Bat-21: The Most Expensive Rescue Operation in US Air Force History

[@PaperSkiesAviation]

*New video is coming soon! Meanwhile, help my channel to grow by clicking Subscribe.*

[@razen9766]

@Alex Tyson I fucking love his voice. Shut up.

[@levanoni]

@Alex Tyson get AdBlock. No more ads

[@pauloscartefernandez9530]

@Alex Tyson ads can help their youtube channel if you want documentry wkrhout ads theres a lot of yt channel yhere withput ads well, thank you for your comment and still you watch this docmentary video, why not do it your self as well ? Maybe you need a lecture or something to learn more about ads

[@davideli1999]

Do you have a works cited page?

[@vthegoose]

Imagine being the north Vietnamese intelligence people, hearing some stupid Americans talking about golf while you try to figure out what they’re smoking

[@kvant13]

29:30 After watching this, I really hoped that Kiệt made it out to the US after the fall of the south and, thankfully, turns out he did. He became a US citizen in 1984.

[@arthas640]

Its crazy how many people fled Vietnam. I've got a friend who had to ride a raft full of people to float over to Thailand around Cambodia, spent years in a refugee camp, then got smuggled into the US where he got asylum. Most of his family were killed by the communists. It's kind of depressing people still support the communist government when they were so cruel to enemies and to their own people

[@kvant13]

@@arthas640 Yeah, I used to live in a city with a huge South Vietnamese expat population. I would imagine they (and a lot of veterans, too) aren't super thrilled with how buddy-buddy the US is now with the Hanoi regime thanks to our shared enemy in China.

[@planescaped]

@@arthas640 For me it was growing up with tons of Bosnians. Didn't even know about the Yugoslavian wars until I was much older, never really thought about why I had so many Bosnian classmates and friends.

[@isolinear9836]

This particular episode of the Vietnam War is not well-received by Communist elements in the USA. If you look at any of the Popular "Protest pamphlets" and American documentation of their Media of the 60s and 70s, even unto today, you see can see this Lie displayed rather openly, and mendaciously: Their entire false narrative throughout the years of the war and the afterwards to this very day, has been that the "Vietnamese People" were against an "Imperialist Power", and that the United States was fighting against a spontaneous insurgency, NOT a well-armed and well-funded Communist Army and heavily-supported Communist Infiltrators in South Vietnam. Also heavily blacked out: South Vietnam was a democratically elected Republic, whereas North Vietnam did not even have a pretense of elections - Veterans who mentioned this to Juice and Communists in America back home literally were literally screamed at, spat at, and physically attacked. *KZbin algorithm programmers censor any facts about the Juice used in a negative context, which is why KZbin is heavily sanitized of any of their history, especially as regards the Cold War and their domination of the illicit trades throughout history.

[@somnathroy6251]

@@isolinear9836 who is juice here ?. Why is your comment like a riddle ?

[@bombsaway6340]

As a former USAF combat search and rescue helicopter pilot I can assure you there is no limit to the efforts we will make to get our people back.

[@dan0alda568]

I can say as a tax payer....if we can save even one of our guys, who cares what it costs? We put those guys over there, it is an obligation to bring them back one way or another.

[@giancarlogarlaschi4388]

Dear Sir Joseph Personett was my B 777 Sim Instructor at Qatar Airways .He was a former FAC OV10 Pilot , He was a USAF Hero. I did my Military Jet Training at Webb AFB , Tx. 1975/76. " Desert Hunters ". Air Force of Chile. Ps. We took All the Awards .

[@bombsaway6340]

@@giancarlogarlaschi4388 didn’t know the man, but the Vietnam rescue guys were all heros

[@stewartgrindlay9760]

This is why Mog in 1993 should also have a positive added to it despite the losses. There is nothing we won’t do to get people back. It’s a huge tool in the mind of those who are cut off.

[@possibly_a_retard]

The video commenter notes the cost of lives and the cost of money, but never once of pride or esprit de corp for which those seemingly imbalanced efforts impact not just every member then serving, but every that comes after.

[@williamm.7433]

These videos are terrible if you want to SLEEP. Couldn't stop watching. Well done 👍

[@davidrichards2237]

Same

[@Biggestsquid23]

And same brother

[@michaeldro]

True words

[@angelachouinard4581]

But I found him one night when I couldn't sleep. Distracted and entertained me so much I didn't mind any more.

