Good Thursday Morning October 28
I hope that your week is going well
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Today in Naval and Marine Corps History
October 28
1812
During the War of 1812, the brig Argus, commanded by Commodore Arthur Sinclair, captures the British merchant brig Fly in the North Atlantic.
1882
Orders are issued for the first Naval Attache, Lt. Cmdr. French E. Chadwick, to be sent to London.
1943
Lt. Franklin M. Murray, in a TBF Avenger, and Ensign Gerald L. Handshuh, in an FM-2 Wildcat, from Composite Squadron (VC) 1 on USS Block Island (CVE 21), sink German submarine U-220 east of Newfoundland.
1944
USS Gleaves (DD 423), while operating off the Franco-Italian coast, bombards German troop concentrations, barracks, and gun emplacements. Enemy shore fire at the destroyer is inaccurate, but Gleaves achieves excellent return fire results.
1952
The XA3D-1 bomber designed to carry nuclear weapons made its first flight. Skywarriors also later served in reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and tanker configurations.
Thanks to CHINFO
Executive Summary:
• South Korean media reported on Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro's meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook in Seoul.
• National and trade press reported on CJCS Gen. Mark Milley's comments about China's hypersonic missile test.
• Trade press continued coverage of Task Force 59's exercise New Horizon.
This Day in History
0312 Constantine the Great defeats Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius at the Mulvian Bridge.
0969 After a prolonged siege, the Byzantines end 300 years of Arab rule in Antioch.
1216 Henry III of England is crowned.
1628 After a fifteen-month siege, the Huguenot town of La Rochelle surrenders to royal forces.
1636 Harvard College, the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, is founded in Cambridge, Mass.
1768 Germans and Acadians join French Creoles in their armed revolt against the Spanish governor of New Orleans.
1793 Eli Whitney applies for a patent on the cotton gin, a machine which cleans the tight-clinging seeds from short-staple cotton easily and effectively--a job which was previously done by hand.
1863 In a rare night attack, Confederates under Gen. James Longstreet attack a Federal force near Chattanooga, Tennessee, hoping to cut their supply line, the "cracker line." They fail.
1886 The Statue of Liberty, originally named Liberty Enlightening the World, is dedicated at Liberty Island, N. Y., formerly Bedloe's Island, by President Grover Cleveland
1901 Race riots sparked by Booker T. Washington's visit to the White House kill 34.
1904 The St. Louis police try a new investigation method: fingerprints.
1914 George Eastman announces the invention of the color photographic process.
1914 The German cruiser Emden, disguised as a British ship, steams into Penang Harbor near Malaya and sinks the Russian light cruiser Zhemchug.
1919 Over President Wilson's veto, Congress passes the National Prohibition Act, or Volstead Act, named after its promoter, Congressman Andrew J. Volstead. It provides enforcement guidelines for the Prohibition Amendment.
1927 Pan American Airways launches the first scheduled international flight.
1940 Italy invades Greece, launching six divisions on four fronts from occupied Albania.
1944 The first B-29 Superfortress bomber mission flies from the airfields in the Mariana Islands in a strike against the Japanese base at Truk.
1960 In a note to the OAS (Organization of American States), the United States charges that Cuba has been receiving substantial quantities of arms and numbers of military technicians" from the Soviet bloc.
1962 Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev orders Soviet missiles removed from Cuba, ending the Cuban Missile Crisis.
1965 Construction completed on St. Louis Arch; at 630 feet (192m), it is the world's tallest arch.
1971 Britain launches the satellite Prospero into orbit, using a Black Arrow carrier rocket; this is the first and so far (2013) only British satellite launched by a British rocket.
1982 The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party wins election, giving Spain its first Socialist government since the death of right-wing President Francisco Franco.
2005 Libby "Scooter" Lewis, chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, resigns after being indicted for "outing" CIA agent Valerie Plame.
2007 Argentina elects its first woman president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
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Thanks to Brett
Geopolitical Futures:
Keeping the future in focus
https://geopoliticalfutures.com
Daily Memo: Relief on the Way for Europe's Gas Crunch
European gas prices have already responded to the news.
By GPF Staff
October 28, 2021
European replenishment. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Gazprom to refill European natural gas storage facilities beginning next month to help ease the Continent's energy crunch. European gas prices declined following the announcement. Meanwhile, the European Union pledged to give Moldova 60 million euros ($70 million) to help the country deal with its own energy crisis. Earlier this month, Moldova was forced to purchase natural gas from outside Russia for the first time in its history after Gazprom raised prices and the two sides failed to agree on terms for a new contract after their existing deal expired. The country declared a state of emergency over its depleting gas supplies last week.
