BRECKNER, WILLIAM JOHN JR.

Name: Willima John Breckner, Jr.
Rank/Branch: United States Air Force/O5
Unit: 8 TFW
Date of Birth: 29 May 1933
Home City of Record: Sebring OH
Date of Loss: 30 July 1972
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 210300 North 1055500 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4D #7576
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident:
Refno: 1905

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews.

REMARKS: 730329 RELEASED BY DRV

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor
P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and
spelling errors).

WILLIAM J. BRECKNER
Lieutenant Colonel - United States Air Force
Shot Down: July 30, 1972
Released: March 29, 1973

After attending Bowling Green and Ohio State Universities I entered Aviation
Cadet training and graduated in 1955. Upon completion of advance training at
Nellis AFB, I flew F-86H's and F1 00D's with the 417th T.F. squadron in
Europe. I returned in 1959 to an assignment in GCI then flew FlOlB's at
Lockbourne AFB, Ohio. This was followed by a three year tour of exchange duty
with the U.S. Navy flying A-4's. I was embarked in the ill-fated USS Forrestal
in July 1967 on Yankee Station and returned to combat aboard the USS Intrepid
in July 1968. I completed Air Command and Staff College in 1970 and, after
checking out in the F106, assumed command of Detachment #1, 87th Fighter
Interceptor Squadron at Volk Field, Wisconsin. After joining the 87th F.I.Sq.
at K.I. Sawyer AFB, I volunteered for another sea tour. I completed F-4
training at Homestead AFB and reported to the 435th T.F.Sq. in Thailand where
I served as the Operations Officer. I was shot down 30 July 1972 on a raid
over Hanoi.

After completion of my first combat tour I frequently speculated upon the
factors that may have accounted for my safe return home but did not provide
the same good fortune for my friends. For the next couple of years the war was
an ever present, yet somewhat secondary thing as I became deeply involved in
other duties. However, as time went on and the complexion of the war appeared
to be changing again, I found myself wanting to return once more. My reasons
were various: it was my turn again, personal professional gain, patriotism,
good friends in POW camps and others who had made the supreme sacrifice, and
other reasons I've never fully understood. While in prison camp I had plenty
of time to think how lucky I was to still be alive and, since my return, I
have reflected again on the whims of destiny. Why do some return and others
not? Well, it isn't all skill. Better men than I never came back. Perhaps
Ernest K. Gann said it all when he entitled his book Fate Is The Hunter.

November 1996
William Breckner Jr. retired from the United States Air Force as a Major
General. He and his wife Cheryl reside in Colorado.

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