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. 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. 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. While the Korean War may have been Risners favorite period, it was by no means the most consequential in the lives of others. 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. In 2006, Risner appeared on an episode of the History Channel series Dogfights. Major support provided through a partnership with the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism. Risner died in his sleep October 22, 2013, at his home in Bridgewater, Virginia three days after suffering a severe stroke. According to fellow prisoner Charles G. Boyd (who retired as a four-star general), Risner told him his name and asked for his name and rank. As storm clouds gathered over Southeast Asia in 1964, Risner arrived in the region, as if on cue, to take command of a fighter-bomber squadron in preparation for the larger war nearly everyone saw coming. He was a close friend of the billionaire businessman and onetime presidential candidate H. Ross Perot, who commissioned a statue of Robinson Risner, which was installed at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, on November 16, 2001. Robbie Risner was born on January 16, 1925, in Mammoth Spring, the son of sharecroppers Grover W. Risner and Lora Grace Robinson Risner. About; Blog; Contact Us; . 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. However, he refused to be diverted from his primary mission of completing the destruction of the assigned targets. The couple raised their combined six children together. Risner, James Robinson . 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 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. 2023 Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Always it would make sense, be crisp and to the point. Baird, W. David, and Goble, Danney (1994). 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. [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. Gen. James Robinson Risner . 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. In the course of the operation, Colonel Risner's unit encountered the first MIG force committed in aerial combat against the U.S. The proud strains rang out of the 15-foot walls of the camp and reverberated outside in the streets of downtown Hanoi. In addition to replicating the Risner Award, the statue commemorates Risner and other POWs who were punished for holding religious services in their room at the Hanoi Hilton on February 7, 1971,[32] in defiance of North Vietnamese authorities. With (Captain James) Stockdale we had wisdom. [1] By the time Risner entered high school, his father was self-employed, selling used cars. His story of being imprisoned drew wide acclaim after that war's end. While undergoing hospital treatment in the Army, he met his future wife Catherine Shaw (Kathleen Shaw), she was a nurse from Ware Shoals, South Carolina, Risner and Shaw got engaged on a ship and were discharged and married the next month. [18][n 4] On February 18, 1965, as part of an escalation in air attacks directed by President Lyndon B. Johnson that resulted in the commencement of Operation Rolling Thunder, the 67th TFS began a tour of temporary duty at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, under the control of the 2d Air Division. [10] He died on October 22, 2013 in Bridgewater, Virginia, USA. Male. Risner flew 108 missions in Korea and was credited with the destruction of eight MiG-15s, his final victory occurring January 21, 1953. It was according to him, the most gratifying period of his life. James R. Risner. In 1946, Risner was involved in an off-duty motorcycle accident. On September 21, 1952, he shot down his fifth MiG. James Robinson Risner's F-86; While a guest of the communists, he suffered. When the Russian wondered if they might have met in combat, Risner replied, No, way. 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. James Robinson Risner 'Robbie' Engagements: Korean War (1950 - 1953) Vietnam War (1960 - 1973) Biography: 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 . At his death, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III observed: "Brig. He was also appointed as a U.S. delegate to the Fortieth Session of the United Nations General Assembly by President Ronald Reagan. (Campbell and Hill, p. 90), Risner was "Oak Lead" on September 16, 1965, flying F-105D 61-0217. Forces in Southeast Asia. The 67th TFS ended its first duty at Korat on April 26 but returned from Okinawa on August 16 for a second tour of combat duty over North Vietnam. 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. a brigadier general in 1976. [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). Near Cho Do, Logan bailed out after calling to Risner, "I'll see you at the base tonight." It was automatic, almost subconscious. 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]. (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. 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. 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. New York: Random House, 1973. B/G Robinson Risner was a general officer and professional fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. 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. [35] He is also the first living recipient of this decoration. Risner's wingman was shot down in the opening pass, and the mission was in danger of collapsing when Risner took charge. In a brief dogfight Risner shot down one to score his first "kill", on August 5, 1952. Arriving at Kimpo in the middle of the night, he joined his flight which was on alert status. [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 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. However, he refused to be diverted from his primary mission of completing the destruction of the assigned targets. This page was last edited on 25 December 2022, at 21:40. Major funding provided by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. [10][13], On September 21, he shot down his fifth MiG, becoming the 20th jet ace. One of 'em is 9 feet tall and headed west in full afterburner. 