U.S. troops in Taiwan. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen basically confirmed that at least a small number of U.S. troops have been stationed in Taiwan, ostensibly to carry out training functions. (We're still patting ourselves on the back on this one.) Tsai also said she believed the U.S. would help defend Taiwan in the event of an attack, adding to the speculation on whether the U.S. and Taiwan are edging away from the long-held U.S. policy of "strategic ambiguity."
Fishing dispute. France's maritime minister said on Thursday that French authorities detained a British fishing boat that was caught operating in French waters without a license. It comes after France's European affairs minister threatened to impose measures including banning British fishing boats from its harbors and increased customs checks if a dispute over licenses for French fishing boats isn't resolved. According to Paris, more than half of French applications for fishing licenses were rejected by the U.K.
Border security. Tajikistan has agreed to allow China to construct a border police post on Tajik territory near the Afghan border. The outpost will be handed over to Tajik authorities upon completion, and no Chinese personnel will be stationed there – at least according to officials. Construction will cost 55 million yuan ($8.6 million).
Russian arms in Latin America. Russian arms trader Rosoboronexport said ahead of an international arms exhibition that it viewed Latin America as a key region for cooperation. A representative said the company would finish building a plant to produce Kalashnikov assault rifles in Venezuela by the end of 2022.
Asia-Pacific cooperation. Australia inked a "comprehensive strategic partnership" with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at a summit on Wednesday.
Moving forward. An Armenian official said his government was in talks with Russia on how to normalize relations with Turkey.
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Thanks to Dr. Rich
Follow-up .... Crazy Coincidence involving a 727 and DC-3 ...a
Thanks to John T. ...
1985 - American Airlines
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On Wed, Oct 27, 2021 at 9:15 AM Richard Sugden, MD <rsugden@tetondata.com> wrote:
Thanks to Shadow ...
Crazy Coincidence involving a 727 and DC-3
Years ago… think it was the late sixties, early 70's. There was a Western Airlines 727 flying from Dallas (I think) to San Diego…. Anyway at cruise altitude… around Lordsburg, New Mexico… the flight crew felt a sudden lurch and the flight engineers said… "We just lost number three"! And went through the procedures for engine loss. The crew discussed the problem and decided to continue on to San Diego on two engines… No Big Deal… the airplane flew fine on just two. Besides they had plenty of divert fields if they needed them enroute.
Meanwhile, back in the cabin… the guy sitting near the Number Three engine in the window seat is frantically trying to get the stewardess's attention. As he excitedly points out the window to show her… "Number Three is No Longer There… It's Gone! The Whole Damn Engine is GONE"!
She then races to the cockpit to inform the flight deck crew. As she burst into the cockpit she yells out… "We lost an engine"! The Engineer tells her they are fully aware of the situation and everything is under control… no big deal… the airplane flies fine on two engines. They are about to make a call over the PA system explaining that they'd suffered the loss of an engine, but no big deal, airplane flies fine on two… Go back and make the passengers at ease… tell them the 727 flies nicely on just two engines and we expect to arrive in San Diego "on time". She then screams… "But we've lost an engine"! They tell her to go back, calm down, everything is under control. The Captain then gets on the PA and announces that they've had a problem with an engine, but it is no big deal… the plane flies very well on two engines and everything is under control. Sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of the flight.
Believe it or not… the Flight Crew was still unaware that the engine hadn't just shut down… the entire engine and nacelle had actually departed the airframe. Seems the engine had suffered a catastrophic seizure and as a result the shear bolts, attaching the nacelle to the airframe gave way (as designed) and it had departed, with engine still ensconced inside. They crew continued on, oblivious to the reality of the situation
It was only when they arrived in San Diego, during final approach, that upon landing, Lindberg Tower said to them… "Western, do you realize you've lost your number three engine"? The Captain was kinda perplexed as they hadn't declared an emergency… How'd the tower know they'd lost the engine. Just curious, he called the tower back and asked… "Thanks, we're aware of it… but how did you know (since they hadn't told anyone about the situation)"? Tower replied… "Because it isn't there… it's gone"! Well, you can imagine the consternation that occurred on the flight deck when they realized what a screw up they'd made.
A search was made for the missing engine and it was actually found in a pasture outside of Lordsburg… incredibly in the same pasture where a new DC-3… lost a propeller decades before… on its' inaugural flight from El Paso to Phoenix. What are the odds of both items falling to the same field in the middle of no where?
Writing this from memory… so some of the facts might not be totally accurate… but that's the way I remember it.
