On April 2, 1972, a U.S. Air Force jet, call sign “Bat 21,” was shot down by a North
Vietnamese surface-to-air missile behind enemy lines. The lone surviving crew member,
the navigator, ejected at 31,000 feet and was the subject of the largest and one of
the most difficult rescue operations in Air Force history. A 1988 movie starring
Gene Hackman and Danny Glover told parts of the secret rescue mission. John van Etten
of Horton Bay didn’t need to see the movie. He was one of the rescue pilots portrayed
in the film and has written his own book about the experience. He will provide his
eyewitness account of the harrowing and costly rescue.
This program will be held via Zoom. Attendance is free, however pre-registration is required at https://www.ncmclifelonglearning.com/event-4628579/Registration.