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Today in Naval History
Today in Naval History
August 7
1782 The Badge of Military Merit, now known as the Purple Heart, is established by Gen. George Washington.
1899 Five officers and 121 enlisted Marines commanded by Maj. Allen C. Kelton, USMC, land at Agana, Guam, from USS Yosemite, as a garrison for the naval station which is later established.
1918 Naval Weapons Station Yorktown is established as the Naval Mine Depot when President Woodrow Wilson signs proclamation.
1972 Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo Zumwalt Jr. issues Z-Gram 116, which enables Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women in the US Navy.
1942 During the Guadalcanal Campaign, the armada led by Rear Adm. Richmond K. Turner lands Marines on Guadalcanal and seizes a nearly-complete airfield at Guadalcanal's Lunga Point in the first U.S. land offensive of World War II. To the north, Tulagi Island, and a few miles to the east, Tanambogo and Gavutu Islands, Marines also land and fight bitter battles, concluding a few days after. Nonetheless, the campaigns final outcome is in doubt for nearly four months and is not certain until the Japanese evacuate their surviving troops at Guadalcanal on Feb. 8, 1943.
1943 TBF and F4F (VC 1) from USS Card (CVE 11) sink the German submarine (U 117) west of the Azores.
1990 Operation Desert Shield is ordered by President George H.W. Bush. Desert Shield is the largest overseas deployment since Vietnam, to protect Saudi Arabia after Iraqi's invasion of Kuwait.
Thanks to CHINFO
Executive Summary:
•Media reported on SECDEF Mark Esper's phone call with his Chinese counterpart amidst rising U.S.-China tensions.
•USNI News reported on COVID-19 impacts on Virginia-class submarine production at Newport News Shipbuilding
•Navy Times reported on a Seafarers International Union letter to Military Sealift Command over the command's strict COVID-19 restrictions.
Today in History August 7
1782 | General George Washington authorizes the award of the Purple Heart for soldiers wounded in combat. | |
1864 | Union troops capture part of Confederate General Jubal Early's army at Moorefield, West Virginia. | |
1888 | Theophilus Van Kannel of Philadelphia receives a patent for the revolving door. | |
1906 | In North Carolina, a mob defies a court order and lynches three African Americans which becomes known as "The Lyerly Murders." | |
1916 | Persia forms an alliance with Britain and Russia. | |
1922 | The Irish Republican Army cuts the cable link between the United States and Europe at Waterville landing station. | |
1934 | In Washington, the U.S. Court of Appeals rules that the government can neither confiscate nor ban James Joyce's novel Ulysses. | |
1936 | The United States declares non-intervention in the Spanish Civil War. | |
1942 | The U.S. 1st Marine Division under General A. A. Vandegrift lands on the islands of Guadalcanal and Tulagi in the Solomon islands. This is the first American amphibious landing of the war. | |
1944 | German forces launch a major counter attack against U.S. forces near Mortain, France. | |
1964 | Congress overwhelmingly passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, allowing the president to use unlimited military force to prevent attacks on U.S. forces. | |
1966 | The United States loses seven planes over North Vietnam, the most in the war up to this point. | |
1971 | Apollo 15 returns to Earth. The mission to the moon had marked the first use of the Lunar Roving Vehicle. | |
1973 | A U.S. plane accidentally bombs a Cambodian village, killing 400 civilians. | |
1976 | The US Viking 2 spacecraft goes into orbit around Mars. | |
1981 | The Washington (D.C.) Star ceases publication after 128 years. | |
1984 | Japan defeats the United States to win the Olympic Gold in baseball. | |
1987 | Presidents of five Central American nations sign a peace accord in Guatemala. | |
1990 | Operation Desert Shield begins as US troops deploy to Saudi Arabia to discourage Iraq's Saddam Hussein from invading that country as he had Kuwait. | |
2007 | Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants breaks Hank Aaron's record with his 756th home run. Bonds' accomplishments were clouded by allegations of illegal steroid use and lying to a grand jury. |
Today is National Purple Heart day!
Purple Heart Ceremony at Mount Vernon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORdBG2QNFbg
Did you know George Washington created the first United States military award, originally known as the military badge of merit, now known as the Purple Heart? We meet with Col. Gordon Sumner to learn more about the legacy of the Purple Heart award, and about the ceremony held at Mount Vernon on Purple Heart day every year.