[@igameidoresearchtoo6511]

And even worse when you have final exams within 2 days and you just found him

[@keeftaylor834]

Iceal Hambleton may not have been the only Bat21 crewman to survive the shoot-down. Though he never observed any other parachutes, Hambleton did say that he thought he heard someone behind him punch out before him. The airmen directly behind him in the aircraft was Lt. Col. Henry Serex. NSA intercepts of NVA communications claimed that on 4/2/1972 they had shot down an EB66 and had captured one of the crewmen. 6/5/1992 satellite imagery of Dong Vai Prison in NVN showed numerous english characters dug into the surrounding dry rice fields, including "SEREX 72 TA 88." "TA" was Lt. Col. Henry Serex's monthly and long term Escape and Evasion codes.

[@rustyshakelford9777]

That’s intriguing

[@call_me_kay]

Did Serex make it out?

[@cglees]

Interesting articles online about this 👍

[@aybaws]

​@@call_me_kay according to several articles, he was never found again after he ejected from his EB-66 reconnaissance over Vietnam in 1972

[@PrezVeto]

Why would the Vietnamese hold an American prisoner all this time without letting the U.S. know of them? They'd get nothing out of it but a mouth to feed and potential for bad relations were they to be discovered. It makes no sense.

[@cottoncandyman8274]

Excellent, high-quality documentary on a rather unknown event. These sorts of screw-ups, like Operation Eagle Claw, are such defining of parts of the US military and must be remembered so we don't do it again. It's rather disappointing you don't have near as many views as you should for the production value, but it will come with time, I'm sure.

[@PaperSkiesAviation]

Thank you, Cottoncandyman82! I'm glad you liked the video and I appreciate your support.

[@orneryokinawan4529]

They've only been around since March this year. A year from now you'll take that back lol.

[@john-hl5tq]

Gene Hackman and Danny Glover were in the film of the same name, but I confess I hadn't realized that it was based on a true story until I saw this vid.

[@Jr-uh2so]

Unknown? Movie starring two A-list actors. It’s a pretty well known tale. Just gotta be old like me. Haha.

[@tisoy909]

They even made a movie about this, where have you been?

[@GTgaming69]

18:45 damn.. you can really feel his pain and the conflicting emotions here, had me tearing up

[@kwilson5745]

The best historical account of BAT21. The shoot down was informative.

[@420folife]

This particular guy was shot down flying a signals intelligence plane that was used to track and jam enemy radar systems when flying bombing missions. He also was a ballistic missile expert with top security clearance. If you factor in that Vietnam was not just a nva vs USA war but also a ussr vs USA war then why they went to the lengths to pick this guy up made perfect sense.

[@tylergeist1261]

Thank you for saying exactly what the video explained, doof.

[@Archangelm127]

28:00 - The phrase I've always heard in US military media and once in a while from veteran friends is "No one gets left behind." Subtle distinction, at least in my opinion. Great work as always!

[@00calvinlee00]

LtCol Hambleton aside from being an Electronic Warfare expert was also very familiar with the USAF ICBM and nuclear weapons. He should have never been on that bird with knowledge of the ICBM.

[@ligmasack9038]

Well, like most Officers, he wanted to "Pad his Jacket"; hence why Hambleton was a "Blue Falcon" and should have been given a "Napalm Baptism" for his "Clout Chasing".

[@Aldnon]

@@ligmasack9038 This is stupid, if there are no ambitious officer you wouldn't win a war. Officer are by nature preconditioned to be this way always trying to win, and therefore they act as a career soldier who want to further his career and promote his own rank.

[@Laotzu.Goldbug]

@@ligmasack9038 I think it's more than that. this wasn't some desk jockey who wanted to get in a little bit of action, this guy had been flying combat sorties for 25+ years. I think he was mostly just doing his job, though he admittedly it is true he probably should not have been flying there that day

[@PanzerMan332]

@@ligmasack9038 We get it, you used Urban Dictionary once.

[@ligmasack9038]

@@PanzerMan332 or you could try doing your own Research instead of failing at Trolling; and being a Jack-Wagon.

