Tuesday, September 16th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, September 16th — 

On this day, back in 1965 — Lieutenant Colonel Robinson Risner is shot down while flying an F-105D “Thunderchief” aircraft during a mission near Tuong Loc, North Vietnam.  He was captured, and would remain a Prisoner of War until his release on February 12, 1973.  Retired Brigadier General Risner is the exemplar for the Class of ’21. 

…Also on this day, back in 1996 — John Blaha, Class of ’65, serves as mission specialist during Space Shuttle mission STS-79.  The orbiter Atlantis docked with the Russian Space Station Mir, the fourth Shuttle-Mir docking.  Blaha remained aboard Mir for the following four months. 

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