Good Wednesday Morning March 10 .
A lot of history and some great reads from a couple of List members today.
Even as breast stroking eagle.
Regards,
Skip.
Today in Naval History
March 10
1783 USS Alliance (CAPT John Barry) defeats HMS Sybil in final naval action of Revolution in West Indies waters
1933 Pacific Fleet provides assistance after earthquake at Long Beach, CA
1943 USS Savannah (CL 42) and USS Eberle (DD 430) intercept German blockade runner Karin in the South Atlantic. After boarding the ship, a timed explosion goes off, killing 11 of Eberle's boarding party.
1944 USS Kete (SS 369) attacks a Japanese convoy and sinks one cargo and two transport ships while dodging counterattacks.
1945 Navy and civilian nurses interned at Los Banos, Philippines flown back to U.S. Navy nurses awarded Bronze Star.
1948 First use of jets assigned to operational squadron (VF-5A) on board a carrier (Boxer)
2001 USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) is commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk. The 31st destroyer of the Arleigh Burke class is the fourth U.S. Navy warship to be named after a British citizen. Churchill has a Royal Naval officer assigned permanently to the ship and she flies the Royal Navy's White Ensign as well as the Stars and Stripes.
2007 USS New Orleans (LPD 18) is commissioned at New Orleans, Louisiana. The second of the 12-ship San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock warships, New Orleans is homeported at Naval Base San Diego.
From NHHC
On March 10, 1945, Navy and civilian nurses interned in the Philippines as prisoners of war since early January 1942 returned to the United States, landing in San Francisco, CA. The nurses were working at the naval hospital in Cañacao when the war began. They were captured in Manila and had been at the Los Baños Internment Camp on Luzon since May 1943. While at the camp, they treated other internees the best they could considering dreadful conditions in a makeshift hospital. Their rescue came around 7 a.m. on Feb. 23, 1945, when U.S. Army paratroopers descended on the internment camp, which was still behind enemy lines. The nurses received the Bronze Star medal from the Army for their three years' work as medical specialists while incarcerated. For more, read the essay by COD's Adam Bisno at NHHC's website.
During the Battle for Iwo Jima, Pharmacist's Mate First Class Francis Pierce repeatedly opened himself up to enemy fire to protect Marines under his care while attached to the 4th Marine Division. On March 15, 1945, while caught in heavy enemy machine gun fire that wounded multiple Marines, Pierce quickly took charge, carried the wounded to safety, and rendered first aid. After directing the evacuation of three of the casualties, he stood in the open with his weapon blasting to draw enemy fire, enabling the litter bearers to reach cover. Turning his attention to other casualties, Pierce attempted to stop the profuse bleeding of a casualty when a Japanese soldier fired at him from less than 20 yards away, wounding his patient. Pierce proceeded to kill the enemy with the last of his ammunition. He then lifted the patient on his back and trekked 200 feet unarmed, bringing him to safety. Despite extreme exhaustion, he backtracked the same terrain and rescued another fallen Marine. The following morning, he led a combat patrol to a sniper nest and, while providing aid to a stricken Marine, was seriously wounded. Pierce received the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary valor and heroism.
Thanks to CHINFO
Executive Summary:
• Local press reported on First Lady Jill Biden's visit to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island yesterday, as well as her visit to Twentynine Palms today.
• National and trade press reported on INDOPACOM Adm. Phil Davidson's SASC hearing.
• Military.com reported the Navy's T-45 trainer fleet will receive a new smart oxygen concentrator after hypoxia-like events.
Today in History: March 10
0049 Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon and invades Italy. And many have crossed the Rubicon since
0241 The Roman fleet sinks 50 Carthaginian ships in the Battle of Aegusa.
0515 The building of the great Jewish temple in Jerusalem is completed.
1656 In the colony of Virginia, suffrage is extended to all free men regardless of their religion.
1776 ""Common Sense" by Thomas Paine is published.
1785 Thomas Jefferson is appointed minister to France.
1806 The Dutch in Cape Town, South Africa surrender to the British.
1814 Napoleon Bonaparte is defeated by an allied army at the Battle of Laon, France.
1848 The treaty of Guadeloupe-Hidalgo is signed which ends the United States' war with Mexico.
1876 Alexander Graham Bell makes the first telephone call to Thomas Watson saying "Watson, come here. I need you."
1893 New Mexico State University cancels its first graduation ceremony, because the only graduate was robbed and killed the night before.
1902 The Boers of South Africa score their last victory over the British, capturing British General Methuen and 200 men.
1910 Slavery is abolished in China.
1924 The U.S. Supreme Court upholds a New York state law forbidding late-night work for women.
1927 Prussia lifts its Nazi ban, Adolf Hitler is allowed to speak in public.
1933 Nevada becomes the first U.S. state to regulate drugs.
1941 Vichy France threatens to use its navy unless Britain allows food to reach France.
1943 Adolf Hitler calls Field Marshall Erwin Rommel back from Tunisia in North Africa.
1944 The Irish refuse to oust all Axis envoys and deny the accusation of spying on Allied troops.
1945 American B-29 bombers attack Tokyo, killing 100,000.
1947 The Big Four meet in Moscow to discuss the future of Germany.
1948 Author Zelda Fitzgerald (wife of F. Scott) dies in a fire at Highland Hospital.
1953North Korean gunners at Wonsan fire on the USS Missouri, the ship responds by firing 998 rounds at the enemy position.