[@prerakkalla]

Man I literally had tears in my eyes for Tom Norris. Guy saved 2 lives without caring for his and basically refused glory saying he was just doing his job. You have to be based af to do this.

[@johnpatz8395]

Yeah, much respect for this real warrior and man!

[@georgesakellaropoulos8162]

Pro tip: Memorize a golf course.

[@frankpinmtl]

Also - train to become a very expensive asset. Try to fly an F-22, which costs the AF $10+ million to train you and they will bend over backwards to save your life.

[@testaccount4191]

@@frankpinmtl or just lob a tomahawk at you out of spite

[@jackr2287]

A factor to consider: during the Vietnam era, it was noted by one Dick Rutan--who earned his fame flying around the world on a single tank of fuel without landing or air to air refueling--stated that there was an agreement the army had with the pilots, the crews, and all other men who were put into harms way. That they, the army, would do what it could to get a man back. Dick Rutan once was asked to break that promise, and managed to shame a general into carrying forward the rescue operation he had minutes ago attempted to call off.

[@jimhaney6384]

Yes, and its still a thing to this day. It is a basic promise in the US military that you will not be left behind. The question is always how are we going to get them back, not if. Pilots can end up in some really far and away places, but its the extreme efforts we go through in the most extreme cases that upholds the promise, and it builds trust more than anything.

[@USN1985dos]

One of the biggest rabbit holes about this story was learning more about Lt. Tom Norris and Petty Officer Michael Thornton. 6 months after the rescue of Bat 21, Norris and Thornton accompanied S. Vietnamese special forces on an intelligence gathering operation, but inadvertently landed 5 miles inside North Vietnam. They were discovered and engaged in a protracted firefight with 100+ enemy soldiers, only surviving likely due to US warships providing gunfire support offshore. Lt. Norris was shot in the head and presumed dead by his Vietnamese colleagues, but upon hearing this, Thornton returned under enemy fire to recover his body, and realized he was still alive. Dragging both Norris and a wounded S. Vietnamese soldier into the water, he kept both of them afloat while swimming himself for two hours until they were rescued. As a result of the injuries, Lt. Norris lost an eye and part of his skull, resulting in a medical discharge from the Navy. He applied in 1979 to join the FBI, but his injuries disqualified him, so he wrote asking for a medical waiver. The Director authorized it provided he could pass the same physical and mental standards of applicants, which he did. When the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team was created in 1983 as the nation's premier domestic counter-terrorism unit (in the same league as the US Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta [aka Delta Force] and the US Navy's Naval Special Warfare Development Group [aka SEAL Team Six]), Norris was a founding member and one of the fist assault team leaders of the unit. These guys were the epitome of badass.

[@eriktruchinskas3747]

Oh cool someone else who knows that story. Isnt it something straight outta a movie? I wish that a film company would make short films about battles like that and other medal of honor recipient stories

[@GeorgeSemel]

What is even more interesting is that Norris received a MOH for the BAT-21 rescue mission, then Thornton received the MOH for going and getting Norris the only time to date where one MOH recipient saved the life of another MOH recipient. It's a rabbit hole to end all rabbit holes.

[@h8GW]

It's almost like Chuck Norris rose to fame off of Tom Norris's IRL memeability.

[@gbonkers666]

Tom Norris....that is one tough SOB!

[@jakedavids9017]

@@GeorgeSemel It’s actually mentioned at 30:02, very interesting.

[@KR4FTW3RK]

This is such a great story. I am sure USAF command was sweating bullets the whole time - after all Hambleton used to be with SAC.

[@stevesmith2171]

He had commanded a SAC wing. He should of never been allowed in the air over there.

[@kpz1234]

A week later they returned to the area to try to rescue Maj Henry Serex. In 1986, a DOD satellite picked up Serex's evasion code - 72TA88 - in an overflight photo. The DOD later claimed this was an anomaly in the grass patterns.

[@1benny09]

*Being born inside of "Iron Fence" I remember reading in the communist newspaper about this, but from a totally different perspective, until I found this video and I learned about the connection between these two stories, finally I've learned the truth...thank you, Paper Skies*

[@myview5840]

Gene Hackman played Lt Ham in the film BAT-21. Worth a watch.

