Robert Bruce Hinckley

By zthanson, 22 November, 2022
First Name
Robert
Middle Name
Bruce
Last Name
Hinckley
Birthdate
Hometown
Springfield, MA
Rank
Colonel
Service Branch
Air Force
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
Man in a U.S. Air Force utility uniform standing on the ladder to an aircraft.
PreCapture Description

Bruce Hinckley entered Officer Training School with the U.S. Air Force and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant at Lackland AFB, Texas, on December 20, 1963. Lieutenant Hinckley next completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and was awarded his pilot wings at Moody AFB, Georgia, followed by F-4 Phantom II Combat Crew Training. His first assignment was as an F-4 pilot with the 4th and the 40th Tactical Fighter Squadrons at Eglin AFB, Florida, and then as an F-4 pilot with the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from July 1967 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on January 18, 1968.

Post Release Image
Man in a decorated U.S. Air Force suit.
Post Release Description

Captain Hinckley was released during “Operation Homecoming” on March 14, 1973. He served as a Test Project Officer for Air-to-Air Missiles with the 4485th Test Squadron, Tactical Air Warfare Center, at Eglin AFB. Major Hinckley then served as an F-4 pilot and Assistant Operations Officer with the 426th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron at Luke AFB, Arizona. His next assignment was as Chief of the Weapons and Tactics Division with the 58th Tactical Training Wing at Luke, followed by service as Commander of the 310th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron at Luke. Lieutenant Colonel Hinckley served as Chief of the Force Structure Analysis Division on the staff of Headquarters Tactical Air Command at Langley AFB, Virginia, and then served as Assistant Deputy Director for Contingency Plans with the Tactical Air Command Operations Staff at Langley. He attended Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, followed by service as Deputy Commander for Operations of the 602nd Tactical Air Control Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. Colonel Hinckley next served as Commander of the 11th Tactical Control Group and as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations with Headquarters Alaskan Air Command at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, then as Commander of the Air Force ROTC Detachment at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, from July 1988 until his retirement from the Air Force on August 1, 1991.

Honors, Citations, and Commendations
  • Silver Star
  • Legion of Merit (3)
  • Bronze Star
  • Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release