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. Required fields are marked *. The one time she was way off was about the prisoner of war in North Vietnam, Robinson Risner. In October, Robinson Risner was promoted to Major and named Operations Officer of the 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. Logan bailed out over water but became tangled in his parachute lines and drowned before he could be rescued. (Risner, p. 10; Campbell and Hill, p. 87), Ironically, Risner's portrait was featured that month in a, Kiernan said of McCarthy herself: "She just about always had the right position. Youll know when you get there. And concluded: And pray; if you havent been, start. [20][n 6], On March 22, 1965, while leading two flights of F-105s attacking a radar site near Vinh, North Vietnam, Risner was hit by ground fire when he circled back over the target. It was no accident that the statue was nine-feet tall. I prayed he would give me strength to endure it. The Legend Of James Robinson Risner - F-86 Sabre Pilot. The Passing of the Night. He next served on the joint staff of Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) in Hawaii. Arriving at Kimpo in the middle of the night, he joined his flight which was on alert status. In October 1952 Risner was promoted to major and named operations officer of the 336th FIS. Error: On Feb. 12, 1973, he was among the first group of prisoners to be released from North Korea. James Robinson Risner was a man of humble origins, son of an Arkansas sharecropper, educated at secondary school level, not particularly ambitious, a common man save for two things: He could fly the hell out of an airplane; and, under terribly difficult circumstances as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam, he rose to a level of heroic leadership He flew his badly damaged aircraft over heavily fortified hostile territory before successfully landing at a friendly airfield. Risner, in Davis (1978), p. 46, is quoted as identifying the airfield as "Tak Tung Kau". 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. 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. This guy had balls of steel. [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. The idea was to push the plane to reach the United Nations rescue base of Cho Do. [38], General Risner received the following awards and decorations:[15][39]. U.S. Air Force pilot James Robinson Risner, a 2015 inductee into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame. He was promoted to brigadier general in May 1974. Risner, the highest-ranking American POW during most of his seven years, four months and 27 days behind bars, died in his sleep October 22, 2013, at his home in Bridgewater, Virginia three days after suffering a severe stroke. 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. He was the fifth of seven children. The 67th TFS ended its first deployment to Korat on April 26 but returned from Okinawa on August 16 for a second tour of combat duty over North Vietnam. alternatives . Awards: Air Force Cross (2) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Bronze Star (3 . On these dates Colonel Risner led two successive operations against vitally important and heavily defended targets. Risner retired as a brigadier general in 1976. The use of Bullpups against the bridge had been completely ineffectual, resulting in the scheduling of a second mission the next day with 48 F-105s attacking the bridge without destroying it. The trophy is permanently displayed at the United States Air Force Academy, with each winner's name inscribed. 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. SURVEY . Divergent Prosperity and the Arc of Reform (1968-2022) Type. At his death, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III observed: "Brig. Grumbach, Doris (March 16, 1974). [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. [44] He later moved to Bridgewater, Virginia. 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. "[2], Risner in 1973 after being released as a POW by the North Vietnamese. For the next 7 and a half years Robbie absorbed levels of torture and abuse those three could likely never have grasped, let alone endured. Additional support provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council. While undergoing hospital treatment in the Army, he met his first wife, Kathleen Shaw, a nurse from Ware Shoals, South Carolina. View military histories of over 2 million, If you are a veteran, reconnect with people. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 55, Site 626. 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]. Give a donation in someones name to mark a special occasion, honor a friend or colleague or remember a beloved family member. TogetherWeServed.com Inc. All Rights Reserved | Not a U.S. Government Website. They told Risner there were only three people they would rather have as a captive: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara or Dean Rusk. Risner retired as a brigadier general in 1976. Heavy ground fire struck Risner's F-105 in its air intakes when he popped up over a hill to make his attack. Because of the Time cover story, he would become one of the highest-profile U.S. prisoners of the Vietnam War. The President of the United States of America, 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 Lieutenant Colonel James Robinson Risner, United States Air Force, 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 December 1965. Risner exercised as much as he could and prayed by the hour, he wrote in his 1973 memoir, The Passing of the Night: Seven Years as a Prisoner of the North Vietnamese. In the book he wrote, I did not ask God to take me out of it, I prayed He would give me the strength to endure it.. 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. Albert C. 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