Good Wednesday Morning October 27
A bit of history and some tidbits.
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Today in Naval and Marine Corps History
October 27
1812
During the War of 1812, the frigate Essex, commanded by Capt. David Porter, departs Delaware capes on a cruise into the Pacific Ocean around Cape Horn for attacks on the British whaling industry.
1864
Lt. William B. Cushing takes the torpedo boat Picket Boat No. 1 upriver to Plymouth, N.C. and attacks CSS Albemarle at her berth, sinking her with a spar torpedo.
1922
The Navy League of the United States sponsors the first celebration of Navy Day to focus public attention on the importance of the U.S. Navy. The date is selected because it is Theodore Roosevelts birthday. Navy Day is last observed Oct. 27, 1949. In the 1970s, Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt works with the Navy League to define Oct. 13 to celebrate the Navy.
1944
Aircraft from USS Essex (CV 9) sink the Japanese destroyer Fujinami while aircraft from USS Enterprise (CV 6) sink the Japanese destroyer Shiranui 80 miles north of Iloilo, Panay..
1945
Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB 42) is commissioned at New York Naval Shipyard, NY, with Capt. Apollo Soucek in command. The event marks the first exception to the traditional naming of fleet carriers for battles or famous ships.
1975
As increased fighting among rival Lebanese political factions lead to U.S. concerns for Americans within the country, the State Department advises Americans to evacuate their dependents from Lebanon. The Sixth Fleet dispatches amphibious assault ship Inchon (LPH 12) as contingency evacuation ship, supported by USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67).
Thanks to CHINFO
Executive Summary:
This Day In History
0097 To placate the Praetorians of Germany, Nerva of Rome adopts Trajan, the Spanish-born governor of lower Germany.
1553 Michael Servetus, who discovered the pulmonary circulation of the blood, is burned for heresy in Switzerland.
1612 A Polish army that invaded Russia capitulates to Prince Dimitri Pojarski and his Cossacks.
1791 President George Washington transmits to Congress the results of the first US census, exclusive of South Carolina which had not yet submitted its findings.
1806 Emperor Napoleon enters Berlin.
1809 President James Madison orders the annexation of the western part of West Florida. Settlers there had rebelled against Spanish authority.
1862 A Confederate force is routed at the Battle of Georgia Landing, near Bayou Lafourche in Louisiana.
1870 The French fortress of Metz surrenders to the Prussian Army.
1873 Farmer Joseph F. Glidden applies for a patent on barbed wire. Glidden eventually received five patents and is generally considered the inventor of barbed wire.
1891 D. B. Downing, inventor, is awarded a patent for the street letter (mail) box.
1904 The New York subway officially opens running from the Brooklyn Bridge uptown to Broadway at 145th Street.
1907 The first trial in the Eulenberg Affair ends in Germany.
1917 20,000 women march in a suffrage parade in New York. As the largest state and the first on the East Coast to do so, New York has an important effect on the movement to grant all women the vote in all elections.
1922 In Italy, liberal Luigi Facta's cabinet resigns after threats from Mussolini that "either the government will be given to us or we will seize it by marching on Rome." Mussolini calls for a general mobilization of all Fascists.
1927 Fox Movie-tone news, the first sound news film, is released.
1941 In a broadcast to the nation on Navy Day, President Franklin Roosevelt declares: "America has been attacked, the shooting has started." He does not ask for full-scale war yet, realizing that many Americans are not yet ready for such a step.
1954 Benjamin O. Davis Jr. becomes the first African-American general in the US Air Force.
1962 Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev offers to remove Soviet missile bases in Cuba if the U.S. removes its missile bases in Turkey.
1962 American U-2 reconnaissance plane shot down by a surface-to-air missile over Cuba, killing the pilot, Maj. Rudolf Anderson, the only direct human casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
1964 The political career of future US president Ronald Reagan is launched when he delivers a speech on behalf of Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater.
1971 The Democratic Republic of the Congo renamed Zaire.
1986 London Stock Exchange rules change as Britain suddenly deregulates financial markets, an event called the Big Bang.
1988 US President Ronald Reagan decides to tear down a new US Embassy in Moscow because Soviet listening devices were built into the structure.
1997 Stock markets crash around the world over fears of a global economic meltdown.
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Thanks to Barrett
I was acquainted with Mitch Paige--we met when we both spoke at the Roseburg, OR, airport rededication in Marion Carl's name.
At that time (c. Y2K) there'd been news accounts of some Soldiers (it's Capitalized) who surrendered to Yugo militia, or something, and were roughed up before being released. They each got three gongs--forget what. A reported asked Col. Paige what he thought.
He said, "At Guadalcanal I was shot, stabbed, and blown up. Instead of medals they should receive courts martial. THEY QUIT WITHOUT A FIGHT." They had time to holler on the radio but not to use the .50 cal. on their Hummer.
Also knew Mrs. P. who was a delight--really feisty. When it became known that Mitch was the inspiration for GI Joe she said they received some humorous barbs about being the model for a doll. She said "It's not a doll. It's an action figure!"
BT
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Thanks to Dutch
200 Americans and thousands of Afghans who seek visas remain in Afghanistan nearly two months after US troops pulled out
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/middle_east/2021-10-26/afghanistan-americans-afghans-visas-taliban-inhofe-blinken-biden-3385337.html?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EBB:%2010.27.2021&utm_term=Editorial%20-%20Military%20-%20Early%20Bird%20Briefhttps://www.stripes.com/theaters/middle_east/2021-10-26/afghanistan-americans-afghans-visas-taliban-inhofe-blinken-biden-3385337.html?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EBB:%2010.27.2021&utm_term=Editorial%20-%20Military%20-%20Early%20Bird%20Brief
Nearly 200 Americans who want to leave Afghanistan remain in the country nearly two months after the U.S. military's evacuation mission ended at the Kabul airport, Pentagon officials told ... |
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Thanks to Billy D. …
The Age of the 727
Those were the good ole days. Pilots back then were men that didn't want to be women or girly men. Pilots all knew who Jimmy Doolittle was. Pilots drank coffee, whiskey, smoked cigars and didn't wear digital watches. They carried their own suitcases and brain bags, like the real men they were.
Pilots didn't bend over into the crash position multiple times each day in front of the passengers at security so that some Gov't agent could probe for tweezers or fingernail clippers or too much toothpaste. Pilots did not go through the terminal impersonating a caddy pulling a bunch of golf clubs, computers, guitars, and feed bags full of tofu and granola on a sissy-trailer with no hat and granny glasses hanging on a pink string around their pencil neck while talking to their personal trainer on the cell phone!!!
Being an airline Captain was as good as being the King in a Mel Brooks movie.
All the Stewardesses (aka. Flight Attendants) were young, attractive, single women that were proud to be combatants in the sexual revolution. They didn't have to turn sideways, grease up and suck it in to get through the cockpit door. They would blush, and say thank you, when told that they looked good, instead of filing a sexual harassment claim. Junior Stewardesses shared a room and talked about men.... with no thoughts of substitution.
Passengers wore nice clothes and were polite; they could speak AND understand English. They didn't speak gibberish or listen to loud gangsta rap on their IPods. They bathed and didn't smell like a rotting pile of garbage in a jogging suit and flip-flops. Children didn't travel alone, commuting between trailer parks. There were no Biggest Losers asking for a seatbelt extension or a Scotch and grapefruit juice cocktail with a twist. If the Captain wanted to throw some offensive, ranting jerk off the airplane, it was done without any worries of a lawsuit or getting fired.
Axial flow engines crackled with the sound of freedom and left an impressive black smoke trail like a locomotive burning soft coal. Jet fuel was cheap and once the throttles were pushed up they were left there. After all, it was the jet age and the idea was to go fast (run like a lizard on a hardwood floor). "Economy cruise" was something in the performance book, but no one knew why or where it was. When the clacker went off, no one got all tight and scared because Boeing built it out of iron. Nothing was going to fall off and that sound had the same effect on real pilots then, as Viagra does now for these new age guys.
There was very little plastic and no composites on the airplanes (or the Stewardesses' pectoral regions). Airplanes and women had eye-pleasing symmetrical curves, not a bunch of ugly vortex generators, ventral fins, winglets, flow diverters, tattoos, rings in their nose, tongues and eyebrows.
Airlines were run by men like C.R. Smith, Juan Trippe, "Eddie Rickenbacker" and Bob Six, who built their companies virtually from scratch, knew most of their employees by name, and were lifetime airline employees themselves...not pseudo financiers and bean counters who flit from one occupation to another for a few bucks, a better parachute or a fancier title, while fervently believing that they are a class of beings unto themselves.
And so it was back then....and never will be again! Damn! Flying is the second greatest thrill known to man. What is first, you ask?
Landing, of course.
