TheList 5909

The List 5909     TGB

Good Friday Morning 12 November

I hope that your week has been going well.

Regards,

Skip

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

 

This Day in Navy and Marine Corps History

 

Nov. 12

1912—Lt. Theodore Ellyson makes the first successful launch of an airplane (A-3) by catapult at the Washington Navy Yard.

1940—Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Harold R. Stark, submits the memorandum to Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox with four war plans if the United States enters World War II. Stark recommends the fourth war plan, "Plan Dog," calling for a strong offensive in the Atlantic and defense in the Pacific.

1942—The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal begins with Japanese air attacks on U.S. ships bringing reinforcements to the embattled island. Over the next four days, Japan loses the battleships Hiei and Kirishima, heavy cruiser Kinugasa, three destroyers and many valuable transports. Two U.S. light cruisers, Atlanta and Juneau, and seven destroyers are sunk. Japan's losses weaken their ability to strengthen their garrison on Guadalcanal, enabling the U.S. to shift from the defensive to the offensive in this campaign.

1942—Lt. Cmdr. Bruce McCandless displays superb initiative by assuming command of the USS San Francisco (CA 38) during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal after all other personnel on the navigating and signal bridges were rendered unconscious, killed, or wounded. McCandless boldly continues to engage the enemy, leading the San Francisco to victory. He is later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.

1943—President Franklin D. Roosevelt embarks on USS Iowa (BB 61) to attend the Allied conferences at Tehran, Iran, and Cairo.

1943—PB4Y-1 (VB-103) sinks German submarine U-508 in the Bay of Biscay. Prior to this, U-508 sank 14 Allied vessels, including the American merchant SS Nathaniel Hawthorne Nov. 7, 1942. 

 

Thanks to CHINFO

 

Today in History November 12

1035			King Canute of Norway dies.
1276		Suspicious of the intentions of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the Prince of Wales, English King Edward I resolves to invade Wales.
1859		The first flying-trapeze circus act is performed by Jules Leotard at the Circus Napoleon.
1863		Confederate General James Longstreet arrives at Loudon, Tennessee, to assist the attack on Union General Ambrose Burnside's troops at Knoxville.
1867		Mount Vesuvius erupts.
1903		The Lebaudy brothers of France set an air-travel distance record of 34 miles in a dirigible.
1923		Adolf Hitler is arrested for his attempted German coup.
1927		Canada is admitted to the League of Nations.
1928		The ocean liner Vestris sinks off the Virginia cape with 328 aboard, killing 111.
1938		Mexico agrees to compensate the United States for land seizures.
1941		Madame Lillian Evanti and Mary Cardwell Dawson establish the National Negro Opera Company.
1944		U.S. fighters wipe out a Japanese convoy near Leyte, consisting of six destroyers, four transports and 8,000 troops.
1944		The German battleship Tirpitz is sunk in a Norwegian fjord.
1948		Hikedi Tojo, Japanese prime minister, and seven others are sentenced to hang by an international tribunal.
1951		The U.S. Eighth Army in Korea is ordered to cease offensive operations and begin an active defense.
1960		The satellite Discoverer XVII is launched into orbit from California's Vandenberg AFB.
1968		The U.S. Supreme Court voids an Arkansas law banning the teaching of evolution in public schools.
1971		President Richard Nixon announces the withdrawal of about 45,000 U.S. troops from Vietnam by February.
1987		Boris Yeltsin is fired as head of Moscow's Communist Party for criticizing the slow pace of reform.
1990		Crown Prince Akihito is formally installed as Emperor Akihito of Japan.
1990		Sir Timothy John "Tim" Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist, publishes a formal proposal for the creation of the World Wide Web.
1996		A Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 collides with a Kazakh Illyushin II-76 cargo plane near New Delhi, killing 349. It is the deadliest mid-air collision to date (2013) and third-deadliest aircraft accident.
1997		Ramzi Yousef convicted of masterminding the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
2003		The first Italians to die in the Iraq War are among 23 fatalities from a suicide bomb attack on an Italian police base in Nasiriya, iraq.
2003		Shanghai Transrapid sets a new world speed record (311 mph or 501 kph) for commercial railway systems

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

Thanks to Chuck

Now we stand behind old men's faces

Speak of forgotten times and places

So bent are those who wouldn't break

Who did fearsome things with lives at stake

Their shadows sharp and darker then

Now fading away are these old men

But no one can steal the legends bold

Not thieves nor liars nor growing old

To never weave excuses that some men must

But to stand with men who earned our trust

And speak of what we did back then

Before we became, these old men.

