TheList 5320

The List 5320 TGB














To All,






Good Monday Morning May 11






I hope that you all had a great Mother's Day.






Regards,






skip














This day in Naval History May 11














1862






CSS Virginia is destroyed by Confederates off Craney Island to prevent


capture.






1898






During the Spanish-American War, Marines and Sailors from USS Marblehead (C


11) and USS Nashville (PG 7) cut the trans-oceanic cable near Cienfuegos,


Cuba, isolating Cuba from Spain. For heroism during this action, 54 Marines


and Sailors received the Medal of Honor.






1943






In the Attu Operation, Task Force 16, commanded by Rear Adm. Thomas C.


Kinkaid, landed a force of 3,000 US Army troops of the 7th Division in the


cold and the mist of the Aleutians.






1945






During the Okinawa Campaign, kamikazes crash into Task Force 58s flagship,


USS Bunker Hill (CV 17). As a result, Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher transfers


his flag to USS English (DD 696), then to USS Enterprise (CV 6) on May 14.






1950






Viking Rocket #4 is launched from USS Norton Sound (AV-11), near the


equator, for a successful 106.4 mile vertical flight called Project Reach.






















Thanks to CHINFO






Executive Summary:






* Multiple outlets report that CNO Adm. Mike Gilday will


self-quarantine after coming in contact with a family member who tested


positive for COVID-19.






* USNI News reports that USS Montgomery and USNS Cesar Chavez


conducted presence operations in the vicinity of a maritime dispute between


Malaysia and China.






* Multiple outlets report that an Iranian naval vessel was


accidently struck by an Iranian missile during a military exercise in the


Sea of Oman.














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This Day in History May 11














1573 Henry of Anjou becomes the first elected king of Poland.






1689 French and English navies battle at Bantry Bay.






1690 In the first major engagement of King William's War


<http://historynet.wpengine.com/king-williams-war-new-englands-mournful-deca


de.htm> , British troops from Massachusetts seize Port Royal in Acadia (Nova


Scotia and New Brunswick) from the French.






1745 French forces defeat an Anglo-Dutch-Hanoverian army at Fontenoy.






1792 The Columbia River is discovered by Captain Robert Gray.






1812 British Prime Minster Spencer Perceval is shot by a bankrupt banker in


the lobby of the House of Commons.






1857 Indian mutineers seize Delhi


<http://historynet.wpengine.com/indian-mutiny-of-1857-siege-of-delhi.htm> .






1858 Minnesota is admitted as the 32nd U.S. state.






1860 Giuseppe Garibaldi lands at Marsala, Sicily.






1862 Confederates scuttle the


<http://historynet.wpengine.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-css-virginia-gallery.ht


m> CSS Virginia off Norfolk, Virginia.






1864 Confederate General J.E.B. <http://historynet.wpengine.com/jeb-stuart>


Stuart is mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern


<http://historynet.wpengine.com/battle-of-yellow-tavern.htm> .






1943










<https://www.historynet.com/video-in-alaska-the-2nd-deadliest-battle-of-the-


pacific.htm>


https://263i3m2dw9nnf6zqv39ktpr1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/


2019/03/Attu-Thumb-1920-380x214-c-default.jpg






Military History














U.S. forces begin the assault on Japanese-held Attu, the westernmost island


in Alaska's Aleutian Island chain.






Read More


<https://www.historynet.com/video-in-alaska-the-2nd-deadliest-battle-of-the-


pacific.htm>






1960 Israeli soldiers capture Adolf Eichmann in Buenos Aires.






1967 The Siege of Khe Sanh


<http://historynet.wpengine.com/breaking-the-siege-at-khe-sanh.htm> ends


with the base is still in American hands.






















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See the attachment for World News thanks to Military Periscope






















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Be sure to click on the attachments in each paragraph to get the full story














Thanks to Admiral Cox and the Naval History and Heritage Command






H-Gram 046: "Chrysanthemums from Hell"










<https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/


h-grams/h-gram-046.html#1> USS Aaron Ward (DM-34): "The Ship That Couldn't


Be Licked"










<https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/


h-grams/h-gram-046.html#2> "Chrysanthemums from Hell": Kikusui No. 5










<https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/


h-grams/h-gram-046.html#3> The Epic Fight of USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774)






This H-gram covers the Naval Battle of Okinawa at the crescendo of Japanese


kamikaze attacks Kikusui No. 5 and No. 6 in early May 1945. It includes the


epic story of


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/aaro


n-ward-dm-34-iii.html> USS Aaron Ward, coverage of the desperate day on


Radar Picket Station 1 north of Okinawa on 4 May, and of


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/hugh


-w-hadley-dd-774.html> USS Hugh W. Hadley's 11 May 1945 record for the most


aircraft shot down by a surface ship in a single engagement. (For more on


the background for the invasion of Okinawa, please see


<https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/


h-grams/h-gram-044.html> H-Gram 044.)