History: Today is August 7th, on this date back in 1782 George Washington creates the Purple Heart
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for August 7, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
7 August
1916: The Wright Company and the Glenn L. Martin Company merged into the Wright Martin Aircraft Corporation. (24)
1944: Carrier Division 11, with carriers Saratoga and Ranger, commissioned specifically for night operations. (24)
1947: Through 10 August, Capt William P. Odom broke his earlier 15 April 1947 around-the-world record. He flew the Reynolds Bombshell 19,645 miles and landed in Chicago after 73 hours 5 minutes 11 seconds to shave nearly 5 hours off his previous record. (9) (24)
1950: KOREAN WAR. The 98 BG flew its first mission shortly after 20 of its B-29s landed at Yokota AB. (28)
1951: A Navy Viking rocket built by the Glenn L. Martin Company set an altitude record for singlestage rockets, climbing 135 miles and reaching a speed of 4,100 MPH, at White Sands. (24) Bill Bridgeman flew the Navy's Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket to a 1,238-MPH speed record. (9)
1952: KOREAN WAR. Through 8 August, Capt Clifford D. Jolley, 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, destroyed three additional MiGs in two days to become the eighteenth ace of the war. (28)
1954: The School of Aviation Medicine had received the first piece of experimental equipment ever built to study living conditions in space. It was a sealed cabin that simulated the interior of a spaceship. (16) (24)
1956: The first F-100Cs with an inflight refueling capability became operational at Foster AFB, Tex.
1959: Two F-100F aircraft made the first flight by jet fighter aircraft over the North Pole. (16) (24) The Explorer VI, NASA's "paddlewheel" satellite, launched into orbit from Cape Canaveral by a Thor-Able III. It transmitted the first television pictures from space. In addition, Maj Robert C. Mathis used the satellite to relay the first intercontinental voice message. He later became the VCSAF. (20) (21)
1963: Benjamin Greene set a new distance record for single-place gliders for a 457.97-mile flight from Marfa, Tex., to Boise City, Okl.
1965: First Minuteman II missile emplaced in a 447 SMS silo at Grand Forks AFB. (6) (12)
1975: Two C-141s flew from Ramstein AB to Bucharest with disaster relief supplies after extensive flooding of the Danube River and its tributaries. (16) (26)
1976: The Viking 2 spacecraft entered orbit around Mars. (8: Sep 90) 1980: HURRICANE ALLEN. Through 12 August, 3 MAC missions (1 C-5 and 2 C-141s) and one ANG C-130 mission airlifted 107 people and 61 tons of supplies to Haiti and St Lucia from the US and Howard AFB. The hurricane killed 57 and left hundreds homeless. (18)
1982: At Sheppard AFB, ATC ended the German Air Force undergraduate pilot training program. (16)
1984: The HH-60D helicopter flew its first rescue mission to save a young couple that had been stranded above 10,000 feet in the high Sierras overnight. (3) Operation INTENSE LOOK. Through 2 October, MAC supported the deployment of US minesweeping assets to the Red Sea to help Egypt and Saudi Arabia determine the cause of mysterious explosions that damaged ships plying the Red Sea. MAC flew 27 C-5, 14 C-141, and 3 C-130 sorties to move 983 passengers and 1,324 tons of cargo. (18)
1990: Operation DESERT SHIELD. As a response to Iraq's 2 August invasion of Kuwait, the US military initiated deployment actions to protect Saudi Arabia from Iraqi aggression and to liberate Kuwait. The 71 TFS deployed 24 F-15C Eagles on a 15-hour, 8,000-mile, non-stop flight from Langley AFB to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, with 12 inflight refuelings. (16) (26)
1995: A B-52H bomber from the 2 BW at Barksdale AFB employed precision-guided munitions in a training mission for the first time. (16)
1998: Scaled Composite's D-2 technology demonstrator UAV made its first flight after a two-year hiatus. The twin-tail propeller D-2 was a testbed vehicle for NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program. (3)
2003: In an Automatic Air Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) test, as two AFFTC F-16s repeatedly approached each other in flight. The Auto ACAS activated every time to separate them without pilot input. (3)
2007: The 75th Fighter Squadron Commander, Lt Col Sam Milam, flew the first A-10C Thunderbolt II to its new home at Moody AFB, Ga. It was the first of 50 upgraded A-10Cs to move to Moody under base realignment plans. The base finished the move in early 2008 as the A-10s were converted from A-10A to A-10C models. (AFNEWS, "First Improved Thunderbolt Arrives at Moody," 8 Aug 2007.)
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This Day in U S Military History
1782 – At his headquarters in Newburgh, New York, General George Washington, the commander in chief of the Continental Army, creates the "Badge for Military Merit," a decoration consisting of a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk, edged with a narrow binding of silver, with the word Merit stitched across the face in silver. The badge was to be presented to soldiers for "any singularly meritorious action" and permitted its wearer to pass guards and sentinels without challenge. The honoree's name and regiment were also to be inscribed in a "Book of Merit." Washington's "Purple Heart" was awarded to only three known soldiers during the Revolutionary War: Elijah Churchill, William Brown, and Daniel Bissell, Jr. The "Book of Merit" was lost, and the decoration was largely forgotten until 1927, when General Charles P. Summerall, the U.S. Army chief of staff, sent an unsuccessful draft bill to Congress to "revive the Badge of Military Merit." In 1931, Summerall's successor, General Douglas MacArthur, took up the cause, hoping to reinstate the medal in time for the bicentennial of George Washington's birth. On February 22, 1932, Washington's 200th birthday, the U.S. War Department announced the creation of the "Order of the Purple Heart." In addition to aspects of Washington's original design, the new Purple Heart also displays a bust of Washington and his coat of arms. The Order of the Purple Heart, the oldest American military decoration for military merit, is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces who have been killed or wounded in action against an enemy. It is also awarded to soldiers who have suffered maltreatment as prisoners of war.