1954 President Dwight Eisenhower calls Senator Joseph McCarthy a peril to the Republican Party.
1966 The North Vietnamese capture a Green Beret camp at Ashau Valley.
1969 James Earl Ray pleads guilty to the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King and is sentenced to 99 years in jail.
1971 The Senate approves a Constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to 18.
1975 The North Vietnamese Army attacks the South Vietnamese town of Buon Ma Thout, the offensive will end with total victory in Vietnam.
1980 Iran's leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, lends his support to the militants holding the American hostages in Tehran.
1982 The United States bans Libyan oil imports, because of the continued support of terrorism.
1987 The Vatican condemns surrogate parenting as well as test-tube and artificial insemination.
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Thanks to Dan
This is in reference to the picture in "The List #5640", in the article written by The Bear, concerning "The nuns on a picnic", pushing bicycles loaded with cargo, on the 8Mar66 RTR.
The article concerned not shooting at the people in the picture because they might be "nuns on a picnic". Hold that picture in your mind for a minute while I tell you about those personnel at the other end of their hike, three years later.
The setting is the other end of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, in April, 1969, on the East wall of the A Shau Valley, just East of Laos, and West of Hue, South Vietnam. A fighter jet had jettisoned its bomb load on a suspected NVA supply area, which resulted in significant secondary explosions. The decision was immediately made to combat assault another company of my Infantry Battalion (Bravo Company/3rd 187th Infantry Battalion/101st Abn Div) into the area to see what was there. When doing so, the NVA immediately engaged them with multiple automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades (RPG's), resulting in five UH-1 Huey helicopters being shot down. My company (Alpha/3rd 187th Inf/101st) was flown in to assist Bravo Co., and my platoon had another UH-1 shot down. The attached pictures show many of the helicopters that were shot down. The picture of the remaining tail boom, after a Huey was shot down and burned, was the aircraft carrying part of my platoon. The picture of the troops departing a Huey that had just landed, are my platoon personnel, and that helicopter landed immediately before the one that was shot down and burned.
Over the next several days, we discovered a major trail going down the East wall of the A Shau Valley, which was the biggest, and most developed trail network we had ever seen. It was 4'-6' wide, with a raised platform arm rail along one side, and a bamboo "v-shaped" track on the other side.
Now refer back to the picture of "the nuns on a picnic", pushing bicycles, loaded with hundred of pounds of cargo. On the trail I just described above, the NVA could push those bicycles up the trail, with the tires in the "V-shaped" track to guide them, and, at the same time, rest their rucksacks on the raised platforms on the arm rails, without sitting down to rest. The trail in the middle, that they walked on, consisted of large, wide, bamboo-covered steps.
Along that trail, approximately a days march apart, were hootch complexes that they could stay in along the way. Sort of a North Vietnamese version of "Motel 6". They were totally camouflaged, with two bamboo pipelines running to each hootch, one carrying water in from the nearest stream, and the other carrying smoke out of a fireplace oven located in a bunker beneath the hootch. The pipeline carrying smoke out, ran for hundreds of meters while it dissipated the smoke throughout the jungle. That way, even if U.S. aircraft shot at the smoke in the jungle, all they would kill is trees.
The point of this dissertation is just what "Dutch" concluded: "if it moves, shoot at it"! As it turned out, this event was just the beginning of a much bigger battle. Two weeks later our Battalion was combat assaulted into "Dong Ap Bia", across the A Shau Valley, in what is more commonly known as "Hamburger Hill". Meanwhile, Firebase Airborne was constructed on the above scene, and was overrun during Hamburger Hill, also with significant casualties. It turned out that the NVA had a major supply depot hidden in the canyons surrounding Firebase Airborne.
For those who might be confused by my presence in these stories, let me clarify that I had two combat tours in Vietnam, the first in the Infantry, and the second tour flying AH-1G Cobra helicopters, both in the same area of Northern I Corps, Vietnam. Trust me, flying is better than walking! Ha!
Dan
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Thanks to Bill
Hi Skip,
I thoroughly enjoyed today's List, especially the story of the Mig shoot down by Lt Cash off the USS America. Talk about a small world. I was the OOD and Ops boss on the USS Lowry that day when he returned. We were in plane guard 1,000 yards astern of the America and 9 degrees off center maintaining position for several days. I saw the victory rolls and sent a BT message to the America OOD by signal light and asked him about the shoot down. He didn't know much. Captain Turner was mentioned in his article...a true gem of a man and Naval officer. About 2 days later I was summoned to the America by Capt Turner. He wanted to know about our AN/ULQ-6 ECM gear (it would blip enhance Lowry to look like the America on radar while having the ability to break-lock an incoming Styx missile. He also wanted to know about tactics that should be employed. When I came aboard I felt that I was treated as visiting royalty. I was escorted everywhere by one of his Marines. It was easy to see that he was highly respected by everyone. I gave him a tactics package that he sent on to CTF 77 that was adopted as SOP if Styx missiles became a problem. He also showed me that by looking at a screen next to his bridge chair where he could observe every landing. In the background was the plane guard destroyer where he could constantly see if it was keeping station. He shared that if we stayed on station, any plane flying directly over us at 300' would be right on the glide slope to land. This was not easy in July of 68 as there was no wind and we had to steam @ 30-32 knots to give enough wind for launch. Thanks for the List...it even has relevance for us "black shoes."
