TheList 5315

The List 5315










Good Friday Morning May 8.

Regards,

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This day in Naval History May 8,



1863 USS Flag, commanded by Cmdr. James H. Strong, captures schooner Amelia while attempting to run the blockade out of Charleston.

1911 Capt. Washington I. Chambers prepares the requisition for the first US Navy airplane, the Triad A-1, marking the birth of Naval Aviation.

1919 Seaplane Division One, comprised of three NC flying boats, takes off from Naval Air Station, Rockaway, New York for Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the first leg of a projected Transatlantic flight.

1942 The Battle of the Coral Sea ends with the Japanese retiring from the area and calling off the Port Moresby amphibious operation. During battle, SBDs from USS Lexington (CV 2) and USS Yorktown (CV 5) damage the Japanese carrier Shokaku and force her to retire.

1945 The unconditional surrender of Germany was ratified by Allies in Berlin. This event is remembered as V-E Day!

1963 - Navy ships evacuate 2,279 civilians from Haiti during crisis.

1972 - U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircraft mine Haiphong Harbor in North Vietnam.





Thanks to CHINFO



Executive Summary:

•Numerous outlets reported on the confirmation hearing of Secretary of the Navy nominee Kenneth Braithwaite.

•Acting SECNAV James E. McPherson, CNO Adm. Mike Gilday and MPCON Russell Smith visited RTC Great Lakes yesterday.

•CNO Adm. Mike Gilday and Mrs. Linda Gilday thanked military spouses on Military Spouse Appreciation Day.

•Reuters reported on the U.S. military's efforts to dispel COVID-19 related readiness concerns by highlighting operations in the South China Sea.



Today in History
May 8


1450

Jack Cade's Rebellion–Kentishmen revolt against King Henry VI.


1541

Hernando de Soto discovers the Mississippi River which he calls Rio de Espiritu Santo.


1559

An act of supremacy defines Queen Elizabeth I as the supreme governor of the church of England.


1794

The United States Post Office is established.


1846

The first major battle of the Mexican War is fought at Palo Alto, Texas.


1862

General 'Stonewall' Jackson repulses the Federals at the Battle of McDowell, in the Shenendoah Valley.


1864

Union troops arrive at Spotsylvania Court House to find the Confederates waiting for them.


1886

Atlanta pharmacist John Pemberton invents Coca Cola.


1895

China cedes Taiwan to Japan under Treaty of Shimonoseki.


1904

U.S. Marines land in Tangier, North Africa, to protect the Belgian legation.


1919

The first transatlantic flight by a navy seaplane takes-off.


1933

Mahatma Gandhi—actual name Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi—begins a hunger strike to protest British oppression in India.


1940

German commandos in Dutch uniforms cross the Dutch border to hold bridges for the advancing German army.


1942

The Battle of the Coral Sea between the Japanese Navy and the U.S. Navy ends.


1945

The final surrender of German forces is celebrated as VE (Victory Europe) day.


1952

Allied fighter-bombers stage the largest raid of the war on North Korea.


1958

President Dwight Eisenhower orders the National Guard out of Little Rock as Ernest Green becomes the first black to graduate from an Arkansas public school.


1967

Boxer Muhammad Ali is indicted for refusing induction in U.S. Army.


1984

The Soviet Union announces it will not participate in Summer Olympics planned for Los Angeles.


1995

Jacques Chirac is elected president of France.


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Thanks to Forest



VE Day 2020: Last Nazi message intercepted by Bletchley Park revealed - BBC News



75 years ago.



Joe


https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52583322



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From the Archives

Thanks to Bob

VIETNAM --- 50 YEARS LATER, OUR GREATEST GENERATION.



Many will say that those who fought ,one year, WW11 from June 6,1944 to May 1945 made-up the greatest generation, granted casualties in WW11 were much higher, but the 10 years of Vietnam took a much higher toll on America and it's allies. We won both wars battles, but the scars of Vietnam remain until today, and in my opinion, no greater accolades should be bestowed on any veterans, than those of Vietnam. Unappreciated by the American public, betrayed by the American government's corrupt politicians, sent into battle with inferior weapons, AR-15, Laws anti armor, etc. Our soldiers never lost a battle. Despite these handicaps, this generation of soldiers were the best we ever fielded.