1794 – In the summer of 1794, irate farmers in the Monoghaela Valley of Pennsylvania rose up against the federal tax on liquor and stills. During the so-called Whiskey Rebellion, the farmers extracted their revenge by torching tax collector's homes, as well as "tarring and feathering revenue officers." The government moved quickly to quell the rebellion: President Washington called in 12,900 Federal troops from to surrounding states to forcefully usher the farmers back to their homes.
1942 – The U.S. 1st Marine Division begins Operation Watchtower, the first U.S. offensive of the war, by landing on Guadalcanal, one of the Solomon Islands. On July 6, 1942, the Japanese landed on Guadalcanal Island and began constructing an airfield there. Operation Watchtower was the codename for the U.S. plan to invade Guadalcanal and the surrounding islands. During the attack, American troops landed on five islands within the Solomon chain. Although the invasion came as a complete surprise to the Japanese (bad weather had grounded their scouting aircraft), the landings on Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tananbogo met much initial opposition from the Japanese defenders. But the Americans who landed on Guadalcanal met little resistance-at least at first. More than 11,000 Marines had landed, and 24 hours had passed, before the Japanese manning the garrison there knew of the attack. The U.S. forces quickly took their main objective, the airfield, and the outnumbered Japanese troops retreated, but not for long. Reinforcements were brought in, and fierce hand-to-hand jungle fighting ensued. "I have never heard or read of this kind of fighting," wrote one American major general on the scene. "These people refuse to surrender." The Americans were at a particular disadvantage, being assaulted from both the sea and air. But the U.S. Navy was able to reinforce its troops to a greater extent, and by February 1943, the Japanese had retreated on secret orders of their emperor (so secret, the Americans did not even know it had taken place until they began happening upon abandoned positions, empty boats, and discarded supplies). In total, the Japanese had lost more than 25,000 men, compared with a loss of 1,600 by the Americans. Each side lost 24 warships. The first Medal of Honor given to a Marine was awarded to Sgt. John Basilone for his fighting during Operation Watchtower. According to the recommendation for his medal, he "contributed materially to the defeat and virtually the annihilation of a Japanese regiment."
1942 – Landings at Tulagi and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands commenced. This first Allied invasion in the Pacific proved to be a critical battle. Coast Guard manned transports, including the USS Hunter Liggett, participated in the invasion. Many of the landing craft were crewed by Coast Guardsmen. A Coast Guard officer, LCDR Dwight H. Dexter, and 25 Coast Guardsmen went ashore from the Liggett with their landing craft to set up a naval operating base on Lunga Point. Signalman 1/c Douglas Munro, later killed at Guadalcanal, was a member of Dexter's command. The Liggett rescued 686 survivors of the Navy cruisers USS Vincennes, Astoria, and Quincy and the Australian cruiser HMAS Canberra that had been sunk in the Battle of Savo Island on the night of 9 August 1942.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
BENDER, STANLEY
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company E, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near La Lande, France, 17 August 1944. Entered service at: Chicago, 111. Born: 31 October 1909, Carlisle, W. Va. G.O. No.: 7, 1 February 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On 17 August 1944, near La Lande, France, he climbed on top of a knocked-out tank, in the face of withering machinegun fire which had halted the advance of his company, in an effort to locate the source of this fire. Although bullets ricocheted off the turret at his feet, he nevertheless remained standing upright in full view of the enemy for over 2 minutes. Locating the enemy machineguns on a knoll 200 yards away, he ordered 2 squads to cover him and led his men down an irrigation ditch, running a gauntlet of intense machinegun fire, which completely blanketed 50 yards of his advance and wounded 4 of his men. While the Germans hurled hand grenades at the ditch, he stood his ground until his squad caught up with him, then advanced alone, in a wide flanking approach, to the rear of the knoll. He walked deliberately a distance of 40 yards, without cover, in full view of the Germans and under a hail of both enemy and friendly fire, to the first machinegun and knocked it out with a single short burst. Then he made his way through the strong point, despite bursting hand grenades, toward the second machinegun, 25 yards distant, whose 2-man crew swung the machinegun around and fired two bursts at him, but he walked calmly through the fire and, reaching the edge of the emplacement, dispatched the crew. Signaling his men to rush the rifle pits, he then walked 35 yards further to kill an enemy rifleman and returned to lead his squad in the destruction of the 8 remaining Germans in the strong point. His audacity so inspired the remainder of the assault company that the men charged out of their positions, shouting and yelling, to overpower the enemy roadblock and sweep into town, knocking out 2 antitank guns, killing 37 Germans and capturing 26 others. He had sparked and led the assault company in an attack which overwhelmed the enemy, destroying a roadblock, taking a town, seizing intact 3 bridges over the Maravenne River, and capturing commanding terrain which dominated the area.
