Five USAF aircraft, including three of Risner's F-105s, were shot down on the Xom Biang strike, but all of the 67th TFS pilots including Baird were rescued. (Capt. [10] [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. [38], General Risner received the following awards and decorations:[15][39]. Robinson Risner . In an effort to help him reach Kimpo, Risner attempted to push Logan's aircraft by having him shut down his engine and inserting the nose of his own jet into the tailpipe of Logan's, an unprecedented and untried maneuver. [19], On April 3 and 4, 1965, Risner acted as mission commander on two large missions attacking the Thanh Hoa Bridge in North Vietnam. (Campbell and Hill, p. 90), Risner was "Oak Lead" on September 16, 1965, flying F-105D 61-0217. [3] In addition to a love of sports, Risner's interests were primarily in riding horses and motorcycles.[1]. Logan bailed out over water but became tangled in his parachute lines and drowned before he could be rescued. Risner was later transferred to Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico as Commander of the 832d Air Division in February 1974 and flew the F-111 fighter-bomber. Obituary from the. I did not ask God to take me out of it. He received the Air Force Cross for his actions with the Sixty-Seventh Tactical Fighter Squadron on April 34, 1965, and was awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster to his Korean War Silver Star for operations against the North Vietnamese between September 9 and 12, 1965. "[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. Risner in 1973 after being released as a POW by the North Vietnamese, Risner's call sign this date was "John Red Lead". [16], In July 1956, he was transferred to George Air Force Base, California as operations officer of the 413th Fighter Wing. Robert V. "Boris" Baird was shot down on the opening pass and the mission was in danger of collapsing when Risner took charge. He next served on the joint staff of Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) in Hawaii. James Robinson Risner: Mini Bio (1) 72201. [35] He is also the first living recipient of this decoration. Colonel Risner initiated the attack, directing his aircraft into the target in the face of heavy automatic ground fire. 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. [34], An interview with Risner appears in the 1968 4-chapter East German series Piloten im Pyjama by Walter Heynowski and Gerhard Scheumann. The extremely harsh treatment inflicted upon him was to become a way of life for him in the subsequent years. [8], 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. The couple raised their combined six children together. His second wife, Dorothy Risner, was the widow of an American soldier who died in the war. Rate and review titles you borrow and share your opinions on them. Performing in the role of air coordinator, Colonel Risner arrived over the target area before the main strike force, evaluated the effectiveness of each strike, redirected subsequent strikes, and provided flak suppression against defenses that would hinder delivery aircraft in the performance of their mission. Timothy A. Kinnan in 1977. You wouldnt be here.. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 55, Site 626. James R. Risner. The Passing of the Night. The idea was to push the plane to reach the United Nations rescue base of Cho Do. Perhaps his greatest act of rebellion was the organization of a forbidden church service in 1971. Voices of the Vietnam POWs: Witnesses to Their Fight. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (January 16, 1925 - October 22, 2013) was a Brigadier General, fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, and a senior leader among U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. [10][13], On September 21, he shot down his fifth MiG, becoming the 20th jet ace. 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. After Vietnam, Risner was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and returned to the pilots seat and commanded several fighter training programs before his retirement in 1976. SHOULD READ : Tactics were revised in which "Hunter-Killer Teams" were created. Some prisoners reconstructed an abbreviated version of the Bible from memory. Ann Blodzinski, Frisbee, "Valor: When Push Came to Shove", Grumbach, "The Art of Reviewing By Innuendo", "1957 Spirit of St. Louis II Sets Atlantic Record" (newsreel), "Dogfights: F-86 Sabres Battle at Extreme Speeds in the Korean War", U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War, U.S. Unfortunately, the Time magazine article featuring Risner made its way to his captors. Risner died at his home in Bridgewater, Virginia, on October 22, 2013, following a series of strokes. The Risner Award is a six and one-half foot trophy consisting of a sculpture of Risner in flight suit and helmet on a marble base, weighing approximately four tons. At his death, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III observed: "Brig. [28][31], Risner spent more than three years in solitary confinement. He had been beaten up and starved, thrown for months into a dark cell crawling with rats, held immobile with his legs pinned in stocks, and strapped with ropes so tightly that his right arm was torn from its socket. Risner encouraged resistance among his fellow American captives, urging them to withstand their jailers torture but not to the point of suffering permanent physical or mental disability. Risner's squadron was tasked with flak suppression, dropping CBU-2 "cluster bombs" from extremely low altitude. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship and aggressiveness, Colonel Risner reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. In civilian life, Risner tried a succession of jobs, training as an auto mechanic, operating a gas station, and managing a service garage. It was his heroics of the Korean War that put Robbie Risners name on the map of aerial warriors of that era and earned him the title of the 20th Ace of the War. Risners first marriage ended in divorce. On Feb. 12, 1973, he was among the first group of prisoners to be released from North Vietnam. Risner and Shaw became engaged on a ship and were discharged and married the next month. [6], Risner arrived in Korea on May 10, 1952, assigned to the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron at Kimpo Air Base. He wrestled for Tulsa Central High School, where he graduated in 1942. The first recipient of the Risner Award was Capt. I prayed he would give me strength to endure it. 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. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (January 16, 1925 - October 22, 2013) was a Brigadier General, fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, and a senior leader among U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Performing in the role of air coordinator, Colonel Risner arrived over the target area before the main strike force, evaluated the effectiveness of each strike, redirected subsequent strikes, and provided flak suppression against defenses that would hinder delivery aircraft in the performance of their mission. 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. Risner became an ace in the Korean War and commanded a squadron of F-105 Thunderchiefs in the first missions of Operation Rolling Thunder in 1965. He was eulogized by Perot and General Welsh with fellow former POWs and current members of the 336th Fighter Squadron among those in attendance. [22], On the morning of September 16, 1965, on an Iron Hand mission, Risner flew F-105D 61-0217 as the "hunter" element of a Hunter-Killer Team searching for a SAM site in the vicinity of Tuong Loc, 80 miles south of Hanoi and 10 miles northeast of the Thanh Hoa Bridge. He subsequently received training in the F-80 Shooting Star at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. [n 1] During their defense of the bombers, Risner's flight overflew the MiG base at Antung Airfield, China. program[21] and raised quarter horses, and later in San Antonio. This project is funded in part by a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant award. 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. Other awards include the Bronze Star with V device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Command Medal, and Purple Heart with three Oak Leaf Clusters. The trophy is permanently displayed at the United States Air Force Academy, with each winner's name inscribed. The force had clear conditions but encountered a severe glare in the target area that made the bridge difficult to acquire for attacks with the Bullpups. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (born January 16, 1925) [1] was a general officer and professional fighter pilot in the United States Air Force . Risner retired as a brigadier general in 1976. Wingman Joe Logan bailed out over water and became entangled in his parachute cords, however, drowning before rescuers could reach him. When the Russian wondered if they might have met in combat, Risner replied, No, way. Robinson Risner. I did not ask God to take me out of it. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (born January 16, 1925)[1] was a general officer and professional fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. When the Korean War began, he wangled his way out of the Oklahoma Air National Guard and arrived in Korea on May 10, 1952, where he was assigned to the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron at Kimpo Air Base. The missions saw the first interception of U.S. air attacks by North Vietnamese MiG-17 fighters, resulting in the loss of two of Risner's F-105s on April 4.[20]. At his death, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III observed: "Brig. Later that same month, Robbie was featured on the cover of Time magazine. A miniature replica, also donated by Perot, is presented to each year's recipient as a personal memento. . Subsequent to that said he received his first Air Force Cross in April 1965 for leading air strikes against a strategicbridge in North Vietnam. 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. Tags: Topics: Question 47 . Divergent Prosperity and the Arc of Reform (1968-2022) Type. The President of the United States, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Air Force Cross to James Robinson Risner, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 31 October to 15 December 1965. Local man to be inducted into the Arkansas Military H.O.F. Robinson Risner, Air Force Ace and POW, Dies at 88. Washington Post, October 29, 2013. Comedian Kevin Fredericks won the Outstanding Social Media Personality award on Friday. [22] Again he attempted to fly to the Gulf of Tonkin, but ejected when the aircraft, on fire, pitched up out of control. In August 1964, Lieutenant Colonel Risner took command of the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron, an F-105D Thunderchief fighter-bomber unit based at Kadena AB, Okinawa, as part of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was a guiding presence, a behavior yardstick, and he managed to achieve this without direct contact. When he passed out from pain, the ropes were briefly loosened until the ordeal could start yet again. [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. They told Risner there were only three people they would rather have as a captive: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara or Dean Rusk. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. The flight of four F-86 Sabres launched and encountered 14 MiG-15s. Amid heavy flak from antiaircraft fire, Risner maneuvered his jet behind Logans and, at a speed of more than 200 mph, placed the nose of his plane in the tailpipe of the damaged plane. He completed transition training in P-40 Warhawk and P-39 Airacobra fighters before being assigned to the 30th Fighter Squadron in Panama. [4], In addition to a love of sports, Risner's interests were primarily in riding horses and motorcycles.[3]. He also became a P-51 Mustang pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. His wingman Capt. When it would get so bad that I did not think I could stand it, I would ask God to ease it and somehow I would make it. 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 . Forced to land on a dry lakebed, he found that he was in Mexico and encountered bandits, but successfully flew his Mustang to Brownsville after the storm had passed. Risner received two Silver Stars for his heroics and was one of only four airmen in history to receive more than one Air Force Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor for wartime heroism. He was promoted to brigadier general in May 1974. While undergoing hospital treatment in the Army, he met his first wife, Kathleen Shaw, a nurse from Ware Shoals, South Carolina. Early in the air war over North Vietnam, Robinson Risner led the first flight of Operation Rolling Thunder, a high-intensity aerial bombing of North Vietnam. His aerial skill and heroic actions set an example for the others to follow. On 1 August 1975, he became Vice Commander of the USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada and retired from the Air Force on 1 August 1976.[16]. He was promoted to the grade of Brigadier General in May 1974. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner : Rank, Service: Brigadier General O-7, U.S. Air Force. Can you list the top facts and stats about Robbie Risner? Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Archives (1985). 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. Give a donation in someones name to mark a special occasion, honor a friend or colleague or remember a beloved family member. [26], On the morning of September 16, 1965, on an Iron Hand sortie, Risner scheduled himself for the mission[21] as the "hunter" element of a Hunter-Killer Team searching for a SAM site in the vicinity of Tuong Loc, 80 miles (130km) south of Hanoi and 10 miles (16km) northeast of the Thanh Hoa Bridge. He actually had his cast removed to fly his first mission. When forced to make a statement against the war, he did so with mispronounced words and a heavy German accent, bringing further punishment from his captors. 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. On August 12, 1965, U.S. Air Force and Navy air units received authorization to attack surface-to-air missile sites supplied to the North Vietnamese by the Soviet Union. He flew a combined 163 combat missions, was shot down twice, and was credited with destroying eight MiG-15s. During their defense of the bombers, Risner's flight overflew the MiG base at Antung Airfield, China. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (January 16, 1925 - October 22, 2013) was a Brigadier General, fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, and a senior leader among U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War . Returned to Hoa Loa Prison as punishment for disseminating behavior guidelines to the POWs under his nominal command, Risner was severely tortured for 32 days, culminating in his coerced signing of an apologetic confession for war crimes.[24][27]. 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. Bri. He radioed Joe to shut down his engine. Risners leadership was on display when he organized a forbidden worship service in 1971. & Latino Voices STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Festival Awards Central Festival Central All Events. The award is presented annually to the outstanding graduate of the USAF Weapons School. He flew F-86s with the 50th Wing to activate Hahn Air Base, West Germany, where he became commander of the 81st FBS in November 1954. Two years before he retired from the air force as a brigadier general in 1975, he published his memoir of his time as a prisoner of war, The Passing of the Night. He flew a combined 163 combat missions, was shot down twice, and was credited with destroying eight MiG-15s. Risner died in his sleep October 22, 2013, at his home in Bridgewater, Virginia three days after suffering a severe stroke. Risner's family life during and following his imprisonment was marked by several personal tragedies. [31] After publication of the book, McCarthy strenuously attacked both Risner (deeming him "unlikeable") and Risner's credibility in a review. 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. Risner noted to a biographer that his tour under these conditions amounted to as much flying as he desired but a distinct lack of discipline on the ground. 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