Watch this video, narrated by Sam Elliott.





In case you haven't seen this, it is a powerful tribute to our generation of Vietnam veterans.



Vietnam, 50 years later…



https://www.youtube.com/embed/aVeBtnfAxP8



SAM ELLIOTT
NARRATES THIS STIRRING VIDEO....







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a Navy Veteran



thanks to BudB and Dutch











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1945










V-E Day is celebrated in America and Britain












On this day in 1945, both Great Britain and the United States celebrate Victory in Europe Day. Cities in both nations, as well as formerly occupied cities in Western Europe, put out flags and banners, rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazi war machine. The eighth of May spelled the day when German troo... read more




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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS

FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR MAY 5

THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY





1911: The Navy ordered its first airplane, the A-1 amphibian, from Glenn Curtiss. Therefore, today is officially the birthday of naval aviation. (21)



1918: Capts John F. Gallagher, Robert J. Hunter, and Claude T. Uren became the first medical officers to be assigned as flight surgeons at US airfields. (24)



1919: Lt Cmdr A. C. Read took off on the first air crossing of the Atlantic in an NC-4 flying boat. 1926: Through 9 May, Floyd Bennett and Lt Cmdr Richard E. Byrd flew the Josephine Ford, a Fokker C-2 Trimotor monoplane, on the first flight to the North Pole from Kings Bay, Spitsbergen. (9)



1935: In 14 hours 19 minutes, Amelia Earhart flew the first nonstop flight from Mexico City to Newark.



1937: MACKAY TROPHY. Six officers and two enlisted men (Army Air Corps) received the trophy for flight maneuvers in which three bombing planes flew from Langley Field to Allegan, Mich.



1944: Eighth Air Force began large raids on French and Belgian airfields at Juvencourt, Laon, Florennes, Thionville, St. Dizier, Orleans, Bourges, and Avord. (4)



1951: KOREAN WAR. An H-5 helicopter picked up two U.S. soldiers north of Seoul, encountering small arms fire in the area. (28)



1952: KOREAN WAR. In the first of four major interdiction strikes, Fifth Air Force fighter-bombers flew nearly 465 sorties against the enemy supply depot at Suan, about 40 miles southeast of Pyongyang, in the largest one-day attack since the war began. In a13-hour period, the UN pilots damaged or destroyed over 200 supply buildings, personnel shelters, revetments, vehicles, and gun positions. Enemy antiaircraft fire shot down an F-86

at the Kunu-ri marshaling yards. This was the first loss of a Sabre on a fighter-bomber sortie. (28)



1960: The Air Force removed its first operational missile, a Thor, from a field unit in the UK and sent it to Vandenberg AFB for confidence testing. Confidence launches preceded SAC's operational test program. (6)

1970: MACKAY TROPHY. An AC-119K gunship attacked a heavily defended road section in SEA. Despite losing 15 feet of the aircraft's right wing and an aileron, the crew destroyed three enemy supply trucks and then returned to base. For that feat, the crew earned the trophy. (21)



1972: Operation LINEBACKER I. President Nixon approved this operation as a military measure to end the Vietnam War. It included the mining of all ports in North Vietnam, and the interdiction of supply and communication lines. (5) (17)



1994: Operation PROVIDE PROMISE. Through 26 July, 5 C-141s started flying humanitarian missions from Germany to Bosnia. They joined the earlier deployment of C-130s from the 437 AW and 315 AW at Charleston AFB. The C-141s delivered over 7,000 tons of cargo by the time their flights ended on 26 July. (16)



1995: Through 11 May, ANG units rescued thousands of flood victims after 22 inches of rain fell on Louisiana within two days. (16) (26)



2000: Through 9 May, the RQ-4A Global Hawk participated in a Linked Seas Exercise, flying from Eglin AFB to Portugal and back during a 28-hour sortie. The Global Hawk also completed a 14.1-hour mission on 11-12 May 2000. (3)



2001: SECDEF Donald H. Rumsfeld made the USAF the executive agent for the Pentagon's space activities. (21)



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For your Friday entertainment



Thanks to Dr. Rich



Even with Burt's clue … I don't have a clue. Amazing!!



