To All..
Good Wednesday morning April 22, 2026. .I had an early dental appointment this morning That started before 0800 and ended around 1130. Great dentist got a lot done including two crowns and some other work. My face is still under the effect of the drugs so I can’t eat yet or I will probably dribble on my self.
.
Regards,
skip
HAGD
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Go here to see the director’s corner for all 97 H-Grams
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/
April 22
On This Day
1778
During the American Revolution, two boats of volunteers from the sloop-of-war Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones, go ashore at Whitehaven, England, burning ships in the harbor and spiking the guns of the fort.
1898
Rear Adm. William T. Sampson leaves Key West, Fla., with the North Atlantic Squadron to begin the blockade of the northern Cuban ports, the beginning of the Spanish-American War.
1945
USS Carter (DE 112) and USS Neal A. Scott (DE 769) sink German submarine U 518 west by south of the Azores.
1945
USS Hardhead (SS 365) sinks Japanese cargo vessel Mankei Maru off Chimpson and USS Cero (SS 225)sinks the Japanese guardboat Aji Maru west of Tori Jima and damaged the guardboat No.9 Takamiya Maru.
1989
USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) is commissioned at Avondale Shipyard, New Orleans, La.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This day in World History
April 22
0296 St. Gaius ends his reign as Catholic Pope.
0536 St. Agapitus I ends his reign as Catholic Pope.
1500 Pedro Alvarez Cabral discovers Brazil.
1509 Henry VIII ascends to the throne of England upon the death of his father, Henry VII.
1529 Spain and Portugal divide the eastern hemisphere in the Treaty of Saragossa.
1745 The Peace of Fussen is signed.
1792 President George Washington proclaims American neutrality in the war in Europe.
1861 Robert E. Lee is named commander of Virginia forces.
1889 The Oklahoma land rush officially starts at noon as thousands of Americans race for new, unclaimed land.
1898 In the first action of the Spanish-American War, the USS Nashville, takes on a Spanish ship.
1915 At the Second Battle of Ypres, the Germans use poison gas for the first time.
1918 British naval forces attempt to sink block-ships in the German U-boat bases at the Battle of Zeebrugge.
1931 Egypt signs treaty of friendship with Iraq.
1944 Allies launch major attack against the Japanese in Hollandia, New Guinea.
1954 The Senate Army-McCarthy hearings begin. They are broadcast on television.
1955 Congress orders all U.S. coins to bear the motto "In God We Trust."
1976 Barbara Walters becomes the first female nightly news anchor on network television.
1995 In Africa, Rwandan troops kill thousands of Hutu refugees in Kibeho.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
April 22
Hello All,
Thanks to Dan Heller and the Bear
Links to all content can now be found right on the homepage http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com. If you scroll down from the banner and featured content you will find "Today in Rolling Thunder Remembered History" which highlights events in the Vietnam war that occurred on the date the page is visited. Below that are links to browse or search all content. You may search by keyword(s), date, or date range.
An item of importance is the recent incorporation of Task Force Omega (TFO) MIA summaries. There is a link on the homepage and you can also visit directly via https://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/task-force-omega/. There are 60 summaries posted thus far, with about 940 to go (not a typo—TFO has over 1,000 individual case files).
If you have any questions or comments about RTR/TFO, or have a question on my book, you may e-mail me directly at acrossthewing@protonmail.com. Thank you Dan
Thanks to Micro
To remind folks that these are from the Vietnam Air Losses site that Micro put together. You click on the url below and get what happened each day to the crew of the aircraft. ……Skip
For Wednesday 22 April. ..
April 22: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=2542
This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear’s Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip
Vietnam Air Losses Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady’s work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Listed by last name and has other info https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
MOAA - Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
(This site was sent by a friend . The site works, find anyone you knew in “search" feature. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )
Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
By: Kipp Hanley
AUGUST 15, 2022
. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
BROTHER’S DAY
I still can’t figure out when the official Brother’s day is but a year ago these words from Dutch, Mark Winton and the Bear are well worth repeating for all of us who served.
