Robert B. "Percy" Purcell

Percy Purcell enlisted in the Kentucky Air National Guard on February 19, 1953, and entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Air Force on March 3, 1953, graduating with a commission as a Second Lieutenant and being awarded his pilot wings at Laughlin AFB, Texas, on December 3, 1954. After completing fighter gunnery training and F-84 Thunderjet Combat Crew Training, he was assigned to the 468th Strategic Fighter Squadron at Turner AFB, Georgia, flying the F-84, and later the F-100 Super Sabre, from August 1955 to April 1957, followed by service on the staff of the 31st Fighter Bomber Wing at Turner AFB from April to September 1957. His next assignment was as an F-100 pilot with the 307th Fighter Bomber Squadron at Turner AFB from September 1957 to October 1958, and then with the 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena AB, Okinawa, from October 1958 to June 1961. Captain Purcell then served with the 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, flying the F-105 Thunderchief, from June to July 1961, and then on the staff of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing and the 4th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB from August 1961 to September 1962. He flew with the 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB from September 1962 to May 1964, and then deployed to Kadena AB, Okinawa, for a second tour with the 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron, serving from May 1964 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on July 27, 1965.