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Thanks to Carl
The difference between Air Force and Navy pilots in one viral TikTok video
(A perfect story on this subject—was on a cross-country refueling stop in El Paso in an old TF-9, but it was a JET, from Beeville VT-24 circa '69. While talking with an AF Major while waiting on his top off too, he said the last time he was there a solo Blue Angel made a hot break and stayed perfectly level till the 180 but he blew the whole thing with a HARD landing! The USAF has "miles and miles" of concrete!)
The difference between Air Force and Navy pilots in one short video
"One is gentle and graceful, and the other is a full-send yeet."
BY DAVID ROZA | PUBLISHED OCT 26, 2021 9:22 AM
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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, 26 October 2021… (2nd of 3 posts)… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
(2) The Oriskany Fire as remembered by Captain Brown Bear Schaffert…
http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/fire-on-the-hanger-deck-26-october-1966/
… For The List for Tuesday, 26 October 2021… (3rd of 3 posts)… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
Lest we forget the 44 valiant seamen who perished on this day 55-years ago…
http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/26-october-1966-fire-on-the-oriskany/
… For The List for Wednesday, 27 October 2021… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 27 October 1966… 545th aircraft downed—LBJ revisits the troops—McNamara sends a message…
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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This Day in U S Military History
1873 – Farmer Joseph F. Glidden applied for a patent on barbed wire. Glidden eventually received five patents and is generally considered the inventor of barbed wire. [see Nov 24,
1874] Joseph Glidden and Isaac Ellwood formed a company in De Kalb, Illinois to manufacture barbed wire, an essential product of old West. Patents on barbed wire were granted as early as
1867, but Glidden was the first to devise a commercially viable way of producing it after seeing a sample of barbed wire at a fair in 1873. Glidden and Ellwood's product greatly increased the use of barbed wire to protect crops and livestock from roaming cattle. Open ranges dramatically dwindled in the face of new fencing over the next two decades.
1942 – At Guadalcanal, the Japanese halt the offensive. They have suffered 3500 casualties with entire units being destroyed. Both sides are exhaustive by the heavy day and night fighting, but the initiative has passed to the Americans.
1962 – Negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union finally result in a plan to end the two-week-old Cuban Missile Crisis. Since President John F. Kennedy's October 22 address warning the Soviets to cease their reckless program to put nuclear weapons in Cuba and announcing a naval "quarantine" against additional weapons shipments into Cuba, the world held its breath waiting to see whether the two superpowers would come to blows. U.S. armed forces went on alert and the Strategic Air Command went to a Stage 4 alert (one step away from nuclear attack). On October 24, millions waited to see whether Soviet ships bound for Cuba carrying additional missiles would try to break the U.S. naval blockade around the island. At the last minute, the vessels turned around and returned to the Soviet Union. On October 26, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev responded to the quarantine by sending a long and rather disjointed letter to Kennedy offering a deal: Soviet ships bound for Cuba would "not carry any kind of armaments" if the United States vowed never to invade Cuba. He pleaded, "let us show good sense," and appealed to Kennedy to "weigh well what the aggressive, piratical actions, which you have declared the U.S.A. intends to carry out in international waters, would lead to." He followed this with another letter the next day offering to remove the missiles from Cuba if the United States would remove its nuclear missiles from Turkey. Kennedy and his officials debated the proper U.S. response to these offers. Attorney General Robert Kennedy ultimately devised an acceptable plan: take up Khrushchev's first offer and ignore the second letter. Although the United States had been considering the removal of the missiles from Turkey for some time, agreeing to the Soviet demand for their removal might give the appearance of weakness. Nevertheless, behind the scenes, Russian diplomats were informed that the missiles in Turkey would be removed after the Soviet missiles in Cuba were taken away. This information was accompanied by a threat: If the Cuban missiles were not removed in two days, the United States would resort to military action. It was now Khrushchev's turn to consider an offer to end the standoff.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
COOLIDGE, CHARLES H.
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company M, 141st Infantry, 36th Infantry Division. Place and date: East of Belmont sur Buttant, France, 2427 October 1944. Entered service at: Signal Mountain, Tenn. Birth: Signal Mountain, Tenn. G.O. No.: 53, July 1945. Citation: Leading a section of heavy machineguns supported by 1 platoon of Company K, he took a position near Hill 623, east of Belmont sur Buttant, France, on 24 October 1944, with the mission of covering the right flank of the 3d Battalion and supporting its action. T/Sgt. Coolidge went forward with a sergeant of Company K to reconnoiter positions for coordinating the fires of the light and heavy machineguns. They ran into an enemy force in the woods estimated to be an infantry company. T/Sgt. Coolidge, attempting to bluff the Germans by a show of assurance and boldness called upon them to surrender, whereupon the enemy opened fire. With his carbine, T/Sgt. Coolidge wounded 2 of them. There being no officer present with the force, T/Sgt. Coolidge at once assumed command. Many of the men were replacements recently arrived; this was their first experience under fire. T/Sgt. Coolidge, unmindful of the enemy fire delivered at close range, walked along the position, calming and encouraging his men and directing their fire. The attack was thrown back. Through 25 and 26 October the enemy launched repeated attacks against the position of this combat group but each was repulsed due to T/Sgt. Coolidge's able leadership. On 27 October, German infantry, supported by 2 tanks, made a determined attack on the position. The area was swept by enemy small arms, machinegun, and tank fire. T/Sgt. Coolidge armed himself with a bazooka and advanced to within 25 yards of the tanks. His bazooka failed to function and he threw it aside. Securing all the hand grenades he could carry, he crawled forward and inflicted heavy casualties on the advancing enemy. Finally it became apparent that the enemy, in greatly superior force, supported by tanks, would overrun the position. T/Sgt. Coolidge, displaying great coolness and courage, directed and conducted an orderly withdrawal, being himself the last to leave the position. As a result of T/Sgt. Coolidge's heroic and superior leadership, the mission of this combat group was accomplished throughout 4 days of continuous fighting against numerically superior enemy troops in rain and cold and amid dense woods.
*OLSON, ARLO L.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, 1 5th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Crossing of the Volturno River, Italy, 13 October 1943. Entered service at: Toronto, S. Dak. Birth: Greenville, lowa. G.O. No.: 71, 31 August 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On 13 October 1943, when the drive across the Volturno River began, Capt. Olson and his company spearheaded the advance of the regiment through 30 miles of mountainous enemy territory in 13 days. Placing himself at the head of his men, Capt. Olson waded into the chest-deep water of the raging Volturno River and despite pointblank machine-gun fire aimed directly at him made his way to the opposite bank and threw 2 handgrenades into the gun position, killing the crew. When an enemy machinegun 150 yards distant opened fire on his company, Capt. Olson advanced upon the position in a slow, deliberate walk. Although 5 German soldiers threw handgrenades at him from a range of 5 yards, Capt. Olson dispatched them all, picked up a machine pistol and continued toward the enemy. Advancing to within 15 yards of the position he shot it out with the foe, killing 9 and seizing the post. Throughout the next 13 days Capt. Olson led combat patrols, acted as company No. 1 scout and maintained unbroken contact with the enemy. On 27 October 1943, Capt. Olson conducted a platoon in attack on a strongpoint, crawling to within 25 yards of the enemy and then charging the position. Despite continuous machinegun fire which barely missed him, Capt. Olson made his way to the gun and killed the crew with his pistol. When the men saw their leader make this desperate attack they followed him and overran the position. Continuing the advance, Capt. Olson led his company to the next objective at the summit of Monte San Nicola. Although the company to his right was forced to take cover from the furious automatic and small arms fire, which was directed upon him and his men with equal intensity, Capt. Olson waved his company into a skirmish line and despite the fire of a machinegun which singled him out as its sole target led the assault which drove the enemy away. While making a reconnaissance for defensive positions, Capt. Olson was fatally wounded. Ignoring his severe pain, this intrepid officer completed his reconnaissance, Supervised the location of his men in the best defense positions, refused medical aid until all of his men had been cared for, and died as he was being carried down the mountain.
O'BRIEN, GEORGE H., JR.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Company H, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Korea, 27 October, 1952. Entered service at: Big Spring, Tex. Born: 10 September 1926, Fort Worth, Tex. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a rifle platoon commander of Company H, in action against enemy aggressor forces. With his platoon subjected to an intense mortar and artillery bombardment while preparing to assault a vitally important hill position on the main line of resistance which had been overrun by a numerically superior enemy force on the preceding night, 2d Lt. O'Brien leaped from his trench when the attack signal was given and, shouting for his men to follow, raced across an exposed saddle and up the enemy-held hill through a virtual hail of deadly small-arms, artillery, and mortar fire. Although shot through the arm and thrown to the ground by hostile automatic-weapons fire as he neared the well-entrenched enemy position, he bravely regained his feet, waved his men onward, and continued to spearhead the assault, pausing only long enough to go to the aid of a wounded marine. Encountering the enemy at close range, he proceeded to hurl handgrenades into the bunkers and, utilizing his carbine to best advantage in savage hand-to-hand combat, succeeded in killing at least 3 of the enemy. Struck down by the concussion of grenades on 3 occasions during the subsequent action, he steadfastly refused to be evacuated for medical treatment and continued to lead his platoon in the assault for a period of nearly 4 hours, repeatedly encouraging his men and maintaining superb direction of the unit. With the attack halted he set up a defense with his remaining forces to prepare for a counterattack, personally checking each position, attending to the wounded and expediting their evacuation. When a relief of the position was effected by another unit, he remained to cover the withdrawal and to assure that no wounded were left behind. By his exceptionally daring and forceful leadership in the face of overwhelming odds, 2d Lt. O'Brien served as a constant source of inspiration to all who observed him and was greatly instrumental in the recapture of a strategic position on the main line of resistance. His indomitable determination and valiant fighting spirit reflect the highest credit upon himself and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for October 27, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
27 October
1909: Mrs. Ralph H. Van Deman became the first woman airplane passenger in America in a 4-minute flight at College Park with Wilbur Wright. (24)
1925: Lt James H. Doolittle flew a Curtiss R3C-2 floatplane racer to an FAI record of 245.7 MPH for 3 kilometers and 234.4 MPH for 200 kilometers at Bay Shore, near Baltimore. (8: Oct 90)
1944: The first US Army aircraft to be stationed in the Philippines since 1942 landed on the Tacloban airstrip. The 34 P-38s of the 9th Fighter Squadron refueled at once, and before the end of the day shot down four enemy aircraft. (17) Between 27 October and 31 December, the Japanese flew almost 1,050 sorties over Leyte. Pilots from the V Fighter Command shot down 314 confirmed aircraft and received credit for 45 probables, yet suffered only 16 losses. On 29 October, the 49 FG scored its 500th victory. (17)
1946: Through 3 November the Navy airship XM-1, with Lt H. R. Walton in command, left Lakehurst flew down the Atlantic coast to Savannah, Ga., the Bahamas, Florida, Cuba, over the Gulf of Mexico and landed at NAF Glynco, Ga. The flight set a world duration record of 170.3 hours for self-sufficient flight in any type aircraft. (24)
1950: KOREAN WAR. The 452 BG (AFRES) flew its first B-26 combat mission, less than a month after it was called to active duty in the US. (28)
1951: KOREAN WAR. On a last medium bomber daylight raid, B-29 gunners downed six MiG-15s, the highest number of enemy aircraft downed on any day of the war. A 3 ARS H-5, with fighter escort, rescued a downed UN fighter pilot despite intense fire from enemy ground troops. (28)
1954: Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., became the USAF's first black general officer. (21)
1955: The Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Company received an USAF research and development contract for the Titan ICBM. (6)
1961: The Saturn launched for the first time. It flew a suborbital route 215 miles down the Atlantic Missile Range.
1962: The first 10 Minuteman I (Model A) missiles went on alert with the 10 SMS, 341 SMW, at Malmstrom AFB. (6) CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS/FIRST AIR FORCE CROSS. The Cubans shot down a 4080 SW U-2 flown by Maj Rudolf Anderson, Jr., over Cuba. Major Anderson received the first Air Force Cross posthumously. (21)
1972: AFSC launched a 47.8 million-cubic-foot research balloon, the world's largest, from Chico, Calif. The USAF's Cambridge Research Laboratory developed the balloon in 1969.
1976: The DoD announced plans to send an F-15 wing to Germany and an F-111 wing to England. (4)
1983: Exercises ETERNAL TRIANGLE and CRISEX. Three B-52Gs deployed from the 42d BMW at Loring AFB to Moron AB, Spain, for exercises. This marked the first such use of a Spanish base for the Air Force. On 27-28 October, the B-52s participated in Eternal Triangle, a NATO exercise, and from 31 October through 8 November in Crisex, a joint US/Spanish exercise. In both, the B-52s flew high and low altitude bombing, sea search, electronic countermeasures, and fighter-intercept exercises. (1)
1998: HURRICANE MITCH/OPERATION AMIGO. The hurricane ravaged Central America, leaving more than 10,000 people dead and a million people homeless in Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador. In response, the Air National Guard deployed crews and C-130s from Arkansas, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island for several months to deliver relief supplies to the region. By the time the operation ended on 19 March 1999, the aircrews had flown more than 200 missions. (21) (32)
1999: Developmental testing on the C-141 Starlifter came to an end when the last test aircraft left the AFFTC at Edwards AFB for March ARB. (3)
2006: The 49 FW flew 25 F-117 Nighthawks in formation over Holloman AFB for the largest flyover in its history to commemorate the aircraft's 25th anniversary. (USAF Aimpoints, "F-117 Celebrates 25 Years with Historical Flyover," 31 Oct 2006) The USAF rolled out the 747-400F Airborne Laser aircraft in a ceremony at Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems facility in Wichita. (USAF Aimpoints, "USAF Debuts Laser Weapon Aircraft, 31 Oct 2006)
2007: FIRST MQ-9 REAPER COMBAT MISSION. The MQ-9 Reaper conducted its first precision combat strike sortie against enemy combatants in Deh Rawod, Afghanistan, with a Hellfire missile. (AFNEWS, Oct. 27 Airpower Summary: Reaper Conducts First Strike," 28 Oct 2007.)
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World News for27 October thanks to Military Periscope
USA—$700 Million In Aid To Sudan Suspended Forbes | 10/27/2021 The U.S. has suspended hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance to Sudan after the military seized power, reports Forbes. On Monday, a State Dept. spokesman announced that US$700 million in direct economic support for Sudan was being halted. Congress allocated the aid in its fiscal 2021 budget as part of efforts to support Sudan's democratic transition. None of the money was distributed to Sudan before the military arrested civilian leaders and dismantled the transitional government on Monday. Relations with Sudan improved following the ouster of dictator Omar Bashir in 2019, including the removal of Khartoum from the state sponsors of terror list. The U.S. may also impose sanctions on Sudan's military leaders if it becomes necessary, the spokesman said.
USA—GDLS Partners With Startup For Advanced Air Defense Capability Epirus | 10/27/2021 The Epirus startup, headquartered in Los Angeles, says it has finalized a strategic teaming agreement with General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) to cooperate on mobile short-range air defense (SHORAD) systems. On Monday, the two firms announced the strategic teaming agreement, which covers the integration of the Epirus Leonidas directed-energy weapon on the Stryker wheeled armored vehicle and other crewed and autonomous ground vehicles for the SHORAD mission. The Leonidas counter-electronics system, based on a high-power microwave (HPM) system, is intended to take out drone swarms but can also knock out vehicles and targets at sea, according to Epirus officials quoted by Defense News. The integration will demonstrate flexible application interface of the Leonidas as well as its ability to integrate with existing ground, airborne and maritime systems. Epirus has previously conducted field demonstrations of the Leonidas in the southwest U.S. It has also proven its all-weather capability and ability to operate in below-freezing temperatures and hot climates.
USA—General Atomics, Boeing Tapped To Build 300-kW Laser Demonstrator General Atomics | 10/27/2021 The Army has awarded General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) and Boeing a contract to build a new high-power laser prototype, reports General Atomics. The Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) contract covers the development of a 300-kw solid-state distributed gain high-energy laser weapon system. Boeing and GA-EMS were not authorized to reveal the value of the contract, noted Breaking Defense. GA-EMS will provide the 300-kW-class distributed gain laser, which will be integrated with a Boeing beam director and precision acquisition, tracking and pointing software to provide a complete demonstrator with advanced laser and beam control, the company said.
USA—Long-Delayed Carrier Set To Deploy Next Year USNI News | 10/27/2021 The Navy's newest aircraft carrier is on track to undertake its first operational deployment in 2022, reports USNI News. USS Gerald R. Ford is in the midst of a six-month scheduled maintenance availability, which has not uncovered any major issues, said Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman, commander of Carrier Strike Group 12 (CSG-12). Once the Ford completes her refit, she will receive her complete air wing for the first time and be ready for operations, Huffman said. The Ford will be part of CSG-12 during her maiden deployment. The carrier was originally scheduled to deploy for the first time in 2018. However, problems with the reliability of new technology, particularly the certification of the advanced weapons elevators, which bring munitions to the flight deck, led to postponements. New systems including the elevators, electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) and advanced arresting gear, are intended to enable 30-percent greater sortie generation rate compared to the Nimitz class. The unavailability of the Ford has placed strain on the Navy's carrier force. The Ford and her sisters are expected to help the Navy meet that demand, said Huffman.
Canada—Sajjan Out As Defense Minister In Cabinet Reshuffle Calgary Herald | 10/27/2021 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has replaced his defense minister as part of a broader cabinet shakeup following recent elections, reports the Calgary Herald. The new Cabinet was sworn in on Tuesday, with 38 ministers, including nine new members, reported the Ottawa Citizen. Three former members were dropped. Harjit Sajjan moved from the defense portfolio to serve as minister for the international development agency. Sajjan faced criticism during his tenure for his handling of sexual misconduct allegations against senior members of the military. Anita Anand will take over as minister of defense. She previously served as public services and procurement minister and led efforts to procure novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines. She will be the second woman to serve as defense minister.
Mexico—Security Beefed Up In Tulum After Tourist Killings Bloomberg News | 10/27/2021 Mexico has deployed troops to the southern city of Tulum after two foreign tourists were killed during street fighting between criminal groups, reports Bloomberg News. On Oct. 20, two tourists were caught in the crossfire during a fight between rival criminal drug organizations. Three other tourists were wounded. As of Monday, at least one suspected shooter had been detained. On Tuesday, Defense Minister Gen. Luis Cresencio Sandoval announced that 450 troops were in Tulum to boost security, including national guardsmen, army soldiers and naval infantry. Sandoval indicated that there may be additional operations in the wider region.
Turkey—Deal Inked For S. Korean Powerpacks For Altay Tanks Daily Sabah | 10/27/2021 The South Korean and Turkish governments have signed a letter of intent covering the supply of powerpacks for Turkey's indigenous tank program, reports the Daily Sabah (Istanbul). The letter was signed on Oct. 22 during a meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Kang Eun Ho, the minister in charge of South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration, reported Defense News. Under the agreement, Doosan will supply the engine and S&T Dynamics the transmission for the Altay main battle tank, which is based on the South Korean K2 tank. The South Korean firms will supply the equipment and assist with its integration. If all goes well, the program could move forward with the new powerpacks in around 18 months, according to BMC, the builder of the vehicle. The Altay was originally intended to be powered by an MTU diesel engine and Renk transmission. That plan fell apart after Germany imposed an arms embargo on Turkey in response to its operations in Syria. The disruption in the supply of the powerpack has contributed to significant delays in the Altay program.
Turkey—Parliament Extends Missions In Syria, Iraq For 2 Years Hurriyet | 10/27/2021 Turkish lawmakers have authorized military missions in Syria and Iraq for another two years, reports the Hurriyet Daily News (Istanbul). On Tuesday, the Turkish Parliament approved a motion by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) extending the missions. The motion emphasized the importance of eliminating threats posed by Kurdish and ISIS militants in those countries. Previously, Ankara extended the missions for a year at a time.
Burma—Military Steps Up Ops In Chin State Voice Of America News | 10/27/2021 The Burmese military-led government is cracking down on militias in the western Chin state, reports the Voice of America News. Early this month, the State Administrative Council (SAC) began sending troops into Chin through the neighboring Magway and Sagaing regions. The SAC says the deployments target ethnic armed groups operating in the region, including the Chin National Front (CNF), Chinland Defense Force, Chin National Defense Force and local members of the anti-junta People's Defense Forces. A large contingent of government forces has been stationed in Hakha, the state capital, and the neighboring Mindat, Kanpetlet, Falam and Thantlang townships, said sources in the ethnic militias. Local resistance forces fought the soldiers as they moved into the state, during which the Burmese military shelled villages and killed, tortured and arbitrarily detained civilians as well as looting property, according to witnesses and local media. The military has targeted Christians, damaging or destroying at least seven churches and killing one pastor and detaining another three. The population in the region is about 90 percent Christian. Analysts say the government is targeting Chin because the CNF was one of the first ethnic armed groups to back the ousted civilian government following the Feb. 1 coup and has provided training to militias opposed to the junta.
India—6 Civilians Injured In Grenade Attack Press Trust Of India | 10/27/2021 At least six civilians were injured in an attempted attack on an army convoy in India-administered Kashmir, reports the Press Trust of India. On Tuesday morning, terrorists threw a grenade at an army convoy near a bus stand in the Bandipora district, police officials said. The grenade missed its target and exploded on the side of the road. Six civilians were injured in the blast. They were taken to a hospital where their conditions were reported as stable. A taxi was also damaged in the blast, reported the Greater Kashmir.
Afghanistan—Terrorist Groups In Afghanistan Remain A Threat, Officials Say Wall Street Journal | 10/27/2021 A top U.S. defense official says that terrorist organizations in Afghanistan could be ready to launch attacks in the West in as little as six months, reports the Wall Street Journal. On Tuesday, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl told the Senate Armed Services Committee that ISIS-K could be able to conduct such attacks in six to 12 months. Al-Qaida could obtain a similar capability in one to two years, he said. U.S. intelligence is fairly certain that both groups intend to launch such attacks, said Kahl. The undersecretary said that the U.S. assessment is that the Taliban and ISIS-K are enemies but could not determine whether the Taliban would be able to effectively go after ISIS-K.
Iraq—11 Killed In Diyala Assault Rudaw | 10/27/2021 Eleven civilians have been killed in a militant attack in Iraq's eastern Diyala province, reports Rudaw (Iraqi Kurdistan). On Tuesday, gunmen attacked a house in the Miqdadiyah district, killing 11, said Diyala Gov. Muthanna Al Tamimi. Medical sources told Reuters that 15 people were wounded in the assault. The attack involved semi-automatic weapons and several vehicles, police said. ISIS is active in the area and has claimed attacks Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) members in the Saadiya area of Diyala.
Syria—HTS Expands Reach In Idlib, Latakia The Syrian Observer | 10/27/2021 Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has extended its control over parts of Syria's western Idlib and northern Latakia provinces, reports the Syrian Observer. On Tuesday, about 70 members of the Junud Al Sham group and its leader, Muslim Al Shishani, left Jabal Al Turkman (Mount Turkman) and the surrounding area, including Jisr Al Shughour, reported the pro-opposition Al Modon (Beirut). Al Shishani and his group moved to other areas of Idlib. Their departure followed an agreement with HTS that would allow the former Al-Qaida affiliate to assume control of the mountainous area. An HTS source said that the group intends to eliminate other rival groups in the area, including Jundallah, Huras Al Din and the Islamic State.
Israel—Emirati Air Force Chief Observes Blue Flag Drills Times of Israel | 10/27/2021 The head of the United Arab Emirates air force is in Israel this week to observe a major multinational biennial exercise, reports the Times of Israel. The Blue Flag drills are in their second week. Israeli officials described the training as the largest and most advanced to date. On Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Nasser Muhammed al-Alawi, the Emirati air force chief, observed the training with 10 other air force chiefs. This was al-Alawi's first trip to Israel since the two countries normalized relations. About 80 fighter jets and 1,500 personnel are taking part in the exercise at Ovda Air Force Base in the Negev Desert north of Eilat. In addition to Israeli F-15, F-16 and F-35 fighters, Germany sent six Eurofighter Typhoons; Italy, five F-35s and six G550 early warning aircraft; U.K., six Typhoons; France, four Rafale fighters; India, five Mirage 2000s; Greece, four F-16s; and the U.S., six F-16s, reported the Jerusalem Post. This is the first time a British fighter squadron has deployed to Israel as well as the first time, India has sent a Mirage squadron and France a Rafale squadron. The exercise is focused on enhancing the operational capabilities of the participating forces in air-to-air and air-to-ground missions and evading ground-based air defense systems. The air forces have also been working on integrating fourth- and fifth-generation combat aircraft in complex scenarios.
Somalia—U.S. Military Aid To Elite Unit Under Review Voice Of America News | 10/27/2021 U.S. officials say that they are reviewing support for an elite Somali military unit that was involved in recent fighting with a former ally, reports the Voice of America News. A source at the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu said that Washington was reviewing aid provided to the elite Danab force after it took part in fighting with Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama'a (ASWJ), a moderate Islamist group that is a rival to Al-Shabaab, which is considered the main threat in the region by the U.S. Fighting between government and Galmudug state regional forces and ASWJ broke out on Saturday and continued into Sunday, killing at least 30 people, including a Danab commander, reported Reuters. "The United States provides training and support coordination to Somali National Army Danab Brigade units to advance our shared objective of defeating Al-Shabaab," said the embassy official. "As a result of this incident, we will be reviewing the support we provide to ensure it is being used appropriately and consistent with U.S. policy and objectives." The ASWJ was ousted from Galmudug in early 2020 but re-emerged earlier this month ahead of planned parliamentary elections, sparking clashes with local security forces.
Sudan—African Union Membership Suspended Following Coup Al Jazeera | 10/27/2021 The African Union has suspended Sudan after the military dissolved the transitional government earlier this week, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar). On Wednesday, the A.U. announced that Sudan was suspended from all activities pending the restoration of the transitional government. Separately, the World Bank suspended aid to Khartoum. Protests against the coup have continued, with state oil workers and doctors pledging to join a civil disobedience campaign called by a coalition of unions.
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