 

By Pat Ewing

Blue Star 114 - Vietnam

48th Assault Helicopter

1969-1970

 

 

Thanks to Chuck who did 33. I got 42

 

 

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

Thanks to Richard

Angel Falls

Early in my youth I followed many stories of the Amazon. One was about Jimmy Angel. My memory is hazy after so many years. I think the name of the movie was Green Hell or Green Fire.  It was this movie that sparked my interest.  The movie was released in the late 1930's.  I was reading an article on todays' Amazon which brought me back to Angel Falls.

 

https://www.jimmieangel.org/Falls.html

 

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear   For The List for Thursday, 11 November 2021… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻

 

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…

From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 11 November 1966… Veterans Day in a bad week: US troop losses in SEAsia for week=127 KIA/605 WIA, and 7 aircraft lost on the 11th…

 

http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-remembered-11-november-1966-today-is-veterans-day/

 

 

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.

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

Thanks to Chuck

Fascinating videos commemorate the dedication of the tomb.

From: Dan
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2021 8:45 AM
To: Dan
Subject: Tomb of Unknown Dedication 100 Years Ago Was Captured on Film | Wa Po | 10 Nov 2021

 

Good one …  If link works!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/11/10/arlington-cemetery-tomb-unknown-filmed/?utm_campaign=wp_afternoon_buzz&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_buzz&carta-url=https://s2.washingtonpost.com/car-ln-tr/35400bc/618c343e9d2fdab56b834860/597bf9529bbc0f6826d104cf/24/66/618c343e9d2fdab56b834860

 

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

 

Thanks to Hugh

That's a nice "tip-o'-th'-hat" to the Marines.

Here's and interesting anecdote to the "Other Marines".

Did you ever hear of Washington's Marblehead Marines ?

The 14th Continental Regiment, also known as the Marblehead Regiment and "Glover's Regiment", was raised as a Massachusetts militia regiment in 1775, and taken into the Continental Army establishment during the summer of 1775.

When the Continental Army was reestablished for 1776, the regiment was redesignated the 14th Continental. It was composed of seafaring men from the area around Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Glover's Marblehead Marines manned the boats for Washington's escape across the Hudson river following the retreat from the battle of Brooklyn Heights on Long Island (Aug 27, 1776).

Later,

The Battle of Valcour Island, on the west side of Lake Champlain occurred on October 11, 1776.

A hastily constructed flotilla of "gunboats"  was manned with a collection American "rebel militia" and was under the command of Benedict Arnold.  A detachment of "Glover's" Marblehead Marines was with Arnold for that engagement.

On October 11, 1776, Arnold's gunboat flotilla engaged a British force of ships proceeding south on Lake Champlain intending  to link up with a second British force driving up the Hudson River. The British plan was to "split" the cohesion of the colonies along the Hudson/ Lake Champlain axis.

Arnolds "rag-tag" flotilla's engagement with the British force was essentially destroyed in it's encounter with the British. However the British force was sufficiently damaged that it turned back from it's southern course and retired back to Canada.

Winston Churchill's collective history of the "English Speaking Peoples" make a note of the the Battle of Valcour Island and Arnolds"s defeat as a pivotal point in the battle with the Colonies and that it changed the course of history so profoundly, that it must rank as one of the most pivotal "victories" ever recorded in naval history. The American defense of Lake Champlain stalled British plans to reach the upper Hudson River valley.

 "Glover's Marblehead Marines" also served during the New York and New Jersey campaign of 1776 and the crossing of the Delaware River before and after the Battle of Trenton. The men of the regiment were only enlisted for one and a half years, and the regiment was disbanded on December 31, 1776, in eastern Pennsylvania.

That's a nice phrase to remember " . . . . . .one of the most pivotal "victories" ever recorded in naval history" !

P.S. The Gunboat "Philadelphia" has been recovered from Lake Champlain at the site of the battle at Valcour Island and is on display at the Smithsonian American History Museum in Washington, D.C.

 

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

 

Thanks to Mugs who is USAF from Brett who is USAF who received it from a USMC  to me who is USN about the USMC

I love the Marines. Always have.

Mugs

FROM a Marine buddy….

Brett

Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2021 2:03 PM
Subject: MILINET: HAPPY 246th BIRTHDAY MARINES--THE BUTTER-CUTTER

!CAUTION!

