Royce Williams, left, with Legionnaire Steve Lewandowski, right, in 2023 when Williams received the Navy Cross. (Photo: American Legion HQ)
UPDATE: The House of Representatives and Senate have passed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. It now awaits President Trump’s signature.
UPDATE II: Capt. Royce Williams was officially presented with the Medal of Honor during President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union Address.
Retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams may soon receive the Medal of Honor for a feat that remained hidden for decades after one of the most extraordinary aerial battles in U.S. Military history. The fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act includes language that lifts time limits that had prevented the nation’s highest military award from being considered.
Williams, now 100, is a member of American Legion Post 416 in Encinitas, California. His actions on Nov. 18, 1952, during the Korean War were first publicly reported in a November 2017 issue of American Legion Magazine, after he had been sworn to secrecy immediately following the mission. For more than half a century, he was forbidden from talking about an encounter that nearly ignited a wider global conflict.
On that winter day, Williams was flying an F9F-5 Panther from the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany as part of a four-plane combat air patrol over the Sea of Japan. His mission was to protect a U.S. carrier task force operating near North Korea’s border with the Soviet Union. The patrol soon encountered seven Soviet MiG-15s. When mechanical issues sidelined the other U.S. pilots, Williams climbed alone to engage the enemy.
During a 35-minute dogfight, Williams shot down four MiG-15s, a feat unmatched before or since. Most air combat engagements last only a few minutes.
“It was an eternity,” Williams recalled in a 2017 interview.
His Panther was struck repeatedly, sustaining 263 holes from enemy fire, including a disabling hit that damaged its hydraulic system and rudder controls. Despite the damage and running out of ammunition, Williams managed to return to the Oriskany and execute a high-speed emergency landing.
He was largely uninjured, suffering only minor cuts around his neck from his flight suit. A shipmate later circled the bullet holes on the aircraft with a grease pencil before the plane was deemed beyond repair and pushed overboard.
At the time, U.S. officials feared that publicly acknowledging a direct clash with Soviet pilots could trigger a bigger war. Williams was ordered to remain silent, even from his wife, and official reports credited him with fewer kills. The mission remained classified for decades, delaying any opportunity for higher recognition as witnesses aged or died.
Williams was awarded the Silver Star, which was upgraded to the Navy Cross in 2023. Advocacy for the Medal of Honor continued through Veterans groups and lawmakers, including The American Legion, which passed a resolution in 2017 urging Congress and the Department of War to act.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) introduced legislation to remove the statutory time barriers for Medal of Honor awards. The provision was ultimately folded into the 2026 NDAA.
“Escondido’s Royce Williams is 100 years young, a Top Gun pilot like no other, and an American hero for all time,” Issa said.
The House is scheduled to consider the NDAA later this week. If approved, the bill would move to the Senate and then to the president, who will make the final decision on awarding the Medal of Honor.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