75th Anniversary of World War II






Any time I give a talk about the war in the Pacific, I usually make a


statement that the overriding lesson of that terrible war is that never


again should the United States and Japan face each other on opposite sides


of a field of battle. It is vastly better to be on the same side. If you


don't believe me, then here is an example: Among the hodgepodge of 125


kamikaze aircraft that the Japanese army and navy threw at U.S. naval forces


in Kikusui No. 5 on 4 May 1945 were 15 Kawanishi E7K aircraft, code-named


"Alf." The Alf was a three-seat reconnaissance biplane seaplane of early


1930s vintage made out of wood and canvas. Its maximum speed was 170 miles


per hour. Despite U.S. naval intelligence's knowledge that Kikusui No. 5 was


coming and U.S. ships being ready, despite being intercepted by overwhelming


numbers of technologically superior radar-directed fighter aircraft, despite


the densest concentration of radar-directed anti-aircraft weapons ever put


to sea, some of the Alfs made it through (in fact, high-technology


proximity-fuzed shells didn't work on wooden airplanes). In a mind-boggling


example of raw courage and determination, the Alfs kept coming and some hit


their targets. One Alf out-foxed U.S. fighter pilots and then, in an act of


supreme self-sacrifice, inflicted the fatal blow on the destroyer


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html>


Morrison


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html>


(DD-560).






The first two weeks of May were the peak of Japanese kamikaze attacks off


Okinawa, although there would still be many more attacks through the end of


June, some of them devastating for the ships that were struck. The Kikusui


No. 5 attacks on 3 and 4 May cost almost 600 American lives aboard ship,


with three destroyers sunk, three LSM(R) "rocket ships" sunk, and numerous


other ships damaged, including an escort carrier, light cruiser, and three


destroyers so badly damaged they were knocked out of the war. In the


following week, a destroyer and another LSM(R) would be sunk, and another


destroyer and two destroyer escorts would be crippled. As painful as these


losses were, they represented only a small fraction of the U.S. Navy force


protecting the Army and Marine ground campaign on Okinawa, which was making


slow progress against intense Japanese resistance. The issue at sea was


never in doubt, but the cost in lives weighed heavily on senior U.S.


commanders, which was exactly the Japanese intent.






Whether the ship was saved or lost, the actions of some of the ships


involved in this period represent some of the most epic stories of courage,


will power, and sacrifice in the entire history in the U.S. Navy, often


against overwhelming odds in the face of an enemy determined to sacrifice


their own lives in defense of their homeland. In particular, the actions of


the crews of destroyer-minesweeper Aaron Ward and destroyer Hugh W. Hadley


deserve to be immortalized. If ever there were examples of the "Don't Give


Up the Ship" ethos, these would be right at the top of the list.






USS Aaron Ward (DM-34): "The Ship That Couldn't Be Licked"






As the sun was going down on 3 May 1945, Aaron Ward and destroyer


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/litt


le-ii.html> Little


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/litt


le-ii.html> (DD-803) were subject to a particularly intense kamikaze attack


by Japanese army aircraft in what had previously been a relatively quiet


sector. Despite intense anti-aircraft fire, Little was hit by four kamikaze


in less than four minutes, with damage so severe no amount of valor or will


power could counter it. She went down in 12 minutes. Aaron Ward was attacked


by 11 aircraft and shot down the first two before the third hit. In a matter


of minutes, the ship had shot down four planes, but was hit by six kamikaze


or bombs, leaving her in sinking condition-actually in worse shape than


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/laff


ey-ii.html> Laffey


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/laff


ey-ii.html> (DD-724) had been on 16 April. Nevertheless, Aaron Ward''s crew


rallied and in an hours' long overnight ordeal saved their ship. For more on


Aaron Ward, "the ship that couldn't be licked," please see attachment


<https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/


h-grams/h-gram-046/h-046-1.html> H-046-1.






"Chrysanthemums from Hell": Kikusui No. 5






The mass kamikaze attack Kikusui No. 5 on 4 May was a particularly bloody


affair. Once again, the destroyers on Radar Picket Station No. 1 (RP1) north


of Okinawa bore the brunt of the attack as brave but inexperienced Japanese


pilots went after the first ship they saw. Destroyers


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/i/ingr


aham-iii.html> Ingraham


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/i/ingr


aham-iii.html> (DD-694) and Morrison put up a valiant fight against


overwhelming odds. Ingraham survived her damage, but Morrison went down guns


blazing and with heavy loss of life (159 men). The irony was that the fatal


blow was delivered by a wooden biplane.














On 9 May, a hit by a kamikaze nearly broke the destroyer escort


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/ober


render.html> Oberrender


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/ober


render.html> (DE-344) in two, but her crew saved her. In the same attack,


destroyer escort


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/engl


and.html> England


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/engl


and.html> (DE-635), which had previously sunk six Japanese submarines in 12


days in May 1944, was damaged beyond repair by a kamikaze hit.






