Iceal gene hambletons real life rescue from behind enemy lines in vietnam. He has authored numerous articles, papers and stories for leading military journals and the books the rescue of bat 21 and combat search and rescue in desert storm. In other radio messages he was told to walk holes from several other golf course layouts including the davismonthan air force base golf course. Anderson, novelist and retired united states air force. Thankfully, now we know the true, tragic but inspiring story behind bat 21. Anderson, novelist and retired united states air force colonel. The story of hambletons evasion and rescue was told in the 1980 book, bat 21, written by air force colonel william charles anderson. Colonel iceal hambleton gene hackman gets his first taste of real carnage when he is shot down in enemy territory. Air force navigator who became the focus of the largest rescue. Anderson, and the second, published after considerable classified information was released, the rescue of bat 21 1999 by darrel d. When his electronic warfare planecall sign bat 21 was shot down on 2 april 1972, fiftythreeyearold air force navigator iceal gene hambleton parachuted into the middle of a north vietnamese invasion force and set off the biggest and most controversial air rescue effort of the vietnam war. Its the story of a middleaged air force colonels attempt to survive behind enemy lines, where he has no business being in the first place, and about how a stubborn spotter pilot returns time and again in a light aircraft to keep his. When his electronic warfare plane, call sign bat 21, was shot down on 2 april 1972, fiftythreeyearold air force navigator iceal gene hambleton parachuted into the middle of a north vietnamese invasion force and set off the biggest and most controversial air rescue effort of the vietnam war.
Tony is just a nice guy that happens to be an air force puke. Lieutenant clark was already near the cam lo river that flowed east into the cua viet so he remained hidden with instruction to. When his electronic warfare planecall sign bat 21was shot down on 2 april. Working with an air force reconnaissance pilot, capt. Bat 21 rescue gene hambleton, 85, his rescue depicted in bat21 books, film. Bat 21 was a very informative book revealing the very hazardous missions the jollies. It was the major military seaport used by the united states for the offloading of supplies, military equipment and as a major naval base. The unorthodox operation involved personnel from all. Overview of bat 21, 1988, directed by peter markle, with gene hackman, danny glover, jerry reed, at turner classic movies. This was followed by the dramatic 1988 film, bat21, starring gene hackman as hambleton and danny glover as a forward air controller. On april 2, 1972, air force navigator lieutenant colonel iceal gene hambleton was flying in the electronic warfare plane with the call sign bat21 over enemy territory.
Whitcomb graduated from the united states air force academy in. Air force has given us our first glimpse of what will hopefully become americans next. Welcome to the air force office of public affairs, entertainment liaison the single contact for information and assistance with entertainment productions having air force and space force themes or segments by offering direct access to air force and space force people, aircraft and equipment, technical assistance, military advice and locations, we ensure that projects. The air force remains confident in the b21s progress and in delivering this new capability as planned in the mid. The air force did not put limits on what it took to rescue a downed airman.
It is used as an aid in the selection of united states air force pilot candidates. The hurricane hunter, penelope, and adam, m1 are only a few of his better known works. Note 1 set during the vietnam war, the film is a dramatization based upon the rescue of a u. When his electronic warfare planecall sign bat 21was shot down on 2 april 1972, fiftythreeyearold air force navigator iceal gene. Bat21 is a 1988 american war film directed by peter markle, and adapted from the book by william c. Unsung hero in the amazing rescue of bat 21 bravo historynet. The story of bat 21 inspired books and a movie, bat 21. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Originally an aerial reconnaissance unit during wwii. Anderson is probably the ideal person to have written the saga of bat21. The green hornets were reactivated as 20th helicopter squadron in 1956. Bat scores are combined with the candidates air force officer qualifying test afoqt, pilot composite score and flying hours to produce a pilot candidate selection method pcsm score. Report suggests b21 bomber, boeing 737, as new air force one. The basic attributes test bat is a computerized test battery.
