Good Tuesday Morning May 18
I hope that your week has started well.
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This day in Naval History May 18
1775 Col. Benedict Arnold captures a British sloop at St. Johns in Quebec, Canada and renames her Enterprise, the first of many famous ships with that name.
1898 During the Spanish-American War, boat parties from USS St. Louis and USS Wompatuck, under Capt. Caspar F. Goodrich, cut communication cables at Santiago, Cuba.
1902 Marines and Sailors from the iron-hulled screw steamer, Ranger go ashore at Panama City, Colombia, to protect US citizen lives and property during an insurrection that results in Panamas eventual independence from Colombia on Nov. 3, 1903.
1944 USS Wilkes (DD 441) and USS Roe (DD 418), carrying the 1st Battalion 163rd Infantry, land on Wakde, off Dutch New Guinea, securing the island and setting up airstrip for the Southwest Pacific offensive.
1969 Apollo 10 is launched with Cmdr. John W. Young as command module pilot and Cmdr. Eugene Cernan as the lunar module pilot. The mission is a dress rehearsal for the first lunar landing.
Thanks to CHINFO
Executive Summary:
• Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Harker released a memo announcing specific actions toward the Department's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
• CNO Adm. Mike Gilday and Mrs. Linda Gilday released a statement for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
• VCNO Adm. Bill Lescher visited Navy Recruiting Commands in Millington, Tenn., and Navy Service Training and Recruit Training Commands in Great Lakes, Ill.
• Bloomberg published an article about ship procurement and the budget request for FY22.
Today in History May 18
0526 St. John I ends his reign as Catholic Pope.
1643 Queen Anne, the widow of Louis XIII, is granted sole and absolute power as regent by the Paris parliament, overriding the late king's will.
1652 A law is passed in Rhode Island banning slavery in the colonies but it causes little stir and seems unlikely to be enforced.
1792 Russian troops invade Poland.
1802 Britain declares war on France.
1804 Napoleon Bonaparte becomes the Emperor of France.
1828 The Battle of Las Piedras, between Uruguay and Brazil, ends.
1860 Abraham Lincoln is nominated for president.
1864 The fighting at Spotsylvania in Virginia, reaches its peak at the Bloody Angle.
1896 The Supreme Court's decision on Plessy v. Ferguson upholds the "separate but equal" policy in the United States.
1904 Brigand Raisuli kidnaps American Ion H. Perdicaris in Morocco.
1917 The U.S. Congress passes the Selective Service act, calling up soldiers to fight World War I.
1931 Japanese pilot Seiji Yoshihara crashes his plane in the Pacific Ocean while trying to be the first to cross the ocean nonstop. He is picked up seven hours later by a passing ship.
1933 President Franklin Roosevelt signs the Tennessee Valley Authority Act.
1942 New York ends night baseball games for the rest of World War II.
1944 The Allies finally capture Monte Cassino in Italy.
1951 The United Nations moves its headquarters to New York city.
1969 Two battalions of the 101st Airborne Division assault Hill 937 but cannot reach the top because of muddy conditions.
1974 India becomes the sixth nation to explode an atomic bomb.
1980 After rumbling for two months, Mount Saint Helens, in Washington, erupts 3 times in 24 hours.
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Thanks to Al
Monday Morning Humor--Maskless in San Diego
In celebration of lifting the mask/social distancing guidelines for those fully vaccinated.
Submitted by Bob King:
This is why everyone was confused
At Restaurant:
Hostess: OK, I can seat you at this table right here (4 feet away), but I will need you to wear a mask to the table.
Me: What happens when I get to the table?
Hostess: You can take off the mask.
Me: Then it is safe over there?
Hostess: Yes.
Me: Are those fans blowing above the table? Is that the air-conditioning I feel? Is the air circulating in here?
Hostess: No words. Confused look.
At the Grocery Store:
Me: Why is there plastic on the payment keypad?
Cashier: To protect people from Covid.
Me: But isn't everyone touching the plastic keypad the same way they would the regular keypad?
Cashier: No words. Confused look.
Me: Why don't you pack the grocery bags anymore?
Cashier: Because of covid-19 to reduce the spread of catching or spreading the virus.
Me: But a shelf packer took it out of a box and put it on the shelf, a few customers might have picked it up and put it back deciding they Don't want it, I put it in my cart then on the conveyor belt, YOU pick it up to scan it.. But putting it in a bag after you scan is risky??
Cashier: No words, confused look.
At a Drive-Thru
Server: (holds a tray out the window with a bag of food for a logical friend to grab)
Me: Why is my bag of food on a tray?
Server: So I don't touch your food because of Covid.
Me: Didn't the cook touch my food? Didn't the person wrapping my food touch it and then touch it again when placing it in my bag? Didn't you touch the bag and put it on the tray? Didn't you touch the tray?