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Thanks to Micro
Anchors Awoke:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aD0OosY0yw
Bill Whittle tells CNO what for….
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ROLLING THUNDER
Thanks to the Bear
Wednesday, 10 March 2021... Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
LOOKING BACK 55-YEARS to the Vietnam Air War—10 March 1966 From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com...
"Bernie Fisher, the MOH and Guts"... and CAG Jim Stockdale (also MOH) calls a spade a spade...
http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-10-march-1966-2/
Vietnam Air Losses
Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This Day in U S Military History March 10
1783 – USS Alliance (CAPT John Barry) defeats HMS Sybil in final naval action of Revolution in West Indies waters. Barry, in defense of a companion ship, the Duc de Lauzun which was carrying gold to fund the US war effort, maneuvered her between Sybil and Duc De Lauzun to demand the full attention of the former so that the latter might slip away to safety. Sybil then turned her fire toward Alliance and managed to send one shot from her bow chaser into the American frigate's cabin, mortally wounding a junior officer and scattering many splinters. Yet, Barry held Alliance's fire until she was within a stone's throw of her opponent. At that point, a broadside from the American warship opened some 40 minutes of close-in fighting which finally forced Sybil to flee
1849 – A riot erupts in New York where a British actor named Macready is performing at the Astor Place Opera House. Crowds are angry because of the theater's snobbish dress requirements and because Macready makes scornful comments on the vulgarity of Americans. Twenty-two people are killed and thirty-six injured when troops are called in.
1917 – On a third day of riots and demonstrations in Moscow, Russia, an estimated 25,000 workers are on strike. Army units are called in to deal with the growing unrest, but they refuse to fire on the demonstrators. These vents become known as the 'February Revolution'–the Russian (Julian) calendar of the time was 11 days behind the western one.
1942 – American aircraft launched from the American carriers Lexington and Yorktown attack Japanese vessels near Lae, New Guinea.
1943 – Chennault is promoted and his command in China is to be enlarged and named the 14th Air Force.
1944 – On New Britain, American forces capture Talasea.
1944 – On Bougainville, Japanese forces capture Hill 260 but lose ground to American counterattacks in other areas.
1945 – Patton's 3rd Army made contact with Hodge's 1st Army. They link up near Andernach completing the Allied hold on the west bank of the Rhine everywhere north of Koblenz. Field Marshal Kesselring arrives from Italy to take command of the German armies in the west.
1945 – Germany blew up the Wessel Bridge on the Rhine.
1945 – 300 American bombers drop almost 2,000 tons of incendiaries on Tokyo, Japan, destroying large portions of the Japanese capital and killing 100,000 civilians. In the closing months of the war, the United States had turned to incendiary bombing tactics against Japan, also known as "area bombing," in an attempt to break Japanese morale and force a surrender. The firebombing of Tokyo was the first major bombing operation of this sort against Japan. Early in the morning, the B-29s dropped their bombs of napalm and magnesium incendiaries over the packed residential districts along the Sumida River in eastern Tokyo. The conflagration quickly engulfed Tokyo's wooden residential structures, and the subsequent firestorm replaced oxygen with lethal gases, superheated the atmosphere, and caused hurricane-like winds that blew a wall of fire across the city. The majority of the 100,000 who perished died from carbon monoxide poisoning and the sudden lack of oxygen, but others died horrible deaths within the firestorm, such as those who attempted to find protection in the Sumida River and were boiled alive, or those who were trampled to death in the rush to escape the burning city. As a result of the attack, 10 square miles of eastern Tokyo were entirely obliterated, and an estimated 250,000 buildings were destroyed. During the next nine days, U.S. bombers flew similar missions against Nagoya, Osaka, and Kobe. In August, U.S. atomic attacks against Hiroshima and Nagasaki finally forced Japan's hand.
1945 – Navy and civilian nurses interned at Los Banos, Philippines flown back to U.S. Navy nurses awarded Bronze Star.
1953 – North Korean gunners at Wonsan fired on the USS Missouri, the ship responds by firing 998 rounds at the enemy position.
