Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. 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. Originally an aerial reconnaissance unit during wwii. Thankfully, now we know the true, tragic but inspiring story behind bat 21. Anderson is probably the ideal person to have written the saga of bat21. 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. 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. Stranded and alone in the jungle, his only chance for survival lies with capt. There are some outstanding books about the vietnam war this is one of them. Bartholomew clark danny glover, a light aircraft pilot who must guide him to safety from the sky. 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. Gene hackman and erich anderson in bat21 1988 iceal hambleton in bat21. Rejected b21 names include baconator, lurking sasquatch, bomber mcbomberface an artists rendering of the b21 raider, the.
Colonel iceal hambleton gene hackman gets his first taste of real carnage when he is shot down in enemy territory. Colonel in the usaf, who was navigator of an eb66 electronic warfare aircraft shot down during the 1972 north vietnam offensive. The green hornets were reactivated as 20th helicopter squadron in 1956. Bat 21 rescue gene hambleton, 85, his rescue depicted in bat21 books, film. This was followed by the dramatic 1988 film, bat21, starring gene hackman as hambleton and danny glover as a forward air controller. The story of hambletons evasion and rescue was told in the 1980 book, bat 21, written by air force colonel william charles anderson. The air force remains confident in the b21s progress and in delivering this new capability as planned in the mid. Best known of his books, and probably the least humorous, was bat21 in 1980, the truelife story of 53yearold air force lt. Cam ranh air force base was part of the large cam ranh bay logistics facility built by the united states. It was the major military seaport used by the united states for the offloading of supplies, military equipment and as a major naval base.
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. Bat 21 was a very informative book revealing the very hazardous missions the jollies. In fact, the movie bat21 was adapted from william andersons 1983 book bat21. The air force did not put limits on what it took to rescue a downed airman. Anderson, and the second, published after considerable classified information was released, the rescue of bat 21 1999 by darrel d.
Air force navigator who became the focus of the largest rescue. 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. Indeed, the details were kept secret for more than 25 years. 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. Report suggests b21 bomber, boeing 737, as new air force one. Hambleton and an author with a distinguished list of book and film credits. Anderson, novelist and retired united states air force. The rescue of bat 21 and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. 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. Bat 21 is a 1988 american war film directed by peter markle, and adapted from the book by william c. Hambleton knows the area hes in is going to be carpetbombed but a temporary shortage of helicopters causes a delay. The unorthodox operation involved personnel from all. Meanwhile the air force began the intricate process of preparing nail38 bravo and bat21 bravo for the newest rescue attempt. Iceal gene hambletons real life rescue from behind enemy lines in vietnam.
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. Author darrel whitcomb, air force academy 69, served three tours in. 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. The story of bat 21 inspired books and a movie, bat 21. Two books were written about the search and rescue operation to bring hambleton out alive. In other radio messages he was told to walk holes from several other golf course layouts including the davismonthan air force base golf course. Lieutenant clark was already near the cam lo river that flowed east into the cua viet so he remained hidden with instruction to. 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.
The hurricane hunter, penelope, and adam, m1 are only a few of his better known works. 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. 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. 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. Working with an air force reconnaissance pilot, capt.
Now, after twentyfive years of official secrecy, the story of that dangerous and. Read about the budget, gross, and more of bat 21, 1988, directed by peter markle, with gene hackman. Everything we know about the new b21 stealth bomber and the looming battle to build it. In 1968 was redesignated 20th sos when around 20 uh1f were drawn from 4 sac bases and used to insert special forces troops into. This was the movie that brought the bat 21 story into my life as a young air force airman at age 19 in 1988. At the time, the largest rescue operation in usaf history. A retired air force colonel, he is both a friend and former neighbor of col.
Thanks to this ingenious code and the bravery and sacrifice of the air rescue helicopters, hambleton is finally rescued. As north vietnams hammer was beating out south vietnams submission, hambleton was shot down 12 miles south of the dmz. Bat21 is a 1988 american war film directed by peter markle, and adapted from the book by william c. Bat21 is the kind of lean, nononsense war film hollywood used to make back before the subject became burdened with metaphysical insights. But not before he witnesses first hand the death and destruction that takes place on the front lines of the war that he had spent the last year helping to direct from the safety of an air conditioned bunker in the rear. 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. Darrel whitcomb, a 1969 graduate of the air force academy, served our country for over 30 years as a u. Unsung hero in the amazing rescue of bat 21 bravo historynet. When his electronic warfare planecall sign bat 21was shot down on 2 april. 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. Whitcomb graduated from the united states air force academy in.
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. The basic attributes test bat is a computerized test battery. This bestselling novel was later turned into a film by tristar pictures starring gene hackman and danny glover. It is used as an aid in the selection of united states air force pilot candidates. Anderson, novelist and retired united states air force colonel. The air force launched a rescue operation to bring colonel hambleton out of enemy territory. 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. Overview of bat 21, 1988, directed by peter markle, with gene hackman, danny glover, jerry reed, at turner classic movies. Tony is just a nice guy that happens to be an air force puke. The rescue of bat 21 bravo, the call sign for iceal gene hambleton, a navigator aboard an.
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