Shadow
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear
… For The List for Thursday, 28 October 2021… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 28 October 1966… LBJ Reports to The People… (A superb little pep talk)
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…….28 October
1918 – World War I was reaching its climax as Allied forces all along the Western Front continue launching attacks against the German "Hindenburg Line". Used to keep the pressure on the Germans most of these attacks gain some ground but not all succeed. A case in point is the failed assault launched on this date by the 26th Division (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) in a sector known to the French as the "Death Valley". But it is no wonder the assault failed. The division was very weak, having been in action almost daily, with little relief, since the start of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in late September. For instance, its 51st Brigade, composed of the 101st Infantry (MA) and the 102nd Infantry (CT), had only 15 officers and just over 800 men when their combined organizational strength should have been 6,100 men. The men were tired but when the order came to advance they moved out. Despite artillery support from the 101st Field Artillery (MA) and some French cannon, their attack failed to reach its goal and the survivors withdrew to their original jumping off point having lost an additional 150 men killed, wounded or missing. On November 1st the 26th Division was pulled out of Death Valley and sent to a rest area. It would see no more combat as the war ended on November 11th.
1929 – Black Monday, a day in the Wall Street Crash of 1929, which also saw major stock market upheaval.
1942 – The Alaska Highway (Alcan Highway) is completed through Canada to Fairbanks, Alaska.
1943 – The US 2nd Marine Parachute Battalion is landed by sea at Voza on Choiseul Island (Operation Blissful). They engage Japanese forces. This is a diversion from the intended attack on Bougainville.
1944 – The first B-29 Superfortress bomber mission flew from the airfields in the Mariana Islands in a strike against the Japanese base at Truk.
1944 – On Leyte, attacks by US 24th Corps around Dagami make slow progress and suffer heavy losses. To the north, the US 1st Cavalry Division (part of US 10th Corps) encounters heavy resistance near Carigara and is held up. At sea, carrier groups under the command of Admiral Davison and Admiral Bogan conduct air strikes.
1960 – In a note to the OAS (Organization of American States), the United States charged that Cuba had been receiving substantial quantities of arms and numbers of military technicians" from the Soviet bloc.
1962 – The Cuban Missile crisis comes to a close as Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agrees to remove Russian missiles from Cuba in exchange for a promise from the United States to respect Cuba's territorial sovereignty. This ended nearly two weeks of anxiety and tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union that came close to provoking a nuclear conflict.The consequences of the crisis were many and varied. Relations between Cuba and the Soviet Union were on shaky ground for some time after Khrushchev's removal of the missiles, as Fidel Castro accused the Russians of backing down from the Americans and deserting the Cuban revolution. European allies of the United States were also angered, not because of the U.S. stance during the crisis, but because the Kennedy administration kept them virtually in the dark about negotiations that might have led to an atomic war. Inside the Soviet Union, hard-liners were appalled at Khrushchev's withdrawal of the weapons. Two years later, in 1964, Leonid Brezhnev and Aleksei Kosygin pushed him from power and proceeded to lead the Soviet Union on a massive military buildup. There was perhaps one positive aspect of the crisis. Having gone to the edge of what President Kennedy referred to as the "abyss of destruction," cooler heads in both nations initiated steps to begin some control over nuclear weapons. Less than a year after the crisis ended, the United States and Soviet Union signed an agreement to end aboveground testing; in 1968, both nations signed a non-proliferation treaty.
1964 – U.S. T-28 airplanes flown by Thai pilots bomb and strafe North Vietnamese villages in the Mugia Pass area. North Vietnam charged publicly that U.S. personnel participated in the raids, but U.S. officials denied that any Americans were involved.
1965 – Viet Cong commandos damage and destroy a number of allied aircraft in two separate raids on U.S. air bases, including Chu Lai, on the coast of the South China Sea in Quang Tin Province, I Corps.
1985 – The leader of the so-called "Walker family spy ring," John Walker, pleaded guilty to giving U-S Navy secrets to the Soviet Union. John Walker was the KGB's most important spy in the United States in the 1970s. As a chief warrant officer in the US Navy, Walker had access to naval secrets and spied for the Soviet Union in exchange for money. After retiring, John Walker continued to spy with the help of family members still serving in the Navy until the FBI caught him. JUST GIVE ME A COUPLE MINUUTES IN HIS CELL PLEASE
1999 – Two Navy Blue Angel aviators, Kieron O'Connor (35) and Kevin Colling (32), were killed when their F/A-18 Hornet crashed during a training flight near Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. 23 pilots have died at shows or training since the group was formed in 1946.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
VEALE, MOSES
Rank and organization: Captain, Company F, 109th Pennsylvania Infantry. Place and date: At Wauhatchie, Tenn., 28 October 1863. Entered service at: Philadelphia, Pa. Born. 9 November 1832, Bridgeton, N.J. Date of issue: 17 January 1894. Citation: Gallantry in action manifesting throughout the engagement coolness, zeal, judgment, and courage. His horse was shot from under him and he was hit by 4 enemy bullets.
