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Good Monday morning July 27,2026 .We are overcast and Muggy this morning but are clearing up and heating up to 88 by 1 and staying into the 80s until 6 or so and dropping to 79 by 7
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Regards,
skip
Thanks to Al
Monday Morning Humor--Men and Women
Thanks to Al
Submitted by Colleen Grosso:
The Man's Rules
We always hear "The Rules from the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side. These are our rules! Please note…these are all numbered "1" on purpose!
1.. Men are NOT mind readers.
1.. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Sunday sports: It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done. Not both.. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials...
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
\1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or golf.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!
1. Thank you for reading this.
Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight. But, did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.
Submitted by Dave Harris:
The International Council of Manlaws, Ltd.
• Under no circumstances may two men share an umbrella.
• It is okay for a man to cry ONLY under the following circumstances:
o When a heroic dog dies to save its master.
o The moment Jessica Alba starts unbuttoning her blouse.
o After wrecking your boss's car.
• Any man who brings a camera to a bachelor party may be legally killed and eaten by his buddies.
• Unless he murdered someone in your family, you must bail a friend out of jail within 12 hours.
• If you've known a guy for more than 24 hours, his sister is off limits forever unless you actually marry her.
• Moaning about the brand of free beer in a buddy's fridge is forbidden. However complain at will if the temperature is unsuitable.
• No man shall ever be required to buy a birthday present for another man. In fact, even remembering your buddy's birthday is strictly optional. At that point, you must celebrate at a strip bar of the birthday boy's choice.
• On a road trip, the strongest bladder determines pit stops, not the weakest.
• When stumbling upon other guys watching a sporting event, you may ask the score of the game in progress, but you may never ask who's playing.
• It is permissible to drink a fruity alcohol drink only when you're sunning on a tropical beach...and it's delivered by a topless model and only when it's free.
• Only in situations of moral and/or physical peril are you allowed to kick or punch another guy in the nuts.
• Unless you're in prison, never fight naked.
• Friends don't let friends wear Speedos. Ever. Issue closed.
• If a man's fly is down, that's his problem, you didn't see anything.
• Women who claim they "love to watch sports" must be treated as spies until they demonstrate knowledge of the game and the ability to drink as much as the other sports watchers.
• A man in the company of a hot, suggestively dressed woman must remain sober enough to fight.
• Never hesitate to reach for the last beer or the last slice of pizza, but not both, that's just greedy.
• If you compliment a guy on his six-pack, you'd better be talking about his choice of beer.
• Never talk to a man in a bathroom unless you are on equal footing: i.e., both urinating, both waiting in line, etc. For all other situations, an almost imperceptible nod is all the conversation you need.
• It is acceptable for you to drive her car. It is not acceptable for her to drive yours.
• Thou shalt not buy a car in the colors of brown, pink, lime green, orange or sky blue.
• The girl who replies to the question "What do you want for Christmas?" with "If you loved me, you'd know what I want!" gets an Xbox. End of story.
• There is no reason for guys to watch Ice Skating or Men's Gymnastics. Ever.
I hope this clears up any confusion, courtesy of the International Council of Manlaws, Ltd.
Submitted by John Hudson:
Women’s Revenge
• “Cash, check, or charge?” I asked, after folding items the woman wished to purchase. As she fumbled for her wallet, I noticed a TV remote control in her purse. “So, do you always carry your TV remote?” I asked. “No,” she replied, “but my husband refused to come shopping with me, and I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him legally.”
• A man said to his wife one day, “I don’t know how you can be so stupid and beautiful all at the same time.” The wife responded, “Allow me to explain. God made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me. God made me stupid so I would be attracted to you.”
• God may have created man before woman. But there is always a rough draft before the masterpiece.
• A husband reads an article to his wife about how many words women use a day. 30,000 to a man’s 15,000. The wife replied, “The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men…” The husband then turned to his wife and asked, “What?”
Submitted by Mark Logan:
Great female comebacks…
Man: "Haven't I seen you someplace before?
Woman: "Yeah, that's why I don't go there anymore."
Man: "Is this seat empty?"
Woman: "Yes, and this one will be too if you sit down."
Man: "So, wanna go back to my place ?"
Woman: "Well, I don't know. Will two people fit under a rock?"
Man: "Your place or mine?"
Woman: "Both. You go to yours and I'll go to mine."
Man: "I'd like to call you. What's your number?"
Woman: "It's in the phone book."
Man: "But I don't know your name."
Woman: "That's in the phone book too."
Man: "So what do you do for a living?"
Woman: "I'm a female impersonator."
Man: "What sign were you born under?"
Woman: "No Parking."
Man: "Hey, baby, what's your sign?"
Woman: "Do not Enter"
Man: "How do you like your eggs in the morning?"
Woman: "Unfertilized !"
Man: "Hey, come on, admit it. We're both here at this bar for the same reason"
Woman: "Yeah! Let's pick up some chicks!"
Man: "I know how to please a woman."
Woman: "Then please leave me alone."
Man: "I want to give myself to you."
Woman: "Sorry, I don't accept cheap gifts."
Man: "I can tell that you want me."
Woman: "Ohhhh. You're so right. I want you to leave."
Man: "If I could see you naked, I'd die happy:"
Woman: "Yeah, but if I saw you naked, I'd probably die laughing."
Man: "Hey Cutie, how 'bout you and I hitting the hot spots?"
Woman: "Sorry, I don't date outside my species.."
Man: "Your body is like a temple."
Woman: "Sorry, there are no services today."
Man: "I'd go through anything for you."
Woman: "Good! Let's start with your bank account."
Man: "I would go to the end of the world for you."
Woman: "Yes, but would you stay there?”
Submitted by Bob King:
Men vs Women…
NICKNAMES
• If Laura, Kate, and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.
• If Mike, Dave, and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Bubba, and Wildman.
EATING OUT
• When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave, and John will each throw in $20, even though it’s only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
• When the girls get their bill, outcome the pocket calculators.
MONEY
• A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
• A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.
BATHROOMS
• A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel.
• The average number of items in the typical woman’s bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.
ARGUMENTS
• A woman has the last word in any argument.
• Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
FUTURE
• A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
• A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
MARRIAGE
• A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t.
• A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, but she does.
DRESSING UP
• A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
• A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
NATURAL
• Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
• Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
OFFSPRING
• Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears, and hopes and dreams.