When his electronic warfare planecall sign bat 21was shot down on 2 april 1972, fiftythreeyearold air force navigator iceal gene hambleton parachuted into the middle of a north vietnamese invasion force and set off the biggest and most controversial air rescue effort of the vietnam war. Bat 21 is a 1988 war film directed by peter markle, and adapted from the book by william c anderson, novelist and retired united states air force colonel. The rescue of bat 21 bravo, the call sign for iceal gene hambleton, a navigator aboard an. More than 50 years after its founding, the united states air force is celebrated in a stunning, lavishly illustrated volume published in conjunction with the air force historical foundation. The air force launched a rescue operation to bring colonel hambleton out of enemy territory. Gene hambleton november 16, 1918 september 19, 2004, ranked lieutenant colonel, was a united states air force navigator and electronic warfare officer who was shot down over south vietnam during the 1972 easter offensive. The actions for which norris received his medal of honor have been recounted in numerous books and a feature film, bat21, the air force code name for. Gene hackman and erich anderson in bat21 1988 iceal hambleton in bat21. Stranded and alone in the jungle, his only chance for survival lies with capt. Rejected b21 names include baconator, lurking sasquatch, bomber mcbomberface an artists rendering of the b21 raider, the.
A retired air force colonel, he is both a friend and former neighbor of col. As north vietnams hammer was beating out south vietnams submission, hambleton was shot down 12 miles south of the dmz. When his electronic warfare plane, call sign bat 21, was shot down on 2 april 1972, fiftythreeyearold air force navigator iceal gene hambleton parachuted into the middle of a north vietnamese invasion force and set off the biggest and most controversial air. A middleaged air force officer stranded behind enemy lines in vietnam makes contact with a scout pilot who is determined to rescue him no matter the cost. Bartholomew clark danny glover, a light aircraft pilot who must guide him to safety from the sky. Thanks to this ingenious code and the bravery and sacrifice of the air rescue helicopters, hambleton is finally rescued. The united states relied on b52 bombers and other american air power to.
Set during the vietnam war, the film is a dramatization based upon the rescue of a u. This was the movie that brought the bat 21 story into my life as a young air force airman at age 19 in 1988. Bat 21 certainly deserves that qualification, because it feels real, never exaggerates in the action scenes and certainly offered me a lot of pleasure while watching it. Now, after twentyfive years of official secrecy, the story of that dangerous and. Everything we know about the new b21 stealth bomber and the looming battle to build it. Bat21 is the kind of lean, nononsense war film hollywood used to make back before the subject became burdened with metaphysical insights. Indeed, the details were kept secret for more than 25 years. Two books were written about the search and rescue operation to bring hambleton out alive. Bat21 is a 1988 war film directed by peter markle, and adapted from the book by william c anderson, novelist and retired united states air force colonel.
Colonel in the usaf, who was navigator of an eb66 electronic warfare aircraft shot down during the 1972 north vietnam offensive. Read about the budget, gross, and more of bat 21, 1988, directed by peter markle, with gene hackman. Bat 21 is a 1988 american war film directed by peter markle, and adapted from the book by william c. Cam ranh air force base was part of the large cam ranh bay logistics facility built by the united states. Hambleton knows the area hes in is going to be carpetbombed but a temporary shortage of helicopters causes a delay. Author darrel whitcomb, air force academy 69, served three tours in. Best known of his books, and probably the least humorous, was bat21 in 1980, the truelife story of 53yearold air force lt. This bestselling novel was later turned into a film by tristar pictures starring gene hackman and danny glover. In fact, the movie bat21 was adapted from william andersons 1983 book bat21. Meanwhile the air force began the intricate process of preparing nail38 bravo and bat21 bravo for the newest rescue attempt. Hambleton and an author with a distinguished list of book and film credits. Darrel whitcomb, a 1969 graduate of the air force academy, served our country for over 30 years as a u. Here are 21 books from small presses to get you through lockdown and beyond. Darrel d whitcomb a decorated air force pilot and vietnam veteran tell the previously secret story of the most controversial air rescue of the vietnam war.
994 1182 648 845 173 612 1418 224 1295 1325 821 1263 121 174 276 1276 365 763 1030 1220 582 1154 1255 1519 838 664 915 696 768 692 838 1321 33 818 1248 784 1135 939 845 1220