YOU ARE IN A "VERBAL SHRAPNEL" RICH DOMAIN

 

"What? Are you saying that when some dip-shit lieutenant disobeys orders and puts his men at unnecessary risk, he is being heroic? You officer-types might think that way, but that's not what us Snuffies think. We understand the accomplish the mission thing. But, we also think an officer's job is to make sure we get back to The World; and, if there is anything we don't need, it's somebody who wants to trade in our Dog Tags for a hero medal."—The Butter-Cutter

                                                                                                 

                                                           COMBAT  Magazine, "Verbal Shrapnel," October 2004

 

 

WHO IS THE BUTTER-CUTTER?

 

In those bygone years of my active Marine Corps service, the butter cutter occupied the last position on the Chow Line in the Mess Hall. His official duty was to dole out two pats of butter from a bowl of ice water he maintained to each hungry Marine who passed by. Since cutting free the pats from a large block of butter frequently took a few extra seconds, Marines tended to congregate and "shoot the breeze" at his station. Their observations, thoughts, and opinions on everything that affected Marines then became his composite wisdom. Enthusiastically, he embraced the unofficial duty of dolling out that wisdom with the attitude of a private who was not happy with being on Mess Duty and in a language unencumbered by the politically correct. As his reputation grew, Marines, when questioned about the source of the "hot scoop" they were trying to pass on, would answer: "The butter cutter told me." In that memory, I regularly visit a virtual Marine Mess Hall in search of the candid views captured by "The Butter-Cutter, USMCV" from those Marines currently at the "pointy-end-of-the-spear." The below are select postings from our exchanges to celebrate our Corps' birthday If you are of a mind to witness those exchange, don a helmet and flak jacket and continue to scroll. If you survive that experience, click on TBC ARCHIVES and join me in dodging The Butter-Cutter's shrapnel from all our previous encounters:

 

The Butter-CUTTER On The 4,000-Casualty Figure

https://thebutter-cutter.com/4_000-Casualties_Figure.html

 

The Butter-Cutter On "Once A Marine, Always A Marine"

https://thebutter-cutter.com/-._._.html

 

The Butter-Cutter On "Devil Dogs"

https://thebutter-cutter.com/-Devil_Dogs_.html

 

The Butter-Cutter On The New USMC Running Suit

https://thebutter-cutter.com/USMC_Running_Suit.html

 

The Butter-Cutter On The Holy Land

https://thebutter-cutter.com/The_Holy_Land.html

 

The Butter-Cutter On The DADT "Constitchyouant"

https://thebutter-cutter.com/Constitchuant.php

 

The Butter-Cutter On MGySgt. "Sam" Plott, USMC

https://thebutter-cutter.com/Sam_Plott.html

 

 The Butter-Cutter On Sexual Assault Reports

https://thebutter-cutter.com/TBC_Sex_Harrass.php

 

 

Semper The Butter-Cutter,

Anthony F. Milavic

Major USMC (Ret.)

 

Logo Created By: Chuck Beveridge

 

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

 

This Day in U S Military History

1912 – Robert Scott's diary and dead body were found in Antarctica.

1912 – LT Theodore Ellyson makes first successful launching of an airplane (A-3) by catapult at the Washington Navy Yard.

1940 – CNO Admiral Stark submits memorandum to Secretary of the Navy on 4 plans if U.S. enters war. He favors the fourth one, Plan Dog, calling for strong offensive in the Atlantic and defense in the Pacific.

1942 – The World War II naval Battle of Guadalcanal began. A large American convoy carrying supplies and reinforcements retreats upon the approach of a large Japanese naval force. The Japanese carry out air attacks on the American land positions as well as their shipping.

1943 – The Japanese carrier aircraft stationed at Rabaul on New Britain are withdrawn. Of the 173 planes committed, 121 have been lost, with many pilots.