[@RaceChapman]

the question "how many lives is it worth to save one" is a fallacy in this context. it is worth infinite lives, because the point is not the value of one man, the point is the value of every other soldier from that point on fighting with confidence that you will not be abandoned and people will not give up on you. that is a HUGE value to any armed force, and the potential difference between soldiers making heroic stands and being routed easily.

[@user-jt7bx3ek8w]

yes but there is a limit, after that limit, moral of the solders ordered in to the meatgrider may cause major problems

[@michaelwilson8804]

I'm sure the South Vietnamese soldiers who were told they wouldn't be getting artillery or air support because there was an American missing somewhere in their general area would disagree.

[@pmp2559]

I’m pretty sure it was status thing so your statement is wrong. If Hamilton was just a lowly cook or corporal no one would come out to save him or even look once.

[@chaosXP3RT]

@@michaelwilson8804 There's always some reason to hate Americans Give me a break 🙄

[@possibly_a_retard]

Esprit de corp

[@arturopalos2739]

I Remember reading this story in reader's digest back in the 70's. It is very important to know the rest of the story 40 years later and to honor those dead and wounded in Viet Nam.

[@rockyraab8290]

I was a Forward Air Controller in 1971, and know many of the FACs who were involved not only in the Bat-21 event, but were consultants for the movie. The movie was but a pale shadow of the real FAC involvement in those days. They were men who strapped into aircraft knowing they were probably on suicide missions. Duty, Honor, and Country meant something.

[@stingginner1012]

Go out in a slow bird and come home in a Jolly Green. Covey 242 where are you? 20th TASS!

[@fetilu0975]

Ah yes, dying in a stupid war "for the motherland"

[@sparkling925]

@@fetilu0975 you dont get it

[@Melody_Raventress]

God bless you sir, you and all those who fought with you.

[@rayban5067]

I remember the movie Bat21. Especially the minefield scene.

[@PaperSkiesAviation]

It was very intense.

[@sylvesterstewart868]

BS 21 was an entertaining movie but is fictional.

[@Robert-ff9wf]

Yes, it was a very good. I had no idea what it was about but was pleasantly surprised! I highly recommend it!

[@sylvesterstewart868]

@Tyler Buckley And Lt.Col. Henry M. Serex survived the EB-66 with Hambleton.

[@snoopstp4189]

what I remember where the great shots of the Cessna Skymaster that Glover was(supposedly) flying. Whoever flew and filmed those scenes did some outstanding work.

[@melgoy2094]

Well being a retired Spec Ops guy I never knew this story. Today I went to a funeral for a retired SF member. I actually met and talked with one of the two who rescued this pilot Kiet Van Nguyen. He told me the story in broken english. I said I never heard of this mission but I will research it and thanked him for the service to the US. I did not know I was shaking hands with a real Hero.

[@willienelsongonzalez4609]

Would love to see a proper accurate version of this, either as a TV mini-series or film. Realise that “Bat 21” was made, starring Danny Glover and Gene Hackman, but that was a Hollywoodised version based on the actual mission. Fascinating story.

[@UmbrellaXR]

It's not about how many lives are lost in pursuit of saving one or how much money it costs but that we never leave a man behind, no matter how hard or how many lives are lost.

[@dragonsdynamite6403]

Hundreds for one and one for hundreds

[@arthas640]

US Government: every life is sacred, we'll spend whatever it takes to get our boys back. No man gets left behind. Civilian: can I some insulin? I think I'm dying and it's like $10 Gov: sorry, we just dont have the money. You'll have to buy you're own $100 shot Civilian: dont mean $10? Gov: ... Civlian: you mean $10, right? Gov: ... Civlian: .... Gov: *flies POW flag*

[@ggoddkkiller1342]

It is just propaganda that ''every life is sacred'' so less American soldiers would defect!! Otherwise they wouldn't enlist 17 years old ignorant boys which still continues even today...

[@BichaelStevens]

@@ggoddkkiller1342 especially in Afghanistan now

[@Randomusername56782]

@@ggoddkkiller1342cant 17 year olds only enlist with permission from their parents in the US??

[@ggoddkkiller1342]

@@Randomusername56782 So? If their parents give permission they should jump from a bridge?? You can not drink, get a driver licence or rent a car in some states at age 17 but you can enlish to the army, ''hurrah''...