1968 – Battle of Lima Site 85, concluding the 11th with largest single ground combat loss of United States Air Force members (12) during the Vietnam War. Also called Battle of Phou Pha Thi, was fought as part of a military campaign waged during the Vietnam War and Laotian Civil War by the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) (then known as NVA) and the Pathet Lao, against airmen of the United States Air Force 1st Combat Evaluation Group, elements of the Royal Laos Army, Royal Thai Border Patrol Police, and the Central Intelligence Agency-led Hmong Clandestine Army. The battle was fought on Phou Pha Thi mountain in Houaphanh Province, Laos, on 10 March 1968, and derives its name from the mountaintop where it was fought or from the designation of a 700 feet (210 m) landing strip in the valley below.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
ATKINS, THOMAS E.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 127th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division. Place and date: Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 10 March 1945. Entered service at: Campobello, S.C. Birth: Campobello, S.C. G.O. No.: 95, 30 October 1945. Citation: He fought gallantly on the Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands. With 2 companions he occupied a position on a ridge outside the perimeter defense established by the 1st Platoon on a high hill. At about 3 a.m., 2 companies of Japanese attacked with rifle and machinegun fire, grenades, TNT charges, and land mines, severely wounding Pfc. Atkins and killing his 2 companions. Despite the intense hostile fire and pain from his deep wound, he held his ground and returned heavy fire. After the attack was repulsed, he remained in his precarious position to repel any subsequent assaults instead of returning to the American lines for medical treatment. An enemy machinegun, set up within 20 yards of his foxhole, vainly attempted to drive him off or silence his gun. The Japanese repeatedly made fierce attacks, but for 4 hours, Pfc. Atkins determinedly remained in his fox hole, bearing the brunt of each assault and maintaining steady and accurate fire until each charge was repulsed. At 7 a.m., 13 enemy dead lay in front of his position; he had fired 400 rounds, all he and his 2 dead companions possessed, and had used 3 rifles until each had jammed too badly for further operation. He withdrew during a lull to secure a rifle and more ammunition, and was persuaded to remain for medical treatment. While waiting, he saw a Japanese within the perimeter and, seizing a nearby rifle, killed him. A few minutes later, while lying on a litter, he discovered an enemy group moving up behind the platoon's lines. Despite his severe wound, he sat up, delivered heavy rifle fire against the group and forced them to withdraw. Pfc. Atkins' superb bravery and his fearless determination to hold his post against the main force of repeated enemy attacks, even though painfully wounded, were major factors in enabling his comrades to maintain their lines against a numerically superior enemy force.
DETHLEFSEN, MERLYN HANS
Rank and organization: Major (then Capt.), U.S. Air Force. Place and date: In the air over North Vietnam, 10 March 1967. Entered service at: Royal, Iowa. Born: 29 June 1934, Greenville, Iowa. Citation: Maj. Dethlefsen was 1 of a flight of F-105 aircraft engaged in a fire suppression mission designed to destroy a key antiaircraft defensive complex containing surface-to-air missiles (SAM), an exceptionally heavy concentration of antiaircraft artillery, and other automatic weapons. The defensive network was situated to dominate the approach and provide protection to an important North Vietnam industrial center that was scheduled to be attacked by fighter bombers immediately after the strike by Maj. Dethlefsen's flight. In the initial attack on the defensive complex the lead aircraft was crippled, and Maj. Dethlefsen's aircraft was extensively damaged by the intense enemy fire. Realizing that the success of the impending fighter bomber attack on the center now depended on his ability to effectively suppress the defensive fire, Maj. Dethlefsen ignored the enemy's overwhelming firepower and the damage to his aircraft and pressed his attack. Despite a continuing hail of antiaircraft fire, deadly surface-to-air missiles, and counterattacks by MIG interceptors, Maj. Dethlefsen flew repeated close range strikes to silence the enemy defensive positions with bombs and cannon fire. His action in rendering ineffective the defensive SAM and antiaircraft artillery sites enabled the ensuing fighter bombers to strike successfully the important industrial target without loss or damage to their aircraft, thereby appreciably reducing the enemy's ability to provide essential war material. Maj. Dethlefsen's consummate skill and selfless dedication to this significant mission were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
FISHER, BERNARD FRANCIS
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Air Force, 1st Air Commandos. Place and date: Bien Hoa and Pleiku, Vietnam, 10 March 1966. Entered service at: Kuna, Idaho. Born: 11 January 1927, San Bernardino, Calif. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On that date, the special forces camp at A Shau was under attack by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army regulars. Hostile troops had positioned themselves between the airstrip and the camp. Other hostile troops had surrounded the camp and were continuously raking it with automatic weapons fire from the surrounding hills. The tops of the 1,500-foot hills were obscured by an 800 foot ceiling, limiting aircraft maneuverability and forcing pilots to operate within range of hostile gun positions, which often were able to fire down on the attacking aircraft. During the battle, Maj. Fisher observed a fellow airman crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Maj. Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue. Although aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, he elected to continue. Directing his own air cover, he landed his aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway, which was littered with battle debris and parts of an exploded aircraft. While effecting a successful rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed, with 19 bullets striking his aircraft. In the face of the withering ground fire, he applied power and gained enough speed to lift-off at the overrun of the airstrip. Maj. Fisher's profound concern for his fellow airman, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country
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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/
March 8, 1908
In Washington, D.C., the Secretary of War approved the Wright brothers' bid to construct a viable military aircraft within 200 days.
