This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Hambleton, Iceal Eugene, Lt Col USAF(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Wenona, Illinois
Last Address Tucson, Arizona
Date of Passing Sep 19, 2004
Location of Interment Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (VA) - Elwood, Illinois
Wall/Plot Coordinates Section C2-34, Row C, Site 8
He was an EWO on an EB-66 that was shotown by a SAM over northern South Vietnam. He was the only crewmember who survived the shootdown. He was also a missile expert with a top secret clearance so a huge effort was mounted to rescue him before he was captured by the enemy. It was the largest and most costly search and rescue operation of the Vietnam War. Eleven airmen were killed and 2 were captured during the rescue effort.
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The Air Force Reserve Command is a Major Command of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federally controlled Air Reserve Component of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of duly appointed commissioned officers and enlisted airmen.
AFRC supports the Air Force mission to defend the United States through the control and exploitation of air and space by supporting Global Engagement. AFRC also plays an integral role in the day-to-day Air Force mission and is not strictly a force held in reserve for possible war or contingency operations.
The federal reserve component of the United States Air Force, AFRC has approximately 450 aircraft assigned for which it has sole control. as well as access to several hundred additional active duty USAF aircraft via AFRC "Associate" wings that are collocated with active duty Air Force wings, sharing access to those aircraft.. The inventory includes the latest, most capable models of aircraft that are also assigned to the active-duty U.S. Air Force. On any given day, 99 percent of AFRC's aircraft are mission-ready and able to deploy within 72 hours.
The purpose of the Air Force Reserve as derived from Title 10 United States Code is to:
Provide combat-ready units and individuals for active duty whenever there are not enough trained units and people in the Regular component of the Air Force to perform any national security mission.