1948 – An international war crimes tribunal in Tokyo passes death sentences on seven Japanese military and government officials, including General Hideki Tojo, who served as premier of Japan from 1941 to 1944. Eight days before, the trial ended after 30 months with all 25 Japanese defendants being found guilty of breaching the laws and customs of war. In addition to the death sentences imposed on Tojo and others principals, such as Iwane Matsui, who organized the Rape of Nanking, and Heitaro Kimura, who brutalized Allied prisoners of war, 16 others were sentenced to life imprisonment. The remaining two of the 25 defendants were sentenced to lesser terms in prison. Unlike the Nuremberg trial of German war criminals, where there were four chief prosecutors representing Great Britain, France, the United States, and the USSR, the Tokyo trial featured only one chief prosecutor–American Joseph B. Keenan, a former assistant to the U.S. attorney general. However, other nations, especially China, contributed to the proceedings, and Australian judge William Flood Webb presided. In addition to the central Tokyo trial, various tribunals sitting outside Japan judged some 5,000 Japanese guilty of war crimes, of whom more than 900 were executed.

1980 – The U.S. space probe Voyager 1 came within 77,000 miles of Saturn. More than three years after its launch, the U.S. planetary probe Voyager 1 edges within 77,000 miles of Saturn, the second-largest planet in the solar system. The photos, beamed 950 million miles back to California, stunned scientists. The high-resolution images showed a world that seemed to confound all known laws of physics. Saturn had not six, but hundreds of rings. The rings appeared to dance, buckle, and interlock in ways never thought possible. Two rings were intertwined, or "braided," and pictures showed dark radial "spokes" moving inside the rings in the direction of rotation. Voyager 2, a sister spacecraft, arrived at Saturn in August 1981. The Voyagers also discovered three new moons around Saturn and a substantial atmosphere around Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Voyager 1 was preceded to Saturn by Pioneer 11, a smaller and less sophisticated U.S. spacecraft that flew by the gas giant in September 1979. The Voyager spacecrafts were equipped with high-resolution television cameras that sent back more than 30,000 images of Saturn, its rings, and satellite. Voyager 1 was actually launched 16 days after Voyager 2, but its trajectory followed a quicker path to the outer planets. Voyager 1 flew by Jupiter in March 1979, followed by Voyager 2 four months later. Both spacecraft then continued on to Saturn, with Voyager 1 arriving in November 1980 and Voyager 2 in August 1981. Voyager 2 was then diverted to the remaining gas giants, arriving at Uranus in January 1986 and Neptune in August 1989. Voyager 1, meanwhile, studied interplanetary space and continued on to the edge of the solar system. In February 1998, Voyager 1 became the most distant man-made object from the sun, surpassing the distance of Pioneer 10. Voyager 2 is also traveling out of the solar system but at a slower pace. Both Voyager spacecrafts contain a gold-plated copper disk that has on it recorded sounds and images of Earth. Along with 115 analog images, the disk features sound selections that include greetings in 55 languages, 35 natural and man-made sounds, and portions of 27 musical pieces. The Voyagers are expected to remain operable until about the year 2020, periodically sending back data on the edge of the solar system.

 

Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day

EVERHART, FORREST E.
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company H, 359th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Kerling, France, 12 November 1944. Entered service at: Texas City, Tex. Birth: Bainbridge, Ohio. G.O. No.: 77, 10 September 1945. Citation: He commanded a platoon that bore the brunt of a desperate enemy counterattack near Korling, France, before dawn on 12 November 1944. When German tanks and self-propelled guns penetrated his left flank and overwhelming infantry forces threatened to overrun the 1 remaining machinegun in that section, he ran 400 yards through woods churned by artillery and mortar concentrations to strengthen the defense. With the 1 remaining gunner, he directed furious fire into the advancing hordes until they swarmed close to the position. He left the gun, boldly charged the attackers and, after a 15-minute exchange of hand grenades, forced them to withdraw leaving 30 dead behind. He re-crossed the fire-swept terrain to his then threatened right flank, exhorted his men and directed murderous fire from the single machinegun at that position. There, in the light of bursting mortar shells, he again closed with the enemy in a hand grenade duel and, after a fierce 30-minute battle, forced the Germans to withdraw leaving another 20 dead. The gallantry and intrepidity of T/Sgt. Everhart in rallying his men and refusing to fall back in the face of terrible odds were highly instrumental in repelling the fanatical enemy counterattack directed at the American bridgehead across the Moselle River.

*SAYERS, FOSTER J.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company L, 357th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Thionville, France, 12 November 1944. Entered service at: Howard, Pa. Birth: Marsh Creek, Pa. G.O. No.: 89, 19 October 1945. Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in combat on 12 November 1944, near Thionville, France. During an attack on strong hostile forces entrenched on a hill he fearlessly ran up the steep approach toward his objective and set up his machinegun 20 yards from the enemy. Realizing it would be necessary to attract full attention of the dug-in Germans while his company crossed an open area and flanked the enemy, he picked up his gun, charged through withering machinegun and rifle fire to the very edge of the emplacement, and there killed 12 German soldiers with devastating close-range fire. He took up a position behind a log and engaged the hostile infantry from the flank in an heroic attempt to distract their attention while his comrades attained their objective at the crest of the hill. He was killed by the very heavy concentration of return fire; but his fearless assault enabled his company to sweep the hill with minimum of casualties, killing or capturing every enemy soldier on it. Pfc. Sayers' indomitable fighting spirit, aggressiveness, and supreme devotion to duty live on as an example of the highest traditions of the military service.

*BARNES, JOHN ANDREW III
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry 173d Airborne Brigade. Place and date: Dak To, Republic of Vietnam, 12 November 1967. Entered service at: Boston, Mass. Born: 16 April 1945, Boston, Mass. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Barnes distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while engaged in combat against hostile forces. Pfc. Barnes was serving as a grenadier when his unit was attacked by a North Vietnamese force, estimated to be a battalion. Upon seeing the crew of a machine gun team killed, Pfc. Barnes, without hesitation, dashed through the bullet swept area, manned the machine gun, and killed 9 enemy soldiers as they assaulted his position. While pausing just long enough to retrieve more ammunition, Pfc. Barnes observed an enemy grenade thrown into the midst of some severely wounded personnel close to his position. Realizing that the grenade could further injure or kill the majority of the wounded personnel, he sacrificed his life by throwing himself directly onto the hand grenade as it exploded. Through his indomitable courage, complete disregard for his own safety, and profound concern for his fellow soldiers, he averted a probable loss of life and injury to the wounded members of his unit. Pfc. Barnes' extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity at the cost of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

*DIAS, RALPH E.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, 3d Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF. Place and date: Que Son Mountains, Republic of Vietnam, 12 November 1969. Entered service at: Pittsburgh, Pa. Born: 15 July 1950, Shelocta, Indiana County, Pa. Citation: As a member of a reaction force which was pinned down by enemy fire while assisting a platoon in the same circumstance, Pfc. Dias, observing that both units were sustaining casualties, initiated an aggressive assault against an enemy machine gun bunker which was the principal source of hostile fire. Severely wounded by enemy snipers while charging across the open area, he pulled himself to the shelter of a nearby rock. Braving enemy fire for a second time, Pfc. Dias was again wounded. Unable to walk, he crawled 15 meters to the protection of a rock located near his objective and, repeatedly exposing himself to intense hostile fire, unsuccessfully threw several hand grenades at the machine gun emplacement. Still determined to destroy the emplacement, Pfc. Dias again moved into the open and was wounded a third time by sniper fire. As he threw a last grenade which destroyed the enemy position, he was mortally wounded by another enemy round. Pfc. Dias' indomitable courage, dynamic initiative, and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service to his country.

 

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

 

AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for November 12, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY

 12 November

1909: Wanamaker's Department Store in Philadelphia advertised "Flying Machines for Sale." The ad offered a Bleriot plane, a duplicate of the one that flew the English Channel, for $5,000 in connection with an exhibit of the Bleriot. (24)

1912: Lt Theodore G. Ellyson made the second and successful catapult launching in a Curtiss seaplane from a float at the Washington Navy Yard. (21)

1921: FIRST AIR-TO-AIR REFUELING. Wesley May, with a 5-gallon can of gasoline strapped to his back, stepped from the wing of a Lincoln Standard to the wing skid of a JN-4 and climbed to the engine to pour gas into the tank. Frank Hawks flew the Lincoln and Earl S. Daugherty the JN-4. (18) (24)

1941: First launching of an experimental GB-8 Glide Bomb with radio controls. (24)

1942: Under the leadership of Lt Gen Lewis H. Brereton, Ninth Air Force started combat operations in Egypt to support British efforts in North Africa. (21) (24)

1944: The largest air and ground cooperative effort to date occurred as over 4,000 Allied planes dropped more than 10,000 tons of bombs on enemy targets.