[@Randomusername56782]

@@ggoddkkiller1342 Again.. this doesn’t debunk my point that it requires both the decision of the minor and the consent of BOTH parents to join.. Which i might add you were framing it so that you could join at 17 or enlist without the consent of the minors parents and similiar to how someone would enlist above 18.

[@dan0alda568]

This channel is under subbed. I have found Russia’s Mark Felton. Keep it up.

[@LeviForWaifu]

He's from Canada

[@grimwaltzman]

He's Ukrainian

[@acedogboy8421]

Mark felton. The king reader of wikipedia and stealing others work and no giving credit.

[@mortalclown3812]

@@acedogboy8421 Felton is a real historian, has written 22 books and has a PhD in history.

[@hoyschelsilversteinberg4521]

@@acedogboy8421 Yep Mark Felton really is just wikipedia reader. What ever the political narrative is, he follows.

[@tegli4]

Watching this made me think Tom Clancy took inspiration from this to write Without Remorse. At least the rescue part (mentioned briefly as something Kelly has done) and the down pilot's intimate knowledge about military secrets.

[@mingming9604]

The reason why german pilots in wwii racked up dozens and dozens of kills so often is because they were able to be rescued and recycled back into the aircraft to fly again.

[@calvinnyala9580]

Vice versa, not rescuing the pilots led tp the downfall of the Imperial Japanese Navy pilots, where most of the ace are all killed in action, either by enemy fire and kamikaze. Can't save any if they died willingly.

[@defenestrationismyfavoriteword]

Not really the whole story. They racked up so many kills because they were never rotated out from the front. It's not like everyone else just left their pilots to die, hell the US' PBY Catarina was famous for search and rescue ops.

[@A_barrel]

Once us pilots got a couple kills they were sent back to go teach classes

[@lentlemenproductions770]

@@defenestrationismyfavoriteword also consider most air battles were fought over land that was decisively controlled by Germany on the ground, making search and rescue much simpler and safer.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

I think one thing that is often overlooked is that at the time North Vietnam had the most advanced Anti Aircraft defense system in the world. We often think of the Vietcong fighting with minimal equipment, but this is in stark contrast to the North Vietnamese Army. This isn't even to get onto the performance of the North Vietnamese air force that caused the creation of Top Gun in response, due to the skill of the North Vietnamese fighter pilots.

[@hhjones9393]

Were they really NV pilots? I'm not as familiar with Vietnam air power but in Korea the first hand accounts from US pilots say that it was pretty obvious when the Soviet pilots were in the air vs the Korean or Chinese pilots. The B-team was much easier to handle. Did that happen in Vietnam as well?

[@Alex-cw3rz]

@@hhjones9393 yeah a lot of NV pilots, they were very well trained due to them being a much smaller force than the Americans. So their was no B-team, Top Gun was created due to the skill of North Vietnamese fighter pilots. The north Vietnamese air force was well established but mainly used older aircraft. So the main place soviet advisors were present was in North Vietnamese anti-aircraft warfare, which with soviet help became the most comphesive and most advanced anti aircraft system in the world at the time. Well from what we know it turns out those American pilots seem to have believed that it had to be Soviets as they couldn't think a NK pilot could be good. Although this wasn't true (a bit like how Americans couldn't believe the Japanese made the Zero etc.), as their were quite a number of North Korean aces, who were also present in Vietnam and help train their too.

[@anhduc0913]

@@Alex-cw3rz Yep, the AA operators was trained by the soviet to great effects, while taking advantages of the unchanging tactics the US used in Vietnam, sometime dating back to WW2. NV pilots used outdated soviet fighters and were not present much as their priority was to protect the limited fighter number.

[@rbeck3200tb40]

@@Alex-cw3rz The Soviet military was in Vietnam . Soviet pilots flew in fighter planes against the US. Also there were Soviet special forces in Vietnam and Cambodia and Laos . Many US special forces people saw them

[@lehoang3532]

@@rbeck3200tb40 Soviet advisors were in Viet Nam, yes, but very few were in actual combat, most of that combat was probably self-defense. None Soviet pilot was deployed in any combat against the US. And Soviet special forces? They were a coincidence, assume that they were actually deployed

[@johntaylor-lo8qx]

I've never heard this story told properly. Excellent documentary here. Bravo 👏, everyone who worked on this. Love the narrator!!! Accient is perfect, along with talking speed.