*PEASE, HARL, JR. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army Air Corps, Heavy Bombardment Squadron. Place and date: Near Rabaul, New Britain, 6-7 August 1942. Entered service at: Plymouth, N.H. Birth: Plymouth, N.H. G.O. No.: 59, 4 November 1942. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy on 6-7 August 1942. When 1 engine of the bombardment airplane of which he was pilot failed during a bombing mission over New Guinea, Capt. Pease was forced to return to a base in Australia. Knowing that all available airplanes of his group were to participate the next day in an attack on an enemy-held airdrome near Rabaul, New Britain, although he was not scheduled to take part in this mission, Capt. Pease selected the most serviceable airplane at this base and prepared it for combat, knowing that it had been found and declared unserviceable for combat missions. With the members of his combat crew, who volunteered to accompany him, he rejoined his squadron at Port Moresby, New Guinea, at 1 a.m. on 7 August, after having flown almost continuously since early the preceding morning. With only 3 hours' rest, he took off with his squadron for the attack. Throughout the long flight to Rabaul, New Britain, he managed by skillful flying of his unserviceable airplane to maintain his position in the group. When the formation was intercepted by about 30 enemy fighter airplanes before reaching the target, Capt. Pease, on the wing which bore the brunt of the hostile attack, by gallant action and the accurate shooting by his crew, succeeded in destroying several Zeros before dropping his bombs on the hostile base as planned, this in spite of continuous enemy attacks. The fight with the enemy pursuit lasted 25 minutes until the group dived into cloud cover. After leaving the target, Capt. Pease's aircraft fell behind the balance of the group due to unknown difficulties as a result of the combat, and was unable to reach this cover before the enemy pursuit succeeded in igniting 1 of his bomb bay tanks. He was seen to drop the flaming tank. It is believed that Capt. Pease's airplane and crew were subsequently shot down in flames, as they did not return to their base. In voluntarily performing this mission Capt. Pease contributed materially to the success of the group, and displayed high devotion to duty, valor, and complete contempt for personal danger. His undaunted bravery has been a great inspiration to the officers and men of his unit.
*CARTER, BRUCE W.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Company H, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 7 August 1969. Entered service at: Jacksonville, Fla. Born: 7 May 1950, Schenectady, N.Y. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as grenadier with Company H in connection with combat operations against the enemy. Pfc. Carter's unit was maneuvering against the enemy during Operation Idaho Canyon and came under a heavy volume of fire from a numerically superior hostile force. The lead element soon became separated from the main body of the squad by a brush fire. Pfc. Carter and his fellow marines were pinned down by vicious crossfire when, with complete disregard for his safety, he stood in full view of the North Vietnamese Army soldiers to deliver a devastating volume of fire at their positions. The accuracy and aggressiveness of his attack caused several enemy casualties and forced the remainder of the soldiers to retreat from the immediate area. Shouting directions to the marines around him, Pfc. Carter then commenced leading them from the path of the rapidly approaching brush fire when he observed a hostile grenade land between him and his companions. Fully aware of the probable consequences of his action but determined to protect the men following him, he unhesitatingly threw himself over the grenade, absorbing the full effects of its detonation with his body. Pfc. Carter's indomitable courage, inspiring initiative, and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country .
*HAGEN, LOREN D.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Infantry, U.S. Army Training Advisory Group. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 7 August 1971. Entered service at: Fargo, N. Dak. Born: 25 February 1946, Fargo, N. Dak. Citation: 1st Lt. Hagen distinguished himself in action while serving as the team leader of a small reconnaissance team operating deep within enemy-held territory. At approximately 0630 hours on the morning of 7 August 1971 the small team came under a fierce assault by a superior-sized enemy force using heavy small arms, automatic weapons, mortar, and rocket fire. 1st Lt. Hagen immediately began returning small-arms fire upon the attackers and successfully led this team in repelling the first enemy onslaught. He then quickly deployed his men into more strategic defense locations before the enemy struck again in an attempt to overrun and annihilate the beleaguered team's members. 1st Lt. Hagen repeatedly exposed himself to- the enemy fire directed at him as he constantly moved about the team's perimeter, directing fire, rallying the members, and resupplying the team with ammunition, while courageously returning small arms and hand grenade fire in a valorous attempt to repel the advancing enemy force. The courageous actions and expert leadership abilities of 1st Lt. Hagen were a great source of inspiration and instilled confidence in the team members. After observing an enemy rocket make a direct hit on and destroy 1 of the team's bunkers, 1st Lt. Hagen moved toward the wrecked bunker in search for team members despite the fact that the enemy force now controlled the bunker area. With total disregard for his own personal safety, he crawled through the enemy fire while returning small-arms fire upon the enemy force. Undaunted by the enemy rockets and grenades impacting all around him, 1st Lt. Hagen desperately advanced upon the destroyed bunker until he was fatally wounded by enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, 1st Lt. Hagen's courageous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, at the cost of his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon him and the U.S. Army.