• A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
Have a great week,
Al
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/. Go here to see the director’s corner for all 100 H-Grams
July 27
1776 During the American Revolution, the Continental brig, Reprisal, commanded by Capt. Lambert Wickes, transports the newly appointed commercial and naval agent, William Bingham, to Martinique. While en route, the British sloop-of-war, HMS Shark, approaches the brig at the entrance to St. Pierre Harbor. After a sharp encounter and inconclusive action, HMS Shark withdraws and Reprisal enters port.
1862 During the Civil War, the side-wheel steamer, USS Yankee, commanded by William Gibson, and the side-wheel tug, USS Satellite, commanded by Master Amos Foster, capture schooner J.W. Sturges in Chippoak Creek, Va.
1917 Construction of the Naval Aircraft Factory, Philadelphia is ordered to produce enough aircraft for Americas entry into World War I. The factory also introduces women into occupations that were previously only open to men. Following the war, the factory tests and manufactures aircraft to review costs and effectiveness. During the later stages of World War II, the air craft factory is disestablished.
1943 USS Scamp (SS 277) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese submarine (I 168), which had sunk USS Yorktown (CV 5) and USS Hammann (DD 412) at the Battle of Midway, south-south-west of Truk. USS Scamp also damages the Japanese oiler, Kazahaya.
1953 The Korean War armistice is signed at Panmunjom, Korea. The Korean cease-fire goes into effect at 22:00.
1985 USS Providence (SSN 719) is commissioned at Groton, Conn., the fifth ship in the Navy to be named after the Rhode Island city.
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Today in World History: July 27
.1214 At the Battle of Bouvines in France, Philip Augustus of France defeats John of England.
1245 Frederick II is deposed by a council at Lyons, which found him guilty of sacrilege.
1586 Sir Walter Raleigh returns to England from Virginia.
1663 The British Parliament passes a second Navigation Act, requiring all goods bound for the colonies be sent in British ships from British ports.
1689 The Scottish Jacobites experience a victory over government-supporting clans at the Battle of Killiecrankie.
1777 The Marquis of Lafayette arrives in New England to help fight the British.
1778 British and French fleets fight to a standoff in the first Battle of Ushant.
1793 Robespierre becomes a member of the Committee of Public Safety.
1861 President Abraham Lincoln replaces General Irwin McDowell with General George B. McClellen as head of the Army of the Potomac.
1905 The International Workers of the World found their labor organization in Chicago.
1909 Orville Wright sets a world record for staying aloft in an airplane--one hour, 12 minutes and 40 seconds.
1914 British troops invade the streets of Dublin, Ireland, and begin to disarm Irish rebels.
1921 Canadians Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best isolate insulin at the University of Toronto.
1944 U.S. troops complete the liberation of Guam.
1953 Representatives of the United Nations, Korea and China sign an armistice at Panmunjom, Korea.
1964 President Lyndon Johnson sends an additional 5,000 advisers to South Vietnam.
1980 Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran dies in Cairo, Egypt.
1981 William Wyler, director of Ben Hur, dies.
1993 Israeli guns and aircraft pound southern Lebanon in reprisal for rocket attacks by Hezbollah guerrillas.
2002 The largest air show disaster in history occurs when a Sukhoi Su-27 fighter crashes during an air show at Lviv, Ukraine, killing 85 and injuring more than 100 others.
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Rollingthunderremembered.com .
July 27
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).
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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 Monday July 27.
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Thanks to Interesting Facts
6 Fun Facts About Cars Through History
The story of the automobile is, in the grand scheme of history, fairly short — but cars have come a long way since the steam-powered horseless carriages of the early 1800s. What started as a pastime for enthusiasts and the wealthy spread quickly throughout society, unlocking all sorts of new ways and places to travel. Even as modern cars get more and more advanced, vehicles from the past still capture our imagination, conjuring up images of muscle cars, luxury convertibles, and the open road. So hop in your DeLorean and get ready for five facts from the vehicular past.
The Model-T Ford Cost $290
At the end of 2022, the average cost of a new car was a whopping $48,681, a record-setting high. So it might be hard to believe that in the 1920s, when cars were still a relative luxury item, you could get a brand-new Model T Ford for just $290, or right around $5,000 in today’s dollars. These days, that’ll barely get you a 10-year-old Ford Focus.
The price wasn’t always that low; when Model-T runabouts first hit the market around 1908, they cost $825, or roughly $17,000 today. The price was still lower than the average person’s yearly salary, though, and that was by design.
"I will build a car for the great multitude,” Henry Ford said of his design ethos for the Model-T in his 1922 autobiography. He envisioned a car that was convenient and high-quality, but “low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one.”
In 1912, there were fewer than 10,000 automobile registrations in the United States. By 1927 — the last year of the Model-T — Ford had slashed the price, and automobile registrations had soared to more than 20 million.
The First Practical Gas Car Topped Out at 10 Miles per Hour
Steam-powered “horseless carriages” date back to the 18th century, but the first practical vehicle with an internal combustion engine was designed by engineer Karl Benz in 1885. The Benz Patent-Motorwagen had three wheels and not a lot of oomph; a journalist who drove a replica of one for Car and Driver in 1986 reported that it “gathers speed like a fog bank cresting a hill.” Its one-cylinder, four-stroke engine generated just one horsepower, and at 400 revolutions per minute, it could reach a max speed of 10 miles per hour (unless it was headed downhill). It was not hard for someone on foot to outrun the car.
Nevertheless, the Patent-Motorwagen was the first modern car to actually hit the market, and more than 25 of them were built between 1886 and 1893.
The 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Was Advertised as the Last-Ever Convertible
Convertible cars were synonymous with “cool” for decades, from the Alfa Romeo Spider to the Ford Shelby. In 1965, at the convertible’s peak, American automakers produced 509,415 of them. But in the 1970s, open-top cars dwindled as one by one, automakers removed them from production. This was due to a few factors: Automobile manufacturers were expecting new safety regulations around rollover accidents; high freeway speeds, air pollution, and the availability of air conditioning made an open car less appealing; and sunroofs, a more comfortable alternative, entered the scene in 1968.
By 1975, General Motors was the only car manufacturer still making convertibles, and in 1976, GM made only one single model: a luxurious white Cadillac Eldorado, which the company claimed was the last American convertible. Each car even had a numbered plaque. When the expected highway regulations never surfaced, convertibles crept back on the market in 1982. Not wanting to be left behind, GM resumed making the convertible Eldorado, angering the small group of people who had purchased the 1976 model thinking it would be a collector’s item.