March 9, 1918
The first American air casualty in World War I was Capt. James E. Miller, who lost his life in a French SPAD while flying a practice patrol across the German lines. Miller, Daedalian Founder Member #1690, was honored with a Distinguished Flying Cross on June 6, 2017. Learn more HERE.
March 10, 1966
Maj. Bernard Fisher risked his life to rescue a fellow pilot shot down over the A Shau Valley in Vietnam in his Douglas A-1E Skyraider. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson during a ceremony at the White House on Jan. 19, 1967. To learn more about retired Colonel Fisher, view this VIDEO.
March 11, 1912
Secretary of the Navy George von L. Meyer authorized the expenditure of not more than $50 for developing models of a helicopter design proposed by MMC F. E. Nelson of West Virginia (Armored Cruiser No. 5). Meyer did allow for the possibility of an expanded interest in the future, stating, "The Department recognizes the value of the helicopter principle in the design of naval aircraft and is following closely the efforts of others in this direction." Meyer, shown in the photo, served as secretary of the Navy from 1909-1913.
March 12, 1918
Capt. Phelps Collins became the first Air Service pilot killed in combat when his SPAD XII fighter crashed following a high-altitude dive over France. Collins, of Alpena, Michigan, enlisted in the French Aviation Service in May 1917 and transferred to the U.S. Air Service when America entered the war. He was assigned as a pilot to the 103rd Aero Squadron, successor to the Lafayette Escadrille, at La Noblette, France. On March 12, Collins and four other pilots were attempting to intercept enemy airplanes in the area of Paris when, for an unknown reason, Collins' SPAD VII fighter left the formation. Observers on the ground saw his plane make wide circles at about 15,000 feet, then descend and finally spin and dive into the ground. Collins' commanding officer wrote that "It will never be known whether he was shot down in combat, fought at so great an altitude that it could neither be seen nor heard, whether some vital part of his machine gave way or whether he fainted as a result of the terrific strain he had placed upon himself, flying at every possible opportunity." Investigators believed that Collins had fainted at high altitude, perhaps from lack of oxygen. He was Daedalian Founder Member #1839.
March 13, 2007
The first MQ-9 Reaper, a newer, larger and stronger version of the MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, arrived at Creech AFB, Nevada.
March 14, 1988
In ceremonies at Greenville, Texas, E-Systems Inc. unveiled the new MC-130H Combat Talon II special operations airlifter. The Air Force planned to use the aircraft for special operations units to infiltrate/exfiltrate troops and resupply behind enemy lines at night or in poor weather.
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Thanks to John
Bald Eagle Catches Fish and Swims with it to Shore - YouTube
Incredible "swimming" by an eagle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fKtcBCL9Lw
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for March 10, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
10 March
1934: The army suspended Air Corps airmail operations until 19 March to assess the high fatality rate. A lack of instrumentation for flying at night and in bad weather contributed to nine fatalities. (5)
1943: A few P-47 Thunderbolts participated in a fighter sweep from the UK for the first time.
1945: When a pilot from the 36th Fighter Squadron landed a P-47 on an airstrip near Aachen, Germany, he became the first to land an American combat plane voluntarily in Germany since the war began. (4)
1948: A B-29 dropped a nonexplosive, 42,000-pound bomb at Muroc. (24)
1959: A Snark missile flew a several-thousand-mile round-trip after launching from Cape Canaveral. (24) The X-15A-1 rocket research plane completed its first captive flight on the wing of a B-52. (3)
1961: The 565 SMS became the second US war-ready ICBM unit to achieve operational status. (24)
1966: TAC accepted its first F-4D at Nellis AFB. (5) MEDAL OF HONOR. Maj Bernard Fisher from the 1st Commando Squadron landed an A-1E on A Shau runway, Vietnam, under fire from North Vietnamese troops to rescue a downed pilot, Maj Dafford W. Myers from the 602 FS. President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Major Fisher this medal for heroism on 19 January 1967. He thus became the first Air Force man to be so honored for action in the Southeast Asian conflict. (5) (16)
1967: MEDAL OF HONOR. F-105 Thunderchiefs and F-4C Phantoms bombed the Thai Nguyen steel plant in North Vietnam for the first time. At the time, Thai Nguyen was the only plant in Southeast Asia making bridge sections, barges, and drums for fuels and lubricants. While attacking the steel plant, Capt Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen used his severely damaged F-105 to silence enemy defenses, despite intense enemy ground fire and fighter attacks, to earn the Medal of Honor. (16) (17) (21) TWIN MIG KILLER. Capt Mac C. Brestel, a F-105 pilot with the 355 TFS at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB), Thailand, became the first USAF pilot to down two MiGs in one mission in the Vietnam War. (16) (26)
1971: An Air Force helicopter saved 10 Japanese fishermen from rough surf and a coral reef after they were shipwrecked 200 miles southwest of Kadena AB. (16) (26)
1977: The first female navigator candidates reported to Mather AFB for undergraduate navigator training. (16) (26)
1995: The 11th Space Warning Squadron became the first unit with the ability to warn battlefield commanders of incoming theater ballistic missiles, such as the Scud missiles fired by Iraq in DESERT STORM. (26)
2007: The 326th Airlift Squadron, 512th Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserve Command), at Dover AFB, Del., flew its final C-5 Galaxy flight. According to plans, the squadron converted to the C-17 Globemaster III mission on 1 April and the first of 12 C-17s arrived in June. (AFNEWS, "Dover Reserve Squadron Flies Final C-5 Flight," 13 Mar 2007.)