The Epic Fight of USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774)






























Meanwhile at RP12, west-northwest of Okinawa, destroyer


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/luce


-ii.html> Luce


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/luce


-ii.html> (DD-522) put up a valiant fight, but was overwhelmed and went down


quickly, also with heavy loss of life (149 men). Also at RP12,


destroyer-minelayer


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/shea


.html> Shea


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/shea


.html> (DM-30) was hit by an Ohka rocket-assisted manned suicide bomb that


luckily passed clear through the ship before exploding, but still inflicted


severe damage.






















At the Hagushi anchorage, Rear Admiral Morton Deyo's flagship, the unlucky


light cruiser


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/birm


ingham-ii.html> Birmngham


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/birm


ingham-ii.html> (CL-62), was hit and badly damaged by a lone kamikaze that


effectively used the terrain masking of Okinawa's land mass to evade


detection until it was too late.






















That evening, escort carrier


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/sang


amon-ii.html> Sangamon


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/sang


amon-ii.html> (CVE-26) was hit by a lone kamikaze as she came out of Kerama


Retto. She survived the worst fire of any escort carrier during the war.














For more on Kikusui No. 5 please see attachment


<https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/


h-grams/h-gram-046/h-046-2.html> H-046-2.














On 11 May 1945, Kikusui No. 6 resulted in another horrific day, which


included the truly epic fight by destroyers Hugh W. Hadley and


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/evan


s-ii.html> Evans


<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/evan


s-ii.html> (DD-552) at RP15 northwest of Okinawa. Evans shot down 14 or 15


aircraft before she was put out of action by four kamikaze hits in quick


succession. Hugh W. Hadley shot down 19 or 20 aircraft, before she was also


gravely damaged by a large bomb and three kamikaze hits. In both cases, the


crews fought on and saved their ships, even when it seemed all hope was


lost. Hugh W. Hadley's tally was the most aircraft shot down by a U.S.


surface ship in a single engagement.






In all these engagements, the small amphibious craft that supported the


destroyers on the radar picket stations (and known as "pallbearers") put up


gallant fights in defense of the destroyers and themselves, shooting down


numerous Japanese aircraft. However, three of the scarce LSM(R) "rocket


ships" were lost on 3 and 4 May. For more on Kikusui No. 6 and the epic


fight of Hugh W. Hadley, please see attachment


<https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/


h-grams/h-gram-046/h-046-3.html> H-046-3.






As always, you are welcome and encouraged to spread these stories of U.S.


Navy valor and sacrifice widely. "Back issue" H-grams, enhanced with lots of


photos, may be found


<https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/


h-grams.html> here.






Published: Thu May 07 08:34:58 EDT 2020






















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This Day in Aviation History" brought to you by the Daedalians Airpower Blog


Update. To subscribe to this weekly email, go to


https://daedalians.org/airpower-blog/






















May 11, 1929






Lt. Alford J. Williams received the Distinguished Flying Cross from


Secretary of the Navy Charles F. Adams for extraordinary achievement in


aerial flight. Williams had studied the action of aircraft in violent


maneuvers and inverted flight, and developed and applied principles of


operation, which contributed directly to flight safety and aircraft


performance test accuracy.














May 11, 1918






The American Expeditionary Forces in France received a DH-4 De Havilland,


its first American-made airplane.














May 12, 1938






Over the Atlantic, the Army Air Corps dispatched three B-17 bombers that


intercepted the Italian liner Rex 700 miles at sea. The Navy, suitably


alarmed, demanded that Army aircraft be limited to only 100 miles from the


coast. The lead navigator in this stunt was Capt. Curtis LeMay.














May 13, 1952






Fifth 5th Air Force F-86s destroyed five MiG-15s in aerial combat. In the


morning 12 F-86s attacked targets in Sinuiju, Sinuiju Airfield and Uiju


Airfield in NW Korea. In the early afternoon, Sabres hit the marshaling


yards at Kunu-ri, and, in the late afternoon, bombed Sinuiju. Col. Walker M.


"Bud" Mahurin, the 4th Fighter Interceptor Group commander who led all three


missions, was shot down and captured. Mahurin, who retired as a colonel,


passed away May 11, 2010, at his home in Newport Beach, California, one of


the last surviving World War II aces. He was 91. In his career, he earned


the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart, Prisoner of War


Medal, and many more.














May 14, 1923






The new Curtiss PW-8 pursuit (fighter) aircraft was accepted into Army


service for flight trials. This was the first in the long series of "Hawk"


fighters; the "W" signified a water-cooled engine.














May 15, 1948






Air Materiel Command asked Boeing to develop an American aerial fueling


system, the flying boom, to overcome problems with the British hose system


used on B-29s. Among the deficiencies noted were slow rate of fuel flow,


time-consuming contact procedures, excessive weight and space requirements,


and relatively slow flying speeds during refueling.














May 16, 1929






The World War I aerial drama, "Wings," received the first Oscar for best


picture in Hollywood, California. The film was shot with many real and


reconstructed World War I fighter aircraft and highlighted the nation's


continuing interest in aviation. "Wings" was shot and completed on a $2


million budget at Kelly Field in San Antonio between Sept. 7, 1926, and


April 7, 1927.






