Thanks to THE Bear -
Dutch.... And all you great guys on the Dutchman's circuit-- Windmillers -- thanks for sharing, and thanks for making this old Grumpy Grizzly happier, healthier, smarter and loving than I ever hoped to be... Happy Brother's Day ( Every Day ).... Luvyaguys.... Bear
Mark Linton wrote: A real man is the kind of man that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says 'Oh Crap, he's up'! Brother, life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forgive the ones who don't just because you can. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Take a few minutes to think before you act when you're mad . Forgive quickly. God never said life would be easy. He just promised it would be worth it. Today is Brother's day, send this to all your brothers, fathers, sons and me if I am one. Happy brothers Day! I LOVE YA BROTHER!!! To the cool men that have touched my life. Here's to you!! A real Brother walks with you when the rest of the world walks on you.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
THANKS to Cowboy….My son is in the one currently deployed..skip
Credit: U.S. Air Force
The U.S. Air Force will keep two Fairchild Republic A-10 squadrons in service until 2030 to “preserve combat power” until newer aircraft can be built and delivered.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced the move on April 20, saying the attack jets are needed in the fleet until the defense industrial base can increase combat aircraft production.
The service in a subsequent statement said two squadrons will be extended—one active-duty unit at Moody AFB, Georgia, and one reserve squadron at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. In addition, one active-duty squadron at Moody would be extended to 2029. It is not immediately clear how many aircraft are impacted, though each squadron typically operates around 24 jets.
“The Air Force will use a fleet management strategy to keep the A-10s with the longest serviceable life available throughout the extension,” an Air Force spokesperson says.
The service had planned to retire all A-10s by 2028, though the attack jet has been recently deployed for ongoing operations in the Middle East.
Brian Everstine
Email: brian.everstine@aviationweek.com
Brian Everstine is the Pentagon Editor for Aviation Week, based in Washington, D.C.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Thanks to Nice News
Happy Earth Day! For the fifth year running, we have a special edition for today’s holiday, with three featured stories about the environment and the people who have worked to protect it (you won’t want to miss Jane Goodall’s unaired interview below). Before we get into all that, though, check out WalletHub’s list of the greenest states in America, ranked based on factors like air quality, renewable energy consumption, and fossil fuel emissions.
________________________________________
Jane Goodall Is Hopeful for Future of Conservation in Unaired Interview From Final Africa Trip
Age of Union
“The only advice I can give to young people is the advice my mother gave to me, because I can’t think of anything better,” Jane Goodall shared from her seat under a tree in Arusha, Tanzania, last July. “She said, ‘Jane, if you really want to do something like this, you’re going to have to work really hard. Take advantage of every opportunity. And if you don’t give up, I’m sure you’ll find a way.’”
We all know that Goodall did find a way — the British primatologist helped redefine humanity’s relationship with the animal kingdom, believing hope and action go hand in hand, and that both are required to heal our planet. She died Oct. 1 at age 91
________________________________________
“Living Symbols of Hope”: How Wangari Maathai Turned Trees Into a Lasting Movement
Micheline Pelletier—Corbis/Getty Images
Speaking of environmental icons, here’s one you may not know as much about: Wangari Maathai was a trailblazer who spearheaded a profound movement around a simple idea. She empowered rural communities in Kenya, specifically women, to plant trees — 51 million of them (and counting).
In 1977, Maathai founded the nonprofit Green Belt Movement in response to the needs of women who reported that streams were drying up, food was becoming more scarce, and they had to travel long distances to get firewood. Rather than waiting for government aid, she trained women to plant trees themselves, which not only made their lives easier but also helped combat soil erosion and deforestation.
Despite coming up against fierce resistance from the government, the program grew into a nationwide effort that provides women with a small stipend in return for planting trees, allowing them to build economic independence — and something deeper. As Maathai wrote in her 2006 memoir, Unbowed, “Trees are living symbols of peace and hope. A tree has roots in the soil yet reaches to the sky.”
In 2004, Maathai became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, honoring her work in promoting gender equity, sustainability, and community resilience. Though she died in 2011, her legacy remains rooted in her books, the nonprofit, and, of course, the millions of trees growing across Kenya. Learn more of her story.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
. Farm Boy to Fighter Pilot - Schaffert engagement Thanks for sharing - outstanding! v/r snake On Wed, Apr 21, 2021 at 4:09 PM Richard Schaffert <brownbearlead@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Barrett! General Spector, Sir!
Wow! US Navy official documents, originated by "Red Crown," a radar-picket Cruiser, would show there was only one "major strike" into the Red River delta area during that entire, 14 Dec '67, afternoon. It was composed of two 4-aircraft divisions of A4E aircraft from VA-163 and 164, all loaded with bombs armed with MK-36 Destruct fuzes to mine the "Canal del la Bamboo."