Rich



I figured it out when he did the trick with me on the cruise. However, I decided to not ruin the show for him by calling him out. Penn later thanked me for that.



I am guessing I am the only one who has solved the trick?



The solution is hard to describe by typing. Will tell you when we next meet.



For a hint, watch teller between 1:23 and 1:26.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXti-W0nm1U



Burt



If you are a P & T fan watch this one starting at 6:22:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyxK8ISCc6g











I do not have a clue…skip







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Daily News from Military Periscope for 8 May



USA—Latest Javelin Anti-Tank Missile Variant Enters Production Lockheed Martin | 05/08/2020 The first production model of the newest variant of the Javelin anti-tank missile has been completed, reports Lockheed Martin, which is part of the Javelin Joint Venture with Raytheon. The new FGM-148F Javelin missile incorporates an advanced multipurpose warhead to increase its ability to defeat modern armor, including explosive reactive armor. A fragmenting steel case boosts its capabilities against soft targets and light vehicles, the company said on Wednesday. The upgraded command launch unit for the model is lighter and has an improved target tracker, reported Defense News. The U.S. military purchased 511 FGM-184Fs in an initial lot, with deliveries set to begin in the fall. Poland could become the first export customer for the weapon. Warsaw recently completed contract negotiations to buy 180 Javelin missiles and 60 launcher units for its territorial defense force but has not determined whether it will buy the newest F-model or the existing E-model.



USA—Patriot Batteries Being Pulled From Middle East Due To Reduced Iranian Threat Wall Street Journal | 05/08/2020 The U.S. is withdrawing Patriot air defense systems and other military assets from the Middle East, reports the Wall Street Journal. On Thursday, U.S. officials said that two batteries were being removed from Saudi Arabia and two others from elsewhere in the region. Two U.S. fighter squadrons have also left the region and officials are examining reductions to the U.S. naval presence in the Persian Gulf, said the unnamed officials. Air defenses remain at the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, which hosts U.S. troops. The two Patriot batteries were deployed to Saudi Arabia last year after attacks on its oil facilities, which were blamed on Iran. The changes reflect a growing desire to focus limited American resources on the Pacific theater and a sense in Washington that Iran poses less of an immediate threat. It also follows reports that President Trump threatened to support a legislative measure to withdraw U.S. troops from Saudi Arabia amid an oil war with Russia in March, Reuters reported.



USA—Coast Guard Takes Delivery Of Another Super Hercules Transport U.S. Coast Guard | 05/08/2020 The U.S. Coast Guard has announced that it has received its 14th C-130J Super Hercules from Lockheed Martin. The aircraft was handed over on April 27 at Lockheed's C-130 production facility in Marietta, Ga., the service said on Wednesday. The Super Hercules is currently in the baseline configuration. It will next receive the Minotaur mission system suite, including software, radar, sensors and communication gear. Once the mission equipment is installed, the aircraft will be redesignated as an HC-130J. The plane will be used for component certification testing before work begins to install the Minotaur suite on May 15, said a Coast Guard release. The aircraft will be modernized to the Block 8.1 standard, which includes enhanced inter-communications system, approach and landing systems, expanded diagnostics, civilian global positioning system and additional covert lighting. The Coast Guard is upgrading all of its HC-130Js to the same standard.



Canada—Fighter Bid Deadline Postponed Another Month Ottawa Citizen | 05/08/2020 The Canadian government has extended the deadline to submit bids for its fighter replacement program by one month due to the effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, reports the Ottawa Citizen. On Wednesday, Public Services and Procurement Canada confirmed that the deadline for bids had been extended from June 30 to July 31, 2020, noting that the change was made at the request of industry. The department said that the COVID-19 pandemic presented numerous challenges for the businesses and their workforces, affecting their ability to finalize their bids. The change is the second delay to the program this year. The deadline for bids had previously been pushed back from the end of March to June 30 at the request of Saab, which is offering its JAS 39 Gripen E, noted the Globe and Mail (Toronto). The other contenders are believed to be the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.