The Prius Wasn’t the First Hybrid Car
A century before the Toyota Prius’ 1997 debut, Ferdinand Porsche — who later founded the eponymous sports car company — developed a hybrid, gas-electric vehicle. He even put one on the market. At the turn of the 20th century, gas engines hadn’t become standard yet, and one-third of all cars on the road were electric. Porsche, then working for vehicle magnate Ludwig Lohner, devised an automobile that used both gas and electric power by mounting electric motors to the wheel hubs, powered by a generator fueled by gas engines. Electric cars at the time had especially limited ranges, and by integrating the charger into the car, he expanded them considerably. He and Lohner dubbed their invention “Semper Vivus,” Latin for “always alive,” and presented it at the 1900 Paris Exposition.
A second, improved model, the Lohner-Porsche Mixte, actually went on the market for more than a decade, although not at a large scale. At the equivalent of more than $80,000 today, they were prohibitively expensive, so not many of the hybrid cars sold —but they performed well enough for Porsche to win the large car division of the 1902 Exelberg Hillclimb race while driving one.
Flying Cars Have Existed Since the 1950s
Flying cars are the ultimate futuristic vehicle, cemented in the public imagination by shows such as The Jetsons. Weirdly enough, flying cars actually existed — and were even on the market — years before the animated series premiered in 1962. They just weren’t very practical, and the transition from road to sky, while surprisingly fast, was far from seamless.
Moulton Taylor, a former naval engineer, prototyped the Aerocar in 1949, although the Civil Aeronautics Administration (a precursor to the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA) didn’t certify it until 1956. The main body of the vehicle was a sporty, compact coupe, with detachable wings that could either be carried behind it like a trailer or just left behind entirely. It took less than 15 minutes to transform the vehicle from car to airplane: You’d flip the license plate to attach the tail, then swing the wings up and pin them into place so the Aerocar could take flight.
The car did not go completely unnoticed. Taylor showed one off on the 1950s game show I’ve Got a Secret; it was featured prominently on the 1961 TV series The Bob Cummings Show; and a Portland, Oregon, radio station used one for weather reporting from 1962 to 1963. But the car never really caught on, and flying cars remain the purview of the imagination today.
America’s First Car Race Lasted More Than 10 Hours
The first American motorcar race took place in Chicago on Thanksgiving Day in 1895, and it had one very notable entrant: the Duryea Motor Wagon, the first gas-powered American automobile, driven by co-inventor Frank Duryea.
The race itself was harrowing. After a blizzard rolled in, the route was cut from 92 miles to 50 miles, and entrants had to wrap their tires in twine for traction. At least 70 racers planned to take part, but only six actually participated, and just four made it significantly past the starting line. Ultimately, only two cars, the Motor Wagon and a Benz, finished the race. Duryea, who took 10 hours and 23 minutes (including stops for refueling and repairs) to complete the race at an average speed of 7.3 miles per hour, took first place and a $2,000 prize. The runner-up rolled through two hours later.
That race sure didn’t go as planned — especially for the drivers that crashed along the way — but it worked out swimmingly for Duryea, at least in the short-term. He and his brother Charles got enough publicity to sell the very first vehicles purchased in the United States. They also made the first American car to enter (and the first to win) the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (known then as the Emancipation Run), in 1896. Their luck proved to be short-lived, however, and the company folded in 1898.
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From the archives
Thanks to Johnny
ME-262 effectiveness
From: "R.C. Jenkins" <registerme4now@gmail.com>
Good reading here Doug. I’d often read that the Me 262 was most effective attacking bomber groups from above, diving swiftly thru our escorts. When you attack from above you have a top turret gunner to contend with and sometimes have the sun at your back, making it difficult to see your attackers. As I’ve written before, my cousin and his entire squadron of B-17’s were shot down near Munich, first with an above frontal attack that killed him, his copilot and bombardier and navigator. Then they swung around to the bombers 6 o’clock where they had only the tail gunner to contend with and methodically shot our box formations down one at a time. They would concentrate on firing rockets at a wing until it separated . My cousin’s crew had one survivor who described their attack to me.
The Me 262 was so fast that German pilots needed new tactics to attack Allied bombers. In the head-on attack, the combined closing speed of about 320 m/s (720 mph) was too high for accurate shooting with ordnance that could only fire about 650 rounds/min from each cannon, (~44 rounds/sec in total from the quartet of cannon). Even from astern, the closing speed was too great to use the short-ranged quartet of MK 108 cannon to maximum effect. A roller-coaster attack was devised, the Me 262s approached from astern and about 1,800 m higher (5,900 ft) than the bombers. From about five km behind (3.1 mi), they went into a shallow dive that took them through the escort fighters with little risk of interception. When they were about 1.5 km astern (0.93 mi) and 450 m (1,480 ft) below the bombers, they pulled up sharply to reduce speed. On levelling off, they were one km astern (1,100 yd) and overtaking the bombers at about 150 km/h (93 mph), well placed to attack them.[56]
The plane had, by contemporary standards, a high wing loading (294.0 kg/m2, 60.2 lbs/ft2) that required higher takeoff and landing speeds. Due to poor throttle response, the engines' tendency for airflow disruption that could cause the compressor to stall was ubiquitous. The high speed of the Me 262 also presented problems when engaging enemy aircraft, the high-speed convergence allowing Me 262 pilots little time to line up their targets or acquire the appropriate amount of deflection. This problem faces any aircraft that approaches another from behind at much higher speed, as the slower aircraft in front can always pull a tighter turn, forcing the faster aircraft to overshoot.
I passed one that looked as if it was hanging motionless in the air (I am too fast!). The one above me went into a steep right-hand turn, his pale blue underside standing out against the purple sky. Another banked right in front of the Me's nose. Violent jolt as I flew through his airscrew eddies. Maybe a wing's length away. That one in the gentle left-hand curve! Swing her round. I was coming from underneath, eye glued to the sight (pull her tighter!). A throbbing in the wings as my cannon pounded briefly. Missed him. Way behind his tail. It was exasperating. I would never be able to shoot one down like this. They were like a sack of fleas. A prick of doubt: is this really such a good fighter? Could one in fact, successfully attack a group of erratically banking fighters with the Me 262?
