All, however, held him in awe. The use of Bullpups against the bridge had been completely ineffectual, resulting in the scheduling of a second mission the next day with 48 F-105s attacking the bridge without destroying it. He next served on the joint staff of Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) in Hawaii. The day after his arrival he returned to Korea when he learned that MiGs were operational. He completed transition training in P-40 Warhawk and P-39 Airacobra fighters before being assigned to the 30th Fighter Squadron in Panama. Risner's exploits earned him an awarding of the Air Force Cross and resulted in his being featured as the cover portrait of the April 23, 1965 issue of Time Magazine. While undergoing hospital treatment in the Army, he met his future wife Catherine Shaw (Kathleen Shaw), she was a nurse from Ware Shoals, South Carolina, Risner and Shaw got engaged on a ship and were discharged and married the next month. [25] While held prisoner in Hoa Loa, Risner served first as Senior Ranking Officer and later as Vice Commander of the provisional 4th Allied Prisoner of War Wing. But Robbies repeated requests for combat duty were ignored by the Armys personnel system, and he spent the rest of the war defending the Panama Canal. The strike force consisted of more than 100 F-105, F-100 and B-57 aircraft, and in the congested airspace, heavy anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) fire seriously disrupted its coordination and radio communications. She went out of her way to attack him." The first time you log in to our catalog you will need to create an account. The 30th FS was based on a primitive airstrip without permanent facilities at Aguadulce, on the Gulf of Panama. J. The Passing of the Night: Seven Years as a Prisoner of the North Vietnamese, Code of Conduct for American Fighting Men. [28][31], Risner spent more than three years in solitary confinement. His story of being imprisoned drew wide acclaim after that war's end. He wrestled for Tulsa Central High School, where he graduated in 1942. In October 1952 Risner was promoted to major and named operations officer of the 336th FIS. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (born January 16, 1925) [1] was a general officer and professional fighter pilot in the United States Air Force . . Risner was flying F-105D 62-4233 on March 22, 1965. In 2006, Risner appeared on an episode of the History Channel series Dogfights. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. "The Art of Reviewing By Innuendo". Thompson, Warren E., and McLaren, David R. (2002). His aerial skill and heroic actions set an example for the others to follow. Shot down again on September 16, 1965, he was captured and held as a. I prayed he would give me strength to endure it. After two attempts, Risner was forced to discontinue when leaking fuel and hydraulic fluid covered his canopy and threatened to stall his own engine. program[21] and raised quarter horses, and later in San Antonio. Risner enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet in April, 1943, and attended flight training at Williams Field, Arizona, where he was awarded his pilot wings and a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in May 1944. During that period the Vietnamese intercepted a series of prisoner messages which clearly indicated the danger of General Risner's leadership to their exploitation methods. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. ", After several days of travel on foot and by truck, Risner was imprisoned in Hoa Lo Prison, known as the Hanoi Hilton to American POWs. He was promoted to the grade of Brigadier General in May 1974. Once Risner determined that he was the senior ranking officer, he began to put structure and guidance into the POWs lives, a sense of order and community, the very thing their captors were trying desperately to prevent. "[51], The chapter squadron of the Arnold Air Society for Southern California, based on the AFROTC detachment of California State University, San Bernardino, is named for Risner. [n 5], Risner's squadron led the first Rolling Thunder strike on March 2, bombing an ammunition dump at Xom Biang approximately 10 miles (16km) north of the Demilitarized Zone. Even so, as the officer of rank with the responsibility of maintaining order, from 1965 to 1973 he helped lead American resistance in the North Vietnamese prison complex through the use of improvised messaging techniques ("tap code"), endearing himself to fellow prisoners with his faith and optimism. James Robinson Risner 'Robbie' Engagements: Korean War (1950 - 1953) Vietnam War (1960 - 1973) Biography: James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (January 16, 1925 - October 22, 2013) was a general officer and professional fighter pilot in the United States Air Force.. Risner was a double recipient of the Air Force Cross, the second highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to . ", Commander Everett Alvarez Jr. 1st U.S. pilot held as a Prisoner of War in Southeast Asia[30], After several days of travel on foot and by truck, Risner was imprisoned in Ha L Prison, known as "The Hanoi Hilton" to American POWs. On these dates Colonel Risner led two successive operations against vitally important and heavily defended targets. Robinson deliberately concealed the injury, which would have grounded him, until able to convince a flight surgeon that the injury had healed. [12] Risner shut down his own engine in an attempt to save fuel, but eventually his engine flamed out and he glided to a deadstick landing at Kimpo. A miniature replica, also donated by Perot, is presented to each year's recipient as a personal memento. I did not ask God to take me out of it. He directed his aircraft over the Gulf of Tonkin, ejected, and was rescued. Risner enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet in April 1943 and attended flight training at Williams Field, Arizona, where