WOOD, H. CLAY
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 11th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Wilsons Creek, Mo., 10 August 1861. Entered service at: Winthrop, Maine. Birth: Winthrop, Maine. Date of issue: 28 October 1893. Citation: Distinguished gallantry.
ALBEE, GEORGE E.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 41st U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Brazos River, Tex., 28 October 1869. Entered service at: Owatonna, Minn. Birth: Lisbon, N.H. Date of issue: 18 January 1894. Citation: Attacked with 2 men a force of 11 Indians, drove them from the hills, and reconnoitered the country beyond.
BREAULT, HENRY
Rank and organization: Torpedoman Second Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 14 October, 1900, Putnam, Conn. Accredited to: Vermont. G.O. No.: 125, 20 February 1924. Citation: For heroism and devotion to duty while serving on board the U.S. submarine 0-5 at the time of the sinking of that vessel. On the morning of 28 October 1923, the 0-5 collided with the steamship Abangarez and sank in less than a minute. When the collision occurred, Breault was in the torpedo room. Upon reaching the hatch, he saw that the boat was rapidly sinking. Instead of jumping overboard to save his own life, he returned to the torpedo room to the rescue of a shipmate whom he knew was trapped in the boat, closing the torpedo room hatch on himself. Breault and Brown remained trapped in this compartment until rescued by the salvage party 31 hours later. (Medal presented by President Coolidge at the White House on 8 March 1924.)
ADAMS, LUCIAN
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near St. Die, France, 28 October 1944. Entered service at: Port Arthur, Tex. Birth: Port Arthur, Tex. G.O. No.: 20, 29 March 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 28 October 1944, near St. Die, France. When his company was stopped in its effort to drive through the Mortagne Forest to reopen the supply line to the isolated third battalion, S/Sgt. Adams braved the concentrated fire of machineguns in a lone assault on a force of German troops. Although his company had progressed less than 10 yards and had lost 3 killed and 6 wounded, S/Sgt. Adams charged forward dodging from tree to tree firing a borrowed BAR from the hip. Despite intense machinegun fire which the enemy directed at him and rifle grenades which struck the trees over his head showering him with broken twigs and branches, S/Sgt. Adams made his way to within 10 yards of the closest machinegun and killed the gunner with a hand grenade. An enemy soldier threw hand grenades at him from a position only 10 yards distant; however, S/Sgt. Adams dispatched him with a single burst of BAR fire. Charging into the vortex of the enemy fire, he killed another machinegunner at 15 yards range with a hand grenade and forced the surrender of 2 supporting infantrymen. Although the remainder of the German group concentrated the full force of its automatic weapons fire in a desperate effort to knock him out, he proceeded through the woods to find and exterminate 5 more of the enemy. Finally, when the third German machinegun opened up on him at a range of 20 yards, S/Sgt. Adams killed the gunner with BAR fire. In the course of the action, he personally killed 9 Germans, eliminated 3 enemy machineguns, vanquished a specialized force which was armed with automatic weapons and grenade launchers, cleared the woods of hostile elements, and reopened the severed supply lines to the assault companies of his battalion.
*BROSTROM, LEONARD C.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company F, 17th Infantry, 7th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Dagami, Leyte, Philippine Islands, 28 October 1944. Entered service at: Preston, Idaho. Birth: Preston, Idaho. G.O. No.: 104, 15 November 1945. Citation: He was a rifleman with an assault platoon which ran into powerful resistance near Dagami, Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 28 October 1944. From pillboxes, trenches, and spider holes, so well camouflaged that they could be detected at no more than 20 yards, the enemy poured machinegun and rifle fire, causing severe casualties in the platoon. Realizing that a key pillbox in the center of the strong point would have to be knocked out if the company were to advance, Pfc. Bostrom, without orders and completely ignoring his own safety, ran forward to attack the pillbox with grenades. He immediately became the prime target for all the riflemen in the area, as he rushed to the rear of the pillbox and tossed grenades through the entrance. Six enemy soldiers left a trench in a bayonet charge against the heroic American, but he killed 1 and drove the others off with rifle fire. As he threw more grenades from his completely exposed position he was wounded several times in the abdomen and knocked to the ground. Although suffering intense pain and rapidly weakening from loss of blood, he slowly rose to his feet and once more hurled his deadly missiles at the pillbox. As he collapsed, the enemy began fleeing from the fortification and were killed by riflemen of his platoon. Pfc. Brostrom died while being carried from the battlefield, but his intrepidity and unhesitating willingness to sacrifice himself in a l-man attack against overwhelming odds enabled his company to reorganize against attack, and annihilate the entire enemy position.