There were 2 F8E (TARCAP) aircraft from VF-162 assigned to escort the A4E bombers. The mission of the VF-162 Crusaders (Swanson and Wyman) was strictly limited to close escort of the A4E mine-laying strike group, all the way to the target and then all the way back out to feet wet. Which is exactly what they did! When the last mine-laying A4E reported "feet wet" is when the VF-162 section of F8E's returned to join the "fight," which had already began several minutes earlier.
There were two 2-aircraft Iron Hand sections, each composed of an F8C Escort from VF-111 and an A4E armed with two Shrike and MK-82 bombs from VA-164.
When the initial engagement began, between four MiG-17s and one of the Shrike shooting sections (Nelson and Schaffert), the other Shrike shooting section (Weichman and Rasmussen) was more than 30 miles north of the MiG engagement area.
The info on which "Topi" evidently based his engagement report is, to me, obviously mostly pure fiction, manufactured somewhere along the line by NVN participants, et,al. They had the time of engagement and the altitudes correct, but that's about all!
Twenty years later, I became aware of an Hungarian journalist reported to have been in Hanoi, and while working in Hungary in the late 80's, I attemped to contact "Topi," but he denied me an audience. In Hanoi Radio's broadcast the night of 14 Dec '67, of which I have an original "intercept" by CTF-77, NVN claimed one "US AIr Pirate" shot down by the people of a nearby village, but there was no report of an aerial engagement.
I'm quite flattered to "learn" they thought they were fighting "ten or more" Crusaders, when it was really only the "Brown Bear!" Wonder who had the flight suit laundry concession at that MiG base?
Thanks for sharing, Barrett!
Dick Schaffert
ps: General Spector, Sir! I believe I already forwarded you an e-book version of Farm Boy? If you would prefer a printed copy, I'll put it in the mail to Israel tomorrow.
Sent from my iPad
On Apr 21, 2021, at 10:44 AM, Barrett Tillman <btillman63@hotmail.com> wrote:
Courtesy of Topi in Hungary. Appears focused on VF-162 and Rick Wyman's combat.
Barrett
From: Toperczer
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2021 11:28 AM
To: Barrett Tillman <btillman63@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Fw: Farm Boy to Fighter Pilot The North Vietnamese version:
Air Engagement on 14 December 1967
14 December 1967 was the first day of the seventh wave of American air attacks on targets in the Hanoi area.
The Air Force Command Headquarters assessed the situation and concluded that the Ameicans would again send large forces to attack targets in the Hanoi area. It was decided to use a flight of MiG-17s from the 923rd Fighter Regiment to disrupt the American bomber formation. A flight of four MiG-17s was on combat alert duty on 14 December 1967, with pilots Luu Huy Chao, Le Hai, Bui Van Suu, and Nguyen Dinh Phuc. At 1300 hours the flight went to Combat Alert Condition 1. At 1311 hours the flight took off and headed toward Nha Nam to attack a formation of enemy bombers approaching to attack Kep Airfield. In the end, however, the enemy bombers turned down over southern Hai Duong and then turned back up to attack Hanoi. The MiG-17 flight was ordered to turn back and land.
During the afternoon the U.S. Navy put together a large strike force made up of F-8Es and A-4s from Squadrons VF-111 and VF-162 off the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Oriskany to attack targets in the Red River Delta. Air Force Headquarters ordered the flight of MiG-17s from the 923rd Fighter Regiment (pilots Luu Huy Chao, Le hai, Bui Van Son, and Nguyen Dinh Phuc) to get ready for battle. At 1555 hours the flight went to Combat Alert Condition 1. At 1614 hours the flight took off and flew off on a heading of 180 degrees while climbing to an altitude of 2,000 meters. The flight then made a turn to the right and climbed to an altitude of 4,000 meters. At 1626 hours the No. 4 pilot spotted four F-4s (sic) at a range of 20 kilometers. When the A-4s reported that there were MiGs in the area, the F-8E fighter escorts swept forward to engage the MiG-17s. The MiG-17 flight split into two sections and closed with their target, with one section fighting at an altitude of 3,500-4,000 meters and the second fighting at an altitude of 1,500-2,000 meters.