he was awarded his pilot wings and a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in May 1944. (1925 - 2013) (RIP) James Rob. The trophy is permanently displayed at the United States Air Force Academy, with each winner's name inscribed. Rate and review titles you borrow and share your opinions on them. The first recipient of the Risner Award was Capt. Perhaps his greatest act of rebellion was the organization of a forbidden church service in 1971. His autobiography, The Passing of the Night: My Seven Years as a Prisoner of the North Vietnamese, describes seven years of torture and mistreatment by the North Vietnamese. In addition to replicating the Risner Award, the statue commemorates Risner and other POWs who were punished for holding religious services in their room at the Hanoi Hilton on February 7, 1971,[28] in defiance of North Vietnamese authorities. Additional support provided by the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation Inc. Risner's aircraft was at very low altitude flying at approximately 600mph,[23] approaching a site that was likely a decoy luring aircraft into a concentration of AAA. In the course of the operation, Colonel Risner's unit encountered the first MIG force committed in aerial combat against the U.S. [18] He was part of the first group of prisoners released in Operation Homecoming on 12 February 1973 and returned to the United States. Error: On Feb. 12, 1973, he was among the first group of prisoners to be released from North Korea. Additional support provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council. Correll, John T. Nine Feet Tall. Air Force Magazine, February 2012, pp. Fighting a serious fuel leak and a smoke-filled cockpit in addition to anti-aircraft fire from the ground, he again nursed his crippled aircraft to Danang. But there is no doubt in that every last one of the POWs stood taller in Risners shadow, tougher in their own resistance, and come home better men as a result. [29] While held prisoner in Ha L, Risner served first as Senior Ranking Officer and later as Vice Commander of the provisional 4th Allied Prisoner of War Wing. This page was last edited on 25 December 2022, at 21:40. Near Cho Do, Lt. Logan bailed out, after radioing to Risner, "I'll see you at the base tonight." [44] He later moved to Bridgewater, Virginia. Following the war, in 1957, he was chosen to fly an F-100F Super Sabre to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of Charles Lindberghs ground-breaking transatlantic flight. Robinson Risner, Air Force Ace and POW, Dies at 88. Washington Post, October 29, 2013. Ungraded . He maneuvered his aircraft over the Gulf of Tonkin, ejected a mile offshore, and was rescued after fifteen minutes in the water. He flew his badly damaged aircraft over heavily fortified hostile territory before successfully landing at a friendly airfield. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Archives (1985). In July 1973 assigned to the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, where he became combat ready in the F-4 Phantom II. Robinson Risner, Self: Return with Honor. Schudel, Matt. awards the Air Force Cross to Brigadier General Robinson Risner for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 31 October 1965 to 15 . During the Vietnam War, Risner was a double recipient of the Air Force Cross, the second highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force, awarded the first for valor in aerial combat and the second for gallantry as a prisoner of war of the North Vietnamese for more than seven years. Risner is a double recipient of the Air Force Cross, the second highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. Risner stayed in radio contact with the rescue helicopter. (Capt. [45][46][n 13], A nine-foot bronze statue of Risner, sculpted by Lawrence M. Ludtke and mounted on a five-foot pedestal of black granite, was commissioned by Perot and dedicated in the Air Gardens at the Air Force Academy on November 16, 2001. Arriving at Kimpo in the middle of the night, he joined his flight which was on alert status. He was a double recipient of the Air Force Cross, the second highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. I prayed he would give me strength to endure it. For Risner, this moment came on Sept. 16, 1965, during a raid over North Vietnam when his F-105 Thunderchief was hit by ground fire. [2], The Risner Award, created September 24, 1976, was donated by H. Ross Perot as a tribute to Risner and all Vietnam era Prisoners of War, and is administered by the Tactical Air Command (now by Air Combat Command). Rob was born about 1948 and died January 25, 1975 in Oklahoma City, victim of a chronic lung condition. [18], On March 22, 1965, flying F-105D 624233, Risner was hit by ground fire while leading two flights of F-105s attacking a radar site near Vinh Son. On September 16, 1965, Risner was leading an attack on a North Vietnamese missile base when his jet was disabled, forcing him to bail out. Risner is a double recipient of the Air Force Cross, the second highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. On the initial attack, while exposing himself to heavy ground fire, with complete disregard for his personal safety, Colonel Risner's aircraft sustained a direct hit in the left forward bomb-bay area, filling the cockpit with smoke and fumes. Race & Ethnicity. His father was originally a sharecropper, then during the Great Depression became a day laborer for the Works Progress Administration. His autobiography, The Passing of the Night: My Seven Years as a Prisoner of the North Vietnamese, describes seven years of torture and mistreatment by the North Vietnamese. Gen. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner was part of that legendary group who served in three wars, built an Air Force, and gave us an enduring example of courage and mission success Today's Airmen know we stand on the shoulders of giants. [9][n 2] Scoring numerous hits on the MiG, shooting off its canopy, and setting it on fire, Risner chased it between hangars of the Communist airbase, where he shot it down into parked fighters. [3] Risner worked numerous part-time jobs in his youth to help the family, including newspaper delivery, errand boy and soda jerk for a drug store,[1] for the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce at age 16, as a welder, and for his father polishing cars. [7], His first two months of combat saw little contact with MiGs, and although a flight leader, he took a three-day leave to Japan in early August. Your email address will not be published. [38] Risner made no rebuttal at the time, but when interviewed by Frances Kiernan decades later, Risner described the review as "character assassination", a criticism of McCarthy's treatment supported by several of her liberal peers including Kiernan. This guy had balls of steel. [3], Risner had a religious upbringing as a member of the 1st Assembly of God Church. [7][10][11], On the return flight, Risner's wingman, 1st Lt. Joseph Logan, was struck in his fuel tanks by anti-aircraft fire over Antung. In civilian life, Risner tried a succession of jobs, training as an auto mechanic, operating a gas station, and managing a service garage. TogetherWeServed.com Inc. All Rights Reserved | Not a U.S. Government Website. [28] He was on his 55th combat mission at the time. Gen. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner was part of that legendary . [22] Again he attempted to fly to the Gulf of Tonkin, but ejected when the aircraft, on fire, pitched up out of control. On the afternoon of April 3, the strike package of Rolling Thunder Mission 9 Alpha consisted of 79 aircraft, including 46 F-105s. It was according to him, the most gratifying period of his life. His many decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star with V for valor, two Silver Stars, eight Air Medals, and three Purple Hearts. Veteran of: U.S. Army Air Forces 1943-1946 . [n 8] Risner's aircraft was at very low altitude flying at approximately 600 miles per hour (970km/h),[27] approaching a site that was likely a decoy luring aircraft into a concentration of AAA. A miniature replica, also donated by Perot, is presented to each year's recipient as a personal memento. In June 1975, Risner was divorced from his wife Kathleen after 29 years of marriage. The Legend Of James Robinson Risner - F-86 Sabre Pilot. Male. In June, when the 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, also at Kimpo, sought experienced pilots, he arranged a transfer to 4th Fighter Wing through the intervention of a former OKANG associate. Employed at low altitudes, the "hunters" located the missiles and attacked their radar control vans with canisters of napalm, both to knock out the SAM's missile guidance and to mark the target for the "killers", which followed up the initial attack using 750-pound bombs to destroy the site. Fighting one MiG at nearly supersonic speeds at ground level, Risner pursued it down a dry riverbed and across low hills to an airfield 35 miles inside China. He was the fifth of seven children. Risner's squadron led the first Rolling Thunder strike, bombing an ammunition dump approximately ten miles north of the Demilitarized Zone between the two Vietnams. Heavy ground fire struck Risner's F-105 in its air intakes when he popped up over a hill to make his attack. James Robinson Risner's F-86; While a guest of the communists, he suffered. He became in the eyes of others in the business one of two things: the perfect role model, or just plain crazy. Risner . James R. Risner. The missions saw the first interception of U.S. aircraft by North Vietnamese MiG-17 fighters, resulting in the loss of two F-105s and pilots of the last flight, struck by a hit-and-run attack while waiting for their run at the target.[24]. [24] He was on his 55th combat mission at the time. Robinson Risner, Ace Fighter Pilot, Dies at 88. New York Times, October 28, 2013. Donations made to the CALS Foundation are tax-deductible for United States federal income tax purposes. Ferrying a two-seat F-100F Super Sabre nicknamed Spirit of St. Louis II to Europe on the same route as Lindbergh, he set a transatlantic speed record, covering the distance in 6 hours and 37 minutes. H&S's and Risner's accounts "differ radically". [4], In addition to a love of sports, Risner's interests were primarily in riding horses and motorcycles.[3]. He received an unofficial rebuke from the American embassy for flying an armed fighter into the sovereign territory of a foreign nation, but for diplomatic reasons the flight was officially ignored.[5]. He was the first living recipient of the . In the course of the operation, Colonel Risner's unit encountered the first MIG force committed in aerial combat against the U.S. He radioed Joe to shut down his engine. Others were tortured and never seen again. James Robinson Risner Nickname(s) Robbie Born (1925-01-16)January 16, 1925 Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, U.S. Died October 22, 2013(2013-10-22)(aged 88) Bridgewater, Virginia, U.S. James Robinson (Robbie) Risner, a native of Mammoth Spring (Fulton County), was a much-decorated fighter pilot famed for his resistance to his North Vietnamese captors as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. "[2], Risner in 1973 after being released as a POW by the North Vietnamese. However, he refused to be diverted from his primary mission of completing the destruction of the assigned targets. He also had his right arm ripped from its socket. During their defense of the bombers, Risner's flight overflew the MiG base at Antung Airfield, China. Awards: Air Force Cross (2) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Bronze Star (3 . [10][13], On September 21, he shot down his fifth MiG, becoming the 20th jet ace. 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