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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














May 11














1918: Air Service, American Expeditionary Forces, received its first


American-made DH-4, with a Liberty engine. It made its first flight six days


later. (11) (24)














1942: First contingent of US AAF arrived in England to join Eighth Air


Force. (4) The President ordered an Air Medal established to award any


person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army, Navy, Marine


Corps, or Coast Guard after 8 September 1939, distinguished or had


distinguished himself by meritorious achievement in an aerial flight.














1949: President Truman signed a bill to provide a 5,000-mile guided missile


test range to the USAF. The USAF established this range at Cape Canaveral.


It was designated the Atlantic Missile Range on 1 May 1958. (6)














1953: North American's F-86H Sabre made its first flight at Edwards AFB.


1958: Lt Cmdr Jack Neiman (USN) completed a 44-hour stay in a pressure


chamber under conditions existing between 80,000 and 100,000 feet.














1960: An Army Signal Corps' balloon ascended to a record night-time altitude


of 144,000 feet before bursting. (24)














1964: The North American XB-70 Valkyrie went on public display for the first


time at Palmdale. This 275-ton aircraft measured 185 feet in length and had


a 105-foot wing span. It was designed to fly three times the speed of sound


at altitudes above 70,000 feet. (3) (12) Jackie Cochran became the first


woman to fly more than Mach 2, when she flew an F-104G at 1,429 MPH at


Edwards AFB.














1966: At Holloman AFB, a Surveyor spacecraft made the first softlanding


under its own power to demonstrate its ability to softland on the moon.


Lockheed unveiled a full-scale mockup of the C-5A Galaxy at its plant in


Marietta. (12)














1972: A C-5A Galaxy set a nonstop distance record from Kadena AB to


Charleston AFB. The8,019-mile flight lasted 16 hours 5 minutes.














1989: Operation NIMROD DANCER. To 18 May, MAC moved a brigade-size security


augmentation force to Panama in 34 C-5, 39 C-141, and 2 commercial L-1011


missions. In all, MAC airlifted 2,679 soldiers and 2,950 tons of cargo. (18)


















1990: Lockheed Missiles and Space Company received a $971 million contract


to build advanced solid rocket motors (ASRMs) for the Space Shuttle. These


new motors increased the shuttle"s payload by 12,000 pounds to 65,000


pounds. (8: Jul 90) Hughes won a competition with Raytheon for the AGM-65


Maverick air-to-ground missile. The $194 million contract called for 3,006


missiles, 75 F-model captive-carry training missiles, and 61 G-model guided


training missiles. (8: Jul 90)














1991: Operation SEA ANGEL. Through 13 June, in response to flooding along


the Bangladesh coastline from Cyclone Marion, with its 150-MPH winds and


20-foot tidal waves, MAC dispatched 10 C-5, 14 C-141, and 5 C-130 missions


to deliver 738 passengers and 832 tons of food, equipment, and supplies. A


C-130 intratheater airlift delivered food from in-country depots. (18)














1994: Operation PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. Through 17 May, 13 C-141 missions moved


239 tons of relief supplies from Incirlik AB to Mwanza, Tanzania, in a joint


operation to help over 100,000 Rwandan victims of tribal warfare. Four


C-141s from the 438 AW at McGuire AFB flew most of the missions. (16) 2001:


The T-6A Texan II primary trainer completed wet runway testing at Edwards


AFB. (






















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thanks to THE Bear














Gentlemen... for your info...






A new RTR post is published. Check it out!






Bear














<http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-remembered-when-nav


al-aviation-roared-tales-of-the-brave-and-bold-6/> ROLLING THUNDER


REMEMBERED... When Naval Aviation Roared... Tales of the Brave and


Bold...#6...






COMMEMORATING THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM WAR (1961-1973) and


honoring the gallant Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers and air crews who


carried the war to the heartland of North Vietnam in the years of Operation


ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)... GOOD MORNING. It is Monday, 11 May 2020 and I


have another...






ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED... When Naval Aviation Roared... Tales of the


Brave and Bold...#6...






May 10, 2020Bear Taylor


<http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/author/beartaylorcomcast-net/> 0


Comments






COMMEMORATING THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM WAR (1961-1973) and


honoring the gallant Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers and air crews who


carried the war to the heartland of North Vietnam in the years of Operation


ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)...






GOOD MORNING. It is Monday, 11 May 2020 and I have another tale of guts and


glory to tell. But first, in remembrance of this week fifty years ago (11-17


May 1970), a few historical notes. The murder of four Kent State antiwar


demonstrators by the Ohio National Guard was followed by fatal


confrontations of students and the Mississippi state police on the campus of


Jackson State. The shootings led to the largest student strike in the


history of the United States with two and half million students on 700


college campuses protesting, rioting and refusing to attend classes or take


final exams. Thirty ROTC buildings were firebombed and the nation's


governors ordered National Guard units to occupy 21 campuses in 16 states to


restore order. President Nixon believed that the revolutionary youth


movement was "determined to destroy our society." He ordered the FBI and


other agencies to expand counterintelligence opposition....THE WAR IN SOUTH


VIETNAM... The incursion into Cambodia was proceeding with the South


Vietnamese doing most of the fighting. The Operation Rockcrusher


intervention, begun on 29 April, included attacks on fourteen enemy


sanctuaries in Cambodia supporting NVN/Viet Cong ops in SVN. A May 3


casualty report of enemy KIA for the first five days of the operation were


put at 16,049 while friendly KIA was put at 209. The first week of the


operation was supported by more than 700 Air Force and Navy TacAir sorties.


