Robinson risner biography

US Air Force general (1925–2013)

Brigadier GeneralJames Robinson "Robbie" Risner (January 16, 1925 – October 22, 2013) was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, and a senior leader among U.S.

prisoners of war during the Vietnam War.

During the Vietnam War, Risner was a double recipient of the Air Force Cross, the second highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force, awarded the first for valor in aerial combat and the second for gallantry as a prisoner of war of the North Vietnamese for more than seven years.

He was the first living recipient of the medal.^[1]

Risner became an ace in the Korean War and commanded a squadron of F-105 Thunderchiefs in the first missions of Operation Rolling Thunder in 1965.

He flew a combined 163 combat missions, was shot down twice, and was credited with destroying eight MiG-15s. Risner retired as a brigadier general in 1976.

At his death, Air Fo