James Robinson "Robbie" Risner

Robbie Risner enlisted in the Aviation Cadet program of the U.S. Army Air Forces in April 1943, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings at Williams Field, Arizona, on May 23, 1944. During World War II, Lieutenant Risner flew P-38 Lightnings and P-39 Airacobras with the 30th Fighter Squadron at Howard Field in Panama from May 1944 to August 1946. He joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard on August 19, 1946, and was recalled to active duty on February 16, 1951, serving with the 185th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in Oklahoma City and at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, until April 1952. Major Risner deployed to Seoul AB, South Korea, in April 1952, and served with the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and then the 336th Fighter Interceptor Squadron during the Korean War from April 1952 to February 1953. During the Korean War, Major Risner flew 110 combat missions, was credited with destroying 8 Mig-15s in aerial combat, and became the 20th jet ace of the war. He served with the 50th Fighter Bomber Wing at Clovis AFB, New Mexico, from February to August 1953, and then served as operations officer and then commander of the 81st Fighter Bomber Squadron at Hahn AB, West Germany, from August 1953 to August 1956. His next assignment was to George AFB, California, from August 1956 to August 1960, where he served on the staff of the 479th Fighter Defense Wing, was commander of the 34th Fighter Day Squadron, and was commander of the 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Colonel Risner next completed Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and then served on the staff of Headquarters Pacific Command at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, from July 1961 to August 1964. He then deployed to Southeast Asia where he served as commander of the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena AB, Okinawa, and then deployed to Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from August 1964 until he was forced to eject from his F-105 Thunderchief over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on September 16, 1965.