A real-life “Top Gun” has revealed after 50 years that he shot down Soviet jets during the Korean War.
In 1952, then-U.S. Navy pilot Royce Williams engaged in perhaps the longest aerial dogfight against four Soviet jets, shooting down the enemy planes in less than 30 minutes.
Williams, 97, who retired in 1975, was presented with the Navy Cross on Friday. The Navy Cross is the second-highest decoration given by the service for valor.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported in 2022 that Williams had kept his commitment for decades to remain quiet about this brief but memorable aerial battle, even among friends and relatives.
Tom Cruise, who portrayed the fictional Maverick in the “Top Gun” movies, congratulated the American hero on his win.
“Your grit and bravery are simply astounding,” Cruise said in a video recording. “You are a true American hero and I offer you my most sincere thanks and congratulations to you, sir.”
Williams has been the subject of a campaign by Republican Rep. Darrell Issa and others seeking to ensure his feats are fully recognized and honored.
“Williams is … a Top Gun pilot like no other, and an American hero for all time,” Issa said. “The heroism and valor he demonstrated for35 harrowing minutes, 70 years ago in the skies over the North Pacific and the coast of North Korea saved the lives of his fellow pilots, shipmates and crew. His story is one for the ages, but is now being fully told.
”According to accounts of the mission retold in books and other media, the men were ordered by their commander to retreat to the carrier and establish a protective screen. Three of the pilots succeeded, but Williams soon discovered he had been boxed in by the Soviet fighters.
The young lieutenant was forced to engage the MiGs as they swarmed him, culminating in a half-hour of twisting, turning, and other gut-wrenching maneuvers to avoid being shot down and position the Panther to fire back at the Russian pilots trying to kill him.
It took the young lieutenant a half-hour of twisting, turning, and other agonizing maneuvers to avoid being shot down and position the Panther to fire back at the Russian pilots attempting to kill him as the MiGs swarmed him.
