Its the story of a middleaged air force colonels attempt to survive behind enemy lines, where he has no business being in the first place, and about how a stubborn spotter pilot returns time and again in a light aircraft to keep his. Bat 21 certainly deserves that qualification, because it feels real, never exaggerates in the action scenes and certainly offered me a lot of pleasure while watching it. Bat 21 is a 1988 war film directed by peter markle, and adapted from the book by william c anderson, novelist and retired united states air force colonel. When his electronic warfare planecall sign bat 21was shot down on 2 april 1972, fiftythreeyearold air force navigator iceal gene hambleton parachuted into the middle of a north vietnamese invasion force and set off the biggest and most controversial air rescue effort of the vietnam war. In fact, the movie bat21 was adapted from william andersons 1983 book bat21. Thanks to this ingenious code and the bravery and sacrifice of the air rescue helicopters, hambleton is finally rescued. On april 2, 1972, air force navigator lieutenant colonel iceal gene hambleton was flying in the electronic warfare plane with the call sign bat21 over enemy territory. The rescue of bat 21 and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Stranded and alone in the jungle, his only chance for survival lies with capt. Bat scores are combined with the candidates air force officer qualifying test afoqt, pilot composite score and flying hours to produce a pilot candidate selection method pcsm score. A retired air force colonel, he is both a friend and former neighbor of col. When his electronic warfare planecall sign bat 21was shot down on 2 april 1972, fiftythreeyearold air force navigator iceal gene. In other radio messages he was told to walk holes from several other golf course layouts including the davismonthan air force base golf course.
The unorthodox operation involved personnel from all. At the time, the largest rescue operation in usaf history. The air force remains confident in the b21s progress and in delivering this new capability as planned in the mid. Anderson, novelist and retired united states air force colonel. Bartholomew clark danny glover, a light aircraft pilot who must guide him to safety from the sky. But not before he witnesses first hand the death and destruction that takes place on the front lines of the war that he had spent the last year helping to direct from the safety of an air conditioned bunker in the rear. Originally an aerial reconnaissance unit during wwii. Hambleton and an author with a distinguished list of book and film credits. Bat21 is a 1988 war film directed by peter markle, and adapted from the book by william c anderson, novelist and retired united states air force colonel. Everything we know about the new b21 stealth bomber and the looming battle to build it. Bat 21 was a very informative book revealing the very hazardous missions the jollies.
Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Note 1 set during the vietnam war, the film is a dramatization based upon the rescue of a u. The hurricane hunter, penelope, and adam, m1 are only a few of his better known works. Colonel in the usaf, who was navigator of an eb66 electronic warfare aircraft shot down during the 1972 north vietnam offensive. Darrel whitcomb, a 1969 graduate of the air force academy, served our country for over 30 years as a u. There are some outstanding books about the vietnam war this is one of them. When his electronic warfare planecall sign bat 21 was shot down on 2 april 1972, fiftythreeyearold air force navigator iceal gene hambleton parachuted into the middle of a north vietnamese invasion force and set off the biggest and most controversial air rescue effort of the vietnam war.
Gene hackman and erich anderson in bat21 1988 iceal hambleton in bat21. The rescue of bat 21 bravo, the call sign for iceal gene hambleton, a navigator aboard an. Working with an air force reconnaissance pilot, capt. Set during the vietnam war, the film is a dramatization based upon the rescue of a u. The green hornets were reactivated as 20th helicopter squadron in 1956. In 1968 was redesignated 20th sos when around 20 uh1f were drawn from 4 sac bases and used to insert special forces troops into. Bat 21 rescue gene hambleton, 85, his rescue depicted in bat21 books, film. The united states relied on b52 bombers and other american air power to. The air force did not put limits on what it took to rescue a downed airman. Anderson, and the second, published after considerable classified information was released, the rescue of bat 21 1999 by darrel d. Gene hambleton november 16, 1918 september 19, 2004, ranked lieutenant colonel, was a united states air force navigator and electronic warfare officer who was shot down over south vietnam during the 1972 easter offensive. He has authored numerous articles, papers and stories for leading military journals and the books the rescue of bat 21 and combat search and rescue in desert storm. When his electronic warfare planecall sign bat 21was shot down on 2 april. Author darrel whitcomb, air force academy 69, served three tours in.
Anderson, novelist and retired united states air force. A middleaged air force officer stranded behind enemy lines in vietnam makes contact with a scout pilot who is determined to rescue him no matter the cost. It is used as an aid in the selection of united states air force pilot candidates. Two books were written about the search and rescue operation to bring hambleton out alive. Anderson is probably the ideal person to have written the saga of bat21.
More than 50 years after its founding, the united states air force is celebrated in a stunning, lavishly illustrated volume published in conjunction with the air force historical foundation. Now, after twentyfive years of official secrecy, the story of that dangerous and. Tony is just a nice guy that happens to be an air force puke. Colonel iceal hambleton gene hackman gets his first taste of real carnage when he is shot down in enemy territory. When his electronic warfare plane, call sign bat 21, was shot down on 2 april 1972, fiftythreeyearold air force navigator iceal gene hambleton parachuted into the middle of a north vietnamese invasion force and set off the biggest and most controversial air rescue effort of the vietnam war. Cam ranh air force base was part of the large cam ranh bay logistics facility built by the united states. This was followed by the dramatic 1988 film, bat21, starring gene hackman as hambleton and danny glover as a forward air controller. It was the major military seaport used by the united states for the offloading of supplies, military equipment and as a major naval base. The air force launched a rescue operation to bring colonel hambleton out of enemy territory.
Air force has given us our first glimpse of what will hopefully become americans next. This was the movie that brought the bat 21 story into my life as a young air force airman at age 19 in 1988. When his electronic warfare plane, call sign bat 21, was shot down on 2 april 1972, fiftythreeyearold air force navigator iceal gene hambleton parachuted into the middle of a north vietnamese invasion force and set off the biggest and most controversial air. Air force navigator who became the focus of the largest rescue. Rejected b21 names include baconator, lurking sasquatch, bomber mcbomberface an artists rendering of the b21 raider, the. Bat21 is the kind of lean, nononsense war film hollywood used to make back before the subject became burdened with metaphysical insights. Report suggests b21 bomber, boeing 737, as new air force one. Indeed, the details were kept secret for more than 25 years. The story of hambletons evasion and rescue was told in the 1980 book, bat 21, written by air force colonel william charles anderson. Bat21 is a 1988 american war film directed by peter markle, and adapted from the book by william c. Read about the budget, gross, and more of bat 21, 1988, directed by peter markle, with gene hackman. Best known of his books, and probably the least humorous, was bat21 in 1980, the truelife story of 53yearold air force lt.
As north vietnams hammer was beating out south vietnams submission, hambleton was shot down 12 miles south of the dmz. Unsung hero in the amazing rescue of bat 21 bravo historynet. Iceal gene hambletons real life rescue from behind enemy lines in vietnam. Hambleton knows the area hes in is going to be carpetbombed but a temporary shortage of helicopters causes a delay. Meanwhile the air force began the intricate process of preparing nail38 bravo and bat21 bravo for the newest rescue attempt. Lieutenant clark was already near the cam lo river that flowed east into the cua viet so he remained hidden with instruction to. This bestselling novel was later turned into a film by tristar pictures starring gene hackman and danny glover. The actions for which norris received his medal of honor have been recounted in numerous books and a feature film, bat21, the air force code name for.
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