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AAF air support at Guadalcanal
Thanks to Boris and Barrtett who wrote "I knew several Cactus AF survivors of all branches. The AAFers said that a P-400 was a P-40 with a Zero behind it. (Optimized for low-medium altitude hence the CAS employment.")
General Head Sir, Have to be careful here as a Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club alumni giving accolades to the Air Force but given the CAS aspects of the book and your 325 A-1 missions in Vietnam, thought you might appreciate an Air Corps story on the anniversary of Operation Watchtower - the Marines landing on Guadalcanal.
The attached amplifies the picture of the Bell P-400 Airacobra CAS mission in support of Marines under LtCol "Red Mike" Edson at Bloody Ridge, and is an excerpt from 1942- The Year of the Aircraft Carrier; Part 15 – Guadalcanal, From the Start, A New and Different Context; Cactus (4/4) Click below for story
http://rememberedsky.com/?p=2287
The flight lead Capt. Thompson would receive a Navy Cross and his wingmen Silver Stars.
V/R
Boris
1942- The Year of the Aircraft Carrier; Part 15 – Guadalcanal, From the Start, A New and Different Context; Cactus (4/4)
(Excerpt)
Commander in Chief, United States Fleet (COMINCH) and Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Ernest King pushed hard in Washington for operations in the Pacific – Navy ops. The victory at Midway gave him the leverage he needed in the Europe first Washington D.C. comings and goings. King directed Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas, Chester Nimitz to move out and thus began the push to move to the offensive by invading Guadalcanal. The number of ships would grow close to ninety, vastly more than say the Wake Island or Doolittle events. As noted previously it combined land, sea and air combat capability as never before. Watchtower was indeed a recognized gamble, and yet, the planning was seriously short of consideration of that complexity and what situations might evolve, not the least of this would be the lack of early land based air.
There is no Japanese defeat in the Solomons without the defense of Henderson Field and the combat flying of the Cactus Air Force.
... Living conditions on Guadalcanal were some of the most difficult ever faced by Marine aviation. Pilots and mechanics lived in mud-floored tents in a flooded coconut plantation called "Mosquito Grove." Most contracted tropical diseases such as malaria, dysentery, dengue fever, or fungal infections.
The misery was accompanied by mortal danger. The airfield was bombed nearly every day around noon by 20 to 40 Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bombers flying at 20,000 feet (6,100 m) in a perfect "Vee formation" escorted by fighter planes. It was frequently shelled as well, by Japanese artillery in the day and Japanese warships at night. (The worst night of bombardment was on 13–14 October 1942, when two Japanese battleships fired more than 700 heavy shells into the airfield, providing cover for the Japanese Navy's landing of Marine and army reinforcements further west on Guadalcanal.)
... As the battle for Guadalcanal continued, USMC and AAF aircraft losses mounted. On 10 September, only eleven F4Fs, twenty-two SBD dive-bombers, and three P-400s were available for the next crucial CAS mission on 14 September during the defense of Bloody Ridge.
... Only two thousand yards to the south of Henderson Field lay Bloody Ridge where Lieutenant Colonel Merritt A. Edson's 1st Raider Battalion had established a last line of defense against an expected Japanese attack out of the jungles to the south. What Edson's battalion did not know was that a Japanese brigade over 2,000 strong was preparing to attack on the night of 13 September. The Japanese attackers mounted two major assaults before midnight. Edson's Battalion bent but did not break, falling back a few yards at a time into successive positions along the ridge toward the airfield. If the Japanese could break the thin Marine line, the airfield would be theirs for the taking.
Before sunup on 14 September, an officer from the 1st Raider Battalion met with the commander of the 67th FS, Captain Thompson. Using a crude map, he described the precarious situation and requested a CAS mission at first light. Thompson agreed and had his flight of three P-400s at the end of the runway just before sunup. As dawn began to break, Thompson's flight departed.
Bloody Ridge was located almost within the aircraft traffic pattern around the airfield and Thompson kept the Marine position in view as his aircraft lifted off the ground and began a slight turn to the south. Maintaining altitude just above the trees, Thompson led his flight below the level of Bloody Ridge and pointed at the suspected Japanese assembly area. When the area came into view, Thompson spotted large groups of Japanese soldiers massing for an attack and he immediately began to fire.
After two passes, Thompson's and another aircraft, piloted by Lieutenant B. W. Brown, were critically damaged by small arms fire and had to make emergency landings back at the airfield while the third P-400, piloted by Lieutenant B. E. Davis, continued to strafe until out of ammunition.