Server: No words. Confused look.
At Costco
People that can't touch your Costco card but can scan all the food you put on the belt then take the money you hand them.. hmmm
In Society
If you cough or sneeze do it in your elbow or sleeve,
Also society: Don't shake hands or hug anyone or you will spread the virus. To greet people, do an elbow tap instead.
Me: Elbow tap? Isn't that where you tell people to sneeze or cough? into their elbow? Now you want people to tap each other with that elbow wouldn't it be safer to sneeze into the elbow and shake hands like we did before Covid?
You are not allowed to stand and drink at the pub or bar, you have to sit down. But at the shopping center you are not allowed to sit down, all the chairs are roped off.
Are we raising a generation without the ability to process and execute logic? Common sense is very uncommon.
Submitted by Mark Logan:
Medical experts were asked what they think about lifting restrictions:.
· Allergists were in favor of scratching it, but Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.
· Gastroenterologists had a sort of a gut feeling about it, but Neurologists thought the government had a lot of nerve.
· Obstetricians felt certain everyone was laboring under a misconception, while Ophthalmologists considered the idea short-sighted.
· Many Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while Pediatricians said, "Oh, grow up!"
· Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while Radiologists could see right through it.
· Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing and pharmacists claimed it would be a bitter pill to swallow.
· Plastic Surgeons opined that this proposal would "put a whole new face on the matter."
· Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but Urologists were pissed off by the whole idea.
· Anesthetists thought the whole idea was a gas, and Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.
· In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the a$$e$ in politics.
Submitted by Colleen Grosso:
· Finland has just opened their borders. Now everyone can cross the finish line.
· Hope this ends all the coronavirus jokes, it's been a pundemic.
· Now we can finally tell more than inside jokes.
· Remember when you ran out of toilet paper and had to use newspapers. The Times was rough.\
Submitted by Dave Harris:
I told my suitcases we are going on vacation this year. There will be no more emotional baggage.
Once again it is time to surround yourself with positive people.
I feel this is the longest something made in China has ever lasted.
Do you remember, before the internet, that people thought the cause of stupidity was the lack of access to information? It wasn't that!
And in the end, mankind used so much toilet paper, they wiped themselves out.
Here's wishing you enjoy being mask free,
Al
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Thanks to Boris
Remembered Sky Spring 2021 Postings (5)
The Spring posts for Remembered sky are now online. Unlike some editions, subject matter focus is varied. Also the last post from Christmas time is included due to the "coming home" nature and the period of Spring 1973 covered. From latest to earliest:
1. Phantoms to WartHogs http://rememberedsky.com/?p=4867
'Dogfighting makes movies. Close air support wins wars,'
2. Anthology – RememberedSky Vietnam Air War '72-'73 Stories http://rememberedsky.com/?p=4807
"Those of us who came home will never forget those who could not " Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association
3. Of tin gods and STEEL MAGNOLIAS http://rememberedsky.com/?p=4766
This post is for the wives who wait… sometimes in vain… for the return of their tin gods from that charge into the fire.
These women most assuredly were and are Steel Magnolias.
4. The Flying Circus Toy Shop: Recommendations http://rememberedsky.com/?p=4649
Hey Mom, when I grow up I wanna be a fighter pilot …………… Son, I'm sorry, but you can't do both
… of flight jackets, patches, aircraft pictures, models, books, watches, coffee mugs, 'I luv me walls' and old toys and … of history, memories, and of the friends
5. Missmus Bismus #4: Epilogue http://rememberedsky.com/?p=4444
I never would have made it if I could not have laughed. It lifted me momentarily out of this horrible situation, just enough to make it livable. — Viktor Frankl
All I claim to know is that laughter is the most reliable gauge of human nature. — Feodor Dostoyevsky
One of the drivers for RS is to preserve some history and words that could be easily lost over time if you're not a major aviation history reader. To that end the intent for the Summer postings is to provide excerpts from some of the older aviation writers like Earnest Gann, Richard Bach or James Salter.
Hope all is well...have a great summer. Comments and inputs welcome as always.
Ed Boris Beakley
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear
LOOKING BACK 55-YEARS to the Vietnam Air War— For The List for Tuesday, 18 May 2021... Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED (1965-1968)...
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 18 May 1966...
"LBJ Speech: good in 1966, and still appropriate in 2021, and a plug for DPAA"
https://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-remembered-18-may-1966-keeping-the-promise/
This work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear's Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip
Vietnam Air Losses
Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
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This Day in U S Military History…….May 18
1944 – The Polish Corps, part of a multinational Allied Eighth Army offensive in southern Italy, finally pushes into Monte Cassino as the battle to break German Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's defensive Gustav Line nears its end. The Allied push northward to Rome began in January with the landing of 50,000 seaborne troops at Anzio, 33 miles south of the Italian capital. Despite having met very little resistance, the Allies chose to consolidate their position rather than immediately battle north to Rome. Consequently, German forces under the command of Field Marshal Kesselring were able to create a defensive line that cut across the center of the peninsula. General Wladyslaw Anders, leader of the Polish troops who would raise their flag over the ruins of the famous Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino, commenting on the cost of the battle, said, "Corpses of German and Polish soldiers, sometimes entangled in a deathly embrace, lay everywhere, and the air was full of the stench of rotting bodies."
1944 – The US 163rd Infantry Regiment (General Doe) lands on Insoemar Island and advance to capture Wadke airfield.
1944 – The US 6th Army announces that the campaign in the Admiralty Islands has been completed. The Americans have suffered 1400 dead and wounded; the Japanese have suffered 3820 dead and 75 prisoners.
1945 – On Okinawa, the US 6th Marine Division, part of US 3rd Amphibious Corps, captures most of the Sugar Loaf Hill, as well as parts of the Half Moon and the Horseshoe positions that overlook it, after several days of bitter fighting. The US 1st Marine Division continues to battle for the Wana river valley and Wana Ridge but fails to eliminate Japanese resistance, even with flame-throwers and tanks in support. Meanwhile, the US 77th and 96th Divisions, parts of US 24th Corps, attack Japanese positions on Flat Peak without success.
1945 – On Luzon, American units make some progress toward Woodpecker Ridge.
1951 – Naval Task Force 77 suffered its worst single day of the war when six planes failed to return to their carriers.
1953 – Air Force Captain Joseph C. McConnell, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, qualified as the top ace of the war and the first of only two triple jet aces (15 kills) after shooting down another three MiGs. Captain McConnell completed his combat tour on 19 May with a total of 106 missions and 16 MiG kills.
1989 – A crowd of protesters, estimated to number more than one million, marches through the streets of Beijing calling for a more democratic political system. Just a few weeks later, the Chinese government moved to crush the protests. Protests in China had been brewing since the mid-1980s when the communist government announced that it was loosening some of the restrictions on the economy, allowing for a freer market to develop. Encouraged by this action, a number of Chinese (particularly students) began to call for similar action on the political front. By early 1989, peaceful protests began to take place in some of China's largest urban areas. The largest of these protests took place around Tiananmen Square in the center of Beijing. By the middle of May 1989, enormous crowds took to the streets with songs, slogans, and banners calling for greater democracy and the ouster of some hard-line Chinese officials. The Chinese government responded with increasingly harsh measures, including arrests and beatings of some protesters. On June 3, 1989, Chinese armed forces stormed into Tiananmen Square and swept the protesters away. Thousands were killed and over 10,000 were arrested in what came to be known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The protests attracted worldwide attention. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev applauded the protesters and publicly declared that reform was necessary in communist China. In the United States, the Chinese students were treated like heroes by the American press. Following the Tiananmen Square Massacre, a shocked U.S. government suspended arms sales to China and imposed economic sanctions. The Chinese government, however, refused to bend, referring to the protesters as "lawless elements" of Chinese society.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
KINSEY, JOHN
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company B, 45th Pennsylvania Infantry. Place and date: At Spotsylvania, Va., 18 May 1864. Entered service at: —–. Birth: Lancaster County, Pa. Date of issue: 2 March 1897. Citation: Seized the colors, the color bearer having been shot, and with great gallantry succeeded in saving them from capture.
WHITMAN, FRANK M.
Rank and organization: Private, Company G, 35th Massachusetts Infantry. Place and date: At Antietam, Md., 17 September 1862. At Spotsylvania, Va., 18 May 1864. Entered service at: Ayersville, Mass. Birth: Woodstock, Maine. Date of issue: 21 February 1874. Citation: Was among the last to leave the field at Antietam and was instrumental in saving the lives of several of his comrades at the imminent risk of his own. At Spotsylvania was foremost in line in the assault, where he lost a leg.
*GRANDSTAFF, BRUCE ALAN
Rank and organization: Platoon Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry. Place and date: Pleiku Province, Republic of Vietnam, 18 May 1967. Entered service at: Spokane, Wash. Born: 2 June 1934, Spokane, Wash. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. P/Sgt. Grandstaff distinguished himself while leading the Weapons Platoon, Company B, on a reconnaissance mission near the Cambodian border. His platoon was advancing through intermittent enemy contact when it was struck by heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire from 3 sides. As he established a defensive perimeter, P/Sgt. Grandstaff noted that several of his men had been struck down. He raced 30 meters through the intense fire to aid them but could only save 1. Denied freedom to maneuver his unit by the intensity of the enemy onslaught, he adjusted artillery to within 45 meters of his position. When helicopter gunships arrived, he crawled outside the defensive position to mark the location with smoke grenades. Realizing his first marker was probably ineffective, he crawled to another location and threw his last smoke grenade but the smoke did not penetrate the jungle foliage. Seriously wounded in the leg during this effort he returned to his radio and, refusing medical aid, adjusted the artillery even closer as the enemy advanced on his position. Recognizing the need for additional firepower, he again braved the enemy fusillade, crawled to the edge of his position and fired several magazines of tracer ammunition through the jungle canopy. He succeeded in designating the location to the gunships but this action again drew the enemy fire and he was wounded in the other leg. Now enduring intense pain and bleeding profusely, he crawled to within 10 meters of an enemy machine gun which had caused many casualties among his men. He destroyed the position with hand grenades but received additional wounds. Rallying his remaining men to withstand the enemy assaults, he realized his position was being overrun and asked for artillery directly on his location. He fought until mortally wounded by an enemy rocket. Although every man in the platoon was a casualty, survivors attest to the indomitable spirit and exceptional courage of this outstanding combat leader who inspired his men to fight courageously against overwhelming odds and cost the enemy heavy casualties. P/Sgt. Grandstaff's selfless gallantry, above and beyond the call of duty, are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
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*GUENETTE, PETER M.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company D, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). Place and date: Quan Tan Uyen Province, Republic of Vietnam, 18 May 1968. Entered service at: Albany, N.Y. Born: 4 January 1948, Troy, N.Y. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Guenette distinguished himself while serving as a machine gunner with Company D, during combat operations. While Sp4c. Guenette's platoon was sweeping a suspected enemy base camp, it came under light harassing fire from a well equipped and firmly entrenched squad of North Vietnamese Army regulars which was serving as a delaying force at the entrance to their base camp. As the platoon moved within 10 meters of the fortified positions, the enemy fire became intense. Sp4c. Guenette and his assistant gunner immediately began to provide a base of suppressive fire, ceasing momentarily to allow the assistant gunner time to throw a grenade into a bunker. Seconds later, an enemy grenade was thrown to Sp4c. Guenette's right flank. Realizing that the grenade would kill or wound at least 4 men and destroy the machine gun, he shouted a warning and smothered the grenade with his body, absorbing its blast. Through his actions, he prevented loss of life or injury to at least 3 men and enabled his comrades to maintain their fire superiority. By his gallantry at the cost of his life in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, Sp4c. Guenette has reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
*STEWART, JIMMY G.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 18 May 1966. Entered service at: Ashland, Ky. Born: 25 December 1942, West Columbia, W. Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Early in the morning a reinforced North Vietnamese company attacked Company B, which was manning a defensive perimeter in Vietnam. The surprise onslaught wounded 5 members of a 6-man squad caught in the direct path of the enemy's thrust. S/Sgt. Stewart became a lone defender of vital terrain–virtually 1 man against a hostile platoon. Refusing to take advantage of a lull in the firing which would have permitted him to withdraw, S/Sgt. Stewart elected to hold his ground to protect his fallen comrades and prevent an enemy penetration of the company perimeter. As the full force of the platoon-sized man attack struck his lone position, he fought like a man possessed; emptying magazine after magazine at the determined, on-charging enemy. The enemy drove almost to his position and hurled grenades, but S/Sgt. Stewart decimated them by retrieving and throwing the grenades back. Exhausting his ammunition, he crawled under intense fire to his wounded team members and collected ammunition that they were unable to use. Far past the normal point of exhaustion, he held his position for 4 harrowing hours and through 3 assaults, annihilating the enemy as they approached and before they could get a foothold. As a result of his defense, the company position held until the arrival of a reinforcing platoon which counterattacked the enemy, now occupying foxholes to the left of S/Sgt. Stewart's position. After the counterattack, his body was found in a shallow enemy hole where he had advanced in order to add his fire to that of the counterattacking platoon. Eight enemy dead were found around his immediate position, with evidence that 15 others had been dragged away. The wounded whom he gave his life to protect, were recovered and evacuated. S/Sgt. Stewart's indomitable courage, in the face of overwhelming odds, stands as a tribute to himself and an inspiration to all men of his unit. His actions were in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and the Armed Forces of his country.
*WAYRYNEN, DALE EUGENE
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date: Quang Ngai, Province, Republic of Vietnam, 18 May 1967. Entered service at: Minneapolis, Minn. Born: 18 January 1947, Moose Lake, Minn. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Wayrynen distinguished himself with Company B, during combat operations near Duc Pho. His platoon was assisting in the night evacuation of the wounded from an earlier enemy contact when the lead man of the unit met face to face with a Viet Cong soldier. The American's shouted warning also alerted the enemy who immediately swept the area with automatic weapons fire from a strongly built bunker close to the trail and threw hand grenades from another nearby fortified position. Almost immediately, the lead man was wounded and knocked from his feet. Sp4c. Wayrynen, the second man in the formation, leaped beyond his fallen comrade to kill another enemy soldier who appeared on the trail, and he dragged his injured companion back to where the point squad had taken cover. Suddenly, a live enemy grenade landed in the center of the tightly grouped men. Sp4c. Wayrynen, quickly assessing the danger to the entire squad as well as to his platoon leader who was nearby, shouted a warning, pushed one soldier out of the way, and threw himself on the grenade at the moment it exploded. He was mortally wounded. His deep and abiding concern for his fellow soldiers was significantly reflected in his supreme and courageous act that preserved the lives of his comrades. Sp4c. Wayrynen's heroic actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the service, and they reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for May 18, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
1918: American day bombing began with the arrival of the 96th Aero Squadron at Amanty Airdrome, France. (4) (11)
1942: The US and Panama signed an agreement for defense sites in Panama that included several airbases.
1949: New York's first heliport opened at Pier 41, East River. (24) 1952: KOREAN WAR. An SA-16 amphibian from the 3 ARS, while under fire from the enemy shoreline, rescued a downed F-84 pilot. (28)
1953: Jacqueline Cochran, flying a Canadian-built F-86 Sabre at Edwards AFB, became the first woman to fly faster than sound. She averaged 652.337 MPH on a 100-kilometer closed-course (62 miles) to earn the women's jet speed record. (24) Capt Joseph C. McConnnell, Jr., shot down his 16th enemy aircraft in the Korean War to become its top ace. (21)
1955: Leading four F-84 Thunderjets, Col Harold M. McClelland set a nonstop record for singleengine jets by flying 4,840 miles from Yokota AB to Williamstown, Australia, in 12 hours 10 minutes. (24)
1958: The US recovered its first full-scale ablative-type nose cone from the Atlantic Ocean. It was launched from Cape Canaveral on a Jupiter missile. (6)
1964: Jacqueline Cochran set a speed record for women: 1,429 MPH at 37,100 feet in altitude, in an F-104G at Edwards AFB. First McDonnell-Douglas RF-4C flight lasted 50 minutes. (12)
1965: First flight of the Navy's F-111B. 1966: Ling-Temco-Vought Aerospace's XC-142A triservice V/STOL transport made its first carrier takeoffs and landings during tests aboard the USS Bennington at sea off San Diego. (3)
1969: APOLLO X. Through 26 May Apollo X, the first lunar orbital mission using a complete Apollo spacecraft, launched from Kennedy Space Center on a Saturn V with Col Thomas F. Stafford (USAF), Capt John W. Young (USN), and Cmdr Eugene A. Cernan (USN) aboard. They landed eight days later in the Pacific. (26)
1968: The USAF delivered 88.5 tons of food and emergency materials to Ethopia after a massive flood. (8) 1973: Lockheed-Georgia delivered the last production-model C-5A aircraft, No. 81, to MAC at Dover AFB. (16) (26)
1980: After Mount St. Helens erupted, a C-141 from the 63 MAW at Norton AFB, Calif., and a C-130 from the 62 MAW at McChord AFB flew above the stricken area to provide communications for rescue aircraft. The USAF Rescue Coordination Center at Scott AFB managed 568 sorties by the ARRS, Coast Guard, Civil Air Patrol, and Army aircraft through 5 June that saved 101 lives. SR-71 aircraft conducted photoreconnaissance sorties to aid the rescue and recovery operations. (2) (21)
1992: A production C-17 Globemaster III flew for the first time in a flight from Long Beach to the test facility at Edwards AFB. (16)
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World News for 18 May thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Air Force One Replacement Program Officially Delayed Defense One | 05/18/2021 Air Force officials have confirmed that the program to replace the VC-25 presidential aircraft is behind schedule, reports Defense One. Problems with a key subcontractor are behind the delay to the VC-25B program, Air Force military deputy for acquisition Lt. Gen. Duke Richardson said during a McAleese and Associates virtual conference on May 13. Issues emerged last month, when Boeing canceled its contract with Texas-based GDC Technics, which was under contract to supply the aircraft's interior, alleging the firm had fallen a year behind schedule, reported Defense News. GDC says that Boeing is responsible for the delay and has countersued. Boeing is working to transfer as much of the interior work as possible but has declined to name the new subcontractor. The Air Force is assessing the effect of the delay. The first aircraft was originally scheduled to be delivered in 2024.
USA—Senate Prepared To Pass Military Sexual Assault Reforms Military.Com | 05/18/2021 A group of senators has announced that they have secured the necessary votes to pass reforms for the military's process for responding to and prosecuting sexual assaults, reports Military.com. On May 13, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said that they had secured the support of 61 senators for the bill. The legislation would remove commanders from the decision to prosecute sexual assaults and place that power with trained attorneys. Similar legislation has been proposed in the House of Representatives by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.). Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley previously indicated that he would support such reforms, reported CNN earlier this month. Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell Smith have also voiced their support for the changes. Studies have shown that around one-third of military sexual assaults are formally reported with an even smaller ratio of alleged perpetrators facing court martial. A commission on the subject recommended to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that an independent judge advocate post should be created that would report to the chief special victims officer to determine whether and how to charge perpetrators in certain special victims crimes.
France—Agreement Reached To Fund Next Phase Of FCAS Program Reuters | 05/18/2021 France, Germany and Spain have reached an agreement to fund the next phase of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, reports Reuters. The three nations will share costs evenly for the next stage of the program, which is estimated to cost about 3.5 billion euros (US$4.25 billion), French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Monday. That figure exceeds a cost ceiling imposed last year by the three governments by about US$1.2 billion (1 billion euros), reported Defense News. A German defense source said that this was due in part to some government contributions, such as engines and airfield time, being formally included in the price. France and Germany originally sought to conclude the agreement by the end of April but that was pushed back due to a dispute over intellectual property rights. As part of the agreement to end that dispute, the new jet will not have a black box, in order to preserve sensitive information, said a French defense source. Germany still needs to obtain parliamentary approval to fund the agreement before federal elections in September. Phase 1B of the FCAS program is expected to last until 2024 and cover the design of a fighter jet and associated uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), reported Agence France-Presse. The FCAS program also includes an advanced combat cloud, new jet engine and sophisticated sensors and stealth technologies. A demonstrator is anticipated to fly by 2027, with initial operational capability to be reached around 2040.
USA—Senate Prepared To Pass Military Sexual Assault Reforms Military.Com | 05/18/2021 A group of senators has announced that they have secured the necessary votes to pass reforms for the military's process for responding to and prosecuting sexual assaults, reports Military.com. On May 13, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said that they had secured the support of 61 senators for the bill. The legislation would remove commanders from the decision to prosecute sexual assaults and place that power with trained attorneys. Similar legislation has been proposed in the House of Representatives by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.). Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley previously indicated that he would support such reforms, reported CNN earlier this month. Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell Smith have also voiced their support for the changes. Studies have shown that around one-third of military sexual assaults are formally reported with an even smaller ratio of alleged perpetrators facing court martial. A commission on the subject recommended to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that an independent judge advocate post should be created that would report to the chief special victims officer to determine whether and how to charge perpetrators in certain special victims crimes.
France—Agreement Reached To Fund Next Phase Of FCAS Program Reuters | 05/18/2021 France, Germany and Spain have reached an agreement to fund the next phase of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, reports Reuters. The three nations will share costs evenly for the next stage of the program, which is estimated to cost about 3.5 billion euros (US$4.25 billion), French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Monday. That figure exceeds a cost ceiling imposed last year by the three governments by about US$1.2 billion (1 billion euros), reported Defense News. A German defense source said that this was due in part to some government contributions, such as engines and airfield time, being formally included in the price. France and Germany originally sought to conclude the agreement by the end of April but that was pushed back due to a dispute over intellectual property rights. As part of the agreement to end that dispute, the new jet will not have a black box, in order to preserve sensitive information, said a French defense source. Germany still needs to obtain parliamentary approval to fund the agreement before federal elections in September. Phase 1B of the FCAS program is expected to last until 2024 and cover the design of a fighter jet and associated uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), reported Agence France-Presse. The FCAS program also includes an advanced combat cloud, new jet engine and sophisticated sensors and stealth technologies. A demonstrator is anticipated to fly by 2027, with initial operational capability to be reached around 2040.
Romania—USAF Continues Upgrade Work At Campia Turzii Air Force News Service | 05/18/2021 The U.S. Air Force is set to launch new modernization projects at Campia Turzii in Romania, reports the Air Force News Service. Work at the air base is being led by the Air Force Civil Engineer Center and the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center's Detachment 4, the service said in a release on Sunday. Plans call for contracts for four construction projects to be awarded by the end of August. There are about 15 infrastructure projects planned at the base with a total value of US$152 million. The projects are being funded through the European Deterrence Initiative, reported Stars & Stripes. Contracts for about US$130 million of that work will be awarded this year. These include a US$30 million project to build a dangerous cargo pad to support C-5 and C-17 transport aircraft and a new parking apron for fighter and transport aircraft; a US$32 million fuel storage facility; and a US$68 million storage complex for the Air Force's new deployable air base systems. A new temporary aircraft hangar, upgrades to the cargo field and a new munitions storage area with earth-covered magazines and an access road to link the facilities is also planned. The service has already spent US$14 million on modernizing infrastructure at the base.