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World News for 10 March thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Capitol Security Review Calls For More Personnel, Revamped Authorities Among Law Enforcement Agencies Roll Call | 03/10/2021 A task force charged with reviewing the security of the Capitol following the Jan. 6 riot has released its report, including recommendations, reports CQ Roll Call (Washington, D.C.). The March 5 report, written by retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore and 15 other members of the task force, includes a number of recommendations to improve physical and operational security, reported the Washington Post. The report recommends adding 854 personnel to the Capitol Police force to address overuse of overtime. This would include 424 new specialized posts in fields including intelligence-gathering, operational planning and protection of dignitaries. The report warned that the protection of congressional members while traveling and in their districts needed to be strengthened and recommended developing a threat-based protection model for members not in congressional leadership. Honore also called for the Capitol Police chief to be empowered to ask for assistance from other police agencies and the National Guard without having to go through the Capitol Police Board. The task force also recommended that the commander of the D.C. National Guard be granted emergency authority in urgent circumstances that would permit it to take action when it cannot obtain prior authorization from the president and local authorities are unable to contain a situation. To improve physical security, the report advised that a retractable fence system be installed that would not restrict public access but still satisfy security needs. A monitoring system to track and slow emerging threats should also be available. A dedicated quick-reaction force was proposed to respond to crises in the Capitol. This could be made up of multiple law enforcement agencies; the D.C. National Guard and other Guard units; or a permanent military police battalion housed within the D.C. National Guard, reported Politico. Other recommendations included increased background checks for individuals holding congressional IDs; additional bomb-sniffing dogs; re-establishing horse-mounted patrols; requiring civil defense units while Congress is in session; and equipping uniformed officers with riot gear and less-lethal weapons.
USA—Nominees To Lead 3 Combatant Commands Announced Air Force Magazine | 03/10/2021 The Biden administration has announced its nominees for three combat commands, reports Air Force magazine. On March 6, Air Force Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost was nominated to lead U.S. Transportation Command. She currently heads Air Mobility Command. Army Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, the commander of U.S. Army North, was nominated for promotion to general and to head Southern Command. Van Ovost and Richardson were reportedly selected for promotion last year, but the move was delayed because Pentagon officials were concerned that former President Trump would react negatively to promoting two women, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper said last month. If confirmed, the generals would be the second and third women to lead combat commands. Also nominated was Navy Adm. John Aquilino, currently the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, to serve as the head of Indo-Pacific Command. He would be succeeded by Vice Adm. Samuel Paparo Jr., who would receive a fourth star before taking over the post.
France—1st Military Space Exercise Underway Agence France-Presse | 03/10/2021 France is holding its first space-based military exercise this week, reports Agence France-Presse. The AsterX exercise began on Monday and is scheduled to conclude on Friday. The drill is designed to evaluate the ability of the new Space Command to defend its satellites and other systems from attack, said Maj. Gen. Michel Friedling, the head of the command. The exercise scenario involves a crisis between a state with space capabilities and another with a military assistance agreement with France, reported Deutsche Welle. The training will involve monitoring a potentially dangerous space object and a threat to a French satellite. The U.S. Space Force and German space agency are also participating in the drill.
Turkey—Altay Tank To Get S. Korean Powerpack Defense News | 03/10/2021 Turkish defense contractor BMC has forged an agreement with a pair of South Korean companies to provide the powerpack for a domestically designed tank, reports Defense News. Under the strategic understanding agreements, Doosan will supply the engine and S&T Dynamics the transmission for the Altay tank, a Turkish variant of the South Korean K2 tank, a senior BMC official said. Contracts for the work are expected to be formalized within months, the official said. The South Korean firms will provide the powerpack and assist with its integration into the Altay. If subsequent testing is successful, the tanks could be integrated with the South Korean powerpack within 18 months. The Altay tank was originally expected to incorporate a German powerpack, with the engine built by MTU and the transmission sourced from Renk. Those plans were abandoned after Germany placed an arms embargo on Turkey over its involvement in the conflict in Syria. BMC is currently under contract to build an initial batch of 250 Altays, provide lifecycle logistical support and establish and operate a tank systems technology center.
