In 2006, Risner appeared on an episode of the History Channel series Dogfights. [1][n 11], The USAF Weapons School Robbie 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). Online at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/28/us/robinson-risner-ace-fighter-pilot-dies-at-88.html?mcubz=3 (accessed December 16, 2017). He kept me. Robinson Risner was born on January 16, 1925 in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, USA. The proud strains rang out of the 15-foot walls of the camp and reverberated outside in the streets of downtown Hanoi. Morrocco, John, and Manning, Robert (1984). [4], Risner had a religious upbringing as a member of the 1st Assembly of God Church. 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 . Risner was able to re-establish contact and guide the powerless plane out over the sea until fluids threatened to stall his own engine. Colonel Risner's actions not only deprived the communist force of its vital supply route and much needed equipment but further served to emphasize the high degree of U.S. determination in Southeast Asia. When he passed the tough entrance exam for pilot training by one point, his future aloft was set. [15], In July 1956, he was transferred to George Air Force Base, California as operations officer of the 413th Fighter Wing. He was promoted to the grade of Brigadier General in May 1974. . If you can, provide 1-2 sources of information backing up this correction. His five sons had been ages 3 to 16 when he was shot down and imprisoned.[33]. He flew a combined 163 combat missions, was shot down twice, and was credited with destroying eight MiG-15s. 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. [16], 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, and part of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing. Although Logan came down close to shore and was a strong swimmer, he became entangled in his parachute shrouds and drowned. [28] He was a POW for seven years, four months, and 27 days. Risner retired as a brigadier general in 1976. At the time of Robbies capture, there were 27 other Americans incarcerated in Hanoi, separated from each other, all doing their best to abide by the Code of Conduct for American Fighting Men. 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. 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 is one of only four airmen with multiple awards of the Air Force Cross, a combat decoration second only to the Medal of Honor. [10] On September 21, 1952, he shot down his fifth MiG. He was the first living recipient of the medal,. Risner flew the Spirit of St. Louis II on Lindberghs same route, completing the flight in one-fifth of the time it took the earlier flier and establishing a new transatlantic record of six hours and thirty-seven minutes. The Passing of the Night: Seven Years as a Prisoner of the North Vietnamese, Code of Conduct for American Fighting Men. "The Art of Reviewing By Innuendo". [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. 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. His aerial skill and heroic actions set an example for the others to follow. Subsequently, he served as commander of the 34th Fighter-Day Squadron, also at George Air Force Base. answer . Robbie Risner was born on January 16, 1925, in Mammoth Spring, the son of sharecroppers Grover W. Risner and Lora Grace Robinson Risner. Risner was flying F-105D 62-4233 on March 22, 1965. [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. The Legend Of James Robinson Risner - F-86 Sabre Pilot. During the Korean War, Risner was also awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on August 5, 1952, receiving an Oak Leaf Cluster to that award for exploits on September 5, 1952, and a second Oak Leaf Cluster for heroism on January 21, 1953. 60 seconds . Arriving at Kimpo in the middle of the night, he joined his flight which was on alert status. [n 12] 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. The meeting, described as "stilted",[30] resulted in an unflattering portrait of McCarthy in Risner's book, primarily because she failed to note scars and other evidence of torture he had made plain to her. Awards: Air Force Cross (2) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Bronze Star (3 . [25], - 1st U.S. pilot held as a Prisoner of War in Southeast Asia[26] He was among the first group of American prisoners released from captivity, on February 12, 1973, and pronounced himself ready to fly again after three good meals and a good nights sleep. Risner received the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal and the POW Medal for his actions while in captivity. The two had met, apparently at McCarthy's request,[30] when McCarthy visited Hanoi in April 1968. The one time she was way off was about the prisoner of war in North Vietnam, Robinson Risner. Risner flew 108 missions in Korea and was credited with the destruction of eight MiG-15s, his final victory occurring January 21, 1953. He became in the eyes of others in the business one of two things: the perfect role model, or just plain crazy. SURVEY . Near Cho Do, Logan bailed out after calling to Risner, "I'll see you at the base tonight." It was largely thanks to the leadership of Risner and his Navy counterpart, Commander (later Vice Admiral) James Stockdale, that the POWs organized themselves to present maximum resistance. He was the first living recipient of the . The couple raised their combined six children together. When the squadron was relocated to Howard Field in the Panama Canal Zone in January 1945 to transition to P-38 Lightning fighters, its pilots were soon banned from the Officers Club for rowdiness and vandalism.