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 one of the most difficult rescues of the war, lt. During the vietnam war, colonel hambletons aircraft is shot down over enemy. Chris hambleton has 39 books on goodreads with 4289 ratings. Our editors have compiled this checklist of genealogical resources, combining links to commercial databases along with usercontributed information and web sites for the hambleton surname. 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. Hambleton, the lone survivor of his aircraft, parachuted into the midst of the nva invasion of the south. Iceal hambleton on stretcher is taken to a waiting m1 armored personnel carrier to be evacuated. Gene hambleton november 16, 1918 september 19, 2004, ranked lieutenant. Hambleton meaning and origin of the name hambleton. Iceal gene hambleton was recovered from enemy territory after 11 12 days on the ground. Gene is someone who is a very intuitive and instinctive actor.
She is at arms reach from her husband, gene, and they talk about that day as if it. The object of their rescue attempt was lieutenant colonel iceal hambleton, whose call sign was bat21. Hambletons harrowing ordeal was recounted in the book bat 21 1980, which was made into this movie. Records may include photos, original documents, family history, relatives, specific dates, locations and full names. Frances hambleton historical records and family trees. When lieutenant colonel iceal gene hambleton was shot down just south of the. 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. Thomas norris stands in the background at center as lt. This was followed by the dramatic 1988 film, bat21, starring gene hackman as hambleton and danny glover as a forward air controller. Iceal hambleton whose plane was shot down in vietnam. Genealogy of hambleton hambleton historical records. Firing his grease gun until it was destroyed by shrapnel, he then climbed up on a friendly tank and began firing the machine gun on the turret. This story details his 2 week long struggle to avoid capture by the vietcong.
Despite the heavy machine gun, artillery, and mortar fire, colalillo stood up and urged his men and a tank to follow him. The incident inspired the making of the 1988 film bat 21, which starred actor gene hackman as hambleton. Iceal meaning and origin of the name iceal wikiname. Since then, its been no secret that this retired navy seal has an incredible story to tell. Hambleton name meaning, family history, family crest.
During the vietnam war, he was the subject of one of the largest oneman rescue efforts in air force history. Enemy fire pinned down private michael mike colalillo and his company. Iceal gene hambleton call letter from aviation history. Based on the true story of lieutenant colonel iceal e. Colonel in the usaf, who was navigator of an eb66 electronic warfare aircraft shot down during the 1972 north vietnam offensive.
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. Hambleton was shot down on easter in 1972 and was the focus of the largest rescue operation in air force history. Iceal eugene hambleton was born on month day 1918, at birth place, illinois, to iceal hambleton and stella josephine hambleton. Hambleton hall was built in 1881 as a hunting box by walter marshall. The enemy was determined to capture hambleton at any cost. Hero of the easter offensive march 27, 2012 norman fulkerson reply the history of the twentieth century saw the spread of communism the world over and the virtual river of blood left in its wake was unprecedented. 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 searchandrescue operation during the vietnam war. They shouldnt have to think about it, norris told stars and stripes while in hawaii in 2012. Medal of honor recipient thomas norris interview for three years, it was a secret that tom norris had participated in one of the most difficult and dangerous rescues ever attempted in the vietnam war.
History of hambleton, in selby and west riding map and. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. While serving as a navigator during the vietnam war, his plane was shot down. Quality used books for readers and lifelong learners. We hope you will participate on the hambleton forums, it is a great place to find or post information on hambleton genealogy and is completely free to participate. The hambleton family name, was a norman name that came to scotland from england. The vanished traces of richard hambleton by istvan kantor and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This was followed by the dramatic 1988 movie, bat21, starring gene hackman as hambleton and danny glover as a forward air controller. Golfs role in a vietnam war rescue golf digest jan, 2001 by dave kindred even now, sitting in her living room, gwen hambleton clasps her hands when she talks about that day. An avid golfer, it describes how he survived and finally got rescued by transmitting his location by way describing his intentions by comparing to holes at golf courses. Green acres is an american sitcom starring eddie albert and eva gabor as a couple who move from new york city to a country farm.