At a meeting at MACV Headquarters on 12 May General Abrams said: "I would


like to say the performance of the South Vietnamese forces has really been


quite extraordinary. After all, they had not engaged in this kind of


operation, in this magnitude, with this much movement, and the requirement


of this much coordination in the whole history of their armed forces. And


they have done an excellent job."...






VIETNAM AIR LOSSES (11-17 May 1970). Seven fixed wing aircraft were lost


during the week. Eight aviators perished: three killed in combat and five


others in non-combat ops. Details on-line at Dave Lovelady's website


presentation of Chris Hobb's Vietnam Air Losses... at...






<https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/> https://www.vietnamairlosses.com














WHEN NAVAL AVIATION ROARED... #6... USS CORAL SEA (CVA-43) and Attack


Carrier Air Wing FIFTEEN, in coordination with USS INTREPID (CVS-11) and


Attack Carrier Air Wing TEN, go bridge-busting in downtown Haiphong.


Precision bombing required and accomplished...






The CORAL SEA/CVW-15 team departed Alameda on 26 July 1967 and returned 6


April 1968, spending 132 days on-the-line at Yankee Station. It was the 3rd


of 7 combat deployments to Southeast Asia by "The Ageless Warrior." During


the deployment the air wing lost eighteen aircraft, 15 in combat. Seven


pilots were killed-in-action; ten were downed, captured and imprisoned; and,


three were killed in operational accidents. There were no easy days or


nights...






THE MISSION. On 18 September 1967 Attack Carrier Air Wing FIFTEEN embarked


in USS CORAL SEA (CVA-43), in coordination with Attack Carrier Air Wing TEN


embarked in USS INTREPID (CVS-11), launched a major strike against emeny


targets in the port city of Haiphong, North Vietnam. The Alpha Strike was


led by Commander V.W. DANIELS, Executive Officer of Attack Squadron ONE


FIVE-FIVE. Air Wing FIFTEEN's assigned targets were two key bridges, the


Haiphong Railroad/Highway Bridge and the Haiphong Highway Bridge, both


located in the heart of the port city. The Haiphong RR/Hwy Bridge was a 300


by 20 feet steel truss bridge built in two levels, one for vehicles and one


for one-meter guage rail traffic. The highway bridge was 300 by 25 feet, six


span, concrete deck, bowspring truss bridge with a vertical lift center span


to allow passage by waterway traffic. These two bridges were vital links in


the enemy transportation system linking the port with the rail center at


Haiduong and the capitol city of Hanoi. Destruction of these logistic


arteries, which serve the principle entry and exit route for North


Vietnamese imports and exports, would seriously effect the North Vietnamese


ability to continue the war. (Source: Author's notes from 1985 review of


CINCPACFLT Vietnam War awards files held at Navy Annex, Suitland, MD)...






NORTH VIETNAMESE DEFENSES. The Haiphong area was defended by 22


surface-to-air missile sites, eight of which were known to be occupied on 18


September. All eight sites had been extremely active as the Task Force 77


strike operations concentrated on targets in the Haiphong area. In addition,


33 active 37mm and 50 57mm antiaircraft artillery guns were emplaced in the


area. Pilot debriefs of strike missions in the area prior to 18 Sept


confirmed the proficiency of the gunners operating these guns and sites.


Accurate tracking, sector and barrage fire could be expected in defense of


the two bridges assigned CVW-15. Enemy MiG opposition was also to be


expected due to the fact that Kep Airfield twenty miles northwest of the


city was home to a dozen MiGs. The city was also well within range of Phuc


Yen Airfield, home to more than twenty more MiGs. The entire air defense


system was integrated and tied to radar and communication centers. There


were to be no surprise attacks and the gunners would be waiting.






CVW-15 ALPHA STRIKE COMPOSITION. The main battery for the strike would be 14


A-4E bombers, two A-4E Iron Hand aircraft and four F-4B TARCAP aircraft.


Additional flak suppression and Iron Hand aircraft would be provided by


CVW-10 as the Intrepid Alpha Strike struck railway targets west of Haiphong


minutes before the CVW-15 bridge strike. In support, over the Gulf of


Tonkin, were four A-1E ResCap aircraft, one E-2A and one EA-1F aircraft. Air


Force EB-66 aircraft were also supporting the two Navy air wing attack on


targets in the Haiphong area.