The Japanese attack was repulsed by the iron defense of the 1 st Raider Battalion, but Thompson's CAS mission had thrown the final weight that broke the Japanese assault. Later that afternoon, Vandegrift visited Thompson, Davis, and Brown saying, "You'll never read it in the papers, but that three P-400 mission of yours saved Guadalcanal."
For their part in this decisive battle, Thompson was awarded the Navy Cross and his wingmen, Lieutenants Davis and Brown, received the Silver Star.
The Battle of Bloody Ridge is a story of almost unimaginable valor, perseverance and sacrifice on the part of the Marine defenders of Henderson Field. But the story would be incomplete without a concluding chapter dedicated to the Thompson-led ground support mission. Its contribution is perhaps best defined by the desperate circumstances of the moment and measured by its impact on the tactical and strategic situation. For while Henderson Field would be the target of future Japanese assaults, in the aftermath of Bloody Ridge it remained—and would continue to remain—in American hands.
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World News for 7 August Thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Army, Navy Plan Aggressive Test Schedule For Hypersonic Weapons Defense News | 08/07/2020 The U.S. Army and Navy plan to conduct three test-flights of a new hypersonic weapon next year with the goal of rapidly field the system, reports Defense News. Three test flights of the Common-Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) are scheduled for 2021, Lt. Gen. Neil Thurgood, head of the Army's hypersonics effort, told the paper on Wednesday. An aggressive testing schedule is needed if the glide body is to be ready for fielding by fiscal 2023, he said. The trials will also include training and other work in addition to engineering objectives to advance the program more quickly. The C-HGB is a joint effort between the Army and Navy to develop a common hypersonic glide body. The Army plans to deploy the C-HGB from truck-launched missiles, while the Navy plans to integrate it with its Virginia-class attack submarines. The system completed its first test in March, with the warhead hitting within 14 inches (360 mm) of its target, according to a White House statement.
USA—Red Flag Exercises Resume In Nevada, Alaska The War Zone | 08/07/2020 The Air Force has resumed its flagship Red Flag exercises after putting them on hold at the start of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, reports the War Zone website. On Aug. 3, the Air Force began both Red Flag 20-3 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and Red Flag-Alaska at Eielson Air Force Base. Red Flag 20-2 was stopped in early March when a NATO airman tested positive for COVID-19. Red Flag-Alaska 20-1, scheduled for late April and early May, and Red Flag-Alaska 20-2 in June were also canceled. The exercises are now being held with a reduced footprint and for a shorter period to reduce the potential for an outbreak. Red Flag in Nevada has been shortened from three weeks to two. U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps units are participating in the drills, according to a Nellis Air Force Base release. The drills in Alaska are the first time that the 356th Fighter Squadron, the first F-35A stealth fighter squadron in Alaska, is participating in the exercise.
USA—Top Iran Diplomat Resigns Washington Post | 08/07/2020 The top Iran official at the State Dept. is stepping down, reports the Washington Post. On Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Brian Hook would be departing, indicating that it was Hook's decision without providing details. It was not immediately clear when the decision would take effect. Hook will be succeeded by Elliott Abrams, the current special envoy for Venezuela. He will continue to hold the Venezuela file. The move comes ahead of a renewed push to convince the U.N. Security Council to extend sanctions on Iran that are scheduled to expire in October under the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran. President Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018. If that embargo is not extended, the U.S. has threatened to reimpose all sanctions suspended under the 2015 nuclear deal, reported Reuters.
NATO—Alliance Takes 1st Step To Replacing Aging AWACS Aircraft Defense News | 08/07/2020 NATO has taken its first step toward replacing its fleet of airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft, reports Defense News. On June 29, the U.S. government published a solicitation designed to prepare American companies for an upcoming call for bids, said alliance officials. In the study, companies will develop concepts for the replacement for review by the allies, who will decide what the replacement system looks like. NATO currently plans to retire its E-3A Sentry fleet in 2035. The alliance plans to spend about US$1 billion for a final service life extension to keep the 14 planes flying until then. Six consortia have already submitted concept studies to the alliance, which are being assessed with the goal of finalizing narrower and better-defined requirements before the end of 2020. Plans call for another round of industry responses in 2021 ahead of a final assessment in 2023 to determine the final requirements. The development phase through 2023 has a budget of US$139 million. Expected contenders include U.S. firms Boeing and Northrop Grumman and Airbus and Saab in Europe.
Ukraine—Air Force Returns SA-3 Air Defense System To Service Defence-Blog | 08/07/2020 The Ukrainian air force has restored a retired air defense system to service, reports the Defence Blog. On Thursday, the service said that a Soviet-era S-125 Pechora (NATO: SA-3 Goa) system would take part in tactical exercises in the Kharkiv region. The air force retired its S-125s in 2013. The S-125 is designed to defend strategic sites against aerial threats.