[@adamfrazer5150]

If you want to learn about some of this conflict's most dangerous, clandestine actions and hear from the surviving members who carried out these missions, I highly recommend the book S.O.G. 👍

[@rockyraab8290]

I was a FAC working with MACV/SOG in '71. We got the real "Mission Impossible" speech where we were told if we were shot down we would not be rescued and would be disavowed.

[@adamfrazer5150]

@@rockyraab8290 man, thank you so much for commenting - I've only really touched the surface on the exploits and experiences yourself and your fellow operators endured, but even that one book has left an impact. What someone like me wouldn't give to simply open my ears, understand and appreciate whatever you might choose to share. The highest, highest level of respect to you Sir, I couldn't express that any other way and for so many different reasons. Thank you for dropping that reply, I'm really grateful to have made contact with someone who was there, lived it and returned.

[@erictaylor5462]

There is also a measurable effect on moral. If your fighter (pilot, solder, crew member) can focus on their job better and become more effective if they know every effort will be expended on their rescue should it be needed.

[@Mrcrisis2012]

I spoke to the LtCol on the phone after reading his story....

[@mr.nemesis6442]

No matter how costly a rescue operation, we must carry it out. This booze morale by letting people know that they’re not gonna get left behind no matter what.

[@erictaylor5462]

All of your videos are really good. Have you considered doing a video on Matias Rust, the West German teenager who flew a Cessna to Moscow, landing in Red Square in the 1980's? It would be perfect for your type of content.

[@adamfrazer5150]

The next time I'm watching a war film, Marines are engaged and asking for fire support and that pesky ol' officer denies it...... @12:19 I'll try to remember this as a potential reason 🤔😬

[@charlessaint7926]

As a direct result of the operation to get BAT 21 Bravo out of a hornet's nest, eleven men were killed and two were captured, later released in March 1973. Some of the remains of those killed or missing were recovered, Ghost 39 crewmembers; Kulland, Frink, and Paschall were recovered in 1995 and returned to the US. They are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The remains of Jolly Roger 67 crew were returned to the US on 1 October 1997. Over the years the families of the crew buried them in separate cemeteries.

[@devingraves8044]

B 66 pilots did a little trolling

[@thelovertunisia]

A specialist or high ranking officer may cost more than the hardware and even if not, hardware can be replaced quickly in an industrialised country but not people.

[@richiec7700]

You earned a subscription! You covered this incident very well.

[@longtabsigo]

As a commander, we use and apply the concept of Economy of Force; however, one reason Americans are so willing to go into the “fires of hell” is our imbedded knowledge that if things to shit, other Americans are willing to brave those same fires to come get you. However, during the Obama administration’s Non Action to events in Banghazi was the only time I know when that “promise” was ignored and our faith severely tested.

[@frankmango6594]

Very nice work! In a time when so many short documentaries on KZbin are lazy copy-and-paste jobs with terrible synthetic narration, yours are thoughtful and well crafted.

[@brianrmc1963]

This is an amazing channel. As a former Marine Officer, it is my opinion is that how we treat our people directly affects how hard they fight. This is one of the basic tenets of leadership.

[@TheTeaParty320]

You bring back everyone of your people. Every life from your side is sacred. As far as the enemy is concerned, I don’t care is my humble response.

[@nebulaone908]

What an absolutely amazing story. I admire the lengths the USAF went to save one single American. The policy of everyone goes home is something that I'm sure is very inspiring for everyone in the Air Force. However, that isn't without sacrifice, and sometimes, the price is high to rescue someone. But in my eyes, every life is priceless, which makes it difficult for me to come to a moral conclusion with this rescue when so many people died in the process. But then again, many heros have died in the process of saving someone. All who died for this pilot are heros; deserving of great remembrance and respect. "No greater love is there to sacrifice your life for a friend." -Bible.

[@ThroneOfBhaal]

10:45 Playing golf is mandatory if you want to be promoted above Major.

[@PaperSkiesAviation]

:)

[@GicaForta]

At 2:15 that’s footage of a NATO wargame drill that took place in Romania at Deveselu. The markings on the vehicles is that of the Romanian Army Forces 🇷🇴

[@Daanlikkewaan]

Man Chuck Norris don't have nothing on this guy....