Ten or more U.S. Navy F-8s fought the four MiG-17s in a swirling battle to the death, with aircraft intermingled as they chased one another. When the No. 2 F-8E got on the tail of a MiG-17 and was preparing to fire a missile, he was warned that another MiG-17 was on his tail. The MiG-17 behind him had another F-8E on its tail. The F-8E fired a missile, but it missed.
The air battle raged from an altitude of 5,000 meters all the way down to low altitude. The MiGs would get on an opponents tail and be preparing to attack but the F-8s were constantly making hard, sharp turns and the MiGs were not able to cut inside the turns to get into position to fire their guns. The U.S. Navy F-8Es were quite maneuverable, they were armed with both missiles and 20mm guns, and they flew in extended, loose formation, so when a MiG would engage in a turning dogfight with one F-8 other F-8s would move away and wait for a favorable opportunity to push their throttles forward and charge in to fire missiles. The two opposing sides engaged in a swirling fight, with the F-8s repeatedly firing missiles and the MiGs taking evasive maneuvers. The F-8s tried to draw the MiGs out toward the ocean, but the MiG-17s kept circling and would not move far from their original position. No. 2, Le Hai, flew his aircraft in three very tight circles but was still unable to shake the F-8 behind him. No. 1 saw Le Hai’s predicament and dove down from above, firing a burst of his guns from a head-on position with the enemy fighter. Only then did the F-8 finally turn away to avoid the burst of fire.
Our second MiG-17 section, made up of No. 3, Suu, and No. 4, Phuc, was engaged in a separate ferocious dogfight against three F-8Es. During a battle lasting for seven minutes, all four MiG-17s fired their guns and No. 1, Luu Huy Chao, shot down one F-8E. At 1630 hours the command post ordered the pilots to break off the engagement.
Flight leader Luu Huy Chao led his pilots up along the course of the Red River at extremely low altitude over the river to return to base to land. After the pilots broke off and were headed back to the airfield, No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 turned back to counterattack when they discovered F-8s chasing them. The F-8s dispersed and headed back out to sea. The flight leader called each of his pilots to check on them and then the flight formed up to fly back to the airfield. No. 4, Phuc, was trailing about six-seven kilometers behind the rest of the flight. At that moment a formation of six F-8s swept in from the direction of Hai Duong and No. 4 turned back to drive them away. A missile struck the left side of the fuselage of Phuc’s Mig-17. The MiG crashed in Dang Quan Village, My Hao District, Hai Duong Province, and the pilot was killed. The F-8E that shot down Nguyen Dinh Phuc’s MiG with an AIM-9D missile was flown by Lieutenant Richard E. Wyman of Squadron VF-162.
In this battle the U.S. Navy had changed its tactics. Rather that striving to dog-fight with the MiG-17s, they strove to fly away quickly to lure the MiGs to follow them. When the MiGs refused to chase them, the American aircraft waited for our flight of MiGs to form up together to return to the airfield. They then split up into small sections and snuck up, taking advantage of times when our MiG pilots dropped their guard to make surprise attacks when the MiGs were low on fuel and when our pilots were tired. Lieutenant R. E. Wyman’s F-8 had first engaged in a dog-fight with a MiG-17, then had flown back out over the ocean and waited until the MiG-17 flight turned back to head home to land. Lt. Wyman then swept in and fired a missile that hit Nguyen Dinh Phuc’s MiG. During this battle all four MiG pilots were forced to turn back to make counterattacks. No. 4 was killed while he was making his second counterattack. This experience taught our MiG pilots lessons in timing, formation, and support tactics when breaking off engagements to return to base when our MiGs were heavily outnumbered.
The air engagement on 14 December 1967 was extremely ferocious. The pilots from both sides demonstrated their skill, and the Vietnamese pilots fought with great determination, displaying their excellent air combat skills. They made the four F-8Es fight very hard and Luu Huy Chao was able to shoot down one F-8E, resulting in a 1 to 1 exchange ratio in this battle.
This was one of the longest air battles in the history of the air war over North Vietnam; it lasted for a total of ten minutes and 45 seconds.
Respectfully -
Commander Cobra
. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Thanks to 1440
Good morning. It's Wednesday, April 22, and we're covering a federal probe into a storied advocacy group, a powerful new eye on the universe, and much morePS—Happy Earth Day! The annual event began 56 years ago with a senator, a Harvard grad student, and 20 million Americans who showed up. Read about its origins with "Mr. Earth Day" himself here.
