Capt. Robbie Risner was the 20th American ace in the Korean War. He ended up with 8 kills in the war flying the best jet fighter in the world at that time – the F-86 Sabre. On Sept. 15, 1952, he was part of a group of Sabres that were escorting bombers in a bombing of a chemical plant along the Yalu River, the border with Red China. The bombers got attacked by Chinese MiGs and Risner and his mates got into a dogfight with them. The MiGs headed for sanctuary in China, knowing that American planes were forbidden to cross the Yalu. Risner broke that rule by chasing a MiG over the border. His wingman Lt. Joe Logan stayed with him. The MiG pilot was good and tried all types of maneuvers to shake the Yankee, but Risner stuck too him well into China. In fact, all the way back to the enemy pilot’s airfield. The MiG flew between two hangars, but Risner managed to hit him in the wing with his .50 caliber machine guns and the plane crashed into several MiGs on the ground. Risner headed back with Logan. Unfortunately, Logan’s plane got hit by anti-aircraft fire and started leaking fuel and hydraulic fluid. He would not be able to reach friendly territory. Risner had a bright and daring idea. He would push Logan to a safe bailout point. He told Logan to cut his engine and Risner approached Logan from the rear and stuck the opening of his Sabre onto the tailpipe of Logan. It was extremely risky, especially with fuel and hydraulic fluid covering his windshield. And it was impossible to keep the connection for long. Risner had to reconnect several times, but he pushed Logan almost back to an airbase. Logan bailed out and ironically, although he was a good swimmer, drowned because he got caught in his parachute lines. Risner made a dead stick landing as he had run out of fuel.
Risner went on to fly jets (F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bombers) in Vietnam. He was awarded the Air Force Cross (second only to the Medal of Honor) for leading a mission against a North Vietnamese bridge. He was featured on the cover of Time magazine. On August 12, 1965, he flew his 55th mission, against a SAM missile site. He was hit by ground fire and had to bail out. He was captured and held prisoner for 7 years. During his stay at the infamous prison camp called “The Zoo”. He was tortured numerous times. He and James Stockdale (Medal of Honor recipient and future Vice Presidential candidate) led the resistance to the brutal treatment. He was awarded his second Air Force Cross. He is one of only four airmen to be a multiple awardee. He retired a General.
https://www.airforcemag.com/PDF/MagazineArchive/Documents/1998/May%201998/0598valor.pdf
https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/fighter-pilots-pushed-wingmen/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Robinson_Risner
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