Germany—GRU Hacked Merkel Emails In 2015 Reuters | 05/08/2020 Russian military hackers appear to have accessed the email accounts of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's constituency office in 2015, reports Reuters, citing German media. Members of the GRU, Russia's military intelligence agency, accessed emails from Merkel's constituency office as part of 2015 hacking attacks against the German Parliament, Der Spiegel reported on Friday. The magazine did not reveal its sources. German federal police partially reconstructed the attack and believe at least two inboxes at Merkel's office, which contained correspondence from 2012 to 2015, were copied to another computer. The lower house of the Bundestag discovered a breach of its systems in May 2015 but could not attribute the attack to any party. Earlier this week, German prosecutors issued an arrested warrant for Dimitri Badin for involvement in that breach, reported the Times of London. Badin is a member of Fancy Bear, a hacking collective believed to be associated with the GRU. Russia has denied involvement in any foreign hacking campaigns.



Italy—Cavour Aircraft Carrier Takes Another Step Toward F-35B Ops The Aviationist | 05/08/2020 The Italian aircraft carrier Cavour is wrapping up a two-year modernization designed to prepare it to operate the F-35B Lightning II short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) fighter jet, reports the Aviationist blog. On Wednesday, the Cavour departed the Maritime Military Arsenal in Taranto in southern Italy after completing about 90 percent of the upgrade work. The improvements will be completed at the Mar Grande naval station, also in Taranto, before undertaking sea trials ahead of a deployment to the East Coast of the U.S. to begin testing with the F-35B. The Cavour arrived at the shipyard in Taranto in December 2018. Drydock work began on July 20, 2019, and concluded in November 2019. She remained at the arsenal for final modifications, including preparing the flight deck to manage the high thermo-mechanical impact of F-35B operations. The Italian navy took delivery of its first two F-35Bs in 2018 and 2019, which were transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., for pilot training.



Croatia—Defense Minister Resigns After 2nd Deadly Training Crash Total Croatia News | 05/08/2020 Croatian Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic has resigned after an air force training aircraft crashed killing both crewmembers, reports Total Croatia News. Krsticevic submitted his resignation on Thursday hours after the crash, citing the need for transparency and to take responsibility, reported the Voice of America News. The Zlin single-engine trainer went down in the southwestern Zadar county shortly after taking off for a routine training mission, reported Croatia Week. Images showed the wreckage next to a residential area, with significant damage to the front end of the aircraft. Krsticevic met air force officials at the airbase in Zemunik, where he announced his resignation. A lieutenant and training lieutenant were killed in the crash, officials said. The lieutenant was a member of the air force's aerobatic team. This is the second deadly air crash involving the Croatian military this year. An OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout helicopter crashed into the Adriatic Sea in January killing both crewmembers onboard.



Estonia—THeMIS UGV Wraps Up Successful Deployment In Mali Milrem | 05/08/2020 A Milrem Robotics uncrewed ground vehicles has successfully completed its first deployment to Mali with Estonian troops, reports the Estonian defense firm. The Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) was deployed with Estonian forces assigned to the French-led Operation Barkhane counterterrorism mission, according to the release on Wednesday. The robot was initially deployed in April 2019 and was regularly used during patrols and to transport supplies within the Estonian base until last month, reported Defence Web (South Africa). The robot's deployment was initially scheduled to only last four months, but this was later extended. Over the course of the deployment, the UGV traveled over 650 miles (1,200 km) and was operational for more than 330 hours. The operations were conducted in harsh lava rock soil terrain and in temperatures of over 122 degrees F (50 degrees C) in the shade. The THeMIS also demonstrated its survivability during the deployment. In one instance, the UGV was only a few yards away from a suicide vehicle bomb with 440 pounds (200 kg) of explosive. The body sustained damage, but the system remained operational, officials said. In future, the Estonian Defense Forces would like to equip the THeMIS with additional sensor, communication support, electronic warfare and remotely operated weapon station capabilities.