And, as always, send us feedback at hello@join1440.com.
Need To Know
Paid Informants Indictment
The Southern Poverty Law Center was indicted yesterday on federal fraud charges tied to its use of paid informants to surveil extremist groups. The Justice Department alleges the Alabama-based legal advocacy center misled donors by channeling millions of dollars to individuals affiliated with the groups, including the Ku Klux Klan.
The SPLC says the program, which reportedly began in the 1980s, was necessary to monitor threats of violence and kept relatively secret to protect informants. It has previously shared gathered intelligence with local and federal law enforcement. The FBI, however, severed decades-long ties with the center in October, with Director Kash Patel calling it partisan and criticizing the center's map of anti-government and extremist groups (explore here).
In the late 1990s, an undercover informant working with the SPLC and FBI infiltrated one of the nation’s most dangerous hate groups; he's credited with thwarting a plot to assassinate SPLC founder Morris Dees. Read his story here.
Roman Telescope Reveal
NASA unveiled its Roman Space Telescope yesterday, an instrument that could allow researchers to observe an area of the cosmos 100 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope. See the telescope here.
Roman could help scientists find exoplanets by identifying distortions in starlight that may indicate a planet passing in front of stars. The telescope also aims to answer questions about the formation of the universe as well as dark matter and dark energy (what’s the difference?). The observatory, estimated to cost over $4B, will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Florida as soon as this fall.
Separately, researchers published a study yesterday on findings from Mars’ Curiosity rover. Samples collected from the planet’s Gale Crater revealed over 20 chemicals, including a molecule containing nitrogen that resembles proto-DNA. Further research is needed to determine if the compounds came from a meteorite, geological processes, or ancient organisms.
Helmet Heads Home
A 2,500-year-old golden helmet and two golden bracelets were returned to Romania yesterday, ending a 14-month saga that began when the pieces were taken from a Dutch museum. The recovery brings a set of national heirlooms back to Bucharest, though the search for a third missing bracelet is ongoing. See the helmet here.
The Coțofenești helmet dates back to the Dacia civilization, a people known for their opposition to the Roman Empire who lived primarily in modern-day Romania. The country had loaned the pieces to the Netherlands’ Drents Museum when they were stolen in January 2025. Security footage showed three people using a crowbar to open a museum door before an explosion (watch grainy footage). Earlier this month, Dutch authorities revealed they had recovered the helmet and two of the three bracelets amid an ongoing trial for the three suspects. The helmet has been slightly dented; the recovered bracelets show no damage.
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Alan Osmond, the oldest brother in family singing group The Osmonds, dies at age 76; no cause of death was disclosed, though he had multiple sclerosis (More) | Listen to one of The Osmonds' most popular songs (More)
Science & Technology
> Brain cell mutations linked to cancer may also contribute to Alzheimer's disease; finding could provide new diagnostics and treatments for Alzheimer's (More) | Did you know people who survive cancer may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's? (More)
> Tanzanian children living in $8.8K steel-frame homes see malaria drop by 44%, diarrhea by 30%, and respiratory infections by 18% compared to neighbors in mud-and-thatch huts; research can inform future designs for affordable housing (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Virginia voters accept redistricting map that could give Democrats up to four additional House seats in November (More) | What is "cracking and packing" in congressional gerrymandering? (More)
> President Donald Trump extends US-Iran ceasefire while awaiting proposal from Iran; claims Iranian government is fractured and that he agreed to the ceasefire upon Pakistan's request (More) | Track traffic in the Strait of Hormuz (More)
Historybook: Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Ellen Glasgow born (1873); Earth Day first celebrated in the US (1970); Photographer Ansel Adams dies (1984); President Richard Nixon dies (1994); Former NFL football player Pat Tillman killed during the war in Afghanistan (2004).
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
From the archives
. Thanks to Dr. Rich
Thanks to Beau ...
SENIORS ARE UNDER ATTACK AND
THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY!
We Must Stop This Immediately!
Have you noticed that stairs are getting steeper? Groceries are heavier. And, everything is farther away. Yesterday I walked to the corner and I was dumbfounded to discover how long our street had become!
And, you know, people are less considerate now, especially the young ones. They speak in whispers all the time! If you ask them to speak up they just keep repeating themselves, endlessly mouthing the same silent message until they're red in the face! What do they think I am, a lip reader?
