[PAR] [TLE] Iceal Hambleton [SEP] Lieutenant Colonel Iceal E. "Gene" Hambleton, USAF (November 16, 1918 – September 19, 2004) was a United States Air Force navigator and electronic warfare officer 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.  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 11½ days behind enemy lines until he was retrieved in a daring ground operation.  His rescue was the longest and most costly search and rescue mission during the Vietnam War.  He received the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and a Purple Heart for his actions during this mission. [PAR] [TLE] Rescue of Bat 21 Bravo [SEP] The rescue of Bat 21 Bravo, the call sign for Iceal "Gene" Hambleton, from behind North Vietnamese lines was the "largest, longest, and most complex search-and-rescue" operation during the Vietnam War.
[PAR] [TLE] Iceal Hambleton [ SEP ] Lieutenant Colonel Iceal E. " Gene " Hambleton , USAF ( November 16 , 1918 – September 19 , 2004 ) was a United States Air Force navigator and electronic warfare officer 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 . 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 11½ days behind enemy lines until he was retrieved in a daring ground operation . His rescue was the longest and most costly search and rescue mission during the Vietnam War . He received the Silver Star , the Distinguished Flying Cross , the Air Medal , the Meritorious Service Medal and a Purple Heart for his actions during this mission . [PAR] [TLE] Rescue of Bat 21 Bravo [ SEP ] The rescue of Bat 21 Bravo , the call sign for Iceal " Gene " Hambleton , from behind North Vietnamese lines was the " largest , longest , and most complex search - and - rescue " operation during the Vietnam War .
Bat 21 Bravo was the call sign for this US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel during the vietnam war who was rescued behind the lines of North Vietnam in what is known as the largest, longest, and most complex search-and-rescue operation during the Vietnam War
Bat 21 Bravo was the call sign for this US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel during the vietnam war who was rescued behind the lines of North Vietnam in what is known as the largest , longest , and most complex search - and - rescue operation during the Vietnam War
Iceal "Gene" Hambleton
Iceal "Gene" Hambleton