*OKUBO, JAMES K.
Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 28 and 29 October and 4 November 1944, in the Foret Domaniale de Champ, near Biffontaine, eastern France. On 28 October, under strong enemy fire coming from behind mine fields and roadblocks, Technician Fifth Grade Okubo, a medic, crawled 150 yards to within 40 yards of the enemy lines. Two grenades were thrown at him while he left his last covered position to carry back wounded comrades. Under constant barrages of enemy small arms and machine gun fire, he treated 17 men on 28 October and 8 more men on 29 October. On 4 November, Technician Fifth Grade Okubo ran 75 yards under grazing machine gun fire and, while exposed to hostile fire directed at him, evacuated and treated a seriously wounded crewman from a burning tank, who otherwise would have died. Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
*THORSON, JOHN F.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company G, 17th Infantry, 7th Infantry Division. Place and date: Dagami, Leyte, Philippine Islands, 28 October 1944. Entered service at: Armstrong, lowa Birth: Armstrong, lowa. G.O. No.: 58, 19 July 1945. Citation: He was an automatic rifleman on 28 October 1944, in the attack on Dagami Leyte, Philippine Islands. A heavily fortified enemy position consisting of pillboxes and supporting trenches held up the advance of his company. His platoon was ordered to out-flank and neutralize the strongpoint. Voluntarily moving well out in front of his group, Pvt. Thorson came upon an enemy fire trench defended by several hostile riflemen and, disregarding the intense fire directed at him, attacked single-handed He was seriously wounded and fell about 6 yards from the trench. Just as the remaining 20 members of the platoon reached him, 1 of the enemy threw a grenade into their midst. Shouting a warning and making a final effort, Pvt. Thorson rolled onto the grenade and smothered the explosion with his body. He was instantly killed, but his magnificent courage and supreme self-sacrifice prevented the injury and possible death of his comrades, and remain with them as a lasting inspiration.
BURKE, LLOYD L.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company G, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. Place and date: Near Chong-dong, Korea, 28 October 1951. Entered service at: Stuttgart, Ark. Born: 29 September 1924, Tichnor, Ark. G.O. No.: 43. Citation: 1st Lt. Burke, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Intense enemy fire had pinned down leading elements of his company committed to secure commanding ground when 1st Lt. Burke left the command post to rally and urge the men to follow him toward 3 bunkers impeding the advance. Dashing to an exposed vantage point he threw several grenades at the bunkers, then, returning for an Ml rifle and adapter, he made a lone assault, wiping out the position and killing the crew. Closing on the center bunker he lobbed grenades through the opening and, with his pistol, killed 3 of its occupants attempting to surround him. Ordering his men forward he charged the third emplacement, catching several grenades in midair and hurling them back at the enemy. Inspired by his display of valor his men stormed forward, overran the hostile position, but were again pinned down by increased fire. Securing a light machine gun and 3 boxes of ammunition, 1st Lt. Burke dashed through the impact area to an open knoll, set up his gun and poured a crippling fire into the ranks of the enemy, killing approximately 75. Although wounded, he ordered more ammunition, reloading and destroying 2 mortar emplacements and a machine gun position with his accurate fire. Cradling the weapon in his arms he then led his men forward, killing some 25 more of the retreating enemy and securing the objective. 1st Lt. Burke's heroic action and daring exploits inspired his small force of 35 troops. His unflinching courage and outstanding leadership reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for 28 October FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
28 October
1907: The first International Aeronautical Congress held at the Automobile Club of New York. (24)
1924: At 13,000 feet above Bolling Field DC, Army airplanes dropped electrified sand to break up cloud formations. (20)
1927: First international air-passenger station opened at Meacham Field, Key West. Pan American World Airways made the first flight from there to Havana, Cuba. Aeromarine Airways had started an international passenger service from Key West to Havana in late 1920. (See discussion on 1 November 1920).
1952: First flight of the Douglas XA3D-1 Skywarrior.