— Johannes Steinhoff, Luftwaffe fighter ace
Luftwaffe pilots eventually learned how to handle the Me 262's higher speed and the Me 262 soon proved a formidable air superiority fighter, with pilots such as Franz Schall managing to shoot down seventeen enemy fighters in the Me 262, ten of them American P-51 Mustangs. Other notable Me 262 aces included Georg-Peter Eder, with twelve enemy fighters to his credit (including nine P-51s), Erich Rudorffer also with twelve enemy fighters to his credit, Walther Dahl with eleven (including three Lavochkin La-7s and six P-51s) and Heinz-Helmut Baudach with six (including one Spitfire and two P-51s) amongst many others.
Pilots soon learned that the Me 262 was quite maneuverable despite its high wing loading and lack of low-speed thrust, especially if attention was drawn to its effective maneuvering speeds. The controls were light and effective right up to the maximum permissible speed and perfectly harmonised. The inclusion of full span automatic leading-edge slats,[Note 6] something of a "tradition" on Messerschmitt fighters dating back to the original Bf 109's outer wing slots of a similar type, helped increase the overall lift produced by the wing by as much as 35% in tight turns or at low speeds, greatly improving the aircraft's turn performance as well as its landing and takeoff characteristics.[66] As many pilots soon found out, the Me 262's clean design also meant that it, like all jets, held its speed in tight turns much better than conventional propeller-driven fighters, which was a great potential advantage in a dogfight as it meant better energy retention in maneuvers.
Too fast to catch for the escorting Allied fighters, the Me 262s were almost impossible to head off. As a result, Me 262 pilots were relatively safe from the Allied fighters, as long as they did not allow themselves to get drawn into low-speed turning contests and saved their maneuvering for higher speeds. Combating the Allied fighters could be effectively done the same way as the U.S. fighters fought the more nimble, but slower, Japanese fighters in the Pacific
Dick Jenkins
Doug Claxton wrote:
Here's a rare WWII German jet fighter ME-262 restored and flown.. Start up is a bit long. Taxi out & a couple T&G & taxi back to parking IDK what the range was on these things, probably only slightly better than the little 263 Komet ;-) Beautiful plane & hard to believe it was on the drawing boards & engineering in the early 40's! One can only imagine the shock & fear those poor teenage kids thought when they were in their slow bombers facing the business end of one of these!
Regards,
Doug
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Great Story Back when America was great.
This 1967 true story is of an experience by a young 12 year old lad in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
It is about the vivid memory of a privately rebuilt P-51 from WWII and its famous owner/pilot. In the morning sun, I could not believe my eyes. There, in our little airport, sat a majestic P-51. They said it had flown in during the night from some U.S. Airport, on its way to an air show. The pilot had been tired, so he just happened to choose Kingston for his stop over. It was to take to the air very soon. I marveled at the size of the plane, dwarfing the Pipers and Canucks tied down by her. It was much larger than in the movies. She glistened in the sun like a bulwark of security from days gone by.
The pilot arrived by cab, paid the driver, and then stepped into the pilot's lounge. He was an older man; his wavy hair was gray and tossed. It looked like it might have been combed, say, around the turn of the century. His flight jacket was checked, creased and worn - it smelled old and genuine. Old Glory was prominently sewn to its shoulders. He projected a quiet air of proficiency and pride devoid of arrogance. He filed a quick flight plan to Montreal ("Expo-67 Air Show") then walked across the tarmac. After taking several minutes to perform his walk-around check, the tall, lanky man returned to the flight lounge to ask if anyone would be available to stand by with fire extinguishers while he "flashed the old bird up, just to be safe." Though only 12 at the time I was allowed to stand by with an extinguisher after brief instruction on its use -- "If you see a fire, point, then pull this lever!", he said. (I later became a firefighter, but that's another story.) The air around the exhaust manifolds shimmered like a mirror from fuel fumes as the huge prop started to rotate.
One manifold, then another, and yet another barked -- I stepped back with the others. In moments the Packard-built Merlin engine came to life with a thunderous roar. Blue flames knifed from her manifolds with an arrogant snarl. I looked at the others' faces; there was no concern. I lowered the bell of my extinguisher. One of the guys signaled to walk back to the lounge. We did.
Several minutes later we could hear the pilot doing his pre-flight run-up. He'd taxied to the end of runway 19, out of sight. All went quiet for several seconds. We ran to the second story deck to see if we could catch a glimpse of the P-51 as she started down the runway. We could not. There we stood, eyes fixed to a spot half way down 19. Then a roar ripped across the field, much louder than before. Like a furious hell spawn set loose -- something mighty this way was coming. "Listen to that thing!" said the controller. In seconds the Mustang burst into our line of sight. Its tail was already off the runway and it was moving faster than anything I'd ever seen by that point on 19. Two-thirds the way down 19 the Mustang was airborne with her gear going up. The prop tips were supersonic. We clasped our ears as the Mustang climbed hellishly fast into the circuit to be eaten up by the dog-day haze. We stood for a few moments, in stunned silence, trying to digest what we'd just seen.
The radio controller rushed by me to the radio. "Kingston tower calling Mustang?" He looked back to us as he waited for an acknowledgment. The radio crackled, "Go ahead, Kingston.""Roger, Mustang. Kingston tower would like to advise the circuit is clear for a low level pass." I stood in shock because the controller had just, more or less, asked the pilot to return for an impromptu air show! The controller looked at us. "Well, What?" He asked. "I can't let that guy go without asking. I couldn't forgive myself!" The radio crackled once again, "Kingston, do I have permission for a low level pass, east to west, across the field?" "Roger, Mustang, the circuit is clear for an east to west pass." "Roger, Kingston, I'm coming out of 3,000 feet, stand by." We rushed back onto the second-story deck, eyes fixed toward the eastern haze.
The sound was subtle at first, a high-pitched whine, a muffled screech, a distant scream. Moments later the P-51 burst through the haze. Her airframe straining against positive G's and gravity. Her wing tips spilling contrails of condensed air, prop-tips again supersonic. The burnished bird blasted across the eastern margin of the field shredding and tearing the air. At about 500 mph and 150 yards from where we stood she passed with the old American pilot saluting. Imagine. A salute! I felt like laughing; I felt like crying; she glistened; she screamed; the building shook; my heart pounded. Then the old pilot pulled her up and rolled, and rolled, and rolled out of sight into the broken clouds and indelible into my memory.