THE PLAN. In order to reduce the effectiveness of the enemy defenses it was


planned to divide the fire by striking both bridges nearly simultaneously


from different directions immediately following an attack by CVW-10 on the


railway yards located to the west of the city. Run-in and bomb delivery


sectors were restricted due to a hospital area in close proximity to the


targets. CVW-10's attack would precede CVW-15 on target by not more than


one-minute and would provide six A-4C SAM suppression aircraft and ten A-4C


aircraft for flak suppression, in addition to the dive bombing attack


element of ten A-4C aircraft striking the railroad yards. Four of the


INTREPID suppressors were to join the CVW-15 strike force enroute to the


target and provide close flak support.






EXECUTION. The two carrier air wings rendezvoused over their respective


carriers and proceeded independently between multiple cloud layers toward


Haiphong. Upon reaching the position of the northern SAR destroyer, the two


forces combined, with CVW-15 trailing CVW-10 by five miles. As the 40+


aircraft strike force closed the target area, gunfire control radar and SAM


missile tracking radar activity was detected in the cockpits of all striking


aircraft. The enemy was ready and tracking the force. At this point the


CVW-15 Iron Hand aircraft positioned themselves to counter a SAM site


northeast of Haiphong which had fired on strike groups entering the Haiphong


complex the previous day. Within seconds after the site began emitting, an


Iron Hand air-to-surface missile was fired and observed to impact the site.


No further emissions were detected from this site and the Iron hand aircraft


proceeded to a position to the north of the city where they provided


protection for both strike groups until completion of the attack and


post-strike photo reconnaissance.






The CVW-15 attack force split into two elements at coast-in abeam the Do Son


Peninsula. The southern element of seven aircraft, led by CDR COLEMAN


skirted the southern edge of the city and proceeded to the planned rollin


point for their attack on the northern highway bridge. The formation of


seven was immediately taken under attack by enemy 57mm/85mm AAA that


continued for the duration of their approach and diving attacks on the


bridge. The northern element led by CDR DANIELS, also composed of seven


aircraft, arced east of the city to a rollin point for their north to south


attack on the railroad/highway bridge in the center of the city. The flight


was opposed by intense 37mm/57mm fire from the area of Cat Bi Airfield and


the city throughout their maneuvering to the rollin point and the diving


attack on the target. CDR DANIEL'S seven A-4Es rolled-in just as the last of


the seven A-4s of LCDR COLEMAN's flight completed their attack. The RF-8


photo recce section completed the mission with a successful BDA photo run a


few minutes after both air wings were off their respective targets. The


photo aircraft reported two SAMs and heavy AAA opposition as they flew over


the city at 3,000-feet and 600 knots, obtaining excellent photo coverage of


all targets and opposing AAA sites for future reference. All aircraft


reported feet wet and none were hit in the wham-bam strike.






DAMAGE ASSESSMENT. Post-strike photography confirmed pilot reports and


showed that two spans of the highway bridge attacked by the LCDR COLEMAN


bombers had been dropped, and both approaches to the bridge had been


completely destroyed. The previously undamaged south end of the


railway/highway bridge was heavily damaged with holes in both decks of the


bridge and both approaches were severely damaged by CDR DANIEL's bombers.


The attack by 14 A-4Es put all bombs on the bridges and approaches with no


bombs falling off target on nearby civilian buildings, including the city's


major hospital.






BITS OF RIBBON. Five of the striking aviators were recommended for the


Distinguished Flying Cross: CDR V.W. DANIELS, LCDR R.F. COLEMAN, LCDR D.F.


CALLAHAN, LTJG J.I. DIENSTL and LTJG W.P. GRAY. ... AIR MEDALS and NAVY


COMMENDATION MEDALS with Valor V were recommended for 21 of the 50 aviators


who visited Haiphong on 18 September 1967... What a list of great guys this


is: CDR Bobbie WILLIARD; LCDR Tom BROWN; LCDR Gordie CORNELL; LCDR Len


GUILIANI; LT Gary HOLMES; LT Bill BYERS; LTJG Bill WALTHALL; LCDR Gary


JONES; LCDR Alan DUNDON; LT Dick STEARNS; LTJG Ken MIDDLETON; LTJG Dave


READ; LTJG Ed RYAN, Jr; LTJG Brad WHITE; LTJG Dick BUTTERFIELD; LTJG Charles


GRIFFIN; LTJG Barry COOPER; LCDR Doug CLOWER; LTJG W."O" ESTES; and LTJG


F.J. FORNER...






The probability that most of these recommendations were approved was


enhanced by the following "attaboy" message from Commander, SEVENTH FLEET,


Admiral John J. HYLAND...






"Key targets in the plan to isolate Haiphong from the hinterland are the


Highway and Railroad bridges located in the environs of the port city. It is


noted that a significant advance toward the realization of our objectives


has been achieved by the CORAL SEA and the sharpshooters of CVW-15 with the


dropping of the west span of the Haiphong Highway Bridge and the destruction


of the Highway/Railroad bridge. A special note has been taken of the


determination and aggressiveness of CTG77.3 forces during operations of 17


and 18 September while striking targets in the heavily defended Haiphong


complex on six different occasions. The excellent results achieved are a


fitting tribute to your teamwork, dedication and courage. Well done!"....














