Gordy 0 Posted September 23, 2004 Iceal "Gene" Hambleton TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Iceal "Gene" Hambleton, a military aviator whose 1972 rescue in Vietnam inspired the movie "Bat 21," died Sunday. He was 85. Hambleton, a retired lieutenant colonel from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, died of cancer at Tucson Medical Center, his family said. Hambleton was shot down on Easter in 1972 and was the focus of the largest rescue operation in Air Force history. Actor Gene Hackman played Hambleton in the 1988 film "Bat 21," which depicted how he survived amid thousands of enemy troops. The movie was based on the 1980 book of the same name. A second book, "The Rescue of Bat 21," was published in 1998. During 12 days in hostile territory, the then 52-year-old Hambleton kept in touch with U.S. forces through his hand-held survival radio, directing many strikes against enemy supply lines by calling in the locations of vehicles on the highway. Hambleton's actions earned him several medals for heroism, including a Silver Star, a Distinguished Flying Cross and a Purple Heart. Bat 21 was the call sign of the EB-66 radar jamming aircraft Hambleton flew as navigator. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Acecombat 0 Posted September 23, 2004 Man why does everyone has to go down to bloody cancer R.I.P. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Winters 1 Posted September 23, 2004 agreed, too many good people have died from cancer  Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cpt. FrostBite 0 Posted September 23, 2004 The man lived trough the war and reached an acceptable age (85) so there's not much to complain about. Don't get me wrong; it's sad if someone dies, but eventually we all will and he died at a good age. But it always sad to loose a veteran like him. May he rest in peace. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