I've never wanted to be an American more than on that day! It was a time when many nations in the world looked to America as their big brother. A steady and even-handed beacon of security who navigated difficult political water with grace and style; not unlike the old American pilot who'd just flown into my memory. He was proud, not arrogant, humble, not a braggart, old and honest, projecting an aura of America at its best. That America will return one day! I know it will! Until that time, I'll just send off this story. Call it a loving reciprocal salute to a Country, and especially to that old American pilot: the late-JIMMY STEWART (1908-1997), Actor, real WWII Hero (Commander of a US Army Air Force Bomber Wing stationed in England), and a USAF Reserves Brigadier General, who wove a wonderfully fantastic memory for a young Canadian boy that's lasted a lifetime.
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Thanks to Nice News
. Physical Touch Is the “Mother of All Senses” — Here’s How It Benefits Our Lives
Maskot/ Getty Images
Physical Touch Is the “Mother of All Senses” — Get an Expert’s Insight on How It Can Benefit Your Life
STEPHANIE FRIEDMAN
07.26.25
We need four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance, and 12 for growth — at least according to a saying credited to renowned family therapist Virginia Satir. While regularly receiving a dozen daily hugs may feel excessive or improbable to some, it’s all too easy to fall on the other end of the spectrum: spending more time connecting with your devices than your fellow humans.
A hug or a pat on the back may seem fairly inconsequential, but receiving (and giving) physical touch can contribute greatly to our physical and mental well-being. “Touch is the mother of all senses; if we receive touch regularly, it helps us to grow emotionally,” internationally acclaimed massage therapist and healing expert Beata Aleksandrowicz told Nice News. “Touch is what makes us human. It is the first sense developed in [the] human embryo.”
Nevertheless, the rise of technology, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors have whittled down our exposure to touch, she pointed out. But our craving for this type of connection hasn’t gone away: One 2019 study found that 72.7% of participants reported that their desire for touch exceeded their current touch frequency.
“Touch is fundamental to all human interaction,” Aleksandrowicz said, adding: “It gives us a sense of reality.”
But in what other ways does it impact our bodies, and how can we get more of it? Read on for Aleksandrowicz’s insights and advice.
The Benefits of Physical Touch
This sense’s effect on us literally starts before we’re born. “Even before the full development of the face, the embryo is already responsive to touch,” Aleksandrowicz said. “It is through touch that a baby learns about the outside world.”
And perhaps unsurprisingly, its importance doesn’t diminish as we grow up. Research from 2020 found that affectionate touch from caregivers to infants plays a “foundational role” in early psychosocial behavior, as well as in establishing close bonds with family and friends. A report from 2024 also discovered that touch interventions had “medium-to-large effects” on respiration, weight gain, and the stress hormone cortisol in newborns.
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“Sometimes a stressor can be the failure to provide something essential, and the absence of touch is seemingly one of the most marked developmental stressors we can suffer,” neurologist Robert Sapolsky wrote in his book Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers.
Another study demonstrated that children struggling with mental health conditions felt less depressed and anxious after just a 30-minute back massage. “Touch is crucial in our early development, in our communication and personal relationships,” Aleksandrowicz confirmed.
And for adults, the absence of non-sexual touch (often called “skin hunger” by psychologists) may have negative effects. “Touch deprivation leads to an increase in loneliness that so often leads to depression,” Aleksandrowicz said. “Lack of touch causes personality, mood, and anxiety disorders, [as well as] secondary immunity disorders.” In some cases, it may also lead to eating disorders — a study examining participants with anorexia and bulimia found that a lack of touch may play a role in body image-related disease.
But the flip side is also true: Aleksandrowicz explained that our skin holds some 5 million touch receptors, and that vagal activity increases in our nervous system when we stimulate them, which can lead to a multitude of benefits. “When the vagal activity increases, there is a significant drop of cortisol, the ‘stress’ hormone; and an increase in oxytocin, our ‘bonding’ hormone,” she said. “There is also an increase in serotonin, which is the body’s natural antidepressant and anti-pain chemical.”
She also cited a study co-authored by Tiffany Field, director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine, which found that massage may increase dopamine levels and natural killer cells. The latter destroy infected and diseased cells in our bodies, helping to prevent cancer and other illnesses from spreading, and are “the front lines of the immune system,” per Aleksandrowicz.
How to Stay in Touch
These are all fantastic reasons to seek out more physical touch in your life — and in today’s technology-driven world, doing so is “more important than ever,” Aleksandrowicz emphasized. “It’s a powerful, instinctive way we stay connected as human beings. We’re wired for touch; it soothes us, grounds us, and affirms that we belong. A simple hug, a gentle hand on the shoulder, or a moment of shared laughter with someone close can calm our nervous systems and remind us that we’re not alone.”
As a touch therapy researcher for over 30 years and an author on the subject, Aleksandrowicz is a clear advocate for the healing power of massage. “My clients always emphasize how strong they have become — mentally and physically — since [incorporating] regular massage into their lives,” she said. “They feel positive, healthy, much more aware of their body and posture, and more able to cope with the stresses of everyday life.”
But you can reap benefits like these in smaller ways, too. If you’re participating in a team sport, go ahead and give your teammate a hand squeeze or a pat on the back — research suggests that the tactile support could improve their performance. “My advice is to be intentional: Reach out for that embrace, sit close to your loved ones, or hold someone’s hand a little longer,” Aleksandrowicz said.
And while you’re at it, take a breather from your devices, which can replace the “intimacy of human presence,” she noted. “Turn them off during meals, look someone in the eye, really listen, and allow space for physical closeness. Try things that bring people together physically: Dance, play, cook, garden, or simply be near someone without distraction.”
Aleksandrowicz continued: “When we engage our senses and bodies in connection with others, we feel more whole, more seen, more alive. In the end, it’s not the messages we send but the warmth we share — heart to heart, hand to hand — that fills our lives with meaning.”
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Thanks to American Facts
Having lived in all four corners of the USA and in the middle growing up as an Air Force Brat most of these are familiar to me....
I guess it was fitting that I rolled into the back gate at NAS Miramar in the fall of 1967 and have never left San Diego except for a few cruises to exotic places both east and west.
Language works because it changes; science says so! Across the globe, people use different words for the same things. But here's the fun part: even within the US, regional slang and expressions vary significantly. What you call something in Massachusetts might mean something totally different in Oregon. Let's explore these 10 regional terms and see what they reveal about where you grew up
Say These Terms, And We'll Guess Where You Grew Up
Language works because it changes; science says so! Across the globe, people use different words for the same things. But here's the fun part: even within the US, regional slang and expressions vary significantly. What you call something in Massachusetts might mean something totally different in Oregon. Let's explore these 10 regional terms and see what they reveal about where you grew up!