[@poiu477]

There's a great book about the SEALs rescue, called Saving Bravo. Great book

[@mandywalkden-brown7250]

Thanks for the reminder, I completely forgot it’s sitting in my library!

[@poiu477]

@@mandywalkden-brown7250 No sweat! Really enjoyed it on my first read, def earned a spot on the bookshelf

[@ronin47-ThorstenFrank]

The best account of the incident I´ve seen so far - either the internet or television.

[@madyogi6164]

Nicely told! I'v seen the Bat 21 VHS back in '92 (I think). Must admit, I didn't realize the story was that far away from what happened in real!

[@rosbif4095]

Excelent video and research! Way higher standard than most of what KZbin has to offer. Much appreciated

[@ct10153]

Price of human life: $400,000 according the US government (active duty life insurance)

[@SharpForceTrauma]

"So that others may live." -USAF PJ motto

[@alqaeda7040]

Damn, complicated as fuck. And the gulf riddle was a very smart move by the Americans

[@SahiPie]

Lmao went to read up on the wiki for Norris and found the part where Thornton snuck him out of the hospital to attend Thornton’s Medal of Honor ceremony. Other stand outs was that Norris became a original member of the FBI hostage rescue team

[@Jixxor]

Rarely have I seen a this criminally underrated channel. Amazing content, I hope you keep it up. I stumbled across the channel 3 hours ago and couldn't turn off so far.

[@Jrhoney]

Consider what would happen if the Armed Services gave up trying to rescue their people. Would anyone ever again risk their necks if they know being abandoned is likely to happen?

[@fugguhber4699]

About, 40 years ago, I read the book; it was a great thriller......... and the movie ain't half bad either.

[@revictimator]

Awesome stuff dude. Perhaps more volume? My tablet's speaker is like a mouse with a microphone heh.

[@timnor4803]

Charlie Tuna was a terrible tasting cereal😂😂😂

[@myview5840]

What's wrong with farmed tuna fed on cocaine

[@dougcoombes8497]

As a long time air and military buff I really enjoyed this video. I hope many more people sub your channel and you have a long career here.

[@sqike001ton]

so if I recall they looked into this and firstly Hambleton should not have been flying combat missions. secondly the government determined his knowledge was worth more than his life. the determination was they should have only tried to rescue him up to the point the could arch light strike his area. the reason for the arch light was B52 pilots not need to know there mission is to kill a pilot. that's some cold thinking and I don't think they wanted it public but logically your secrets are more important than one man

[@wicked1172]

"Is there a price on human life?" Apparently Mother Russia does not value the life of a Ukrainian civilian. One Putin's career is being paid for by the lives of many Ukrainian civilians and defenders. At what cost? Apparently, cost is not a concern.

[@Legitpenguins99]

I do not envy the survivors of this situation. No matter who you are, they must have lived with crushing guilt for the rest of their lives even if they weren't responsible for the fuck up

[@foxbatmc8457]

better than the movie

[@countcampula]

Of course there's a price to human life, average American head is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in wealth creation every year. Take that plus how ever many years they have left till average mortality rate and that's your opportunity cost.

[@njm3211]

What an enormous waste of blood and treasure for a criminally cynical war.

[@lilfattcatt7758]

Sometimes I dislike the military spending but there’s no amount for saving someone that’s too high I could totally see the US military use all of its yearly budget to rescue one guy

[@carlweiser5697]

The rescue wasn’t about saving one individual but that particular individual because of the military knowledge he possessed. His capture would have been a devastating intelligence blow to the US. In this particular circumstance the price was justified ( in the end recusing him saved many lives further down the line).

[@mikesimms5750]

We coulda dropped a bomb on him and accomplished the same. This wasn't entirely about protecting secrets.

[@Joesolo13]

@@mikesimms5750 certainly did on plenty of vietnamese kids....

[@vorynrosethorn903]

I mean, at a certain point it just becomes better for him to shoot himself, preferably that is before loads of other people die.

[@crf80fdarkdays]

​@@Joesolo13maybe

[@Peter-w4s1e]

​@@vorynrosethorn903 AGREED. He should have just BEEN A REAL MAN and offed HIMSELF.....