[4]. He was extensively tortured for information but successfully resisted their demands and established a standard of honorable conduct and resistance which was followed by hundreds of Americans after him. You wouldnt be here.. He worked a series of jobs during his school years, contributing his earnings to the family funds. Subsequently, he served as commander of the 34th Fighter-Day Squadron, also at George Air Force Base. With (Captain James) Stockdale we had wisdom. 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. 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. Logan bailed out over water but became tangled in his parachute lines and drowned before he could be rescued. Robbie Risner was born on January 16, 1925, in Mammoth Spring, the son of sharecroppers Grover W. Risner and Lora Grace Robinson Risner. (Davis, p. 46), Another flight member, 1st Lt. Willard P. Dunbar, reported that the MiG pilot was a red-headed Russian who shook his fist at Risner before crashing. He wrestled for Tulsa Central High School, where he graduated in 1942. [44] He later moved to Bridgewater, Virginia. Race & Ethnicity. 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. Also in attendance was retired Gen. Charles G. Boyd, his fellow POW. On August 5, 1952, A flight of four F-86 Sabres launched and encountered 14 MiG-15s. Risner was recalled to active duty in February 1951 while assigned to the 185th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the OKANG at Will Rogers Field in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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. I prayed he would give me strength to endure it. Give a donation in someones name to mark a special occasion, honor a friend or colleague or remember a beloved family member. Others were tortured and never seen again. Martin, Douglas. Risner in 1973 after being released as a POW by the North Vietnamese, Risner's call sign this date was "John Red Lead". He was the first living recipient of the medal,[2] awarded the first for valor in aerial combat during the Vietnam War, and the second for gallantry as a prisoner of war of the North Vietnamese for more than seven years. 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. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (January 16, 1925 - October 22, 2013) was a general and a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force.. 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 . Robinson Risner. 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. Tactics were revised in which "Hunter-Killer Teams" were created. He flew F-86s with the 50th Wing to activate Hahn Air Base, West Germany, where he became commander of the 81st Fighter-Bomber Squadron in November 1954. Additional support provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council. Additional support provided by the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation Inc. [24] He was on his 55th combat mission at the time. [25] Initial attempts to locate and destroy the SA-2 Guideline sites, known as Iron Hand missions, were both unsuccessful and costly. He was promoted to brigadier general in May 1974. [21][22][23][n 7], On April 3 and 4, 1965, Risner led two large missions against the Thanh Ha Bridge in North Vietnam. 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. 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. ", 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. One of 'em is 9 feet tall and headed west in full afterburner. Born in Mammoth Springs, Arkansas on Jan. 16, 1925 and raised in a religious family, Robinson Risner made his first critical life choice between attending Bible College or joining the Army Air Forces during World War II. 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 . The turbulence kept bouncing and separating the two jets, but Risner was able to re-establish contact and guide the powerless plane out over the sea. "We were lucky to have Risner. In 1976, the Robbie Risner Award was created to recognize an air force weapons officer who makes the greatest combat impact in his or her first year after graduating from the Weapons Instructor Course at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. [3] By the time Risner entered high school, his father was self-employed, selling used cars. Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions: U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Baird, W. David, and Goble, Danney (1994). His story of being imprisoned drew wide acclaim after that war's end. 2023 Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Perhaps his greatest act of rebellion was the organization of a forbidden church service in 1971. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Archives (1985). He kept me. Special thanks to the Department of Arkansas Heritage. He actually had his cast removed to fly his first mission. A miniature replica, also donated by Perot, is presented to each year's recipient as a personal memento. Risner was awarded the Silver Star for a September 15, 1952, action in which his wingmans jet was damaged during fighting with enemy aircraft. Risner apparently did not live in Arkansas for long, with census records showing the family living in Oak Grove, Missouri, in 1930, and in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by 1940. 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. They were 60 miles from friendly territory and he knew his fellow pilot would never make it. 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. This page was last edited on 25 December 2022, at 21:40. [32] Risner made no rebuttal at the time, but when interviewed 20 years later, termed it "character assassination", a charge supported by several of McCarthy's liberal peers. 