HUMBLE HOST END NOTE. Do you have some "stay home" Wuhan virus time on your


hands?... Recommended Rolling Thunder remembrance reading: OPERATION SPRING


HIGH (July 1965). Three articles.






Start with John Prados' 2006 essay for the VVA Veteran: The '65 Decision:


Bombing Soviet SAM Sites In North Vietnam. Read at:






<http://archive.vva.org/archive/TheVeteran/2006_01/featureSAM.htm>


http://archive.vva.org/archive/TheVeteran/2006_01/featureSAM.htm






Then read "OPERATION SPRING HIGH: Thuds vs. SAMs" at:






<https://www.historynet.com/operation-spring-high-thuds-vs-sams.htm>


https://www.historynet.com/operation-spring-high-thuds-vs-sams.htm






Finish up with LCOL Howard PLUNKETT's great 97-slide presentation of the


evolution of the Soviet's SA-2 Guideline system and how the United States


responded to SAMs in both the Cuban Missile Crisis and in Vietnam, including


OPERATION SPRING HIGH. Check it out at:






<https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/events/presentations/4c-Plunkett.pdf>


https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/events/presentations/4c-Plunkett.pdf














NEXT POST. Monday, 18 May 2020. NAVAL AVIATION ROARS...#7... USS INTREPID


(CVS-11) and Carrier Air Wing TEN wipe out the Ban Yen Nhan Army Barracks


and Missile Storage area located seven miles east of Hanoi on 8 July 1967.






Lest we forget... Bear






















NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN






















Thanks to Al














Monday Morning Humor--More Virile Humor














Submitted by Ron Ham:














"Meanwhile, from those parents who have themselves become teachers, I


understand that as a result of the rise of at-home instruction, prayer and


spanking are back in school. All is not lost."






























Submitted Jerry Norris:














People keep asking, "Is Covid19 really that serious?" Listen up-casinos and


churches are closed. When heaven and hell agree on the same thing, it's


probably pretty serious.






Notice from the Association of Psychiatrists-Dear citizens, During the


quarantine it is considered normal to talk to your plants and pets. Kindly


contact us only if they reply. Thank you.






2020-The year your wheelie trash bin goes out more than you.






Not much on the supermarket shelves yesterday so I decided to improvise.


Dinner last night was a risotto I made with some mushrooms I foraged for


locally. Not only was it delicious, but soon after a Welsh male voice choir


of purple elephants showed up and sang the whole of Meatloaf's Bat Out of


Hell album, accompanied by a light show.






If you receive an email with the subject "Ding Dong", don't open it. It's


Jehovah Witnesses working from home.






























Submitted by Mike Ryan:














· If you keep a glass of wine in each hand you can't accidentally


touch your face






· Many parents are just about to discover the teacher is not the


problem.






· Reminder: 9pm is the time to remove your day pajamas and put your


night pajamas on.






· What's worse: two masked guys trying to rob you or your unmasked


pizza delivery guy?






· I've almost completed my 90-day trial of 2020. How do I cancel?






· Now that we have everyone washing their hands correctly: Next


week-- turn signals!!!






























Submitted by Mark Logan:














· Got up this morning and ran around the block five times. Then I


got tired, so I picked up the block and put it back in the toy box.






· Just tried making hand sanitizer but it came out as Jello shots.






· If things get worse and you resort to cannibalism, remember-vegans


first; they're grass fed.






· Publix and other Florida supermarkets are announcing special early


morning hours just for people 60 and older. The other 10 people in the


state are thrilled to have the stores to themselves the rest of the day.






· I miss the days when we were terrified of Romaine lettuce.






· Ran out of toilet paper and now using lettuce leaves. Today was


just the tip of the Iceberg, tomorrow Romaines to be seen.Does anyone know


how long toilet paper will last if you freeze it?






· Remember laughing at Michael Jackson wearing mask and gloves?






· When this is all over, we are throwing the biggest St. Patrick's


eee Easter de mayo of July party anyone's ever seen.






· Just asked a six-year old if he understands why there is no school.


He said, "Yes, because they are out of toilet paper."






























Submitted by Dave Harris:














· You never realize how anti-social you are until there's a pandemic


and your life doesn't really change that much.






· Wife on day 40 of the quarantine..."Can you blink a little more


quietly please?"






· I told Patty how thankful I was to have someone I enjoyed being


quarantined with. She sai, "It must be nice!"






· The world is now Vegas. Everybody's losing money, it's acceptable


to drink at all hours and no one has any idea what day it is.






· Day 42-Got so bored I checked out all of your profiles. Two of you


have the same boyfriend.






· Never in my whole life would I imagine my hands would consume more


alcohol than my mouth!






· I'm sooo bored. I went outside and knocked on my own door, then


came back in and said, "Who is it?"






· Breaking News-Wearing a mask inside your home is now highly


recommended. Not so much to prevent the virus but to stop eating.






