Iceal Hambleton
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 |
| Branch | 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.: 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 eleven and one half 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. He received the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and a Purple Heart during his career.