Jawn
If you spend time chatting with someone from Philadelphia, this word will probably come up. "Jawn" is a unique term that can refer to just about anything: objects, people, or places.
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Sneakers
If you're going to the gym today, make sure you bring your workout clothes and water bottle. Don't forget your tennis shoes, which, by the way, people in the US Northeast often call "sneakers"!
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Ope!
When you drop a glass or accidentally step on the dog's tail, "ope!" is the perfect word to say. In the Midwest, especially in states like Wisconsin and Minnesota, people use this expression whenever something surprising or a small accident happens. It's like a version of "Oops!"
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Bubbler
Have you ever drunk from a "bubbler"? If you're from New England, we're sure you have, because that's what people in that region call drinking fountains. If you didn't know this fact, don't worry! A study found that only 18% of people use this original and creative term.
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Sugar
This term is better known than the last one, so you've probably heard it before. In the southern US, when you kiss someone—either on the lips or on the cheek—you're giving them "sugar." So sweet!
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Wicked
While for most Americans, "wicked" means something evil, that's not the case for the people of Massachusetts. In the Bay State, residents use "wicked" as an intensifier to describe something cool or awesome. Instead of saying their food is "really good", they say: "Our Clam Chowder is wicked good."
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Gnarly
Coming from surfer culture, "gnarly" is West Coast slang for something exciting, intense, or really cool. It was originally used to describe big, rough waves, so it can also mean "challenging."
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Ayuh
If you've ever asked a question and got "ayuh" as an answer, chances are you were in Maine. Locals there use this expression, pronounced "a-yuh," to say "yes." It might sound odd to outsiders, but for Mainers, it's everyday talk!
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Ragamuffin
You definitely don't wanna be called a "ragamuffin." Why? Well, in the southern part of the country, this term refers to someone who looks dirty or messy. In other words, a "ragamuffin" is someone who doesn't look their best.
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Grinder
Sandwiches have many nicknames in different parts of the U.S., and New England is no exception! In Connecticut and parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, this delicious staple is called a "Grinder."
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Some bits and pieces from the California Flyover
MONDAY, JULY 27, 2026
Good Morning! On this day in 1948, figure skater Peggy Fleming was born in San Jose. At the 1968 Winter Olympics, she won the only gold medal the United States claimed at those Games and helped revive American figure skating.
California’s 250-mile Waterfall Loop connects nine falls, swimming holes, and small towns across the Southern Cascades.
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Anaheim ⛅ 87°/68° | Bakersfield ⛅ 98°/68° | Death Valley ☀️ 122°/96° | Eureka ⛅ 67°/56° | Fresno ⛅ 98°/65° | Huntington Beach ⛅ 78°/70° | Lake Tahoe ⛅ 80°/36° | Los Angeles ⛅ 87°/68° | Palm Springs ⛅ 114°/88° | Redding ☀️ 100°/66° | Riverside ⛅ 100°/68° | Sacramento ☀️ 93°/59° | San Diego ⛅ 79°/67° | San Francisco ⛅ 70°/58° | San Jose ⛅ 78°/59° | San Luis Obispo ⛅ 78°/55°
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California Tracks AI-Related Job Losses
California launched a public dashboard designed to identify early signs that artificial intelligence may be contributing to job losses.
The tracker analyzes unemployment claims from workers in occupations considered highly exposed to AI, with results broken down by industry, region, education, age, gender, race, and ethnicity.
Initial findings showed no statewide surge in claims among AI-exposed workers. However, claims increased among college-educated workers and remained elevated in the Bay Area and technology sectors.
Researchers cautioned that the data cannot prove AI caused individual layoffs. The online tracker will be updated monthly to help officials identify workers who may need training or job-search support.
Former College Soccer Player Found Dead
Former college soccer player Bryn Waite, 26, was found dead in the water at La Jolla Shores Beach on Wednesday, July 22.
Emergency personnel responded after a bystander reported seeing her floating offshore. Waite was pronounced dead at the scene, and her cause of death remains under investigation.
The Anchorage, Alaska, native played defender for Central Washington during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Friends said she lived in San Diego and had recently become engaged.
Waite is the second former college athlete found dead in San Diego coastal waters in 34 days. Summer Nash, 34, was recovered near Ocean Beach Pier on June 18. Authorities have not indicated the deaths are connected.
Jeff Kent Enters Hall as a Giant
Former San Francisco Giants second baseman Jeff Kent was inducted Sunday into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, with the Giants represented on his plaque.
Kent spent six seasons in San Francisco, won the 2000 National League MVP Award, and helped the Giants reach the 2002 World Series.
His five best seasons by wins above replacement came with the Giants, often batting behind Barry Bonds. Kent finished with a record 351 home runs as a second baseman.
The Giants will retire Kent’s No. 21 on Aug. 29 at Oracle Park, where the first 21,000 fans will receive replica Hall of Fame rings.
Kent thanked his family, friends, teammates, and mentors during his Hall of Fame induction speech.
➤ Napa County: A dead crow tested positive for West Nile virus, marking the county’s first detection since 2023, health officials said.
➤ Sacramento: Households may own up to four licensed dogs beginning in August, as city officials seek to ease overcrowding at local animal shelters.
➤ San Francisco: A man charged with torturing a kitten to death was arrested again in Reno on additional animal cruelty allegations involving other kittens.
➤ Also San Francisco: Four men were hospitalized after being shot while trying to break up an argument between a man and a woman; the gunman fled.
➤ San Jose: Police returned an escaped Shetland pony to its owner after a nighttime chase through neighborhood streets, ending the animal’s brief adventure.
➤ Redding: A 250-mile Northern California driving loop connects nine waterfalls, swimming holes, and small towns, with Burney Falls reservations required on select days through Sept. 27.
➤ McFarland: Police cited and released a 30-year-old man after finding about 24 unspent illegal fireworks and several discharged devices during a home search.
➤ San Luis Obispo: Councilwoman Jan Marx is seeking to censure Mayor Erica Stewart, alleging she improperly shared a confidential grand jury report with Cal Poly.
➤ Merced County: A big rig crashed into a Highway 99 guardrail Saturday, damaging about 100 feet and blocking southbound traffic.
