Military Figure. "Gene" Hambleton was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. While serving as a seasoned navigator during the Vietnam War, his plane was shot down on April 6, 1972 during the North Vietnamese's Easter Offensive campaign. Although he was the only person to be ejected from the aircraft, he was trapped behind enemy lines. Although surrounded by 30,000 enemy troops, Hambleton helped to direct USAF aircrafts to destroy many enemy vehicles on roads and to get directions to a safe area where he would eventually be rescued, by using a radio. The journey took Hambleton by unfriendly villages, enemy camps, and gun emplacements. He survived for 11 ½ days until his rescue, which was the longest and most expensive search effort of the war. He was rescued by United States Navy Seal Thomas Rolland Norris, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions. The incident gave Hambleton famous status and led to the making of the 1988 film, "Bat 21", which starred actor Gene Hackman as Hambleton. The story was also told in the books, "Bat 21" in 1980 and "The Rescue Of Bat 21" in 1998.
Military Figure. "Gene" Hambleton was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. While serving as a seasoned navigator during the Vietnam War, his plane was shot down on April 6, 1972 during the North Vietnamese's Easter Offensive campaign. Although he was the only person to be ejected from the aircraft, he was trapped behind enemy lines. Although surrounded by 30,000 enemy troops, Hambleton helped to direct USAF aircrafts to destroy many enemy vehicles on roads and to get directions to a safe area where he would eventually be rescued, by using a radio. The journey took Hambleton by unfriendly villages, enemy camps, and gun emplacements. He survived for 11 ½ days until his rescue, which was the longest and most expensive search effort of the war. He was rescued by United States Navy Seal Thomas Rolland Norris, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions. The incident gave Hambleton famous status and led to the making of the 1988 film, "Bat 21", which starred actor Gene Hackman as Hambleton. The story was also told in the books, "Bat 21" in 1980 and "The Rescue Of Bat 21" in 1998.
Inscription
HAMBLETON
ICEAL E
LT COL USAF
WW II KOREA
VIETNAM
SILVER STAR
1918 2004
GWENDOLYN M
1923 2003
BAT 21
Family Members
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