1950: Pan American World Airways finished a global radiotelephone communications system. The system had 19,687 miles of voice radio link and 32 high frequency radio ground stations on 16 islands and continents. (24)

1952: KOREAN WAR. Through 13 November, six B-29s from the 98th Bombardment Wing knocked four spans out of Pyongyang's restored railway bridges. (28)

1956: A USMC twin-engine Sikorsky S-56 helicopter set a 162.7 MPH speed record at Stratford. (24)

1960: To launch the Discoverer XVII into polar orbit from Vandenberg AFB, the USAF used a restartable Agena B in combination with a Thor rocket. This marked the first successful flight of a restartable rocket. (24)

1965: Last QF-80 drone in the USAF shot down at Holloman AFB. The USAF picked eight aerospace research pilots for assignment to the Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program. (16)

1970: At Edwards AFB, a Boeing 747-B set a world record with a gross takeoff weight of 820,700 pounds to better the C-5A's 14 October 1969 unofficial record of 798,000 pounds. (3)

1980: Exercise BRIGHT STAR. Through 25 November, elements of the new Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force participated in its first joint overseas exercise. Eight A-7s from the 150 TFG at Kirtland AFB deployed to Cairo West, Egypt. (4) (26) For the first time, USAFE tasked an entire wing, the 50 TFW at Hahn AB, Germany, to exercise its full wartime mission in a chemical environment for a sustained period. (26)

1997: The Boeing Phantom Works (formerly McDonnell-Douglas in St. Louis) X-36 Tailless Fighter Agility Research Aircraft successfully completed its flight research program for NASA at Edwards AFB. (3)

1998: Operation PHOENIX SCORPION III. After Saddam Hussein expelled UN weapons inspectors from Iraq, the DoD ordered more US forces to Southwest Asia using AMC airlifters through 15 November. The Clinton administration accepted Iraq's peace overtures on 14 November to end the deployment. During the four-day effort, AMC completed 257 airlift and tanker missions to move more than 3,000 passengers and 2,700 short tons of cargo. Tankers refueled 90 aircraft, offloading 9.3 million pounds of fuel. (22)

 

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

World News for 11 November thanks to Military Periscope

 

USA—Officials Warn E.U. Of Possible Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Bloomberg News | 11/12/2021 The Biden administration has formally warned its European allies that Russia may be planning to invade Ukraine, reports Bloomberg News. American officials have briefed their European Union counterparts on the possibility of a Russian invasion, anonymous sources said on Thursday. The assessment is based on information that has not yet been shared with European governments, said the sources.  Publicly available evidence was said to support the assessment. Earlier this month, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry warned that Russia had continuing to build up its forces on the border and had around 90,000 troops in the region. On Friday, a Kremlin spokesman denied that there were any plans for a military operation in Ukraine. 

 

USA—U.S. Navy Hosts Drills With Israel, Bahrain, U.A.E. U.S. Naval Forces Central Command | 11/12/2021 Persian Gulf nations are training with Israeli forces for the first time during a U.S. Navy exercise, a reports U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. On Wednesday, naval personnel from Bahrain, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command began a five-day exercise in the Red Sea. The drills, including at-sea training aboard the amphibious ship USS Portland, are focused on visit, board, search and seizure tactics. The training is intended to enhance interoperability among maritime interdiction teams from the participating countries. 

 

Hungary—Work Begins On 1st KC-390 In Brazil Embraer Inc. | 11/12/2021 Embraer has launched assembly of the first of two tanker transport aircraft for the Hungarian air force, reports the Brazilian manufacturer.  On Thursday, Embraer announced that it had successfully completed the critical design review for the KC-390 Millennium for Hungary and begun structural assembly for the first aircraft. In the coming weeks, parts will begin to be assembled to create the structural panels and frames for the main components of the fuselage and semi-wings. Hungary ordered two KC-390s in November 2020. The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2024. 

 

Russia—Officials Pledge To Continue To Support Mali Tass | 11/12/2021 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says that Russia will continue to support the Malian government in its battle against militants, reports the Tass news agency (Moscow). On Thursday, Lavrov met with his Malian counterpart, Abdoulaye Diop, in Moscow. Lavrov pledged ongoing support for Malian troops through training for officers and equipment.  The minister denied any links between the Kremlin and private military contractors such as the Wagner Group.  Diop also denied that Mali had made an agreement with the Wagner Group, reported Agence France-Presse. Earlier this year, it was reported that Mali was seeking to hire the Wagner Group after France announced that it would begin withdrawing most of its troops in October.  