➤ Seaside: Council members must repay roughly $26,000 each after the city miscalculated salary increases and allowed the raises to take effect too early.
➤ Reedley: Church members raised more than $2,000 at a car wash for a local man who lost an eye in a July 11 road-rage shooting.
➤ Los Angeles: A Jefferson Park water main break affected 37 services and three fire hydrants Sunday morning, with no restoration timeline announced.
➤ Southern California: Heat advisories remain in effect through Monday as inland temperatures reach 107 degrees, while beaches face dangerous surf, rip currents, and bacteria warnings.
➤ Lancaster: Authorities are searching for 9-year-old twins Solomon and Marozhina Sukonick, allegedly abducted by their father and last seen in a black Lincoln Town Car.
➤ Pasadena: Straight Up Abilities dancers will mark Disability Pride Month with an all-ages showcase Tuesday at Villa Parke Community Center.
➤ Anaheim: The city agreed to pay $250,000 to settle a woman’s wrongful-arrest lawsuit stemming from a disputed Hyundai purchase at a local dealership. (More)
➤ Athletics could be without All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers for the rest of the season after he suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee, according to ESPN. The injury is also expected to end any trade speculation involving Langeliers before the Aug. 3 deadline.
➤ Warriors star Stephen Curry addressed LeBron James’ decision to sign with the 76ers, saying there were “a lot of moving parts” in the free agency process.
➤ Rams coach Sean McVay said retired defensive tackle Aaron Donald is following a “very strict, regimented process” as he weighs a possible return to the NFL. McVay added that the team would try to make a comeback happen if Donald decides to play this season.
➤ The Giants recalled left-hander Carson Whisenhunt from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday and optioned right-hander Tristan Beck after Saturday’s 9-2 win over the Angels. Beck appeared in nine games for San Francisco this season.
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This Day in U S Military History…….July 27
1806 – Attempting to stop a band of young Blackfoot Indians from stealing his horses, Meriwether Lewis shoots an Indian in the stomach. The voyage of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the West began in May 1804 when the two captains and 27 men headed up the Missouri River. They reached the Pacific Ocean the following year, and on March 23, 1806, began the return journey. After crossing the worst section of the Rocky Mountains, the expedition split up. Clark took most of the men and explored the Yellowstone River country to the south. Lewis, with nine men, headed west to the Great Falls of the Missouri River where he split the small party still further. Six men remained behind to make the portage around the Great Falls. Lewis took the remaining three and headed north to explore the Marias River country of present-day northwestern Montana. It was a risky, perhaps even irresponsible, decision. Lewis knew the Marias River country was the home of the Blackfoot Indians, one of the fiercest tribes of the Great Plains. Lewis hoped he could meet peacefully with the Blackfoot and encourage their cooperation with the United States. Yet, if they met a hostile Blackfoot band and a fight began, the four explorers would be badly outnumbered. On July 26, Lewis encountered a party of eight young Blackfoot braves. At first, the meeting went well, and the Indians seemed pleased with Lewis’ gifts of a medal, flag, and handkerchief. Lulled into a false sense of security, Lewis invited the Indians to camp with them. In the early morning of this day in 1806, Lewis awoke to the shouts of one his men–the Indians were attempting to steal their rifles and horses. Lewis sped after two Indians who were running off with several of the horses, calling out for them to stop or he would shoot. One Indian, armed with an old British musket, turned toward Lewis. Apparently fearing that thee Indian was about to shoot, Lewis fired first and hit him in the stomach. The Indians retreated, and the men quickly gathered their horses. Lewis then learned that one of his men had also fatally stabbed another of the Blackfoot. Fearing the survivors would soon return with reinforcements, Lewis and his men immediately broke camp. They rode south quickly and managed to escape any retribution from the Blackfoot. Lewis’ diplomatic mission, however, had turned into a debacle. By killing at least one Indian, and probably two, Lewis had guaranteed that the already hostile Blackfoot would be unlikely to deal peacefully with Americans in the future.
1940 – Bugs Bunny made his official debut in the Warner Bros. animated cartoon “A Wild Hare.” Three years later, Bugs would be made an honorary Corporal of the US Marine Corps after the release of the short Super Rabbit in which he is portrayed as a parody of Superman. Bugs abandons his colorful costume, faces the camera, and proclaims that “This looks like a job for a real Superman!” Then he reappears from the phone booth wearing a uniform of the United States Marine Corps. His former antagonists snap to attention and salute Bugs as he marches into the horizon singing the Marine Corps Hymn.
1953 – Air Force Captain Ralph S. Parr, 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, achieved the last air victory of the Korean War when he destroyed an Il-12 transport plane. In addition, the victory qualified him as the 11th and last double ace of the war, with a total of 10 kills.
1965 – Forty-six U.S. F-105 fighter-bombers attack the missile installation that had fired at U.S. planes on July 24. They also attacked another missile installation 40 miles northwest of Hanoi. One missile launcher was destroyed and another was damaged, but five U.S. planes were shot down in the effort. On July 24, U.S. bombers on a raid over munitions manufacturing facilities at Kang Chi, 55 miles northwest of Hanoi, were fired at from an unknown launching site. It was the first time the enemy had launched antiaircraft missiles at U.S. aircraft. The presence of ground-to-air antiaircraft missiles represented a rapidly improving air defense capability for the North Vietnamese. As the war progressed, North Vietnam, supplied by China and the Soviet Union, would fashion a very effective and integrated air defense system, which became a formidable challenge to American flyers conducting missions over North Vietnam.
2003 – Bob Hope (b.1903), master of the one-liner and favorite comedian of servicemen and presidents alike, died at his home in Toluca Lake, Ca. He was born Leslie Townes Hope on May 29, 1903, in Eltham, England, the 5th of 7 sons of a British stonemason and a Welsh singer of light opera.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
MORIN, WILLIAM H.
Rank and organization: Boatswain’s Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 23 May 1869, England. G.O. No.: 500, 14 December 1898. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Marblehead at the approaches to Caimanera, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 26 and 27 July 1898. Displaying heroism, Morin took part in the perilous work of sweeping for and disabling 27 contact mines during this period.
SPICER, WILLIAM
Rank and organization: Gunner’s Mate First Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 28 May 1864, England. Accredited to. New York. G.O. No.: 500, 14 December 1898. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Marblehead at the approaches to Caimanera, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 26 and 27 July 1898. Displaying heroism, Spicer took part in the perilous work of sweeping for and disabling 27 contact mines during this period.