After twentyfive years of official secrecy, the story of that dangerous and costly rescue is. He retired from the us air force a year following his rescue with 22 years of combined military service. Alfred hambleton historical records and family trees. Two books were written about the search and rescue operation to bring hambleton out alive. Jan 01, 1980 this is a novel based on the true incident of lt. He married gwendolyn flessner on august 18, 1942 in st.
The incident gave hambleton famous status and led to the making of the 1988 film, bat 21, which starred actor gene hackman as hambleton. At the time, the largest rescue operation in usaf history. A pattern of redemption april 17, 2016 revelation 22 i have often told you stories from world war ii as a way of illustrating some of the life and death principles we find in the bible. He was flying aboard an eb66 leading a b52 bomber strike when his aircraft was struck by a surfacetoair missile. Check out the latest trailers from his dark materials, the personal history of. Unsung hero in the amazing rescue of bat 21 bravo historynet. Jul 15, 2014 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.
Hambleton district, a local government district of north yorkshire, england hambleton ales, a brewery originally based in hambleton. Hambleton, a retired lieutenant colonel whose harrowing ordeal was chronicled in two books and was the basis for the 1988 movie bat 21, starring gene hackman, died of pneumonia related to. Hambleton was a lieutenant colonel in the united states air force. It has a station on the railway, and a post office under selby. Iceal gene hambleton 19182004 was one of the most experienced officers in the business, a master of signals intelligence whose capture by the north vietnamese would probably have led to a strategic and propaganda victory not just for them, but also for the soviet agents who were tracking him. Hambleton, usaf first edition, first printing edition.
This was the largest rescue operation in usaf history. A bullet to the head couldnt stop former vietnam navy seal. Produced by filmways as a sister show to petticoat junction, the series was first broadcast on cbs, from september 15, 1965, to april 27, 1971. Hambleton, craven, a location in north yorkshire, england. Marshalls fortune was derived from a brewery business of the same name, but he came to rutland to enjoy the fox hunting. It does give the bat 21 storyline, but not through the eyes of hambleton. Historical records and family trees related to frances hambleton. In fact, the movie bat21 was adapted from william andersons 1983 book. Air force navigator who became the focus of the largest rescue operation for one man in air force history after his plane was shot down behind enemy lines during the. Hambleton, ryedale, a hamlet on the borders of hambleton and ryedale districts, north. Volume 3 these are the people you will wish you had known. Iceal hambleton historical records and family trees.
Air force navigator who became the focus of the largest rescue operation for one man in air force history after. The story was also written in the books, bat 21 1980, and the rescue of bat 21 1998. Gene hambleton, bat 21 bravo, an expert in surfacetoair missile technology with top. This is the story of the ordeal iceal hambleton, a lt. He was aboard an eb66 aircraft whose call sign was bat 21. The nva was aware of the huge rescue operation and committed an intensive array of antiaircraft weaponry to damage and destroy u. A decorated air force pilot and vietnam veteran tell the previously secret story of the most controversial air rescue of the vietnam war. At 85, gene hambleton was called to the lords service on september 19, 2004.
Set during the vietnam war, the film is a dramatization based upon the rescue of a u. Iceal hambleton, 97867345009, please note that the content of this book primarily. During the last days of the vietnam war, usaf lieutenant colonel iceal e. The unorthodox operation involved personnel from all services, claimed the lives of 11 soldiers and airmen, destroyed or damaged several aircraft, and put hundreds of personnel at risk. The story of hambletons evasion and rescue was told in the 1980 book, bat 21, written by air force col. Iceal gene hambleton s real life rescue from behind enemy lines in vietnam. Buy the rescue of bat 21 thorndike press large print american history series book online at best prices in india on. Actor gene hackman played hambleton in the 1988 film bat 21, which showed how. Was a a military aviator whose 1972 rescue in vietnam inspired the movie bat 21. Norris and arvn petty officer third class nguyen van kiet. After the war, hambleton retired from the air force and concentrated on his main love in life, golf. Bat21 crew laid to rest in arlington national cemetery. Iceal hambleton deceased person, person or being in fiction, person, military person lieutenant colonel iceal e. The untold story of the most important rescue mission not just of the vietnam war, but the entire cold war.