Russia—Kupol Space Warning System Reaches Initial Capability Tass | 08/07/2020 Russia's new constellation of strategic warning satellites has reached its minimum standard strength after the fourth Tundra satellite entered service, reports Russia's Tass news agency. The fourth satellite in the Kupol integrated space system was launched into orbit on May 22, said Russian industry officials on Wednesday. The officials also said that the constellation head reached an initial capability. The satellites are designed to detect ballistic missile launches from land or sea. At minimum standard strength, the system can monitor all of the U.S. Each Tundra satellite features next-generation infrared sensors to detect the heat plume signature of a launch and track the missile in flight to provide a forecast for the missile's target. At full strength, the Kupol constellation will have nine Tundra satellites. The system is intended to replace the Oko and Oko-1 constellations.
South Korea—Command-Post Exercise To Test OPCON Capabilities Yonhap | 08/07/2020 A joint command-post exercise with the U.S. this month will include a focus on preparing South Korea to take full operational control of allied forces on the peninsula, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). On Thursday, a Pentagon spokesman said that the drills would be partly designed to strengthen South Korea's operational control of combined forces. The South Korean Defense Ministry says it has pushed for the drills to include a full operational capability test to verify whether the military is on track to meet the conditions for operational control to be transferred by mid-2022. U.S. officials have reportedly preferred to focus on a joint posture following the cancellation of joint drills in the spring.
China—DF-26 'Carrier Killer' Missile Test-Fired Global Times | 08/07/2020 China recently launched an anti-ship ballistic missile during an ongoing exercise amid tensions with the U.S., reports the state-run Global Times (Beijing). The People's Liberation Army (PLA) rocket force launched the DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile during ongoing, months-long exercises, officials told the newspaper on Thursday. The exact timing and location of the drill was not made public. A rocket force missile brigade recently began a cross-regional drill, including maneuvers through various terrains, mock chemical attacks, camouflaging vehicles to prevent detection by satellites and launching a DF-26 missile from a desert locale. Inner Mongolia contains portions of desert and is known to house some ballistic missile sites, said analysts. The exercise is expected to continue over the next two months, reported CCTV. The training demonstrated the mobility of the DF-26 and its ability to launch from unprepared sites, experts said. The experts also emphasized the missile's ability to strike warships, following recent U.S. aircraft carrier drills in the South China Sea.
Japan—SDF Ready To Respond To Chinese Incursions Around Senkakus, Defense Minister Says Asahi Shimbun | 08/07/2020 Defense Minister Taro Kono says the Japan Self-Defense Force is prepared to respond if China continues to increase its activities around the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, reports the Asahi Shimbun. SDF units "will act firmly when necessary" in cooperation with the coast guard to respond to growing Chinese activity around the islands, which Beijing calls the Diaoyus, Kono said on Aug. 4. Chinese coast guard vessels have been stepping up their activity in the region in recent years. The Japan Coast Guard has been doing a good job responding, but if a scenario arises that requires SDF intervention, it is ready, the defense minister said. Chinese coast guard vessels continually operated in the waters around the islands for 111 straight days as of Aug. 2. Additionally, the warning could be aimed at Chinese officials ahead of the arrival of Chinese fishing boats in the disputed waters anticipated in mid-August after Beijing lifted a suspension on fishing in the area.
Japan—New Laws Prohibit Flying Of Drones Near U.S., Japanese Military Facilities Kyodo News Agency | 08/07/2020 The Japanese government is adopting measures to prevent civilian drone use near 15 U.S. and 14 Japanese military sites, reports the Kyodo news agency (Tokyo). On Friday, the defense ministry said that beginning on Sept. 6, drone flights would be banned over 15 American military sites, including Camp Schwab, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, MCAS Iwanuki, Misawa air base, the naval base in Sasebo, the naval base in Yokosuka and Yokota air base. The move implements a law passed last year, which is intended to prevent terrorist attacks, said officials. Under the rules, drone flights will be barred within 985 feet (300 m) of the facilities. Similar rules will also apply to 14 Self-Defense Force (SDF) facilities beginning on Aug. 17, including sites in Asahikawa and Obihiro as well as Nyutabaru air base. Police and members of the SDF are authorized to seize or destroy air vehicles, with fines of up to US$4,700 or a year in prison for violators. The Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association said in a statement that the decision could impact the ability of journalists to work independently.
Taiwan—Talks Underway For Purchase Of Long-Range Drones From U.S. Reuters | 08/07/2020 The Taiwan is negotiating the procurement of advanced drones from the U.S., reports Reuters. Six sources told the news agency that the talks cover at least four SeaGuardian surveillance drones, a variant of the MQ-9 Reaper, which have a range of about 6,000 nautical miles (11,100 km). The sale must be approved by the U.S. Congress, which could receive official notification in the next two months, two of the sources said. It is unclear if the aircraft would be armed. In July, the State Dept. removed administrative restrictions that had blocked the transfer of some armed drones. Taipei submitted a request for armed drones earlier this year, a source told the agency. The acquisition would represent a significant improvement in Taiwan's drones capabilities. Its existing drones have an operational range of about 160 nautical miles (300 km).
