Iceal Hambleton - Pre-Vietnam Years

Pre-Vietnam Years

Hambleton served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during the last years of World War II without seeing any combat. Released from active duty at the end of the war, he retained a Reserve commission and was recalled back to active duty by the U.S. Air Force during the 1950s. During the Korean War, he flew 43 sorties as navigator in a B-29 Superfortress. He then worked during the 1960s on various USAF ballistic missile projects such as the PGM-19 Jupiter, Titan I ICBM and Titan II ICBM. From 1965 to 1971, Hambleton had commanded the 571st Strategic Missile Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and had also been the deputy chief of operations for his squadrons parent unit, the Strategic Air Command's 390th Strategic Missile Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB.