Good Wednesday Morning 23 June
A bit of history and some tidbits
Between my ailing computer and my brain I messed up the List number today is 5755 and yesterday should have been 5754
Regards
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Today in Naval History
June 23
1812
During the War of 1812, Commodore John Rodgers leads a squadron onboard USS President of New York until she battles HMS Belvidera. The first shot of the War of 1812 is fired by USS President during this engagement.
1861
During the Civil War, the Confederate Navy begins reconstruction of ex-USS Merrimack as the ironclad CSS Virginia at Gosport (Norfolk) Navy Yard, Va.
1898
During the Spanish-American War, USS Dixie fires on two Spanish gunboats at Maria Aguilar Point, Cuba.
1933
USS Macon (ZRS 5) is commissioned. Less than two years later, Macon crashes during a storm off Point Sur, Calif., ending the Navy's program of rigid airship operations.
1942
While on a routine search, a PBY rescues most of the crew of S 27 (SS 132) at Constantine Harbor, Amchitka, Aleutian Islands. The rest are brought out the next day.
1945
PB4Y 2s (VPB 118), flying from Okinawa, continue aerial mining of waters of Korean Archipelago, sowing mines in waters in channel north of Lion Do and Gantai Do, and off Ninshi Do and Chi Do.
Thanks to CHINFO
Executive Summary:
• National and trade press reported on acting SECNAV Thomas Harker, CNO Adm. Gilday and CMC Gen. Berger's SASC testimony.
• Multiple outlets reported on USS Curtis Wilbur's transit of the Taiwan Strait.
• The Associated Press reported Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin supports military justice changes that remove sexual assault and related crimes away from the chain of command and let independent military lawyers handle them, following recommendations from an independent review commission.
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Today in History JUNE 23
1683 William Penn signs a friendship treaty with the Lenni Lenape Indians in Pennsylvania.
1700 Russia gives up its Black Sea fleet as part of a truce with the Ottoman Empire.
1758 British and Hanoverian armies defeat the French at Krefeld in Germany.
1760 Austrian forces defeat the Prussians at Landshut, Germany.
1848 A bloody insurrection of workers erupts in Paris.
1863 Confederate forces overwhelm a Union garrison at the Battle of Brashear City in Louisiana.
1865 Confederate General Stand Watie surrenders his army at Fort Towson, in the Oklahoma Territory.
1884 A Chinese Army defeats the French at Bac Le, Indochina.
1885 Former general and president Ulysses S. Grant dies at the age of 63.
1902 Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy renew the Triple Alliance for a 12-year duration.
1934 Italy gains the right to colonize Albania after defeating the country.
1944 In one of the largest air strikes of the war, the U.S. Fifteenth Air Force sends 761 bombers against the oil refineries at Ploiesti, Romania.
1951 Soviet U.N. delegate Jacob Malik proposes cease-fire discussions in the Korean War.
1952 The U.S. Air Force bombs power plants on the Yalu River, Korea.
1964 Henry Cabot Lodge resigns as the U.S. envoy to Vietnam and is succeeded by Maxwell Taylor.
1966 Civil Rights marchers in Mississippi are dispersed by tear gas.
1992 Mafia boss John Gotti, who was nicknamed the "Teflon Don" after escaping unscathed from several trials during the 1980s, is sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty on 14 accounts of conspiracy to commit murder and racketeering. Moments after his sentence was read in a federal courthouse in Brooklyn, hundreds of Gotti's supporters stormed the building and overturned and smashed cars before being forced back by police reinforcements.
READ MORE: The Demise of the Mafia
Gotti, born and educated on the mean streets of New York City, became head of the powerful Gambino family after boss Paul Castellano was murdered outside a steakhouse in Manhattan in December 1985. The gang assassination, the first in three decades in New York, was organized by Gotti and his colleague Sammy "the Bull" Gravano. The Gambino family was known for its illegal narcotics operations, gambling activities, and car theft. During the next five years, Gotti rapidly expanded his criminal empire, and his family grew into the nation's most powerful Mafia family. Despite wide publicity of his criminal activities, Gotti managed to avoid conviction several times, usually through witness intimidation. In 1990, however, he was indicted for conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Paul Castellano, and Gravano agreed to testify against him in a federal district court in exchange for a reduced prison sentence.
On April 2, 1992, John Gotti was found guilty on all counts and on June 23 was sentenced to multiple life terms without the possibility of parole. While still imprisoned, Gotti died of throat cancer on June 10, 2002.
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A Reunion Reminder for all those former F-8 drivers. I hope to see many of you this Fall in beautiful San Diego. Skip
For all you famous F8U Crusader pilots, the registration form for the 31st Last Annual Crusader Ball is on the f8crusader.org web site with additional directions to the Doubletree Hazard Center Host Hotel. The Reunion, being held in San Diego October 17-20, 2021, has a schedule that includes a luncheon at the recently remodeled MCAS Miramar O'Club bar and the WOXOF - we all remember well – with a program to include an operational discussion and Q&A with the F/A-18 Hornet and F-35 Strike Fighter pilots, all much younger than us…
A Fighter Pilot October Fest reception, squadron planned dinners, and a banquet round out the schedule leaving room for an opportunity to visit the USS Midway and enjoy all the venues in San Diego. So cancel that shopping trip to COSTCO and get your registration form in and enjoy another fantastic few days in America's Finest City with all of the Navy's greatest fighter pilots.
Chuck Schroeder at 805 207-5678 or Dick Evert at 858 999-1008 for any help or questions.
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Thanks to Outlaw Olson
SR-71 landing at AF Museum
It's obvious the pilot was milking the last flight for all it's worth but who can blame him? I'm sure we'd all do the same.
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear
LOOKING BACK 55-YEARS to the Vietnam Air War— ... For The List for Wednesday, 23 June 2021… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 23 June 1966… "Buyer's Choice: War or Great Society"…
https://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-remembered-23-june-1966-guns-or-butter/
This following 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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Thanks to Mike
American Air
Good Morning. Welcome to the American Early Bird Flight from New York to Los Angeles. This is Henry Gunn and George Mach, your Flight Crew for this American Flight. You are currently at 31,000 feet above Pennslyvania and cruising at 590 MPH. The weather is clear with normal turbulence expected over the front range of the Rockies in Colorado. We will warn you of this possibility later.
So, sit back and enjoy your favorite morning food and beverage served by our cheerful Cabin Crew.
Henry, shouldn't we tell them our special treat for today. Ok, George, you can tell them.
Good Morning, American Flyers, this is George Gunn, your Co-pilot And we are pleased to announce to you this new employment plan we have.
We are working at home today….!
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Thanks to Grant
: Operation Linebacker II - The B-52s go to Hanoi, 1972 - Animated
Concise presentation, but really accurate?
Subject: Operation Linebacker II - The B-52s go to Hanoi, 1972 - Animated
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Thanks DR
Subject: Brace for Round Two
If you're looking for happy news and smiley faces, move right along.
Today's column is grim and extensive. I was aware of many such events in the preceding few days.
As grim as such stories are, better aware than ignorant of the dangers that lurk outside our daily routines.
As I become aware of many of the same behaviors that precipitated unspeakable genocide merely a few decades ago I am committed more than ever to stand up for justice and the courage to demand justice in cases that cannot go unpunished to be repeated once again. DR
Hi to all -
Lakeview, MN
The school board meeting there was absolutely taken over by this one speaker. She was all of nine years old! Perry Mason could not have done a better job. She told a story of how her school had a big sign in the hallway that said 'No Politics Displayed Here'. Perhaps as part of this months 'celebrations', that sign was taken down and replaced by a Black Lives Matter sign. This young lady went to the principal and asked why a blatantly political sign had been put in place of the 'no politics' sign, and asked that it be removed. He replied that the sign would not be taken down. So, this young lady showed up at the school board, and listed all the political and violent activities of BLM, and demanded of the entire board why this was tolerated in her school. The board members suddenly developed a case of being unable to speak. It is a great video. Perhaps it is still on YouTube.
In Louden Ohio, parents are very upset at the schools trying to teach Critical Race Theory. So many of them showed up to the school board meeting that they could not hear them all. Emotions ran high, and things got quite frisky. Police were called, arrests made, and parents literally dragged out of the meeting. Then, the meeting itself was shut down. "We don't want to talk about what we are doing."
NYC
More than 200 people arrested during the riots and looting and other destruction there have had their charges dropped, and there will be no prosecutions of these crimes.
Brittany Packnett Cunningham has an explanation, however. See, she used to be on the Obama Task Force for Policing. Obama wanted to do away with local police, and force all police into a national force, controlled by the White House. You know, like they did in Nazi Germany, and other places. So, Brittany insists that the massive increase in crime (murder up 70% in NYC) is not because they defunded the police, and prosecuted officers for doing their job, and permitted assaults and murders of officers. Nope. None of the above. It was the fault of the police, because they are 'white supremicists', even those who are not white. This is exactly what was done in Nazi Germany, to break the police force, and replace it with political police and thugs.
Seattle
They decided to hold a gay pride event, in celebration of gay month (how did we come to making this a holiday). But, white gays had to pay a 'reparations fee' ranging from $10 - 50 to attend. See, they explained, this was for non-white gays. And, the city council went along with and supported these fees.
Gays have always been with us. Typically, they made up about 15% of the population. Even back in the Old Testament, they had their 'pride' days and other celebrations, and tried to force others to accept their ways. Every now and then, the kings of that time saw these folks as a threat to their power and economic control of the land, and so they drove them out. Destroyed their places of celebration/worship, etc. Then, it would start all over again.
Today, it is fashionable to celebrate gays and all their ways - including the often effeminate manners displayed. There have been several studies to see if this is genetic. Some of the best compared siblings, one of which was gay, the other straight, to see if environment or some DNA thing was responsible for the differences. So far as I know, there is no conculusive evidence of a 'gay gene', or other genetic cause. However, there are other indicators that may explain at least some of the causes. For men, it often involves the lack of a father figure in the home. That includes single parent families, and those where the father is absent a lot, perhaps due to travel for job or military service. When coupled with an overbearing and demanding mother, this seems to confuse young boys about the roles of men and women, and how they should behave. For women, the one thing that shows up most often is sexual abuse as a child by a male relative. This can make it very difficult to grow into a trusting relationship with other men, later on.
Florida
Governor Ron DeSantis gave a speech at a faith based group, and said he was 'putting on the whole armor of God' to deal with the left, and the tide of evil they were slinging. He said he was all in on this conflict, and invited others to stand tall with him.
Kamala
Her performance as Border Czar, as in other areas, is less than stellar. It makes it easy to see why during her presidential bid, she got less than 1% support even among democrats. She is a public relations train wreck. She seems quite incapable of governing, but greedy to rule. This is something we often see with people of limited talent. They want to basically bully others, and Kamala has done a lot of bullying in her time.
When a person, or a people, see themselves as superior to others, this is usually the result. Both the Germans and Japanese did unspeakably cruel things to others, since they were superior beings. Right down to vicious medical 'experiments' and even germ warfare on those they saw as their inferiors. Sounds a lot like the talk of our own left, today. If they ever get the power they really want, I fear we will see evil and death on a scale that makes those other nations look like playground romps.
Clark City, Ohio
Two masked men (who was that masked man, Tonto?) went into a Papa John's pizza place, as closing time Sunday evening, intending to rob the place. One had a knife, the other a crowbar. What could go wrong? Well, one of the delivery persons had a concealed carry permit, and was armed (delivering pizza at night in the city is a dangerous job, after all). The other unarmed employees were at risk, and terrified, until the delivery guy shot the would-be thieves. One thief was down at the scene, the other was wounded and fled. He will not get far.
Silverton, Col
Mayor Shane Fuhrman, acting alone, without input from the city council or anyone else, decided that the council would no longer recite the Pledge of Allegiance at board meetings. The rest of the folks, not impressed with this edict, stood up and recited it anyway. Shane was 'outraged' and blustered and bullied and threatened to throw the bums out. It did not work. And, Shane's political future is not looking so bright.
HR1
That part of the bill that would take away election rules and standards from the states, and give it to the federal government (i.e. democrats) has failed in a tie vote on procedural issues. Because it was a procedural vote, Kamala cannot step in and break the tie. The vote in the Senate was 50-50, democrats in favor of the bill, republicans (for once) stood together against this terrible bill. Democrats will try , try again. Chuck Schumer called it a disgrace, which it is, but not the way he meant it. Things like freedom are getting dicey in Washington.
Scams
Every successful scam breeds a slew of copycat ones. One robocall leads to hundreds, and one con man inspires generations of con men. The lockdowns were so successful in destroying the economy, and making petty politicians feel like emperors, that more are proposed, The next one is likely to come from the Climate Change crowd. They were terribly jealous of the last lockdown. They are already suggesting we need a 'climate change lockdown', to 'fix' things. Bad news for them - one of the chief among the liberal climate change (actual) scientists has just issued a report that says there is just no evidence at all for man made climate change. If you study climate cycles, and go back far enough, what we are seeing now is no different from previous cycles. There are no more hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, droughts or other nature events than those we have seen at other times. Even times before the internal combustion engine. The earth seems quite capable of caring for itself, even without our help.
In fact, every time men have tried to alter nature, no matter how well intentioned, it backfires, because we just do not know all the variables and how they interact. Consider the various things done to 'manage' Yellowstone Park. Remove this species, or introduce that one. Always, we make things worse with each 'fix'. But, politicians will continue to think they are smarter than Mother Nature - and we all know what happens when you try to fool Mother Nature !
Rich
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This Day in U S Military History…….June 23
1784 – The 1st US balloon flight was made by Edward Warren (13).
1812 – Marine Lt. John Heath became the first casualty of the War of 1812.
1944 – The Soviet attack begins. There are four front-level commands engaged in the operation, under the STAVKA direction of Marshal Zhukov (the southern wing) and Marshal Vasilevsky (the northern wing). From left to right: 1st Belorussian Front (Rokossovsky); 2nd Belorussian Front (Zakharov); 3rd Belorussian Front (Cherniakhovsky); and, 1st Baltic Front (Bagramian). The Soviet combat forces directly engaged in the offensive amount to over 1,250,000 men (in 124 divisions), over 4000 tanks and self-propelled guns, over 24,000 artillery pieces and over 6300 aircraft. Soviet objectives include tactical encirclements at Vitebsk and Bobruisk while a deep encirclement would aim for Minsk. Soviet forces are then to drive west toward the Vistula River. The target of Operation Bagration is German Army Group Center (Busch) holding a salient centered on Minsk, and including most of Belorussia. Its forces, from right to left, include: 9th Army (Jordan), 4th Army (Tippelskirch); and, 3rd Panzer Army (Reinhardt). On the right flank of the army group is the German 2nd Army (Weiss) which is not targeted by the Soviet offensive. The German defenders amount to 800,000 men in 63 divisions with about 900 tanks and assault guns, 10,000 artillery pieces and 1300 planes. Advances of up 11 miles are recorded by Red Army troops of 2nd, 3rd Belorussian and 1st Baltic Fronts. The 1st Belorussian Front does not join in the assault during the day. Meanwhile in the far north, forces of the Soviet 7th Separate Army cross the Svir River.
1944 – American forces of the US 7th Corps (part of 1st Army) penetrate the outer defenses of Cherbourg. Elements of British 2nd Army also make gains. The British 5th Division captures St. Honorina, northwest of Caen.
1944 – In one of the largest air strikes of the war, the U.S. Fifteenth Air Force sent 761 bombers against the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania.
1944 – On Saipan, US 5th Amphibious Corps remains engaged in fighting. The 2nd Marine Division contineus to battle for Mount Tapotchau.
1945 – On Okinawa, the systematic mopping up of the island begins. General Stilwell takes command of the US 10th Army in place of General Geiger. Lt Gen Ushijima, Japanese commander, committed suicide.
1945 – American paratroopers land near Aparri on the north coast of Luzon, at the mouth of the Cagayan River, without incident. They link up with a large force of Filipino guerrillas. The combined force advances southward to make contact with the US 37th Division.
1969 – Ben Het, a U.S. Special Forces camp located 288 miles northeast of Saigon and six miles from the junction of the Cambodian, Laotian and South Vietnamese borders, is besieged and cut off by 2,000 North Vietnamese troops using artillery and mortars. The base was defended by 250 U.S. soldiers and 750 South Vietnamese Montagnard tribesmen. The siege lasted until July 2 when the defenders were reinforced by an allied relief column.
1972 – US helicopters are required to fly almost all the dangerous missions around Anloc because South Vietnamese crews have panicked under fire. Several US helicopters and their crews have been lost in the last two weeks of heavy fighting causing bitterness among US airmen.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
DRURY, JAMES
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company C, 4th Vermont Infantry. Place and date: At Weldon Railroad, Va., 23 June 1864. Entered service at: Chester, Vt. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 18 January 1893. Citation: Saved the colors of his regiment when it was surrounded by a much larger force of the enemy and after the greater part of the regiment had been killed or captured.
*BUTTS, JOHN E.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Co. E, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Place and date: Normandy, France, 14, 16, and 23 June 1944. Entered service at: Buffalo, N.Y. Birth: Medina, N.Y. G.O. No.: 58, 19 July 1945. Citation: Heroically led his platoon against the enemy in Normandy, France, on 14, 16, and 23 June 1944. Although painfully wounded on the 14th near Orglandes and again on the 16th while spearheading an attack to establish a bridgehead across the Douve River, he refused medical aid and remained with his platoon. A week later, near Flottemanville Hague, he led an assault on a tactically important and stubbornly defended hill studded with tanks, antitank guns, pillboxes, and machinegun emplacements, and protected by concentrated artillery and mortar fire. As the attack was launched, 2d Lt. Butts, at the head of his platoon, was critically wounded by German machinegun fire. Although weakened by his injuries, he rallied his men and directed 1 squad to make a flanking movement while he alone made a frontal assault to draw the hostile fire upon himself. Once more he was struck, but by grim determination and sheer courage continued to crawl ahead. When within 10 yards of his objective, he was killed by direct fire. By his superb courage, unflinching valor and inspiring actions, 2d Lt. Butts enabled his platoon to take a formidable strong point and contributed greatly to the success of his battalion's mission.
*KINGSLEY, DAVID R. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 97th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force. Place and date: Ploesti Raid, Rumania, 23 June 1944. Entered service at. Portland, Oreg. Birth: Oregon. G.O. No.: 26, 9 April 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, 23 June 1944 near Ploesti, Rumania, while flying as bombardier of a B17 type aircraft. On the bomb run 2d Lt. Kingsley's aircraft was severely damaged by intense flak and forced to drop out of formation but the pilot proceeded over the target and 2d Lt. Kingsley successfully dropped his bombs, causing severe damage to vital installations. The damaged aircraft, forced to lose altitude and to lag behind the formation, was aggressively attacked by 3 ME-109 aircraft, causing more damage to the aircraft and severely wounding the tail gunner in the upper arm. The radio operator and engineer notified 2d Lt. Kingsley that the tail gunner had been wounded and that assistance was needed to check the bleeding. 2d Lt. Kingsley made his way back to the radio room, skillfully applied first aid to the wound, and succeeded in checking the bleeding. The tail gunner's parachute harness and heavy clothes were removed and he was covered with blankets, making him as comfortable as possible. Eight ME-109 aircraft again aggressively attacked 2d Lt. Kingsley's aircraft and the ball turret gunner was wounded by 20mm. shell fragments. He went forward to the radio room to have 2d Lt. Kingsley administer first aid. A few minutes later when the pilot gave the order to prepare to bail out, 2d Lt. Kingsley immediately began to assist the wounded gunners in putting on their parachute harness. In the confusion the tail gunner's harness, believed to have been damaged, could not be located in the bundle of blankets and flying clothes which had been removed from the wounded men. With utter disregard for his own means of escape, 2d Lt. Kingsley unhesitatingly removed his parachute harness and adjusted it to the wounded tail gunner. Due to the extensive damage caused by the accurate and concentrated 20mm. fire by the enemy aircraft the pilot gave the order to bail out, as it appeared that the aircraft would disintegrate at any moment. 2d Lt. Kingsley aided the wounded men in bailing out and when last seen by the crewmembers he was standing on the bomb bay catwalk. The aircraft continued to fly on automatic pilot for a short distance, then crashed and burned. His body was later found in the wreckage. 2d Lt. Kingsley by his gallant heroic action was directly responsible for saving the life of the wounded gunner.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS
FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR June 23
THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
1905: The Wright Flyer III made its first flight at Huffman Prairie, near Dayton. This first fully controllable aircraft could turn and bank and stay up in the air for 30 minutes. (20)
1924: RACE WITH THE SUN. In a Curtiss PW-8, powered by a 375 HP D-12 engine, Lt Russell L. Maughan began his 2,670-mile from Long Island, New York, to San Francisco. He landed at 9:47 p.m after five brief refueling stops. He spent 18 hours 20 minutes in the cockpit and 3 hours 20 minutes on the ground. (4) (9)
1931: Wiley Post and Harold Gatty left New York on a global flight in a Lockheed Vega, the "Winnie Mae," powered by a Pratt & Whitney 550 HP radial engine. The 15,474-mile trip ended 8 days 15 hours 51 minutes later. (9) (24) Ruth Nichols crashed in St. Johns, Newfoundland, during her attempt to become the first woman to fly alone across the Atlantic. (9)
1937: The US Army issued a contract to Lockheed to build the first XP-38. 1938: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Civil Air Authority Act. (24)
1942: The first BOLERO flight with 7 P-38s and 2 B-17s left Presque Isle for England to begin the buildup of US Air Forces in Europe. (24)
1944: While escorting B-17s on a raid to Ploesti, the 52 FG downed 12 enemy aircraft. This gave the unit 102 aerial victories in 30 days for a record that was never equaled by another group in Europe. (4) MEDAL OF HONOR. 2Lt David R. Kingsley, 97th Bombardment Group, Fifteenth Air Force, earned a Medal of Honor for putting his own parachute on his wounded tail-gunner (whose chute had been damaged). Kingsley thereby was directly responsible for saving the life of the wounded gunner by sacrificing his own.
1950: First run of rocket-propelled research sled made on the 3,550-foot track at Holloman AFB. FIRST USAF LOSS IN KOREAN WAR. A C-54, grounded for a damaged wing at Kimpo Airfield, near Seoul, South Korea, became the first aircraft lost in the Korean War. (18)
1952: KOREAN WAR. Through 24 June, combined air attacks by the Air Force, Navy, and Marines nearly destroyed the electric power potential of North Korea. The 2-day attack involved over 1,200 sorties in the largest single air effort since World War II. The Sui-ho complex sustained seventy percent structural damage, rendering it non-operational. (16) (28)
1953: TAC transferred its F-51 aircraft, "the USAF's last propellor-driven fighter in front-line service," from the 366th Fighter-Bomber Wing.
1961: Maj Robert White set a speed record for manned airplanes by flying the X-15 at 3,603 MPH. He attained this speed with a 75-second full-throttle operation of the XLR-99 engine. (9)
1966: PAGEOS, a passive geodetic satellite used by US Coast Guard, Geodetic Survey, and US Army Map Service, launched for use with 41 ground stations to develop a worldwide reference grid. In space, the satellite inflated to its 100-foot diameter and served as a photographic target.
1972: Northrop Corporation at Hawthorne unveiled the F-5E international fighter in a ceremony. At Edwards AFB, Maj Larry D. Fortner became the first USAF pilot to fly Northrop's A-9A. (3)
1987: The 308 SMW removed the last Titan II from its silo at Little Rock AFB. This removal ended the deployment of the Titan II in SAC's strategic arsenal.
1997: An AFFTC team conducted flew a model of the LoFLYTE Neural Network Waverider RPV. The NASA program tried to design a hypersonic (Mach 5.0+) low observable aircraft capable of riding its own shock wave in the manner of the XB-70. (3)
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Thanks to Dan..This is a repeat but a great story
Skip,
Here is the story of the two aviation maintenance officers who rescued the two downed fighter pilots in Laos:
In 1971, my aviation unit (Alpha Troop/2nd/17th Air Cavalry/101st Airborne Division) was based at Quang Tri, South Vietnam. Quang Tri is located a few miles S/O the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Vietnam. We were a company sized aviation unit, with our own aviation maintenance section. Assigned to that section were two maintenance officers whose primary duty was to coordinate all maintenance for the units aircraft, which consisted of three platoons of observation helicopters (OH-6 Cayuse), attack helicopters (AH-1G Cobra), and utility helicopters (UH-1 Huey). Following whatever maintenance was completed on the assigned aircraft, both maintenance officers had to perform a maintenance test flight on each aircraft, before it could be returned to service.
One day the two aviation maintenance officers were performing such a flight in the flatlands surrounding Quang Tri, which was a totally secure area, particularly during the daytime. The two maintenance officers took off, by themselves, in a stripped Huey, which had no weapons, or gunners aboard. However, during the flight, they monitored on the "guard" frequency, a request by a Forward Air Controller (FAC), for "any aircraft which can help in rescuing a downed fighter crew". The maintenance officers, who not only were unarmed, but had no maps, and had never been in any combat, anywhere, answered the call. The FAC immediately gave them directions from "Channel 103", the TACAN navigation beacon at Quang Tri. However, Army pilots have no TACAN equipment on their aircraft, and navigate with 1:50,000 scale map sheets, anyway.
Subsequently, the FAC gave a heading to our intrepid maintenance pilots, which took them far to the West of Quang Tri. Since they had never been there before, they flew on the assigned heading until the FAC had them in sight. He then vectored them into a clearing, where two downed fighter pilots ran out of the tree line and jumped into the Huey. The scene was not only not in Vietnam, it was deep in Laos, but the rescue crew, not knowing where they were, just flew where the FAC directed them to go.
As they climbed out, heading for Phu Bai Airfield, at Hue, S. Vietnam, the FAC reported that they were taking airbursts, which they were oblivious to, not having ever experienced that before. When the Huey landed at Phu Bai, the rescued fighter crew were met by several members of their unit, based in Danang, S. Vietnam. The aviation maintenance crew was rewarded for their actions by being "Shanghaied" by the fighter unit and wined and dined in Danang, then given "orientation" flights in a fighter aircraft at Danang. The Commander of the fighter unit also ensured that the maintenance crew received appropriate valor awards for their actions in rescuing the downed fighter crew.
This entire caper occurred in an area which, only a few months before, had been part of Lam Son 719 - The Invasion of Laos, where dozens of aircraft had been shot down by NVA anti-aircraft and small arms weapons. We routinely flew near that area, still within S. Vietnam, and almost daily were shot at. Those of us who flew there daily, were incredulous that our aviation maintenance personnel had accomplished the rescue, without any loss or injury, and without actually knowing where they were. It was the type of mission that those of us who flew in combat everyday only dreamed about accomplishing, but which none of us ever did!
Dan
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Thanks to Carl
(Lengthy article with many good links. Read the paragraph below to get your attention!)
"Too many Americans buy into the idea that a mentally debilitated Chief Executive is better than the alternative, that other President. It's actually the imagined threat of the return of "the Donald" that keep the current senile stooge in office. President B's "bumbling incompetence is not about to bring him down" says commentator Paul Gottfried, because "the Donald" looms behind the curtains and we certainly don't want him again. You know, the guy who thumbed his nose at science by saying hydroxychloroquine + zinc could quell a worldwide pandemic."
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2021/06/no_author/what-are-you-going-to-do-when-america-goes-to-hell/
What Are You Going To Do When America Goes to Hell?
By Bill Sardi
June 23, 2021
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World News for 23 June thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Space Force Guard Proposal Undergoing Final Review Military.Com | 06/23/2021 A Defense Dept. report on whether and how to organize National Guard and Reserve components for Space Force has been completed and is undergoing final review, reports Military.com. During a House Armed Services Committee hearing last week, acting Air Force Secretary John Roth said that the report was being reviewed by leadership within the Office of the Secretary of Defense and would be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget before being sent to congressional committees. The report on a potential Space Force National Guard and Reserve component to supplement the active force was ordered in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. The report was originally due in March. There are 14 National Guard units with nearly 2,000 personnel involved in space-related missions from locations in California, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Colorado, Ohio, New York and Guam. The National Guard says it provides around 60 percent of the Space Force's offensive electronic warfare capability and that 11 percent of space personnel in the DoD are in the Guard. National Guard officials, including chief of the National Guard Bureau Gen. Daniel Hokanson and several adjutants generals, have called for the creation of a Space Force National Guard. Creating a dedicated National Guard force would increase the Space Force's independence by removing the need to go to other services to access Guard resources, according to Guard officials.
USA—Destroyer Sails Through Taiwan Strait Again Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet | 06/23/2021 A U.S. destroyer has transited the Taiwan Strait for the second time in about a month, reports the U.S. 7th Fleet. On Tuesday, USS Curtis Wilbur passed through international waters of the strait in accordance with international law. The passage demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, said the fleet. The destroyer also sailed through the strait in May, noted USNI News. On Wednesday, the Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command said it monitored the ship for the duration of its passage, reported Reuters. Chinese military officials said that the action demonstrated that the U.S. was the greatest source of instability in the region.
USA—Justice Dept. Seizes Iranian Websites Dept. Of Justice | 06/23/2021 The U.S. Justice Dept. says it has seized three dozen websites associated with the Iranian government and Iran-backed groups. On Tuesday, the department announced that it had taken over 33 websites operated by Iran's Islamic Radio and Television Union (IRTVU) and three websites operated by Kata'ib Hezbollah. The seized domains were owned by a U.S. company. Both entities are Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs), while Kata'ib Hezbollah is also designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Because of those designations, they were required to apply for a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control to register the domain names. They did not do so, said the Justice Dept. The websites included Press TV, which is Iran's main English-language television channel and influence operation, as well as its Arabic-language equivalent, Al Alam, reported Reuters. Both soon returned online using Iranian national domain addresses.
United Kingdom—F-35s Conduct Initial Combat Missions From Queen Elizabeth Carrier U.K. Ministry Of Defense | 06/23/2021 The British Royal Navy's new carrier strike group has conducted its first combat missions, reports the U.K. Ministry of Defense. F-35B fighters from 617 Squadron conducted the first operational sorties from the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier as part of the British Operation Shader and U.S. Operation Inherent Resolve against Islamic State militants in the Middle East, the ministry said on Tuesday. The squadron previously flew missions against ISIS from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in June 2019, noted the Aviationist blog. The latest operations over Syria started on June 20. The F-35Bs conducted armed patrols over Syria with Paveway IV precision-guided bombs and AIM-120 AMRAAMs in their weapon bays. The jets were also equipped with radar cross-section enhancers.
NATO—Open-Source Location Data Faked For Warships In Black Sea USNI News | 06/23/2021 Automatic Information System (AIS) data for two NATO warships operating in the Black Sea was falsified last week, reports USNI News. On June 18, the British destroyer Defender and Dutch frigate Evertsen arrived in the Ukrainian port of Odessa on the Black Sea. The day before, the warships had been monitored by Russian warships during exercises in the Black Sea. Both vessels are part of the British carrier strike group centered around the Queen Elizabeth, which remained in the Mediterranean while the two ships operated in the Black Sea. Just before midnight on the 18th, the AIS signal, which is used to transmit location information to improve maritime safety, indicated the vessels had left Odessa. The AIS track showed that the warships sailed to Sevastopol in Crimea, approaching to within 2 nm (3.7 km) of the harbor entrance. That would have placed the warships within the territorial waters of Crimea and outside the port that serves as the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Such a move likely would have been considered highly provocative. However, webcam feeds of the harbor showed that the Defender and Evertsen never left the port, indicating that the AIS track was faked. The false data were picked up by several AIS aggregators, although it is unclear how the information was introduced. The false AIS signal for the Defender was the same as the one used by the ship, while the signal for the Evertsen was reported as "Netherlands Warship."
Spain—Catalan Figures Pardoned For Role In 2017 Independence Bid British Broadcasting Corp. | 06/23/2021 The Spanish government has pardoned nine members of the Catalan separatist movement for their role in an attempted bid for independence in 2017, reports the BBC News. The leaders were pardoned on Tuesday, although their release will take several days because the pardons must be signed by the king and published in the country's official gazette. The nine were convicted of sedition and jailed in 2019 after the ruling separatists in the Catalan Parliament declared independence in October 2017 following a referendum that the Spanish Constitutional Court found illegal. Several officials, including regional leader Carles Puigdemont, fled Spain following the failed attempt. Those arrested included Oriol Junqueras, the former vice president of Catalonia; Labor Minister Dolors Bassa; spokesman Jordi Turull; Foreign Minister Raul Romeva; Catalan Parliament speaker Carme Forcadell; former ministers Joadquim Forn and Josep Rull; and activists Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart. The pardons are conditional on their not committing crimes within a certain period of time and do not overturn a ban on their holding office. The government says it granted the pardons to help calm tensions over Catalonia and foster reconciliation, reported CNN.
Turkey—U.S. Delegation To Discuss Securing Kabul Airport Daily Sabah | 06/23/2021 U.S. officials are scheduled to visit Turkey this week to discuss the security of the Kabul airport in Afghanistan, reports the Daily Sabah (Istanbul). On Tuesday, the Turkish Defense Ministry said that U.S. delegation would arrive on Thursday for talks on keeping the Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport operational as coalition troops pull out. Turkey has been running the military and logistics operations at the airport for the last six years. It has offered to continue to guard the airport after the drawdown. On Monday, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed the Turkish offer but said that much work remains on the details, including the degree of U.S. support for the effort.
Ukraine—Navy In Line For Former British Minehunters U.K. Defence Journal | 06/23/2021 The Ukrainian navy has signed an agreement with the U.K. to receive a pair of British minehunters, reports the U.K. Defence Journal. On Monday, the service said that it had signed a memorandum of implementation with the U.K. on joint marine projects and the acquisition of capabilities over the next five years. The memorandum, between a consortium of British defense firms and Ukrainian industry, provides for joint U.K.-Ukraine design and building of warships and the construction of two naval bases, the British Embassy in Kyiv said. The memorandum was signed aboard the British destroyer Defender in Odessa. Under the agreement, the Ukrainian navy will receive two Sandown-class minehunters currently in British service. The vessels would be transferred after undergoing an audit, repair and modernization. Additional equipment and training for Ukrainian navy personnel would also be provided. The navy also plans to build eight missile boats in cooperation with British industry, with the first two boats being built in the U.K. and the remainder in Ukraine.
New Zealand—New REMUS UUVs Ordered From Huntington Ingalls Huntington Ingalls Industries | 06/23/2021 The New Zealand navy has ordered four uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) from Huntington Ingalls Industries, reports the U.S. shipbuilder. HHI announced the sale of four REMUS 300 UUVs to New Zealand on Tuesday. The value of the deal was not made public. New Zealand is the first international customer for the REMUS 300, the company said. The New Zealand navy already operates six REMUS 100 UUVs for mine countermeasures and underwater survey operations. The new UUVs are scheduled for delivery by the summer of 2022.
Iran—Work Underway For Another Space Launch, Satellite Photos Show Cable News Network | 06/23/2021 Iran is preparing for another space launch after a failed attempt earlier this month, reports CNN. Iran tried to launch a satellite into orbit on June 12, a Pentagon spokesman told the news channel. It was not clear why the launch failed. In the past, Iranian satellites have blown up on the launch pad or failed to reach orbit. Jeffrey Lewis, a professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, said the launch vehicle was likely a Simorgh rocket, a two-stage system based on a North Korean design. Other launches using that rocket have experienced similar problems in the past. Separately, satellite imagery cited by the Middlebury Institute suggests that Iran is preparing for another launch from the Imam Khomeini Spaceport. Images of the site from June 20 show fuel containers, support vehicles and a mobile platform at the site, indicating that another launch may be in the works.
Yemen—Scores Killed In Renewed Houthi Assault On Marib Agence France-Presse | 06/23/2021 As many as 90 combatants have been killed in fighting this week around the contested city of Marib in northern Yemen, reports Agence France-Presse. On Tuesday, pro-government military sources said that 63 Houthi and 27 pro-government fighters had been killed in clashes north of the city since Monday. The Houthis had increased the pace of their attacks despite U.S. and U.N. efforts to secure a cease-fire in the government-held city. On Tuesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that the Saudi-led coalition backing the internationally recognized government was ready to negotiate a settlement to the conflict but blamed the Houthis for rebuffing the offer. Houthi fighters launched an offensive to take Marib in February. Marib is the last government-controlled city in the north and hosts a significant number of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Syria—ISIS Kills, Captures Regime Soldiers In Homs Ambush New Arab | 06/23/2021 Islamic State fighters have ambushed Syrian government forces near Palmyra, reports the New Arab (London). On Monday, the militants attacked soldiers from the Syrian 11th Division in Wadi al-Abyad, outside Palmyra in the eastern Homs province, reported Almodon (Lebanon). Twelve Syrian soldiers were killed and four captured. Following the attack, Russian military aircraft were deployed, and regime forces swept the desert in search of the ISIS fighters. On June 15, Syrian forces supported by Russia and Iran launched a campaign to eliminate the final ISIS pockets in Syria. More than 50 ISIS fighters have been killed and 23 vehicles destroyed during the operation in Hama, Homs and Raqqa provinces.
Israel—About Half Of Fatalities In Recent Fighting Were Militants, Says Report Jerusalem Post | 06/23/2021 Israeli researchers say that about half of those killed in recent fighting in the Gaza Strip were militants, reports the Jerusalem Post. Of the approximately 234 people killed during fighting from May 10 to May 21, an estimated 112 had links to militant groups, said a report from the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center on Tuesday. These included 63 people associated with Hamas, 20 with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, 25 with a militant wing of Fatah and four others with smaller groups. Another five were killed fighting Israeli troops but were known to be members of internal forces within Gaza, indicating that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad mix their fighters with internal security forces, the center said. Researchers said that as many as 11 other men killed in the fighting may have been linked to militant groups, but this could not be confirmed from available information. The center said that many of the civilian casualties were family members of confirmed militants or lived close to targets destroyed by Israeli forces. This includes an Israeli attack on a Hamas tunnel that caused several homes in the surrounding area to collapse.
Ethiopia—TPLF Makes Territorial Gains In New Offensive Bloomberg News | 06/23/2021 Opposition forces in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region say they have recaptured territory from government troops, reports Bloomberg News. Forces from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) have just launched a strategic offensive against four Ethiopian army divisions, said TPLF leader Getachew Reda. Ethiopian troops have abandoned many towns and TPLF forces are now within 19 miles (30 km) of Mekelle, the regional capital, he said. A U.N. official confirmed that a TPLF operation was underway, with its forces taking control of a strategic road between Axum and Adigrat and another road leading to Mekelle. Fighting erupted in Tigray in November after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accused the TPLF, a former rebel group that had been a partner in Ethiopia's government since the 1990s, of attacking and looting military bases. Ethiopian officials and soldiers have enforced a media blackout in the area since then and reporting from the conflict has been sparse. Officials estimate that thousands of civilians have been killed in the fighting and more than 2 million displaced.
Zambia—Defense Force Shows Off Equipment During Parade Defence Web | 06/23/2021 The Zambia National Defense Force has displayed new hardware during a parade earlier this month in Lusaka, the capital, reports Defence Web (South Africa). The parade on June 13 marked the 45th anniversary of the founding of the Zambian military. During the event, the military showcased several systems that had not been seen publicly previously. These included six 120-mm Spear Mk 2 mobile mortar systems mounted on Tata LPTA 713TC 4 x 4 military trucks, as well as Elbit ATMOS M-46 self-propelled howitzers. Both systems are of Israeli origin. The defense force also showed off Israeli Hermes 450 and Skylark uncrewed aerial vehicles and various armored vehicles, air defense systems and aircraft. Special operations forces were seen carrying Israeli Tavor assault rifles and Galil sniper rifles.
Nicaragua—Another Opposition Presidential Candidate Arrested Cable News Network | 06/23/2021 Nicaraguan National Police have arrested a fifth presidential candidate ahead of elections in the fall, reports CNN. On Sunday, Miguel Mora Barberena was arrested, becoming the 15th opposition leader to be detained prior to the Nov. 7 presidential election. Barberena is a member of the Democratic Restoration party as well as a journalist and owner of the now shuttered 100% Noticias TV channel. The opposition figures and candidates arrested have been charged with vague "national security" violations, which human-rights group say is an excuse for President Daniel Ortega to crack down on dissent and competition. Following Barberena's arrest, Mexico and Argentina withdrew their ambassadors for discussions about the "worrying legal actions by the Nicaraguan government," the two countries said in a joint statement cited by Reuters. The U.S. sanctioned four members of the government earlier this month for their complicity in "the regime's oppression."
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