Estonia—THeMIS UGV Wraps Up Successful Deployment In Mali Milrem | 05/08/2020 A Milrem Robotics uncrewed ground vehicles has successfully completed its first deployment to Mali with Estonian troops, reports the Estonian defense firm. The Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) was deployed with Estonian forces assigned to the French-led Operation Barkhane counterterrorism mission, according to the release on Wednesday. The robot was initially deployed in April 2019 and was regularly used during patrols and to transport supplies within the Estonian base until last month, reported Defence Web (South Africa). The robot's deployment was initially scheduled to only last four months, but this was later extended. Over the course of the deployment, the UGV traveled over 650 miles (1,200 km) and was operational for more than 330 hours. The operations were conducted in harsh lava rock soil terrain and in temperatures of over 122 degrees F (50 degrees C) in the shade. The THeMIS also demonstrated its survivability during the deployment. In one instance, the UGV was only a few yards away from a suicide vehicle bomb with 440 pounds (200 kg) of explosive. The body sustained damage, but the system remained operational, officials said. In future, the Estonian Defense Forces would like to equip the THeMIS with additional sensor, communication support, electronic warfare and remotely operated weapon station capabilities.



South Korea—Pyongyang Slams Joint Air Force-Navy Exercise Yonhap | 05/08/2020 North Korea has condemned a recent joint military exercise by the South Korean air force and navy in the Yellow Sea, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). Wednesday's air and naval drills were described as "the height of the military confrontation" between the two countries, the North Korean Ministry of the People's Armed Forces said on Friday, as reported by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. The North Korean outlet called the training provocative and said it erased progress made in inter-Korean relations after the 2018 summit between North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae In. South Korean officials denied that the training violated the military agreement. In 2018, Kim and Moon agreed to establish a maritime buffer zone about 50 miles (80 km) wide in the Sea of Japan and 84 miles (135 km) wide in the Yellow Sea to prevent accidental clashes. The exercise was held in the waters off Gusan, 170 miles (270 km) south of Seoul. The drills involved the navy's 2nd Fleet and air force F-15K, KF-16, F-4E and FA-50 fighter jets.



Japan—Planning Blunders Torpedo Potential Aegis Ashore Site At Araya Range Asahi Shimbun | 05/08/2020 The Japanese government has decided that it will not station a planned Aegis Ashore missile defense site at the Araya training range near Akita in the northern part of Honshu island, reports the Asahi Shimbun. In 2017, Tokyo decided to acquire Aegis Ashore missile defense systems to bolster its protection against potential missile strikes from North Korea. Plans called for one site to be located in the north of Honshu and one at the Mutsumi training area in Hagi in the south to provide coverage over all of Japan. A report in May 2019 identified the Araya and Mutsumi ranges as ideal locations for the Aegis Ashore batteries. The study was later found to contain numerous errors concerning the area around the Araya exercise area. The authors also incorrectly used Google Earth to produce cross-sectional diagrams of potential sites. As a result, residents and the governor of Akita prefecture opposed the construction of the system there. The government ultimately concluded it would be too difficult to win local approval to build the site. The government still wants to build the system in Akita prefecture. A search for new sites is expected to conclude at the end of May. Japan hopes to field the Aegis Ashore systems in 2025.



Australia—Government Approves Deployment Of U.S. Marines To Northern Territory Australian Broadcasting Corporation | 05/08/2020 The Australian government has approved a rotational deployment of U.S. Marines to the Northern Territory that had been postponed due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, reports the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Canberra granted an exemption to existing travel restrictions to permit this year's Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D) deployment to go forward, Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) reported on Wednesday. Around 2,500 Marines were scheduled to deploy to Darwin in early April as part of an annual rotation that has taken place since 2012. The deployment was postponed due to concerns about spreading COVID-19 into the region. The Marines will complete a 14-day quarantine and other unspecified requirements as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. The deployment was able to move forward in part because of Australia's record of managing the disease, reported the Australian Dept. of Defense. There have been a total of 30 COVID-19 cases reported in the Northern Territory, only three of which remain active, including two military personnel who recently returned from the Middle East. The date of the deployment was not made public.



