r/UpliftingNews • u/ArgentineBeauty • 5h ago
In 1952, Royce Williams fought 7 Soviet MiG-15s alone for 35 minutes, downing three and damaging a fourth. His jet returned with over 260 bullet holes, but the battle was classified for 50 years. At 100, he received the Medal of Honor; at 101, Disneyland just named him an honorary citizen.
https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-experiences/disneyland-honors-medal-of-honor-recipient-royce-williams/76
u/ArgentineBeauty 5h ago
The below link has more detail on the events from 1952
https://taskandpurpose.com/history/royce-williams-korean-war-fighter-pilot/
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u/Blind-_-Tiger 4h ago
Thanks, pretty crazy the carrier group fired at him when he first tried to land after the skirmish, but he was able to try again, but also had to land at increased speed, I assume because the panther was so shot up. It says the he fought 2v7 tho... and I'm not sure what happened to the wingman...
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u/Perfectly_Other 3h ago
Article seems a bit mixed up on the details
States Flight of 4 planes launched
Flight lead returns to carrier with a fuel pump issue leaving two planes to fight the migs (what happen to the 4th pilot in the flight)
End of article says Royce and two other pilots in his flight were credited with kills that day (presumably his wing man and the other pilot who didnt have a mechanical problem)
Unclear if these kills were the same flight of 7 migs
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u/big_sugi 1h ago
This is his Medal of Honor citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 18 November 1952 while leading a division of three jet fighters attached to Fighter Squadron SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-ONE (VF-781) and embarked on the USS ORISKANY. While flying a combat patrol mission over the northeastern coastal waters of enemy-held North Korea, Lieutenant Williams demonstrated extraordinary heroism by intercepting a superior force of attacking enemy MiG-15 fighters in order to protect the ships of Task Force 77. After thwarting the enemy’s initial attack, he maneuvered his aircraft to make two firing passes on one MiG, which then spiraled into the sea. He inflicted heavy damage to a second MiG-15, which started smoking badly and retired from the fight. When his own aircraft was severely damaged by a direct hit from one of the remaining enemy MiG-15s, Lieutenant WIlliams evaded further enemy attack while continuing to direct the dogfight. He eventually found cover in a cloud bank, broke off the engagement, and miraculously landed his nearly uncontrollable aircraft on the USS ORISKANY. His exceptional airmanship, coupled with his complete disregard for his own personal safety, resulted in the destruction of three enemy MiG-15s and severe damage to a fourth, and undoubtedly saved the lives of hundreds of Task Force 77 sailors. By his undaunted courage, bold initiative, and total devotion to duty, Lieutenant Williams reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
According to a different article, the flight leader turned away first and was accompanied by his wingman. Williams and his wingman got separated, and the wingman broke away and returned to the fleet, leaving Williams by himself.
It’s unclear whether four or six Soviet planes were shot down. Williams is credited with four, but again there are reports saying only one Soviet plane returned, so his wingman might have gotten two.
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u/rizzyrogues 56m ago
With no hydraulics I'm not sure how he achieved yaw and roll but pitch and speed were probably the only thing he could control with engine power. Being a single engine i really dont know how he turned with out hydraulics to flight control surfaces. This whole story is super interesting and this guy flew the shit out of that plane for sure.
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u/utterscrub 4h ago
The vast, incomprehensible gap of consciousness between a sky-warrior screaming through the heavens on the knife edge of life and death, at one with his machine of war, rending his foes from the air and hanging out at Disneyland is humorous to me
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u/DrToothWhisperer 4h ago edited 1h ago
A story I have like thsi was I talked to a guy in the line for Rise of the Resistance, and we started to talk about special forces and how he was a former Navy Seal and his career in the military.
The final thing he talked about how was him and his wife decided to buy an RV because their cat didn't like riding in the car and they wanted to keep it with them when they travel.
I was like dam going from hardcore killer to having an RV for your Cat when you go to disney is quite a life tragetory.
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u/TheDevil-YouKnow 3h ago
You either die doing it, or you learn to appreciate the mew mews of your fur babby, and the towel collection your wife is so passionate about.
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u/Wrathb0ne 3h ago
And then there is Mickey in a pilot suit shaking his hand. Both know the Mouse has the most blood on his hands
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u/D00T_BOI 4h ago
Disneyland has citizenships?
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u/Dirtydiscodeeds 4h ago
Service grants citizenship!
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u/upboat_consortium 4h ago
Would you like to know more?
……….[YES]……[NO]………..
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u/Mtatk 4h ago
Does he get in free?
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u/ernyc3777 3h ago
God no. You think the mouse would give up a Dollar!?
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u/SchrodingersNinja 3h ago
A-huh! It suuuure does!
Who's the person with the club that's made for you and me?
M I C K E Y M O USE!