SUNDQUIST, AXEL
Rank and organization: Chief Carpenter’s Mate, U.S. Navy. Born: 26 May 1867, Furland, Russia. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 500, 19 December 1898. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Marblehead at the approaches to Caimanera, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 26 and 27 July 1898. Displaying heroism, Sundquist took part in the perilous work of sweeping for and disabling 27 contact mines during this period.
TRIPLETT, SAMUEL
Rank and organization: Ordinary Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 18 December 1869, Chenokeeke, Kans. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 500, 14 December 1898. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Marblehead at the approaches to Caimanera, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 26 and 27 July 1898. Displaying heroism, Triplett took part in the perilous work of sweeping for and disabling 27 contact mines during this period.
*PETRARCA, FRANK J.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 145th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division. Place and date: At Horseshoe Hill, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, 27 July 1943. Entered service at: Cleveland, Ohio. Birth: Cleveland, Ohio. G.O. No.: 86, 23 December 1943. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Petrarca advanced with the leading troop element to within 100 yards of the enemy fortifications where mortar and small-arms fire caused a number of casualties. Singling out the most seriously wounded, he worked his way to the aid of Pfc. Scott, Iying within 75 yards of the enemy, whose wounds were so serious that he could not even be moved out of the direct line of fire Pfc Petrarca fearlessly administered first aid to Pfc. Scott and 2 other soldiers and shielded the former until his death. On 29 July 1943, Pfc. Petrarca. during an intense mortar barrage, went to the aid of his sergeant who had been partly buried in a foxhole under the debris of a shell explosion, dug him out, restored him to consciousness and caused his evacuation. On 31 July 1943 and against the warning of a fellow soldier, he went to the aid of a mortar fragment casualty where his path over the crest of a hill exposed him to enemy observation from only 20 yards distance. A target for intense knee mortar and automatic fire, he resolutely worked his way to within 2 yards of his objective where he was mortally wounded by hostile mortar fire. Even on the threshold of death he continued to display valor and contempt for the foe, raising himself to his knees, this intrepid soldier shouted defiance at the enemy, made a last attempt to reach his wounded comrade and fell in glorious death.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for July 27, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD “PHIL” MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
27 July
1909: Orville Wright, with Lt Frank P. Lahm riding as a passenger, flew the Army’s first airplane for 1 hour 12 minutes 40 seconds to set a two-man endurance record. Thus, the first official flight test of the airplane fulfilled a contract requirement for an hour-long flight with a passenger. (20)
1917: The Secretary of the Navy authorized the building of Philadelphia's Naval aircraft factory. (12) The first British DH-4 arrived in the US. It became the model for later US planes produced with Liberty engines. (21)
1953: KOREAN WAR ENDS. UN and Communist representatives signed an armistice at Panmunjom. When it ended, US pilots enjoyed a 10-1 edge in air-to-air combat. US aircrews flew more than 625,000 combat sorties and destroyed 839 MiG-15s, probably destroyed 154 more, and damaged 919 others. FEAF pilots destroyed the North Korean Air Force in the first weeks of the war. They obliterated strategic targets within the first months and conducted an effective interdiction campaign throughout the conflict. FEAF aircraft, including B-29s in a tactical role, wiped out 34,000 vehicles, 276 locomotives, and 3,800 railroad cars. Interdiction destroyed 70 percent of North Korea's tanks, trucks, and artillery pieces--and inflicted nearly 50 percent of the casualties sustained by North Korea troops. MATS used C-47s, C-54s, C-97s, C-119s, and C-124s to airlift 214,000 passengers and 80,000 tons of cargo to the combat area. In Korea, MATS aircraft airdropped another 15,000 tons of supplies and equipment, while medical aircraft airlifted 386,536 patients. The Air Rescue Service also recovered 9,898 UN troops, with 996 saves in the combat zone. SAC’s B-29s flew 1,995 reconnaissance and 21,328 effective combat sorties to drop 167,000 tons of bombs on various targets. Air Force casualties numbered 1,729. (1) (2) (17) Capt Ralph S. Parr, Jr., shot down an Il-12 for the last aerial victory of the Korean War. (21)
1958: Commanders Malcolm Ross and Morton L. Lewis ascended to 82,000 feet in a balloon with 5,500 pounds of equipment, where they stayed aloft for 34 hours 30 minutes to set an endurance record for a flight into the stratosphere. They also transmitted the first statospheric television pictures. (24)
1962: SAC's first Minuteman I (Model A) went into site A-9 at Malmstrom AFB. (6)
1964: The 1964 Daniel Guggenheim Medal was awarded posthumously to Dr. Robert H. Goddard, the father of American rocketry. (26) (16)
1967: The USAF launched a flare activated radio-biological observatory satellite to study solar-flare radiation.
1972: Test pilot Irving L. Burrows took the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle up for its first flight at Edwards AFB. (3) (30)
1976: At Edwards AFB, Maj Adolphus H. Bledsoe, Jr., the pilot, and Maj John T. Fuller, the reconnaissance systems officer (RSO), flew an SR-71 over a 1,000 kilometer closed course (621 Miles) at to set three new world speed records: world absolute speed of 2,092.29 MPH, speed with 2,200-pound payload, and speed without payload. (1)
1986: A C-9 Nightingale flew Father Lawrence Jenco, who was released as a hostage by Muslim extremists in Lebanon, from Damascus to the USAFE Medical Center at Rhein-Main AB. (26)
1996: Lt Gen Lawrence Boese, the Eleventh Air Force Commander at Elmendorf AFB, joined Senator Ted Stevens (Alaska) and Gen Richard Hawley, the ACC Commander, in a dedication ceremony at Eielson AFB to christen a B-2 the Spirit of Alaska. (AFNEWS, July 1996)
1999: The 135th Airlift Group (Maryland ANG) accepted the ANG’s first new C-130J (Tail No. 97-1351) at Martin State Airport, Md. (32)
2007: DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS: An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot, Maj Keith Wolak, with the 74th Fighter Squadron at Pope AFB, N. C., received his cross for his actions in a night rescue mission in Afghanistan. During a mission to retrieve a U. S. Navy Seal on 2 July 2005, Major Wolak cleared a helicopter landing zone while suppressing the enemy's attacks. He not only attacked several fighting positions around the landing zone, but he also coordinated the rescue mission. (AFNEWS, “A-10 Pilot Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross,” 2 Aug 2007.)
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