 

China—Communist Party Paves Way For 3rd Term For Xi Global Times | 11/12/2021 The Communist Party of China (CPC) has passed a landmark resolution, placing President Xi Jinping on equal footing with previous leaders such as Mao Zedong, reports the state-run Global Times (Beijing). On Thursday, the party's Central Committee passed a resolution that cemented Xi's role in its history, elevating him to a position alongside Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.  Experts say that the changes pave the way for the 68-year-old to run for a third term in 2022, potentially allowing him to rule for life.  Xi's prospects for a third term will be decided at a party conference next year, reported NBC News.  The People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Central Committee, praised Xi for his strong leadership, which it called essential for achieving China's modernization goals. 

 

Philippines—Final Polish-Built Black Hawks Arrive Philippine News Agency | 11/12/2021 The Philippine air force has taken delivery of its last five of 16 utility helicopters ordered from Poland, reports the state-run Philippine News Agency. On Tuesday, five S-70i Black Hawks, built under license by PZL Mielec in Poland, arrived at Clark Air Base in the northern Pampanga province, the air force said. The Philippines ordered 16 Black Hawks from PZL Mielec in April 2019. One of the aircraft crashed in June during a night training mission killing all six onboard, reported Flight Global. The helicopters will strengthen the Philippine military's counterterrorism, search-and-rescue and humanitarian assistance capabilities, said officials. 

 

Burma—Violence Spikes After Junta Leader Orders Military To Crush Opposition Irrawaddy | 11/12/2021 The opposition National Unity Government (NUG) in Burma says 1,300 soldiers were killed in fighting with civilian resistance and ethnic armed groups over the last month, reports the Irrawaddy (Burma). Another 463 regime soldiers were injured in 668 attacks on military forces from Oct. 7 to Nov. 6, said the defense ministry of the NUG. These figures are about twice the regime casualties reported by the shadow government in September. From Oct. 7 to Nov. 6, an estimated 313 civilians were killed and 63 wounded in about 200 regime attacks, though some were members of the armed People's Defense Forces. Violence increased in October after Vice Sen. Gen. Soe Win, the deputy chief of the military government, ordered the armed forces to eliminate the resistance groups. The regime has not responded to the casualty figures supplied by the NUG, which are based on media reports and its own sources. 

 

Bangladesh—7 Killed During Local Elections Dhaka Tribune | 11/12/2021 At least seven people have been killed and more than 100 injured in clashes during elections for local councils in Bangladesh, reports the Dhaka Tribune.  Voting for union council elections ended on Thursday with at least three killings reported in Narsingdi (near Dhaka), two in Comilla (near Chittagong) and one each in Cox's Bazar and Chittagong. Most of the deaths took place during clashes between supporters of rival candidates, some within the same party.  Explosions were also reported during fighting in Narsingdi, reported the Daily Star (Dhaka). In Cox's Bazar, a candidate attempted to stuff ballot boxes. Opponents killed his brother in response. The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycotted the vote, said experts. The ruling Awami League won successive elections in 2014 and 2018 amid widespread allegations of fraud.  

 

Afghanistan—3 Die In Mosque Bombing In Nangarhar Agence France-Presse | 11/12/2021 At least three people have been killed in a bombing at a mosque in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province, reports Agence France-Presse. A bomb exploded in a mosque in the Spin Ghar district during Friday prayers, a Taliban official confirmed, saying there were fatalities. Local medical officials said that three people were killed and 15 injured. The mosque's imam was among the wounded, reported CNN. There were no immediate claims of responsibility. Nangarhar province is a known stronghold for the Islamic State-Khorasan Province, which has stepped up attacks since the Taliban takeover in August.  

 

Yemen—U.S. State Dept. Calls On Houthis To Release Yemeni Employees Washington Post | 11/12/2021 The U.S. State Dept. has urged rebels in Yemen to release local employees detained after a raid on the shuttered U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, the official capital of Yemen, reports the Washington Post. On Tuesday, about 25 embassy and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) employees were detained by Houthi rebels after they overran the facility, reported Bloomberg News. The embassy has been inactive since 2015, when the Houthis took control of the city. The ambassador and key staff were relocated to Saudi Arabia. Most of the detained embassy staff have been released, while Yemeni security guards who protect the compound remained in Houthi custody, said a State Dept. spokesman on Thursday. It was not clear why the Yemenis were seized. The department called on the militants to immediately release all detained staff and return property seized during the attack. 