Iceal gene hambletons real life rescue from behind enemy lines in vietnam. Anderson 1980, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Over the course of the next several days, ten men are killed in rescue efforts. Bat21 and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Hambleton, a retired lieutenant colonel whose harrowing ordeal was chronicled in two books and was the basis for the 1988 movie bat 21, starring. This third volume of astonishing people has more amazing inventors. Hambleton s harrowing ordeal was recounted in the book bat 21 1980, which was made into a movie of the same name in 1988. Hambleton spent his tucson retirement close to a golf course and the sport which has literally rescued him from death or imprisonment.
Welcome to the hambleton family page at surname finder, a service of genealogy today. He died from cancer on september 19 2004 at age 85. The story of bat 21 inspired books and a movie, bat 21. The story was also told in the books, bat 21 1980, and the rescue of bat 21 1998. Anderson, and the second, published after considerable classified information was released, the rescue of bat 21 1999 by darrel d. The brilliance of gene hackman is that he can look at a scene and he can cut through to what is necessary, and he does it with extraordinary economyhes the quintessential movie actor. This bestselling novel was later turned into a film by tristar pictures starring gene hackman and danny glover. Iceal hambleton, 97867345009, 67345009,97867345009. It is thought to derive from the village of hamilton or hameldune near barkby in the county of leicestershire. Buy the rescue of bat 21 thorndike press large print. Iceal gene hambleton bat 21 bravo, who was shot down on april 2, 1972 and evaded capture for 11 12 days behind enemy lines during the vietnam war. Whitcombs 1998 book the rescue of bat 21 recounts in detail the extent of the aerial and ground attempts to rescue hambleton in the middle of a ground battle between two vietnamese armies. The rescue of bat 21 bravo, the call sign for iceal gene hambleton, a navigator aboard an eb66 aircraft shot down behind north vietnamese lines, was the largest, longest, and most complex searchandrescue operation during the vietnam war. Bat 21, the 1988 movie of his experience, starred danville.
For the 53yearold air force strategist, combat has always been a. Hambleton was shot down on easter 1972 and was the focus of the largest rescue operation in air force history. Iceal hambleton s electronic surveillance aircraft is shot down by an enemy surfacetoair missile into an area with 30,000 enemy troops. As north vietnams hammer was beating out south vietnams submission, hambleton was shot down 12 miles south of the dmz. She is at arms reach from her husband, gene, and they talk about that day as if it were yesterday. Ltc iceal gene hambleton 19182004 find a grave memorial. We have collected some of the best resources from across the web to do research on hambleton history, hambleton ancestory, and hambleton family connections. Hambleton, usaf by anderson, william c covid19 update april, 2020. The rescue of hambleton spawned a book and then a hit movie. Gene hambleton gene hackman call sign bat21 bravo, is flying onboard a eb66c electronic warfare aircraft, engaged in electronic countermeasures preparatory to a major bombing strike. Rescue of bat 21 national museum of the us air force. In 187072, john marius wilsons imperial gazetteer of england and wales described hambleton like this.
Historical records and family trees related to alfred hambleton. Gene was born on november 16, 1918 in rossville, il, the son of iceal and stella wilbur hambleton. Hambleton the harrowing experience of being shot down in vietnam and trying to avoid capture, and the thing that makes the book even better is the fact that its true. Home about us policies view cart buyback contact us. Bat21 project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. Whitcombs the rescue of bat 21 gives rich development of the background, circumstances, and aftermath of that story, which hollywood already portrayed. Air force navigator who became the focus of the largest rescue operation for one man in air force history after his plane was shot down behind enemy lines during. The rescue of bat 21 and millions of other books are available for amazon. Gene hambleton november 16, 1918 september 19, 2004 was an officer of the united states air force, famous for being the subject of one of the longest oneman searchandrescue missions in u. The village name comes from the old english elements hamel, which means blunt, flattopped, or crooked, and dun, which means hill. The worst scandals to ever hit the history channel.
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