India—MiG-29 Goes Down In Punjab After Suffering Technical Problem Press Trust Of India | 05/08/2020 An air force MiG-29 fighter jet has crashed in India's western Punjab state during a routine training flight, reports the Press Trust of India. The jet took off from an air force base near Jalandhar on Friday and soon developed a technical issue, reported the Tribune (Chandigarh). The pilot navigated the aircraft away from inhabited areas before ejecting. The MiG-29 crashed into a field in Chuharpur village, starting a fire in the wheat fields, said local officials. There were no reports of injuries on the ground. An investigation into the incident has been opened.



Pakistan—2 Soldiers Killed In Rocket Attack In N. Waziristan Dawn | 05/08/2020 Two soldiers have been killed in a rocket attack in Pakistan's North Waziristan district, reports the Dawn (Karachi). On Wednesday, a rocket hit a checkpoint in Edek village, killing a non-commissioned officer and a low-ranking enlisted soldier, said the Pakistani military. There were no immediate claims of responsibility. Also on Wednesday, gunmen opened fire on a doctor returning home from work in Tapi, a village near Miramshah in North Waziristan. The attack was apparently a targeted killing, police said. Two people were also shot and killed in the village on Tuesday. An investigation has been opened. Violence in the region has increased in recent months. Ten security personnel were killed and six injured in attacks in April.



Egypt—Refurbished Apache Attack Helicopters Sought From U.S. U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency | 05/08/2020 The U.S. State Dept. has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to Egypt of equipment to refurbish 43 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, reports the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The proposed US$2.3 billion sale covers 88 T700-GE-701D engines (86 remanufactured, two spares); 47 AN/ASQ-170 modernized target acquisition and designation sight/AN/AAR-11 modernized pilot night-vision sensors (MTADS) (43 remanufactured, two new, two spares); 45 AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) (two spares); and 92 embedded Global Positioning System/inertial navigation systems (EGI). The potential deal also includes M299 Hellfire missile launchers, 19-tube 2.75-inch rocket launchers, M230 cannons and M230 spare gun barrels. The refurbished Apaches would help modernize the Egyptian armed forces to help counter terrorist threats in the Sinai peninsula, said the DSCA. The agency has notified Congress of the possible sale. Lawmakers have 30 days to review it.



Sudan—African, Arab Tribes Clash In S. Darfur Radio Dabanga | 05/08/2020 At least 30 people have been killed in fighting between between tribal herders in the South Darfur region of Sudan, reports Radio Dabanga (Sudan). On Tuesday morning, rustlers stole a number of cattle in Dimsu and took them north to the Tullus locality. This provoked heavy fighting between the Arab Al Raziqat and African Al Falata tribes in Tullus, Dimsu and Katila districts, reported Agence France-Presse. Nine people were killed overnight and another 21 in renewed fighting on Wednesday morning, said an unnamed source. The fighting stopped as night fell on Wednesday, the source said. Large numbers of women and children had fled to Katila, said the acting governor of South Darfur. Several dozen people were injured in the clashes. A joint force of army and Rapid Support Forces militia were deployed to the scene in nearly a hundred vehicles to separate the combatants. The force was deployed based on intelligence provided by an Ababil uncrewed aerial vehicle, the acting governor said. A curfew has been imposed in the area and a reserve brigade deployed from Zalingei in Central Darfur to prevent additional fighting.



Niger—Another Drone Goes Down Near U.S. Base In Agadez Agence France-Presse | 05/08/2020 The U.S. has lost another drone near its air base in Agadez in central Niger, reports Agence France-Presse. On April 23, an unspecified uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) crashed near Agadez, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) told the wire service in an email on Thursday. The air vehicle experienced a technical problem. It was not brought down by hostile action, the command said. In February, AFRICOM lost an MQ-1 Predator drone in Agadez after it experienced a mechanical failure, the Military Times reported at the time. Agadez is home to Niger Air Base 201, which hosts U.S. UAVs engaged in missions against armed groups in the Sahel region.