Poland—Internal Security Agency Announces Arrest Of Russian Spy Tass | 05/18/2021 Poland's Internal Security Agency says it has arrested a Polish citizen on charges of spying for Russia, reports Russia's Tass news agency. On May 5, the 43-year-old man, named only as Marcin K., was arrested, a Polish security service spokesman said on Monday. Marcin K. allegedly passed information about Polish special services and military industry materials as well as information on Polish legal entities and Polish citizens to Russian special services. He reportedly pled guilty to the charges and was placed into pre-trial detention for three months, reported the Moscow Times. Details of the case remain classified, officials said.
Estonia—Italian F-35s Intercept Russian Aircraft NATO Allied Air Command | 05/18/2021 For the first time, an advanced F-35 fighter jet supporting the NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission has intercepted an unidentified aircraft, reports NATO Allied Air Command. On May 14, the Combined Air Operations Center at Uedem, Germany, identified an unknown aircraft operating in the Baltic Sea between mainland Russia and its Kaliningrad exclave. Italian air force F-35s at Amari Air Base, Estonia, were scrambled and intercepted the aircraft, identifying it as an An-12 transport. The An-12 was flying near the Estonian coast over international waters without a flight plan and without its transponder operating. The F-35 returned to Amari after identifying the aircraft. Italy deployed a detachment of four F-35s to Amari at the end of April, the first time that the fifth-generation fighter has been assigned to the Baltic air-policing mission, noted the Aviationist blog. They are scheduled to remain in Estonia until August.
South Korea—DAPA Official Under Investigation For Leaking Secret Information Yonhap | 05/18/2021 South Korean defense intelligence investigators have raided the offices of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) over allegations that confidential data was leaked, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). On Monday, investigators raided the DAPA office in Gwacheon and seized documents and other related materials related to the probe, officials said. A DAPA official is believed to have leaked internal documents related to several military technology programs, including the development of a submarine sonar system, to unnamed private defense firms. Much of the information was general in nature but the law prohibits the release of sensitive information that could compromise national security or give advantages to specific private entities, said DAPA officials. A DAPA spokesman said that the agency would fully cooperate with the investigation.
Taiwan—Army Reorganization To Emphasize Joint Operations Defense News | 05/18/2021 Taiwan has announced plans to revamp its military command structure to emphasize joint service operations, reports Defense News. Under the plan, the army's various corps and defense commands will be redesignated as distinct joint theater commands, Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told lawmakers on May 10. The Penghu, Huadong, Sixth, Eighth and 10th army corps will be renamed as the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth combat theater commands, responsible for the Penghu Islands west of Taiwan and eastern, northern, southern and central Taiwan, respectively. Each theater commander will be responsible for coordinating the operations of all the armed services in its area of responsibility, with the goal of improving interoperability and coordination during wartime and peacetime operations. The decentralized command structure could also enhance the survivability of Taiwanese forces in a conflict, giving commanders more room to act should communications be jammed or disabled, hindering command and control, analysts said. Although each of the corps is currently led by an army general, Chiu indicated that the new theater commands could be commanded by officers from other services. The status of the Kinmen and Matsu defense commands, which protect Taiwan's front-line islands off the coast of China, and army aviation and special operations commands under the new command structure is unclear. The new structure is scheduled to enter effect on Jan. 1, 2022. —
Court Clears Path 1st Female Prime Minister Australian Broadcasting Corporation | 05/18/2021 The Supreme Court in Samoa has nullified a pair of post-election decisions, permitting opposition candidate Fiame Naomi Mataafa to form a government, reports the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Samoa has been mired in political deadlock since the April 9 elections, when the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) and opposition Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party each won 25 seats, with an independent candidate winning the lone remaining seat. Samoa's Electoral Commission subsequently ruled that the 10 percent threshold for female members of Parliament had not been met and granted an additional seat for a woman that was assigned to the HRPP. In response, the independent delegate announced that they would caucus with the FAST party, giving each side 26 seats. On May 4, Head of State Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi called for new elections to be held on May 21. Afioga was appointed by incumbent Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, the leader of the HRPP who has held office for more than 22 years. Tuilaepa has been accused of influencing Afioga to call the election, although he has denied those allegations. On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that head of state did not have the power to void the election and call a new one and invalidated the appointment of the additional member of Parliament under the gender quota. The court also ordered the Parliament to sit by May 24, 45 days after the election. The decisions clear the way for the FAST party to form a government with Fiame as prime minister. Fiame would become the first female prime minister of Samoa and the second female head of government in the region. Fiame served as Afioga's deputy prime minister until last year, when she left to join the opposition. Her FAST party was formed at the time to protest the passage of several laws changing Samoa's constitution and judicial system, reported Reuters.