· It's been such a joy being home with my wife the past 5 weeks.


We've caught up on all the things I've done wrong the past 52 years.






































Submitted by Skip Leonard:














The new lexicon...






· Coronacoaster: The ups and downs of your mood during the pandemic.


You're loving lockdown one minute but suddenly weepy with anxiety the next.


It truly is "an emotional coronacoaster".






· Quarantinis: Experimental cocktails mixed from whatever random


ingredients you have left in the house. The boozy equivalent of a store


cupboard supper. Southern Comfort and Ribena quarantini with a glacé cherry


garnish, anyone? These are sipped at "locktail hour", ie. wine o'clock


during lockdown, which seems to be creeping earlier with each passing week.






· Blue Skype thinking: A work brainstorming session which takes


place over a videoconferencing app. Such meetings might also be termed a


"Zoomposium". Naturally, they are to be avoided if at all possible.






· Le Creuset wrist: It's the new "avocado hand" - an aching arm


after taking one's best saucepan outside to bang during the weekly 'Clap For


Carers.' It might be heavy but you're keen to impress the neighbours with


your high-quality kitchenware.






· Coronials: As opposed to millennials, this refers to the future


generation of babies conceived or born during coronavirus quarantine. They


might also become known as "Generation C" or, more spookily, "Children of


the Quarn".






· Furlough Merlot: Wine consumed in an attempt to relieve the


frustration of not working. Also known as "bored-eaux" or "cabernet tedium".






· Coronadose: An overdose of bad news from consuming too much media


during a time of crisis. Can result in a panicdemic.






· The elephant in the Zoom: The glaring issue during a


videoconferencing call that nobody feels able to mention. E.g. one


participant has dramatically put on weight, suddenly sprouted terrible


facial hair or has a worryingly messy house visible in the background.






· Quentin Quarantino: An attention-seeker using their time in


lockdown to make amateur films which they're convinced are funnier and


cleverer than they actually are.






· Covidiot or Wuhan-ker: One who ignores public health advice or


behaves with reckless disregard for the safety of others can be said to


display "covidiocy" or be "covidiotic". Also called a "lockclown" or even a


"Wuhan-ker".






· Goutbreak: The sudden fear that you've consumed so much wine,


cheese, home-made cake and Easter chocolate in lockdown that your ankles are


swelling up like a medieval king's.






· Antisocial distancing: Using health precautions as an excuse for


snubbing neighbours and generally ignoring people you find irritating.






· Coughin' dodger: Someone so alarmed by an innocuous splutter or


throat-clear that they back away in terror.






· Mask-ara: Extra make-up applied to "make one's eyes pop" before


venturing out in public wearing a face mask.






· Covid-10: The 10 lbs. in weight that we're all gaining from


comfort-eating and comfort-drinking. Also known as "fattening the curve".






























It's ALL about your health...or not






· When the State tells you it's safe to go to Home Depot to buy a


sponge but dangerous to go and buy a flower, it's not about your health.






· When the State shuts down millions of private businesses but


doesn't lay off a single government employee, it's not about your health!






· When the State prevents you from buying cucumber seeds because it's


dangerous, but allows in person lottery ticket sales, it's not about your


health!






· When the State tells you it's dangerous to go golf alone, fish


alone or be in a motor boat alone, play outdoor sports, but the Governor can


get his stage makeup and hair done for five TV appearances a week, it's not


about your health!






· When the State puts you IN a jail cell for walking in a park with


your child because it's too dangerous but let's criminals OUT of jail cells


for their health. It's not about your health!






· When the State tells you it's too dangerous to get treated by a


doctor of chiropractic or physical therapy treatments yet deems a liquor


store essential- It's not about your health!






· When the State lets you go to the grocery store or hardware store


but is demanding mail-in voting, its not about your health!






· When the State considers abortions as essential, yet dental, ACL,


MCL and many other needed surgeries aren't essential... it's not about your


health?!






· When the State tells private landscaping companies they can't work


then gives its citizens public nuisance violations for not having their


lawns mowed, but the public parks and buildings are mowed and landscaped...


it's not about your health!






· By the politicians politicizing fear they get to impose any


controls they want on our lives! So if you think this is still all about


your health you're mistaken! ... it's not about your health!






· In other words, the State doesn't want us to know that a


rural/suburban lifestyle is a very safe way to live, especially during a


pandemic!






























Funny Bob Dylan parody at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErFN7Y7qnLg


<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErFN7Y7qnLg&feature=youtu.be>


&feature=youtu.be














Submitted by Al Anderson:






No, Corona opera parody at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lWDXoHg79Q














Submitted by Rick Hein and Don Mills:






Be careful not to over sanitize at


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zIgJmmtZi0






















May we never again take for ganted:






Friday nights with friends.






Birthday celebrations.






The roar of a stadium.






Mornings at the gym.






Packed dance floors.






Coffee with a friend.






Crowded concerts.






Happy hour.






Life itself.














Have a great week,






Al