1959: From Wallops Island, NASA launched a 100-foot diameter inflatable aluminum-coated sphere to a height of 250 miles, where it inflated and was visible for hundreds of miles. (24) MACKAY TROPHY. Through 19 December, the 4520th Aerial Demonstration Team, better known as the Thunderbirds, toured the Far East, earning the trophy in the process. (26)
1973: First production-model T-43 arrived at Mather AFB. (16) (26)
1981: The US Senate agreed to sell five E-3As to Saudi Arabia. The E-3As assumed air defense surveillance from Elf One. (4)
1985: The first six female officers started initial qualification training for Minuteman crew duty. All six women previously worked with the Titan II system. They finished the class on 7 February 1986. (16)
1995: Operation VIGILANT SENTINEL. Through 18 December, the USAF tested its air expeditionary force concept by deploying F-16s from the 20 FW and 347th Wing to Bahrain. (21)
2002: Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. A C-141 arrived at Guantanamo Bay with the last group of Taliban and Al Qaeda detainees from Afghanistan for 2002. From 10 January to 28 October 2002, C-141s and C-17s flew 23 missions to carry 620 detainees from Kandahar to Guantanamo. (22)
2006: Through 29 October, NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB flew the General Atomics Altair UAV to photograph and map the 62-square-mile Esperanza fire near Palm Springs. The Altair the flew at 43,000 feet above the fire area, where it sent 100 images and more than 20 data files in 16 hours by a real-time satellite link to the fire management team. (3)
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World News for27 October thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Kratos, General Atomics To Develop Uncrewed Sensor Platforms Air Force Magazine | 10/28/2021 The Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded a pair of contracts for work on a new uncrewed aerial vehicle to extend the range of a crewed fighter's sensors and carry additional weapons, reports Air Force magazine. On Tuesday, Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) received matching $17.7 million contracts for the Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS). The initial contract covers the delivery of a base effort within a year. The contracts include a $31.4 million option covering a subsequent manufacture and demonstration period that would conclude by the end of January 2024, Kratos said in a release. Only one of the designs will move forward into fabrication, according to the AFRL. The OBSS is intended to be an affordable, highly modular conventional takeoff and landing jet-powered UAV that will provide sensor extension for crewed aircraft as well as potentially carry additional weapons. The OBSS project is part of the AFRL's Autonomous Collaborative Platforms technology maturation portfolio.
USA—Uncrewed Task Force Completes 1st At-Sea Exercise U.S. Naval Forces Central Command | 10/28/2021 U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) has just completed its first at-sea evolution of a new uncrewed task force, reports the command. During the New Horizon training exercise this week, Task Force 59 (TF-59) worked with and evaluated two Mantas T-12 uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), which operated alongside crewed U.S. patrol craft and Bahrain Defense Force maritime assets. TF-59 was established in September and is headquartered in Bahrain, noted Naval News. New Horizon was the first time USVs had been integrated with crewed assets at sea in the 5th Fleet area of operations. The demonstration took place in two phases. The first on Oct. 20 involved USVs being controlled from the patrol craft USS Firebolt during high-speed maneuvers in formation. During the second on Oct. 26, the USVs operated in formation alongside the Coast Guard patrol boat Maui, an SH-60S helicopter, a V-BAT uncrewed aerial vehicle and a Royal Bahrain Naval Force patrol craft. The Bahrain coast guard also participated. This phase of New Horizon was intended to strengthen mutual understanding and interoperability. NAVCENT established the task force in September to develop uncrewed and artificial intelligence capabilities with forces in the region.
Ukraine—Bayraktar Drones Deployed In Donbas For 1st Time Ukrinform | 10/28/2021 For the first time, the Ukrainian military has employed newly acquired combat drones in the eastern Donbas region, reports Ukrinform. On Tuesday, a Bayraktar TB2 uncrewed aerial vehicle struck Russian-backed separatist 122-mm D-30 howitzers that had fired on Ukrainian troops near Hranitne, the General Staff of the Ukrainian military said in a social media post. Two soldiers were injured; one later died of their wounds, the General Staff said. After the separatists failed to respond to a demand to cease fire through the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Bayraktar drone was deployed. The UAV remained on the Ukrainian side of the line of contact and launched a guided bomb to destroy one of the howitzers. The Russian-backed militants subsequently stopped firing. The Russian-backed Luhansk People's Republic claimed that the strike was in violation of cease-fire agreements prohibiting the employment of foreign UAVs on the front line, reported Agence France-Presse. Kyiv plans to acquire 50 Bayraktar TB2s from Turkey. An initial batch was handed over in July.
Tajikistan—Lawmakers Approve New Chinese Base In Southeast Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | 10/28/2021 The Tajik Parliament has approved the construction of a new Chinese military base in southeast Tajikistan, near the border with Afghanistan, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. On Wednesday, lawmakers approved an agreement between the interior ministry and China's Public Security Ministry to build the facility in the village of Vakhon in the remote Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province. The base would be operated by the Rapid Reaction Group under the interior ministry. Regular Tajik troops would also be stationed there, lawmakers said. The installation would be built with Chinese funding at a cost of around US$10 million. The move comes amid growing security threats along the border following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, said officials. Separately, the Tajik government has also offered to transfer control of an existing Chinese base on its territory to Beijing and waive future rents. The facility in the Murghab region, near the Afghan border close to the Wakhan Corridor, is believed to have been operational for at least five years. In return, China would provide funding to help Tajikistan strengthen its border posts along the frontier with Afghanistan.
