At 101, Captain E. Royce Williams is busier than ever, and he's one of the most remarkable people you'll ever hear from. Mark sits down with his longtime friend at the San Diego Air & Space Museum for the full story, with no commercial breaks.On November 18, 1952, flying an F9F-5 Panther off the USS Oriskany near the Soviet border, Royce faced seven Soviet MiGs alone. In a 35-minute dogfight, the longest in U.S. Navy history, he shot down at least four. He brought home a plane riddled with 263 holes, survived being fired on by his own fleet, and landed on the carrier. Then he was ordered never to tell anyone, and he didn't for more than 50 years.

Royce also corrects the history books on his own career. He talks about joining the Army at 16, flying 227 combat missions across Korea and Vietnam, and how a drink with President-elect Eisenhower eventually led him to Monkey Shoulder. He also talks about scouting, faith, his late wife, and what he thinks about America's future. Stay for the ambulance story at the end.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Captain Royce Williams

01:19 Medal of Honor night in Washington

02:06 Enlisting at 16 and becoming a naval aviator

04:30 November 18, 1952: the mission near the Yalu

07:19 Launching into a snowstorm, bogeys inbound

08:27 Down to two Panthers, chasing the MiGs

10:58 Ambushed by seven MiGs

13:28 Head-on with the MiG leader

16:07 Out of ammo and hit by a 37mm cannon

18:04 Limping home: friendly fire and a crippled landing

21:32 Silence in the ready room and a cover story

23:26 Sworn to secrecy for 50 years

25:50 1992: Soviet records reveal the truth

27:37 227 combat missions in Korea and Vietnam

28:55 Eisenhower, bourbon vs. scotch, and Monkey Shoulder

33:57 Medals, humility, and the secret to 101

35:05 History, patriotism, and where America goes next

38:43 How air combat changed from WWII to drones

40:08 Eagle Scout days and starting four scout troops

41:21 Japan, the Pacific, and his late wife

44:58 How Royce learned he could finally talk

46:16 The ambulance ride and cocktail hour