 

Syria—Iranian Forces In Syria Have New Commander The Syrian Observer | 11/12/2021 Israeli intelligence says it has identified the new commander of Iranian operations in Syria, reports the Syrian Observer. Ali Assaf, a Lebanese national and former member of Hezbollah, is the new leader of Iranian military operations in Syria, according to Israeli intelligence sources cited by Israel's Kan 11 broadcaster. Assaf is a member of the Quds Force, the external operations wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). His responsibilities are believed to include training local forces and smuggling weapons from Iran to Syria. Assaf's successor, Mustafa Jawad Ghafari, may have been removed after running afoul of the Assad regime, reported the opposition-aligned Syria TV. Ghafari has been accused of smuggling and selling black market goods in Syria. Iranian forces have also been charged with exploiting natural resources for their benefit, looting sources of wealth and evading taxes. 

 

Israel—Woman Pleads Guilty To Fundraising For PFLP Terror Group Times of Israel | 11/12/2021 A Spanish-Palestinian woman has pleaded guilty to diverting funds to a banned militant group during a military trial in Israel, reports the Times of Israel.  On Wednesday, Juani Rishmawi admitted in military court to redirecting money from the Health Work Committee to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terror group. She pleaded guilty as part of a deal that included a 13-month prison sentence and a US$16,000 fine.  The Health Work Committee was one of six charity and nongovernmental organizations recently outlawed by the Israeli Defense Ministry for their alleged role in funding militant groups.  The Israeli military said that Rishmawi was responsible for fundraising for the group in Europe. The money was embezzled using forged documents and by defrauding funders to support the PFLP. The Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency, says that money raised by Rishmawi was used to pay families of slain PFLP members and fund propaganda for the group.  Human-rights groups note that many Palestinians plead guilty in Israeli military courts to avoid long prison sentences, regardless of their guilt.  

 

Sudan—Al-Burhan Names New Transitional Council Sudan Tribune | 11/12/2021 The head of the Sudanese military has named a new Transitional Sovereign Council under his leadership, reports the Sudan Tribune (Paris). On Thursday, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan appointed a new council, which did not include representatives of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) opposition group, reported the state-run SUNA news agency. The council includes four representatives from the military, including Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemetti, who serves as vice chairman. Representatives from militant groups that have signed peace agreements with the government were also named to the council. These include Malik Agar of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North; Tahir Hajar of the Gathering of the Sudan Liberation Forces; and Hadi Idris of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Transitional Council. Raja Nicolas Abdel Masih, an independent representing Sudan's Christian minority, was reappointed to the body. The council also includes civilian Abou al-Qassem Bortoum, who has advocated for normalizing ties with Israel, reported Agence France-Presse.  On Thursday, Malik Agar of the SPLM-N distanced his group from the new council, saying that it had not participated in the decision. Agar recalled that SPLM-N and the two other militant groups had issued a joint statement on Nov. 7 rejecting the coup and expressing support for the civilian-led transitional government. 

 

Nigeria—New Chinese APCs, Trucks Seen In Army Service Defence Web | 11/12/2021 Nigeria appears to have taken delivery of additional armored personnel carriers (APCs) and utility vehicles from China, reports Defence Web (South Africa). Earlier this week, video emerged showing dozens of CS/VP3 APCs driving through Lagos. The vehicles are believed to have been shipped earlier this year, with unconfirmed reports that 100 were delivered around September. Also earlier this week, dozens of Mengshi utility vehicles were observed in Lagos, with records showing that 100 were cleared through the port. Manufacturer DongFeng announced in August 2020 that an undisclosed African country had ordered 100 Mengshis.  The CSK-131 variant appears to have been supplied to Nigeria. This version can accommodate six personnel or a 4,400-pound (2,000-kg) payload. A variety of weapons can be roof-mounted, including shielded machine gun mounts or remote-controlled weapon stations. 

 

El Salvador—President Orders Military To Secure Country Following Spike In Violence Reuters | 11/12/2021 Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has ordered the military to patrol the streets after a spate of murders this week, reports Reuters. On Wednesday, Bukele ordered national police and soldiers to patrol the streets after 30 killings were reported over the previous 48 hours. It was not clear how many troops were deployed or how long the mission would last. Most of the troops would deploy to densely populated areas of the capital, San Salvador, said a government source. Murders dropped after Bukele took office in 2019. Some have alleged his government made a deal with gangs to reduce violence in return for better conditions in prisons. Experts say the gangs have the ability ramp up violence, with some speculating the recent attacks were a sign that the truce with the government was collapsing.