In the face of heavy ground fire, Lieut. Colonel James Robinson Risner, 40 (TIME cover, April 23), led his Fighting Cock squadron and 90 other jets into North Viet Nam early last month, and hammered at the critical rail and highway bridge near Thanhhoa until finally it was destroyed. His F-105 was heavily damaged by antiaircraft fire, but he refused to be diverted from his mission. For such "extraordinary heroism," Air Force Chief of Staff General J. P. McConnell last week brought Robbie Risner back from Viet Nam, awarded him the Air Force Cross, second in rank only to the...
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