Burma—Arakan Army Not Invited To Planned Peace Talks Irrawaddy | 08/07/2020 The Burmese government says it will not invite the Arakan Army (AA) to a new round of peace talks later this month, reports the Irrawaddy (Burma). On Wednesday, a military spokesman said that the ethnic armed group would not be invited because it had been designated as a terrorist organization. The Union Peace Conference-21st Century will bring together two leaders each from seven groups that are not signatories to the Nationwide Cease-fire Agreement (NCA). These groups are: United Wa State Army (UWSA), Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). The TNLA and MNDAA are part of the Brotherhood Alliance with the AA. A TNLA spokesman said that it and the MNDAA would not attend if the AA was excluded. An AA spokesman told Radio Free Asia that the decision reflected the government's indifference to a peace agreement. The three-day talks in Panglong, Shan state, are scheduled to begin on Aug. 19.
United Arab Emirates—New Satellite Facility Being Developed With Airbus Emirates News Agency | 08/07/2020 Emirati state defense and security entity Tawazun is planning to build a satellite assembly, integration and testing (AIT) center with Airbus, reports the official Emirates News Agency (WAM). The facility will manufacture small to medium satellites weighing between 110 pounds (50 kg) and 550 pounds (250 kg) for communication, navigation and hyperspectral missions, the agency reported on Wednesday. The center will be located in Al Ain and is expected to begin operations in early 2021. The National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) at U.A.E. University is also participating in the project. Airbus will support NSSTC in the design of the facility and manage equipment procurement, installation and operational qualification. The program is part of efforts to expand and develop the U.A.E.'s space industry, officials said.
Syria—Government Sought Hundreds Of N. Korean Workers, Military Experts In 2019 NK News | 08/07/2020 Syria requested hundreds of workers and military personnel from North Korea last year in violation of U.N. sanctions, reports NK News. In the second half of 2019, Damascus sought at least 800 North Korean workers, according to an unpublished U.N. report seen by the website. In August 2019, North Korean technicians performed work at a Syrian SA-3 air defense battery, the report says. Then, in October 2019, a Syrian company requested 800 North Korean workers for construction projects. It was not clear if North Korea provided the personnel, said NK News. The report also alleged that North Korean firm Korea Namgang General Construction Corp. was involved in construction projects in Syria in 2018 and 2019, without providing details. Last year, the two countries agreed to strengthen ties in response to sanctions imposed by the U.S. and its allies.
Lebanon—Aid Pledges Flow In Following Devasting Explosion Al Jazeera | 08/07/2020 Dozens of countries have pledged to send aid to assist Lebanon after a massive explosion in the port of Beirut that has left more than 250,000 homeless, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar). Several countries have sent search-and-rescue teams, medical equipment and personnel and relief supplies to Lebanon, including Qatar, Greece and Turkey, reported Agence France-Presse. London dispatched the survey ship Enterprise to assess the damage to the port of Beirut and pledged 5 million pounds (US$6.6 million) in aid, reported the U.K. Ministry of Defense. The European Union has begun organizing a joint operation to send firefighters, equipment and rescue dogs to assist in the search for survivors, reported the Brussels Times. The Netherlands, Poland and Germany have offered to participate in that effort. Belgium is sending several dozen firefighters from a unit dedicated to responding to emergencies abroad. Czech officials said that Lebanon had accepted an offer for 37 rescuers with sniffer dogs, reported Deutsche Welle. Jordan has promised a field hospital, while Egypt has already opened one in Beirut. Russia has pledged at least five planeloads of aid. France has also sent aid to its former protectorate. On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron visited to inspect the damage and pledged to ensure that aid would not be funneled into corrupt hands. Israel has offered aid to Lebanon and to accept patients at its hospitals to relieve the pressure on the Lebanese healthcare system, reported the Times of Israel.
Nigeria—U.S. Warns Of Growing Al-Qaida Threat In Northwest Daily Trust | 08/07/2020 U.S. military officials have that Al-Qaida has started making inroads in northwestern Nigeria, reports the Daily Trust (Abuja). Groups like Al Qaida are using the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to infiltrate vulnerable communities in Nigeria and elsewhere in West Africa, said Maj. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, the head of U.S. Special Operations Command Africa, during a video press briefing on Aug. 4. The insurgent group has been shutting down schools across Africa as part of its efforts to reduce opportunities for the population. To combat the spread of the insurgent groups, the U.S. has been working closely with Nigeria and other countries to share intelligence and knowledge, the general said, as reported by the Premium Times (Abuja). Anderson also highlighted recent efforts by the U.S. to support Nigeria's counterterrorism fight, including providing C-208 Caravan intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to the Nigerian air force. .
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