I also think they are much younger than I was at the same age. On the other hand, people my own age are so much older than I am. I ran into an old friend the other day and she has aged so much that she didn't even recognize me. I got to thinking about the poor dear while I was combing my hair this morning, and in doing so, I glanced at my own reflection well, REALLY NOW -even mirrors are not made the way they used to be!
Another thing, everyone drives so fast these days! You're risking life and limb if you happen to pull onto the freeway in front of them. All I can say is, their brakes must wear out awfully fast, the way I see them screech and swerve in my rear view mirror.
Clothing manufacturers are less civilized these days. Why else would they suddenly start labeling a size 32 waisted pant as 40? Do they think no one notices? The people who make bathroom scales are pulling the same prank. Do they think I actually believe the number I see on that dial? HA! I would never let myself weigh that much! Just who do these people think they're fooling?
I'd like to call up someone in authority to report what's going on -- but the telephone company is in on the conspiracy too: they've printed the phone books in such small type that no one could ever find a number in there!
All I can do is pass along this warning:WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!
Unless something drastic happens pretty soon everyone will have to suffer these awful indignities.
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN GET THIS CONSPIRACY STOPPED!
PS: I am sending this to you in a larger font size, because something has happened to my computer's fonts - they are smaller than they once were.
Thank you .
And don't forget...
God gave you toes as a device for finding furniture in the dark AND....If God wanted us to pop out of bed in the morning, he would have had us sleep in toasters.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This Day in U S Military History…….April 22
1778 – Captain John Paul Jones of Ranger led landing party raid on Whitehaven, England. Whitehaven was an English seaport on the Irish Sea. The decision to raid it was not made because of its strategic value, for the ships in its harbor were mostly coastal fishing vessels, containing little of value to the English war cause. John Paul Jones’ original idea was to capture an important person in the course of the raid and hold the unfortunate prisoner hostage until the British ministry released American sailors from prison. By this time, the Revolutionary War had been going on for three years. Soldiers taken prisoner during land engagements were frequently exchanged as prisoners of war. But the English still treated anyone found on an American armed vessel as a pirate. This was a sore point with sailors in the Continental Navy, and especially with Jones. He hoped his raid might free some of the American seamen languishing in English prisons. In addition, he may also have known that the British ministry intended to make the burning of American seaports part of its military policy. He chose Whitehall because it was the English seaport he knew best, having departed from there at age thirteen when he first went to sea. His first voyage had carried him to Virginia, and he later wrote that he fell in love with America at first sight. Going ashore near daybreak, Jones and his men spiked the guns in the two batteries in Whitehaven Harbor, then proceeded to light a collier (coal ship) on fire. One of Jones’ crew, however-an Irishman who had enlisted only to get home-began shouting warnings and banging on the doors of citizens. Soon a crowd of townsfolk swarmed down to the water’s edge. Jones coolly posted sentinels until the collier was beyond rescue, but decided to abandon the 150 remaining vessels and return to, the Ranger, waiting offshore. The destruction caused by the Whitehaven raid was paltry, but its effectiveness as propaganda was electrifying. No raid had been made on an English seaport since 1667, thanks to Britain’s dominance of the seas. Englishmen wondered uneasily where the mighty Royal Navy had been in Whitehaven’s time of need, and Jones appeared, not for the last time, in English newspapers as a swashbuckling pirate. The effects of the Continental Navy’s daring exploits upon English commerce helped arouse distaste among the British people for continuing the Revolutionary War.
1944 – The Landing at Aitape (Operation Persecution) was a battle of the Western New Guinea campaign of World War II. American and Allied forces undertook an amphibious landing at Aitape on northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The amphibious landing was undertaken simultaneously with the amphibious landings of Battle of Hollandia at Hollandia to isolate the Japanese 18th Army at Wewak. The invasion force was commanded by Brigadier General Jens A. Doe and was built around the US 163rd Infantry Regiment of the 41st Infantry Division (ORARNG). The Japanese defenders numbered less than 1,000 in the area. The landings were planned at “Blue Beach”. Obscured by heavy smoke from fires from the beach head, the landing took place at Wapil. The 163rd Regimental Combat Team landed and opposition was light, with most Japanese defenders fleeing into the hills as the overwhelming force continued to arrive. One landing force transport was badly damaged by a Japanese torpedo bomber. No. 62 Works Wing of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) went ashore that morning to help secure and repair Tadji Airfield. General Douglas MacArthur watched the landings from a light cruiser, then went ashore in a landing boat. The airfield was secured by 13:00, and the fighter strip was made operational by the RAAF No. 62 Works Wing within 48 hours after working nonstop. Twenty-five P-40s from the No. 78 Wing of the RAAF landed on the field on 24 April, with the rest of the wing arriving the next day to provide support to the Aitape and Hollandia landings.