Turkey—Upgraded Indigenous SAM Completes Intercept Test Daily Sabah | 03/10/2021 Turkey has successfully test-fired an upgraded indigenous medium-range air defense system, reports the Daily Sabah (Istanbul). The trial involved the longest-range and highest-altitude test-firing of the modernized Hisar-O+ system to date, Ismael Demir, the head of Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), said in a social media post on Thursday. The missile directly hit the target, destroying it. The Hisar-O+ can defend against helicopters, uncrewed aerial vehicles, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles, noted the Anadolu Agency (Ankara). It has a range of 16 miles (25 km) and can track up to 60 targets simultaneously. The system is designed to defend stationary forces and critical facilities.
Poland—Final 2 Sokol-Class Subs Set For Decommissioning Defence24 | 03/10/2021 The Polish navy has kicked off the process to decommission its last two Sokol-class diesel-electric submarines, reports Defence24 (Poland). On March 2, the Sep was towed from Gdynia to Stocznia Remontowa im. J. Pilsudskeigo shipyard in Gdansk for decommissioning work. The shipyard will extract the batteries, battery monitoring and cooling systems, connections, halon-based fire-extinguishing systems and water systems from the submarine. Ballast would replace the removed components. The Polish navy has signed a US$258,800 contract with the shipyard valued to remove the batteries from the Sep and her sister, Bielik, prior to their formal decommissioning. The work is scheduled to be completed by May 7, with both boats to be formally decommissioned thereafter.
European Union—Parliament Strips Immunity From Catalan Lawmakers Politico Europe | 03/10/2021 The European Parliament has voted to remove parliamentary immunity from three Catalan lawmakers accused of sedition in Spain, reports Politico Europe (Brussels). The vote, the result of which was announced on Tuesday, removes immunity from Carles Puigdemont, Antoni Comin and Clara Ponsati. The three MEPs formerly held senior positions in the Catalonia regional government and are facing charges in Spain for their roles in organizing a 2017 independence referendum, which was determined to be illegal by a Spanish court. Puigdemont and Comin reside in Belgium in self-imposed exile, while Ponsati lives in Scotland, noted Agence France-Presse. The parliamentary vote was based on the assessment that the legal cases brought against the lawmakers were not intended to interfere with their work in the Parliament, noted the Committee on Legal Affairs. It was not the Parliament's role to judge the merit of the charges, the committee said. The efforts to organize the referendum took place before the MEPs won their seats. The removal of immunity is not expected to have an immediate effect. A Belgian court previously declined to extradite a fourth former member of the Catalan government to Spain. The decision was welcomed by Madrid. Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said that the vote meant that MEPs could not use their status to avoid justice for crimes committed before their election.
Armenia—Top Military Officer Officially Removed From Post, PM Says Armenpress | 03/10/2021 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says the chief of the Armenian General Staff has been formally removed from his job, reports Armenpress (Yerevan). The decision dismissing Col. Gen. Onik Gasparyan has entered effect, the prime minister's office said in a March 10 statement. Pashinyan announced the firing of Gasparyan on Feb. 25, after the general signed a letter with 40 other officers calling for the prime minister to resign. The move required the approval of President Armen Sarkissian to take immediate effect. The president twice refused to greenlight the decision, setting off a countdown after which Pashinyan's decision automatically entered effect, reported Reuters. Sarkissian has brought a case before the constitutional court to review the 2017 Law on Military Service and Status of Servicemen, the relevant law in the decision. He has denied Pashinyan's assertion that a narrow window constrains the timing of his decision, reported the Tass news agency (Moscow). Gasparyan has also filed his own legal claim, challenging the legality of his removal. Meanwhile, Pashinyan has nominated Lt. Gen. Artak Davtyan to replace Gasparyan. Davtyan previously held the post from 2018 to 2020.
China—Navy Commissions 2nd Nanchang-Class Cruiser China Daily | 03/10/2021 The Chinese navy has commissioned its second Nanchang-class cruiser, reports the state-run China Daily. The Lhasa recently entered service and was assigned to the North Sea Fleet in Qingdao, sources told the paper. The lead ship, Nanchang, entered service last year and is also assigned to the North Sea Fleet. The class measures about 590 feet (180 m), displaces 12,000 metric tons and is equipped with 112 vertical launch cells. Another six of the cruisers are under construction at Dalian shipyard in Liaoning province and Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai.
Burma—2nd NLD Member Dies In Military Custody Irrawaddy | 03/10/2021 A second figure from the National League for Democracy (NLD) political party has died in military detention, reports the Irrawaddy (Burma). On Monday, security forces raided the Suu Vocational Institute in the Yangon region and apprehended its head, Zaw Myat Lin. On Tuesday, authorities informed family members that he had died, asking his wife to identify the body. His death was confirmed by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), reported CNN. The cause of death was not specified but preliminary reports suggest that he was subjected to beatings and physical abuse during his short confinement. The military claimed that Zaw Myat Lin was injured while trying to climb over a fence to escape arrest. Three students and three locals at the institute were also arrested in the raid. Computers, vehicles, phones and money were confiscated, said a teacher at the school. Meanwhile, Khin Maung Latt, NLD party chair for the Yangon region, died on Saturday in police custody, said the AAPP. At least 54 people have been killed since the Burmese military seized power on Feb. 1.