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. SHOULD READ : [36], A nine-foot bronze statue of Risner, sculpted by Lawrence 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. Subsequent to that said he received his first Air Force Cross in April 1965 for leading air strikes against a strategicbridge in North Vietnam. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner : Rank, Service: Brigadier General O-7, U.S. Air Force. 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. It would take another war, and an extraordinary set of circumstances for that to occur. [37] After publication of the book, McCarthy strenuously attacked both Risner (deeming him "unlikeable" and alleging that he had "become a Vietnamese toady") and Risner's credibility in a review. (Thompson and McLaren, p. 67). [7], Risner arrived in Korea on May 10, 1952, assigned to the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron at Kimpo Air Base. In June, when the 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, also at Kimpo, sought experienced pilots, he arranged a transfer to 4th Fighter Wing. [32] He was a POW for seven years, four months, and 27 days. 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. The flight of four F-86 Sabres launched and encountered 14 MiG-15s. Honor or memorial gifts are an everlasting way to pay tribute to someone who has touched your life. 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. [3], Risner had a religious upbringing as a member of the 1st Assembly of God Church. Robinson Risner, Air Force Ace and POW, Dies at 88. Washington Post, October 29, 2013. 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. In October, Robinson Risner was promoted to Major and named Operations Officer of the 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. [29][n 9], "We were lucky to have Risner. On 4 April, he again led an attacking force of fighter aircraft on a restrike against the same target. Were going to get through this, and Ill see you when its over., Using coded messages that could be passed with the flash of a hand or the whisk of the broom, Risner encouraged his several hundred fellow Americans at Hoa Lo to hang tough and resist until you are tortured but never lose your ability to think.. In his words he describes how he survived a torture session in July 1967, handcuffed and in stocks after destroying two pictures of his family to prevent them from being used as propaganda by an East German film crew: To make it, I prayed by the hour. With Risner we had spirituality. 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. Tragically, Joe Logan didn't make it; he became tangled in his parachute lines and drowned. Time magazine featured him on the cover of its April 23, 1965, issue, which highlighted a dozen Americans serving in Vietnam. He radioed Joe to shut down his engine. Robinson Risner, Self: Return with Honor. The statue was made nine feet tall in memory of Risner's statement, commenting on his comrades singing The Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America, that "I felt like I was nine feet tall and could go bear hunting with a switch. He was on his 55th combat mission at the time. Online at http://articles.latimes.com/2013/oct/30/local/la-me-robinson-risner-20131031 (accessed December 16, 2017). [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. The idea was to push the plane to reach the United Nations rescue base of Cho Do. Obituary from the. Creating an account gives you access to all these features. Risner's determination to be assigned to a combat unit was nearly ended when on his last day before going overseas he broke his hand and wrist falling from a horse. Arriving at Kimpo in the middle of the night, he joined his flight which was on alert status. Veteran of: U.S. Army Air Forces 1943-1946 . He died on October 22, 2013 in Bridgewater, Virginia, USA. James R. Risner. He next served on the joint staff of Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) in Hawaii.[15]. a brigadier general in 1976. The trophy is permanently displayed at the United States Air Force Academy, with each winner's name inscribed. I did not ask God to take me out of 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 aerial combat and the second for gallantry as a prisoner of war of the North Vietnamese for more than seven years. McCarthy, Mary (March 7, 1974). 51-2824, nicknamed Ohio Mike and bearing a large cartoon rendition of Bugs Bunny as nose art, in which he achieved most of his aerial victories. 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. Donations made to the CALS Foundation are tax-deductible for United States federal income tax purposes. His aerial skill and heroic actions set an example for the others to follow. "On Colonel Risner". Later that same month, Robbie was featured on the cover of Time magazine. They told Risner there were only three people they would rather have as a captive: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara or Dean Rusk. James R. Risner. 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. Timothy A. Kinnan in 1977. In the course of the operation, Colonel Risner's unit encountered the first MIG force committed in aerial combat against the U.S. Robert V. "Boris" Baird was shot down on the opening pass and the mission was in danger of collapsing when Risner took charge. [35], Publication of Risner's book led to a flap with American author and Vietnam war critic Mary McCarthy in 1974. It was largely thanks to the leadership of Risner and his Navy counterpart, Commander (later Vice Admiral) James Stockdale, that the POWs organized themselves to present maximum resistance. [ 32 ] he later moved to Bridgewater, Virginia, USA 1965,,... He next served on the joint staff of Commander-in-Chief, Pacific ( CINCPAC ) Hawaii... 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