1944 – The 1st Air Commando Group, led by Lt. Col. Clinton B. Gaty, using Sikorsky R-4 helicopters stage the first use of helicopters in combat with combat search and rescue operations in the China-Burma-India theater. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, amidst the Quebec Conference in August 1943, had been impressed by Brigadier Orde Wingate’s account of what could be accomplished in Burma with proper air support. To comply with Roosevelt’s proposed air support for British long range penetration operations in Burma, the United States Army Air Forces created the 5318th Air Unit to support the Chindits. In March 1944, they were designated the 1st Air Commando Group by USAAF Commander General Hap Arnold. Arnold chose Colonel John R. Alison and Colonel Philip Cochran as co-commanders of the unit.
1945 – The US 31st Infantry Division is landed at Moro Gulf. The US 24th Division is already advancing inland and has nearly reached Kabakan. Meanwhile, on Jolo, the last Japanese resistance comes to an end as their final strong-points fall to the US forces. Scattered individual Japanese soldiers remain at large.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
WILKINSON, THEODORE STARK, JR.
Rank and organization: Ensign, U.S. Navy. Born: 22 December 1888, Annapolis, Md. Appointed from: Louisiana. G.O. No.: 177, 4 December 1915. Other Navy award: Distinguished Service Medal with gold stars in lieu of 2 additional DSM’s. Citation: For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. Ens. Wilkinson was in both days’ fighting at the head of his company and was eminent and conspicuous in his conduct, leading his men with skill and courage.
*HAYASHI, JOE
Private Joe Hayashi distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 20 and 22 April 1945, near Tendola, Italy. On 20 April 1945, ordered to attack a strongly defended hill that commanded all approaches to the village of Tendola, Private Hayashi skillfully led his men to a point within 75 yards of enemy positions before they were detected and fired upon. After dragging his wounded comrades to safety, he returned alone and exposed himself to small arms fire in order to direct and adjust mortar fire against hostile emplacements. Boldly attacking the hill with the remaining men of his squad, he attained his objective and discovered that the mortars had neutralized three machine guns, killed 27 men, and wounded many others. On 22 April 1945, attacking the village of Tendola, Private Hayashi maneuvered his squad up a steep, terraced hill to within 100 yards of the enemy. Crawling under intense fire to a hostile machine gun position, he threw a grenade, killing one enemy soldier and forcing the other members of the gun crew to surrender. Seeing four enemy machine guns delivering deadly fire upon other elements of his platoon, he threw another grenade, destroying a machine gun nest. He then crawled to the right flank of another machine gun position where he killed four enemy soldiers and forced the others to flee. Attempting to pursue the enemy, he was mortally wounded by a burst of machine pistol fire. The dauntless courage and exemplary leadership of Private Hayashi enabled his company to attain its objective. Private Hayashi’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
*THOMAS, WILLIAM H.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 149th Infantry, 38th Infantry Division. Place and date: Zambales Mountains Luzon, Philippine Islands, 22 April 1945. Entered service at: Ypsilanti, Mich. Birth. Wynne, Ark. G.O. No.: 81, 24 September 1945. Citation: He was a member of the leading squad of Company B, which was attacking along a narrow, wooded ridge. The enemy strongly entrenched in camouflaged emplacements on the hill beyond directed heavy fire and hurled explosive charges on the attacking riflemen. Pfc. Thomas, an automatic rifleman, was struck by 1 of these charges, which blew off both his legs below the knees. He refused medical aid and evacuation, and continued to fire at the enemy until his weapon was put out of action by an enemy bullet. Still refusing aid, he threw his last 2 grenades. He destroyed 3 of the enemy after suffering the wounds from which he died later that day. The effective fire of Pfc. Thomas prevented the repulse of his platoon and assured the capture of the hostile position. His magnificent courage and heroic devotion to duty provided a lasting inspiration for his comrades.