Indonesia—2 Papuan Rebels Killed In Joint Raid Antara News Agency | 05/18/2021 Indonesian security forces killed two members of a Papuan militant group during fighting over the weekend, reports Antara News, Indonesia's national news agency. On Sunday, members of the Operation Nemangkawi joint military-police counterinsurgency task force clashed with the Lekagak Telenggen Group at the Mayumberi Bridge in the Puncak district of Papua. Government forces shot three Lekagak Telenggen members, killing two. One was injured and escaped, a task force spokesman said. A Mauser 7.62-mm rifle, 17 bullets, four bullet sleeves and a walkie-talkie were recovered from the scene. The escaped fighter reportedly had an AK-47 assault rifle.
Israel—IDF Responds To Rocket Fire From Lebanon Times of Israel | 05/18/2021 Israel says it responded to rockets launched from Lebanon with artillery fire, reports the Times of Israel. On Tuesday, at least six rockets were fired toward Israel but landed in Lebanese territory, according to an Israeli military statement. There were no immediate claims of responsibility. A Lebanese security source told Agence France-Presse that several Grad-type rockets had been fired from the Shebaa Farms area in southern Lebanon. The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said that it detected rocket launches near Rashaya Al Foukhar, reported Reuters. In response, Israel fired about 22 shells into Lebanese territory. The Israel Defense Forces indicated that it believed a small Palestinian faction was responsible for the attack and not Hezbollah. More rocket and mortar attacks from Lebanon are anticipated as fighting with Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza continues.
Tunisia—5 Suspected Militants Killed Near Algerian Border Agence France-Presse | 05/18/2021 Tunisian forces have killed five suspected militants during an operation in the western border region, reports Agence France-Presse. At dawn on Monday, air and ground operations began against suspected militant hideouts in Mount Chaambi, near the border with Algeria, the Tunisian Defense Ministry said. Authorities are working to identify the nationalities and affiliations of the suspects, said the ministry. The statement said the operation was launched based on technical and detailed intelligence, though it did not reveal the source of this information. Both the ISIS-affiliated Jund Al Khalifa and Al-Qaida-linked Katibat Okba Ibn Nafaa are active in Tunisia.
Ethiopia—Elections Postponed Again Ethiopian Herald | 05/18/2021 The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia has postponed general elections scheduled for June, reports the state-owned Ethiopian Herald. On Sunday, the NEBE announced that the June 5 general election had been postponed due to delays in the opening of new election offices, voter registration and other activities. The delay was not expected to last more than three weeks, reported Reuters. The election was originally scheduled to take place in August 2020 but was delayed due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Burkina Faso—9 Killed In Militant Attack In North Agence France-Presse | 05/18/2021 At least nine people have been killed in a suspected militant attack in northern Burkina Faso, reports Agence France-Presse. On Sunday, militants attacked a meeting between locals and members of the Volunteers for the Defense of the Motherland (VDP) militia in a village near Pissila, said a local official. The dead included a local chief, three civilians and three members of the VDP. Three others were missing, said the local source. All the militants involved in the attack were killed, he said, without providing a figure. Hundreds of people have fled to Pissila in recent days following increasing attacks in the area, said a local elected official. The VDP was created in December 2019 in response to increased jihadist militant attacks in northern Burkina Faso. Volunteers receive two weeks of training and perform support or logistical work for members of the military. At least 200 members have been killed since its creation.
Colombia—Duque Orders Military To Clear Roadblocks Linked To Protests Reuters | 05/18/2021 Colombian President Ivan Duque has ordered the military to clear road blockades established during nationwide protests that began last month, reports Reuters. On Monday, Duque said that security forces would clear the barricades in coordination with local and provincial officials. In the televised address, the president said that criminal organizations had erected the roadblocks, though there has been no evidence of criminal or guerilla involvement, reported Colombia Reports. The blockades were built by local demonstrators and truckers protesting a now-canceled tax plan. The demonstrations are now in their third week. The barricades have created shortages of food and gasoline, especially in Cali, the center of the public unrest. Representatives of demonstrators met on Monday with Peace Commissioner Miguel Ceballos. The meeting ended without an agreement after Ceballos rejected their demands. The government has unveiled several proposals to end the demonstrations, including subsidizing 25 percent of the minimum wage for workers aged 18 to 28. At least 15 people have been killed in the protests thus far, with some in the Mobile Anti-Disturbance Squadron (Escuadron Movil Antidisturbios or ESMAD) accused of excessive force. Human-rights groups say the toll is more than three dozen.
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