleton around 1973
1237:on September 4, 2011
1177:Bat 21: A Case Study
1071:The rescue of Bat 21
1044:The Rescue of Bat 21
948:Korean Service Medal
383:signals intelligence
547:during his career.
444:Pacific Air Command
271:during his career.
225:. He was aboard an
62:Rossville, Illinois
1616:Shot-down aviators
886:with three bronze
440:escape and evasion
368:EB-66C/E Destroyer
305:B-29 Superfortress
251:. He received the
138:Lieutenant Colonel
72:September 19, 2004
1503:Los Angeles Times
1445:Los Angeles Times
1420:978-0-345-47618-0
1297:978-0-7603-3310-5
1118:978-0-312-38467-8
1038:as Hambleton and
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888:oak leaf clusters
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312:ballistic missile
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1541:Find a Grave
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1388:the original
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1040:Danny Glover
1036:Gene Hackman
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943:service star
873:Purple Heart
545:Purple Heart
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189:Purple Heart
158:World War II
154:Battles/wars
74:(2004-09-19)
1561:2004 deaths
1556:1918 births
1034:, starring
861:Silver Star
529:Silver Star
483:Lieutenant
429:Vietnam War
350:Vietnam War
253:Silver Star
176:Silver Star
166:Vietnam War
41:Nickname(s)
1550:Categories
1360:31 October
1054:References
497:Navy Cross
381:gathering
377:aboard an
293:Korean War
162:Korean War
102:Allegiance
55:1918-11-16
1513:March 24,
1333:March 27,
1303:March 29,
1269:March 24,
1241:March 24,
1144:The Times
883:Air Medal
537:Air Medal
481:Navy SEAL
403:Quang Tri
375:navigator
301:navigator
261:Air Medal
231:call sign
219:navigator
212:Hambleton
184:Air Medal
129:1943–1973
1507:Archived
1425:Archived
1354:Archived
1327:Archived
1263:Archived
1214:Archived
1191:April 3,
1185:Archived
1150:April 1,
1123:Archived
479:days by
450:General
144:Commands
110:Service/
1451:May 21,
1384:Vietnam
474:⁄
387:jamming
297:sorties
242:⁄
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1478:BAT-21
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1031:Bat*21
1022:Bat 21
543:and a
539:, the
535:, the
531:, the
379:EB-66C
267:and a
263:, the
259:, the
255:, the
204:Eugene
172:Awards
112:branch
86:Buried
81:, U.S.
64:, U.S.
1391:(PDF)
1380:(PDF)
1217:(PDF)
1210:(PDF)
1181:(PDF)
941:with
507:Death
364:Korat
303:in a
227:EB-66
201:Iceal
1515:2011
1482:ISBN
1453:2018
1415:ISBN
1362:2011
1335:2011
1305:2011
1292:ISBN
1271:2011
1243:2011
1193:2011
1152:2011
1113:ISBN
1081:ISBN
391:B-52
322:and
208:Gene
134:Rank
69:Died
49:Born
44:Gene
1539:at
1077:196
412:.
399:DMZ
342:'s
334:in
330:at
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299:as
186:(4)
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