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u/pornborn 3h ago
Says he flew from the USS Oriskany. The name sounded familiar then I remembered it was from Top Gun. Viper was regaling Maverick of flying with his father:
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u/mcm87 3h ago
Interestingly, the Oriskany was an Essex-class and couldn’t operate the F-4 Phantoms that Maverick says his dad flew. Their fighter squadrons were F-8 Crusaders.
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u/Mwootto 1h ago
Old head (that oddly looks about my age but is meant to be an old school guy, wild, I need to rewatch the movie) in the clip says “F-51 Oriskany”, I assume he means F-51 on the USS Oriskany(?) and then OPs follow up source mentions the “F9F-5”.
I know absolutely nothing of these naming conventions. Does Maverick in another scene mention F-4 Phantoms? If the Oriskany flew “F-8 Crusaders” but hero dude flew an “F9F-5” what does that mean?
I would totally understand if you don’t feel like educating a rando on the internet but I got curious so figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.
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u/pornborn 35m ago
F-51 (VF-51) is the squadron. Known as The Screaming Eagles. They were associated with the Oriskany CV-34.
I suspect the reference Viper made to F4’s was the Vought F4U Corsair.
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u/GooseInternational66 4h ago
Why was a fighter jet dogfight classified?
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u/fantasmoofrcc 4h ago
Cold-war shenanigans in Korea where only proxy fights were "cool". Can't have the US fighting the USSR directly...
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u/boardburner77 4h ago
7 enemy combatants over 35 minutes .... That's insanity! And survived with kills....
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u/DEATHbyBOOGABOOGA 1h ago
From another article, because I was curious why this didn’t precipitate WW3:
It was then that the national security implications of the encounter began to take hold. While Soviet volunteers were known to be flying in Korea, Williams had engaged the actual Soviet Air Force. Furthermore, his flight had been made aware of the Soviet jets based on intelligence from a small detachment from the National Security Agency — then less than a year old — operating on one of the other ships in the task force.
Williams was informed by Navy Adm. Robert Briscoe, commander of Naval Forces Far East, that while it was confirmed he had shot down three and possibly four MiGs, he was not to discuss the engagement with anyone, ever.
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u/futureformerteacher 4h ago
Was this in MiG alley in Korea?
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u/Flying_Dustbin 4h ago
According to his Wikipedia bio, the dogfight took place near the city of Hoeryong, which is in Northeastern NK. MiG Alley was in the Northwestern part of the country.
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u/sewer_pickles 4h ago
Not to take away from his accomplishments, but Disneyland literally has stacks of honorary citizen buttons that they give out for free. Hopefully they also gave him something special like a VIP tour and a stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite
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u/Orange-V-Apple 2h ago
Damn, so it was all for nothing 😔
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u/sewer_pickles 2h ago
There’s always the opportunity to pick up a new award as you exit through the gift shop
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u/Iliketoeatsweets 3h ago
35 minutes of intense manouvering not counting the flight time taking off and landing, is very impressive fuel efficiency.
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u/xSocksman 4h ago
Disney made him a citizen of Disneyland… for killing people? Weird flex but okay. Seems very America.
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u/Key-Cry-8570 3h ago
They were honoring a service member who was awarded the Medal of Honor. Every society in human history has celebrated their war heroes who committed acts of bravery or heroism. There’s nothing distinctly American about that, stop trying to spread your hatred.
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u/kareljack 3h ago
Do you feel superior now? Did you get your social justice keyboard warrior merit badge?
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u/Aprice40 2h ago
So.... no to be nitpicky, but the mig didnt fire bullets. It had 2 23mm cannons and 1 37mm Cannon. Technically it fired shells. Additionally..... if his plane had been hit with 200+ Cannon shells it would likely have evaporated.
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u/MattBladesmith 4h ago
I misread the title as "bought 7 Soviet Mig-15s". I initially just thought he was some crazy rich guy.
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u/GammaMT 1h ago
What a load of bullshit.
MiG-15's don't have machine guns. None of the Soviet aircraft of the era have machine guns.
MiG-15's have 37mm cannons with explosive shells. A single shell hit is enough to bring down a fighter sized aircraft.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nudelman_N-37
But I am sure I'll get downvoted. Time and time after again the war hero stories of US soldiers turn out to be completely manufactured BS. Some even get made in to Hollywood movies despite being bs.
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u/lostinspaz 41m ago
"mig 15s dont have machine guns they have 37mm cannnons"
no-one else here gives a crap.
they had guns. they fired and went boom.
noone cares about the calibre or type of ordinance. get a life.•
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u/Elm03981 2m ago
The 37mm was intended for bomber interdiction. Two 23mm were standard air to air armament for the Mig 15. You can go view the one that defected from N Korea at Wright Patterson.
So should we down vote you?
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