China—New 2-Seat J-20 Fighter Breaks Cover The Aviationist | 10/28/2021 A long-suspected twin-seat variant of China's J-20 stealth fighter has been observed for the first time, reports the Aviationist blog. On Wednesday, the first clear images were taken showing the twin-seat J-20 taxiing in primer paint at the Chengdu Aerospace Corp. factory. The jet, whose official designation is not known, is the first twin-seat fifth-generation fighter aircraft. The additional crewmember could be assigned to operate onboard sensors and manage loyal wingman uncrewed aerial vehicles.
China—Hong Kong Bans Films Violating 'National Security Interests' British Broadcasting Corp. | 10/28/2021 The legislature in Hong Kong has passed a new censorship law targeting films considered to violate China's national security interests, reports BBC News. On Wednesday, lawmakers passed the law banning films with content deemed to "endorse, support, glorify, encourage and incite activities that might endanger national security," reported Reuters. It also grants Hong Kong's chief secretary the authority to revoke a film's license if it is determined to go against Chinese national security interests. Violating the law can result in a three-year prison sentence and fines of up to US$130,000. Hong Kong authorities claimed the law was necessary to safeguard national security. Critics warned it would harm creativity in the city's movie industry and hinder freedom of expression.
North Korea—Government Officials Warn Of Another Food Shortages Through 2025 Radio Free Asia | 10/28/2021 The North Korean government is anticipating national food scarcity through 2025, reports Radio Free Asia. Government officials recently came to the northwestern border city of Sinuiju and warned that a food emergency could continue through 2025, when Pyongyang plans to reopen the border with China, said one resident. North Korea shut its borders in early 2020 in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The move crippled trade and eliminated food imports. North Korea has also been devasted by flooding that has hit the agricultural sector hard. In July, North Korea's Central Committee ordered citizens to farm their own food ahead of anticipated food shortages. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization recently projected that North Korea would be short about 860,000 tons of food this year, or about two months of consumption. According to estimates by the U.N. World Food Program, about 40 percent of North Korea's population is undernourished.
South Korea—Joint Training With U.S. Space Force To Focus On Situational Awareness Space News | 10/28/2021 The U.S. and South Korea are set to hold joint drills to enhance their space situational awareness (SSA) capabilities, reports Space News. The South Korean air force exercises with U.S. Space Force will take place under an Aug. 27 agreement to enhance security cooperation in space, South Korean air force Col. Park Ki Tae, the first chief of the service's Space Operations Center, said last week at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition. The air force wants to improve its ability to detect dangerous objects in space and to avoid them if they approach South Korean satellites, Park said. South Korea is building out its SSA infrastructure, acquiring an electro-optical satellite surveillance system, a space weather forecast and warning system and reconnaissance satellites. The air force has also conducted joint projects with Korea Aerospace Research Institute, and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute since 2017 to improve its SSA capabilities. Seoul seeks to have a full space monitoring capability by the end of the decade along with a limited ability to perform military operations, said Park.
Taiwan—Tsai Confirms Presence Of U.S. Personnel Cable News Network | 10/28/2021 Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has confirmed the presence of U.S. troops on the island, reports CNN. In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Tsai confirmed that U.S. troops were in Taiwan to train Taiwanese forces. Tsai did not indicate how many trainers were involved, saying only that it was less than people thought. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that U.S. soldiers and Marines were conducting rotational training deployments to Taiwan.
India—Agni V Ballistic Missile Test-Launched In Odisha Tribune India | 10/28/2021 India has successfully test-fired a long-range ballistic missile, reports the Tribune India. On Wednesday, the Agni V missile was launched from Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of the eastern Odisha state. The Indian Defense Ministry described the test as successful without providing further details. This was the first time the missile was launched at night, noted Agence France-Presse. The nuclear-capable Agni V has a range of up to 3,100 miles (5,000 km) and a high level of precision, the ministry said.
Pakistan—4 Police Killed As Extremists March On Islamabad Express Tribune | 10/28/2021 At least four police officers have been killed in a march by extremists on Islamabad, reports the Express Tribune (Karachi). On Wednesday, the banned Tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) marched from Muridke to Islamabad. During the march, TLP members opened fire on police, killing four and wounding at least 263, said Punjab police officials A provincial TLP representative from Sindh province claimed that at least four members were killed by police. Federal Minister for the Interior Sheikh Rashid said that the government in Punjab province, which surrounds Islamabad, would deploy the paramilitary Ranger force for 60 days following the violence. Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry said that the TLP, which is banned but has been allowed to participate in elections, would be treated as a militant outfit. The TLP began protests in April following the publication of a French cartoon deemed blasphemous by the group. Its leader, Saad Rizvi, was arrested after the group was outlawed.
Iran—Cyberattack Forces Gas Stations Offline Islamic Republic News Agency | 10/28/2021 Thousands of gas stations in Iran were forced to halt operations as a result of a cyberattack, reports the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). On Tuesday, hackers struck the gasoline distribution computer system, disrupting fueling at all 4,300 gas stations around Iran, government officials said. Only the sale of subsidized, rationed gasoline was disrupted, according to the oil ministry, as cited by the Iranian SHANA news outlet. As part of the hack, digital street signs were manipulated to display messages such as "Khamenei, where is our gasoline?," reported Reuters. The attack was likely conducted by a foreign country, said Abolhassan Firozabadi, secretary of Iran's Supreme Council of Cyberspace. Some have speculated that the U.S. or Israel were behind the hack. Gasoline distribution returned to normal on Wednesday, reported the Jerusalem Post.
Iran—Iranian Nuclear Negotiator Says Will Return To Talks In Vienna Washington Post | 10/28/2021 A senior Iranian official says that Tehran is prepared to return to nuclear negotiations in Vienna next month, reports the Washington Post. On Wednesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, said his country had agreed to return to the talks by the end of November. A date would be announced next week, he said in a social media post. Bagheri said that talks with Enrique Mora, the European Union deputy secretary-general for political affairs, covered "essential elements for successful negotiations." Iran suspended its participation in the talks in June following the election of hardline conservative Ebrahim Raisi as president. On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian reported that Iran would not return to the talks from the point where they had left off, reported the Wall Street Journal. Analysts suggested that the announcement was not a sign of progress but rather a tactical move intended to forestall censure at a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors set for mid-November.
Saudi Arabia—Hezbollah Fundraising Arm Declared A Terrorist Group Reuters | 10/28/2021 The Saudi government has banned the fundraising arm of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, reports Reuters. On Wednesday, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported that Al Qard Al Hassan would be listed as a terrorist organization. Security sources told the news agency that the association finances Hezbollah, including its militant activities. All assets belonging to Al Qard Al Hassan will be frozen and Saudi citizens and business are prohibited from conducting further business with the group. In May, the U.S. Treasury Dept. sanctioned seven individuals connected to Al Qard Al Hassan, which it called Hezbollah's fundraising arm.
Egypt—Russian, Egyptian Paratroopers Jump Together Near Cairo Tass | 10/28/2021 Egyptian and Russian paratroopers are wrapping up a joint exercise near Cairo, reports Russia's Tass news agency. For the final phase of the Defenders of Friendship counterterrorism drill, the side practiced airdrops and tactical operations at the Wadi Sakran training ground 40 miles (60 km) outside the Egyptian capital. Around 200 paratroopers from both countries took part in the active phase, employing special wing-type parachutes in jumps from altitudes of 1,970 feet to 11,480 feet (600 m to 3,500 m). After landing and massing, the paratroopers seized and retained a mock border community that had been held by terrorists, freeing hostages and providing assistance to the local population. The joint exercise kicked off on Oct. 17 and is scheduled to conclude on Oct. 29, Tass previously reported. The Egyptian contingent included around 400 paratroopers, military transport aircraft and CH-47 heavy-lift helicopters. Russia sent about 100 personnel from its Guards Mountain Air Assault Unit, six BMD-2 infantry fighting vehicles and four Il-76MD transport aircraft.
Sudan—Military Fires Diplomats Who Expressed Support For Civilian Government Sudan Tribune | 10/28/2021 The head of the new military government in Sudan has sacked diplomats who criticized the dissolution of the civilian government earlier this week, reports the Sudan Tribune (Paris). The Sudanese ambassadors to Belgium and the European Union, U.S., China, France, Switzerland and Qatar were dismissed, Al Arabiya (Dubai) reported on Wednesday. On Monday and Tuesday, nine Sudanese ambassadors condemned the military takeover by Gen. Abdel Fatah Al Burhan. In a letter published on Tuesday, the ambassadors to Belgium, France, Switzerland, China, South Africa, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates condemned the coup and backed the joint civilian-military government led by Al Burhan, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemetti. The diplomats said that they would not resign and would continue to work to support the transitional government and to mobilize international support for democracy and civilian rule in Sudan. Another 42 ambassadors and 21 diplomats later signed on to the letter.
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