James Robinson Risner Military person
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 a member of the United States Air Force. He was the first living recipient of the medal, 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.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 flew a combined 163 combat missions, was shot down twice, and was credited with destroying eight MiG-15s. Risner retired as a brigadier general in 1976.At his death, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III observed: "Brig. 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. One of ‘em is 9 feet tall…and headed west in full afterburner."
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Military person
allegiance | United States of America |
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award | |
military operations | |
military branch | |
military command | 20px 34th Fighter-Day Squadron 20px 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron 20px 81st Fighter-Bomber Squadron 30px 832d Air Division |
service start | 1943 |
service end | 1943 |
Topical connections
James Robinson Risner on Wikipedia
External resources
- http://goefoundation.org/index.php/eagles/biographies/r/risner-robinson-robbie2
- http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/vietnam-0b40bf-interview-with-robinson-risner-1981
- http://www.kakophone.com/kakorama/EN/TimeZoom.php?artwork=144170
- http://www.ludtkesculptor.com/Risner.htm
- http://www.nampows.org/Risner
- http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/090424-F-1234P-024.jpg
- http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,834341,00.html?promoid=googlep
- http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=19