Royce Williams

Prepared by the Witnesses of War team

Elmer Royce Williams was born on 4 April 1925 in Wilmot, South Dakota, USA. He began naval flight training in 1943, during the Second World War, and earned his pilot’s wings at Naval Air Station Pensacola in August 1945. He subsequently became a carrier-based fighter pilot, serving in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

During the Korean War, Williams flew with Fighter Squadron 781 (VF-781), the “Pacemakers,” aboard USS Oriskany, operating with Task Force 77. On 18 November 1952, flying a Grumman F9F-5 Panther, he encountered seven Soviet MiG-15 fighters. For most of the ensuing engagement, he fought alone against faster, more manoeuvrable aircraft.

The dogfight lasted approximately 35 minutes. Despite severe damage to his Panther, Williams escaped into cloud cover and managed to land aboard Oriskany. His aircraft reportedly bore 263 holes. His eventual Medal of Honor citation credited him with destroying three MiG-15s and severely damaging a fourth while protecting the American ships and their crews.

Because the opposing pilots were Soviet, the encounter carried the risk of escalating the conflict. Williams was ordered to keep it secret and remained silent for more than fifty years, even towards his wife. He continued his naval career, flying combat missions over Vietnam, later commanding USS El Dorado and retiring as a captain in 1980.

Initially awarded the Silver Star for the engagement, Williams received an upgrade to the Navy Cross in 2023. On 24 February 2026, aged one hundred, he received the Medal of Honor, more than seventy-three years after the battle that had remained hidden for much of his life.