[@jmace5964]

Tough calls the air force and army were wighing how many would die rescuing him vs how many would die and also if his info went to the soviet union

[@remcov3253]

Interesting story. An other nice one would be the Capture of Fort Eben-Emael in WW2

[@theconscience01]

Hambleton should have never been allowed on the mission, he was just an observer, but back at HQ he knew too much to allow him to be captured. Whoever authorized his unnecessary flight should have been court-martialed.

[@markgergely5323]

He was on a classified mission! A VIP observer! That's all I can say, because things are still classified. I have friends in high places and low places!

[@Peter-w4s1e]

It was admiral John McCain, believe it or not

[@scottessery100]

the soviet economy took a hit after they stopped firing so many sam 7s at the us aircraft

[@judgemental9253]

If we send our brothers and sisters out to war it is our duty to bring them back, no matter the price tag

[@Blank-dz9gh]

The US Air Force do a little bit of trolling XD

[@koba0798]

respect to north vietnamese warriors

[@sovo89]

Vietnamese special force Phong and Tat found the pilot Clark when he was floating on the river Mieu Giang

[@rlicon1970]

Yeah, that story is amazing and I first heard about it when in the USAF bmt.

[@packardexelence]

I FIRST saw the movie "BAT 21" ABOUT 26 YEARS AGO; & LOVED IT!!!; BUT I ALSO LOVED this step by step FACTUAL retelling of the story!!!!!!!, THANKS!!!!!!!!!!

[@12345fowler]

It is not costing much to U.S. AIr Force. They operate all the assets, no extra salaries or private company margin to pay for. All done internally. Everything already budgeted for, just a change of asset use maybe.

[@dankovac1609]

B-66: We do a little trolling.

[@darianbrowning1608]

There is no limit to the price we will pay when it comes to retrieving one of our own. It's one of the few comforts to those in harm's way: no matter what happens, you're coming back home to your family.

[@topiasr628]

Excellent work! I've been binging your channel for the last 2 hour. Keep up the great work!

[@petesheppard1709]

There were a number of cases prior to BAT-21 where rescue had to be called off due to excessive risk; especially when close to Hanoi or Haiphong. In fact, there's at least one published photo of a pilot actually being captured, taken from a rescue aircraft as it flew over.

[@crf80fdarkdays]

I would like to see this photo

[@etgha]

Bruh imagine getting backlash for prioritising a higher rank military personnel when he knows actual military secrets which the average soldier doesn't It's tough but it's war, funding isn't infinite and it needs to be used wisely to win said war

[@americanhat3766]

8:05 I didn't understand the scale of those missiles till I saw one compared to the personnel firing it, good god that missile is *huge*

[@epicmickey2351]

Missing, wounded, or dead. They’re coming home.

[@ianjacka469]

Epic, the best one of your's that I've seen so far. What a crazy story. I wonder, with him being so highly ranked, if he knew something they were scared the enemy would torture out of him.

[@masaharumorimoto4761]

Fantastic video!!!!!! Every now and then KZbin recommends me a kick ass channel I've never heard of :)

[@ianababenkova2969]

Very interesting 👍

[@marksmithcollins]

We need a movie about South Vietnamese soldiers who lost their support while full attack of enemy.

[@howardwhite1507]

That would be all of the South Vietnamese army. The US Senate pulled support for them leading to their defeat. Leading Democraps reneged on our promise leading to the boat people....

[@tubewatcher3100]

Hey thanks for the visuals. You did an awesome job with the video editing.

[@giancarlogarlaschi4388]

It is Duty - Honor - Loyalty - Sacrifice - Selflessness . Good Military Men KNOW that there are times for Cowards ...and then there are times for Heroes. SAR . " SO OTHERS MAY LIVE " With my Highest Respect for this Men . They were Civilized young kids ...and they gave it All . First Lieutenant ( R ). Air Force of Chile.

[@aluorine]

>get shot down >eject >land near an enemy convoy >simply designate targets Gigachad behavior

[@miilotheminer]

Go outside

[@fitathome-30-minutehiitwor71]

👍👍👍

[@NolePTR]

TIL Trolling isn't a new term.

[@pserndbsj8337]

Hope they take this operation cost out of his pension

[@thewatcher5271]

This Is A Very Good Account Of The Event & I've Seen A Few More Of Your Videos Which Is Why I Subscribe To Your Channel.