India—Military Sees Less Funding For Modernization Despite Evolving Threats The Print | 03/10/2021 The Indian government has allocated less funding for military modernization in recent years despite an increasingly challenging strategic environment, reports the Print (New Delhi). In fiscal 2021, the military requested US$27.3 billion for its capital budget but received just US$16.8 billion. This is less than the military requested in fiscal 2014, when it asked for US$18.1 billion and received US$11.5 billion. The most acutely affected service is the navy, which has been allocated US$4.5 billion in fiscal 2021, less than half the amount requested for modernization efforts. Over the last decade, the defense budget has grown at an average of 8.4 percent annually, while the share of the budget dedicated to capital outlay has shrunk, according to PRS Legislative Research (New Delhi). The capital budget provides funding for acquisition, land leases and certain construction activities. Salaries and pensions account for about 60 percent of the Indian defense budget, a figure that has grown over the last 10 years, the Times of India reported in January. The funding shortfall requires much of the budget to be spent on existing programs rather than investing in new ones, experts said.
Tajikistan—Locals On Border With Afghanistan May Be Called To Arms If Militants Cross Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | 03/10/2021 Officials in southern Tajikistan say locals should be prepared "to take up arms" if militants seek to cross the border with Afghanistan, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. In the Shamsiddin Shohin district, the local government has registered army reservists and hunters who may be called on to defend Tajik territory should the violence in Afghanistan spill over, said Gov. Pochokhon Zarifzoda. Other districts along the 845-mile (1,360-km) border with Afghanistan have issued similar directives. Authorities have provided no information on possible plans to train the men, though they have implied that they could be provided with weapons. The plan comes as fighting in Afghanistan has escalated near the border with Tajikistan. The government has also expressed concern about Tajik fighters, perhaps as many as 200, who are believed to be fighting with the Taliban and ISIS in Afghanistan.
Oman—Navy Leads International Mine-Countermeasures Drill U.S. Naval Forces Central Command | 03/10/2021 Last month, Oman hosted an annual multinational mine-countermeasures exercise, reports U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. The Khunjar Hadd 26 drills took place in the Sea of Oman from Feb. 21-25, the command said on March 7. The surface, air and mine countermeasures exercise was designed to strengthen capabilities in operations such as underwater diving, searching, mine identification, demolition and maritime explosive ordnance disposal. The Omani navy led the exercise with the support of the Omani air force. During the exercise, an Omani Lynx helicopter landed on the U.S. Navy cruiser Port Royal, the first time such an Omani helicopter had landed on a U.S. warship. The U.S. contingent also included the Cyclone-class patrol ships Chinook and Thunderbolt and the Avenger-class mine warfare ships Gladiator and Sentry. U.S. Navy photos indicated that the Omani corvette Al Rasikh, patrol vessel Sadh and amphibious transport ship Fulk Al Salamah took part. The French and British navies also participated in the training.
Libya—Parliament Approves Unity Government Libya Herald | 03/10/2021 Libyan legislators have approved a new unity government, reports the Libya Herald. On Wednesday, lawmakers in the coastal city of Sirte voted in favor of the unity government led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Al Dbeibeh. The Government of National Unity (GNU) is scheduled to operate until Dec. 24, when national elections are planned. Dbeibeh indicated that should it need to continue after that date, it would do so in a caretaker role. The prime minister also called on lawmakers to support efforts to pass a 2021 budget, constitutional referendum law and local governance laws. Dbeibeh's Cabinet has drawn criticism for its size, which was designed to include multiple stakeholders from across the country, noted Reuters. Since 2015, Libya has been divided between rival governments based in Tobruk, backed by Khalifa Haftar, and Tripoli, backed by an umbrella of militias. On Wednesday, Fayez Sarraj, the head of the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), expressed readiness to hand over power to the GNU. At the same time, the incoming Presidency Council led by Mohamed Menfi announced that it had formally begun work.
Nigeria—At Least 30 Kidnapped By Bandits In Niger State This Day | 03/10/2021 At least 30 people have been abducted from villages in Nigeria's western Niger state, reports This Day (Lagos). On Monday morning, the heavily armed bandits struck the town of Kutunku in the Wushishi local government area. The gunmen traveled to the area on motorcycles before infiltrating the town on foot to avoid arousing suspicion. The bandits rounded up the villagers and forced at least 30 of them to go with them to their camp. Those kidnapped included 20 members of the Gbagyis tribe, nine members of the Fulani tribe and one from an unspecified tribe. A local official told Agence France-Presse that 25 people had been abducted, 24 from Kutunku and one from the nearby village of Adidi.
Equatorial Guinea—Death Toll In Explosion At Bata Base Rises To 98 Reuters | 03/10/2021 The death toll from a series of explosions at a military camp in Equatorial Guinea has increased to 98, reports Reuters. On Monday, the health ministry revised the death toll following rescue efforts at the barracks near Bata. At least 615 people were wounded in the explosion on Sunday, which started when farmers in the area were burning stubble and spread to explosive stores at the base. About 299 remained hospitalized. Almost all homes in the city of 250,000 people have been damaged, said President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.
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