*LITTLETON, HERBERT A.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Chungchon, Korea, 22 April 1951. Entered service at: Blackhawk, S. Dak. Born: 1 July 1930, Mena, Ark. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a radio operator with an artillery forward observation team of Company C, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Standing watch when a well-concealed and numerically superior enemy force launched a violent night attack from nearby positions against his company, Pfc. Littleton quickly alerted the forward observation team and immediately moved into an advantageous position to assist in calling down artillery fire on the hostile force. When an enemy hand grenade was thrown into his vantage point shortly after the arrival of the remainder of the team, he unhesitatingly hurled himself on the deadly missile, absorbing its full, shattering impact in his body. By his prompt action and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, he saved the other members of his team from serious injury or death and enabled them to carry on the vital mission which culminated in the repulse of the hostile attack. His indomitable valor in the face of almost certain death reflects the highest credit upon Pfc. Littleton and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for April 22 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD “PHIL” MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
22 April
1908: Capt Charles DeForest Chandler took Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., the President’s son, and Capt Fitzhugh Lee, the President's military aide, on a 4-hour, 30-minute balloon ascent. They landed at Delaware City, Del. (24)
1938: Eddie Rickenbacker, the World War I ace, bought Eastern Airlines from North American Aviation for $3.5 million. (20)
1943: Lt John S. Stewart, 76 FS, and Lt Chin Hao, Chinese Air Force, flew a reconnaissance mission over Lashio, Burma. This flight was one of the first missions involving both Chinese and American personnel. (24)
1946: Glenn L. Martin Company received a contract to build project MX-771, a surface-to-surface missile that became the Matador. (24)
1952: KOREAN WAR. Due to shortages of fighter-bombers, Fifth Air Force assigned a new task to F-86 Sabres from the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing and 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, the armed reconnaissance of enemy lines of communication. (28)
1958: The USAF and DoD agreed to establish an IRBM force with nine Thor squadrons and three Jupiter squadrons. (6)
1960: The RAF accepted its fourth and final Thor squadron to end the deployment program. (6) The first attempted Atlas D launch from a Vandenberg AFB coffin-launcher was a success. (6) SAC transferred its last RB-47 (C-model number 53-3839) from the 4080 SW at Laughlin AFB to Headquarters Command, Bolling AFB. (1)
1961: An Italian combat training crew successfully launched a Jupiter missile on its first attempt from Cape Canaveral. (6)
1962: Jacqueline Cochran claimed 49 world records for her 5,120-mile, three-stop flight in a Lockheed Jet-Star from New Orleans to Hanover, Germany, via Gander, Newfoundland and Shannon, Ireland. (24)
1964: The USAF accepted its first production RF-4C.
1968: Representatives of 43 nations signed the unanimous space rescue treaty of 19 December 1967 at ceremonies in Washington DC, London, and Moscow. 1980: 33 ARRS Detachments at Clark AB and Kadena AB assisted in the rescue of 900 passengers from a ferry that sank about 150 miles south of Manila. (16) (26) 1981: The 81 TFW set an USAF record by generating 533 sorties in a single day. (4)
2001: Through 23 April, Global Hawk No. 5 completed a record trans-Pacific flight from Edwards AFB to the Royal Australian AFB at Edinburgh, Australia, in 23 hours and 23 minutes. AV-5, renamed “Southern Cross II” to honor the first manned trans-Pacific flight in 1928 by Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, was the first UAV to cross the Pacific. (3) (21)
2004: A 92 AREFW KC-135R from Fairchild AFB, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary AREFS, flew the first combat mission with an operational Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) system. The GATM incorporated a series of air traffic system upgrades to enable the safe operation of commercial and military aircraft in congested airspace. The system also enhanced aircrew situational awareness and communications. Captain Earl Ardales commanded the aircraft on the mission. (22)
2005: AFFTC at Edwards AFB completed the first-ever five-bundle sequential Low Velocity Airdrop from a C-130J. The cargo bundles landed 1,000 feet apart on the Precision Impact Range Area, only five yards off the planned point of impact. (3)
.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SkipsList" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to skipslist+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/skipslist/CACTjsm2MeYfK36%2BWLQLfWxQ0L_Dzr54%2BCCscXWsOCoucPPXYAA%40mail.gmail.com.
