Iceal Eugene Hambleton | |
|---|---|
 Hambleton around 1973 | |
| Nickname(s) | Gene |
| Born | November 16, 1918 Rossville, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | September 19, 2004 (aged 85) Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1943–1973 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands | 571st Strategic Missile Squadron |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (4) Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal |
Iceal Eugene "Gene" Hambleton (November 16, 1918 – September 19, 2004) was a career United States Air Force navigator who was shot down over South Vietnam during the 1972 Easter Offensive. He was aboard an EB-66 aircraft whose call sign was Bat 21.[1]: 30 As the ranking navigator/EWO on the aircraft, he was seated immediately behind the pilot, giving him the call sign "Bat 21 Bravo". He survived for 11+1⁄2 days behind enemy lines until he was retrieved in a ground operation. His rescue was the longest and most costly search and rescue mission during the entire Vietnam War.[2] He received the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and a Purple Heart during his career.
- ^ Whitcomb, Darrel D. (1998). The rescue of Bat 21. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. p. 196. ISBN 1-55750-946-8.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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