Good day Tuesday morning December 21.
I hope that your week has started well.
Regards,
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This Day in Navy and Marine Corps History
December 21
1821—The schooner Enterprise, commanded by Lt. Lawrence Kearny, captures and burns a pirate schooner off Cape Antonio, West Indies. A landing party destroys a shore base and burns five pirate prizes.
1859—The sloop-of-war Constellation captures the American slaver Delicia off Kabenda, Africa.
1861—Congress authorizes the Medal of Honor, the Nation's highest military award, for Naval enlisted personnel.
1942—USS Seadragon (SS 194) sinks Japanese submarine I-4 between New Britain and New Ireland while I-4 is engaged in a resupply mission to Guadalcanal.
1951—The first helicopter lands aboard USS Consolation (AH 15) during Operation Helicopter, where casualties are directly evacuated from the battlefield to a hospital ship for the first time.
1968—Apollo 8 launches with Capt. James A. Lovell, Jr. as the command module pilot. During the mission Lovell is one of the first two people to see the far side of the moon. The mission lasts six days and three hours and includes 10 moon orbits. Recovery is executed by HS-4 helicopters from USS Yorktown (CVS 10).
Today in History December 21
68 | Vespian, a gruff-spoken general of humble origins, enters Rome and is named emperor by the Senate. | |
1620 | The Pilgrims land at or near Plymouth Rock. | |
1708 | French forces seize control of the eastern shore of Newfoundland after winning a victory at St. John's. | |
1790 | Samuel Slater opens the first cotton mill in the United States (in Rhode Island). | |
1862 | The U.S. Congress authorizes the Medal of Honor to be awarded to Navy personnel who have distinguished themselves by their gallantry in action. | |
1866 | Indians, led by Red Cloud and Crazy Horse, kill Captain William J. Fetterman and 79 other men who had ventured out from Fort Phil Kearny to cut wood. | |
1910 | Over 2.5 million plague victims are reported in the An-Hul province of China. | |
1928 | President Calvin Coolidge signs the Boulder Dam bill. | |
1944 | German troops surround the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne in Belgium. | |
1945 | General George S. Patton dies at the age of 60 after being injured in a car accident. | |
1946 | An earthquake and tidal wave kill hundreds in Japan. | |
1963 | The Turk minority riots in Cyprus to protest anti-Turkish revisions in the constitution. | |
1964 | Great Britain's House of Commons votes to ban the death penalty. | |
1965 | Four pacifists are indicted in New York for burning draft cards — Thomas C. Cornell, 31, co-secretary of the Catholic Peace Fellowship; Roy Lisker, 27, a volunteer of the Catholic Worker Movement; James E. Wilson, 21, a volunteer at the Catholic Worker Movement and a member of the Fellowship for Reconciliation; and M P, Edelman, a full-time worker for the War Resisters League. | |
1969 | American draft evaders gather for a holiday dinner in Montreal, Canada. | |
1986 | 500,000 Chinese students gather in Shanghai's People's Square calling for democratic reforms, including freedom of the press. | |
1988 | Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York explodes in midair over Lockerbie, Scotland, an hour after departure. All 259 passengers were killed in the explosion caused by a bomb-- hidden inside an audio cassette player -- that detonated inside the cargo area when the plane was at an altitude of 31,000 feet. A shower of airplane parts falling from the sky also killed 11 Lockerbie residents. | |
1994 | Popocatepetl, a volcano in Mexico spews forth gases and ash after nearly a half-century of dormancy. | |
1995 | The city of Bethlehem passes from Israeli to Palestinian control. | |
2004 | A suicide bomber attacks the forward operating base next to the US military airfield at Mosul, Iraq, killing 22 people; it is the deadliest suicide attack on US soldiers during the Iraq War. |
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear … Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post
… For The List for Tuesday, 21 December 2021… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 21 December 1966… A "Road Runner" spends Christmas 1966 hanging upside down on a hook in NVN…
This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear's Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip
Vietnam Air Losses
Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
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Thanks to Brett
The Weekly Rundown: Elections in Chile, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Potentially Libya
Potential Libyan elections. Presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for Dec. 24 in Libya, but it remains unclear whether the polls will be held amid security and political challenges. Although there is a list of nearly a hundred presidential candidates, the country's electoral commission has yet to authorize the list, preventing the candidates from campaigning. Meanwhile, militia groups that oppose the U.N.-backed election process have threatened violence if elections are held on time. If the vote is postponed, the elections will likely be held sometime in 2022. But it remains uncertain whether the ballot will help heal the country's numerous political fissures or merely aggravate them.
Putin's annual end-of-year press conference. On Dec. 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin will offer his commentary on the biggest domestic and international stories from this year at his annual press conference. Putin's statements will be particularly interesting this year considering the rising concerns about a Russian escalation in Ukraine. Putin could make statements preparing foriegn and domestic audiences for the possibility of further escalation until urgent negotiations on Russia's proposals commence. Putin will likely also provide commentary on Belarus' deepening integration with Russia and the complex situation their countries face amid pressure from the West.
Taiwan and Hong Kong hold votes. On Dec. 18, Taiwan will hold a four-question referendum in which citizens will vote on whether to reactivate a nuclear power plant, place an liquified natural gas terminal on an algal reef, import U.S. pork containing the additive ractopamine, and change the dates of future referendums. Though small, these issues will be seen as an indicator of the ruling Democratic Progress Party's support ahead of the 2022 local elections. Hong Kong, meanwhile, will also hold its long-delayed Legislative Council elections on Dec. 19, in which a thoroughly pro-Beijing group of legislators is expected to sweep the vote. This will herald another major deterioration of Hong Kong's already weakened legislative independence and pave the way for another pro-Beijing chief executive in March.
Chile elects its next president. Right-wing candidate Jose Kast and left-wing candidate Gabriel Boric will compete in the final round of Chile's presidential election on Dec. 19. Boric is pledging to provide an expansive safety net by reallocating services such as education, health care and the pension system into the public sector, even if it means greater global international economic isolation and less foreign investment. Kast, by contrast, has pledged to keep social services and land rights in the hands of private firms in order to ensure Chile retains its liberalized trade and global economic reach. Regardless of who wins, Chile's fragmented centrist Congress will make it difficult for the next president to advance his policy agenda, which will likely lead to political stagnation.
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Thanks to Mighty THUNDER (Mighty Thunder – Rolling Thunder Remembered)
A Fighter Pilot Dream Come True: "A Kill"
December 20, 2016 Mighty Thunder
Mighty Thunder is proud to post the first person testimonial of Denny Wisely's first shutdown of an enemy aircraft on 20 December 1966, 50 years ago today. LT WISELY and LTJG DAVID JORDAN were flying F-4B NH 215 of the VF-114 "Aardvarks" embarked in USS Kittyhawk. Denny's take is "Chapter 17: My First Shootdown" from his book… Denny got a second "kill", a MiG-17, four months later in the same cruise on 24 April 1967…
…OOOHRAH
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
FIRST Shoot Down
At almost 2 AM on 20 December 1966 in the Tonkin Gulf and a being fourteen hours ahead of California, it was still my birthday back in the states. It was a dark night, there was no moon and the sky was overcast. It was a quiet night, flight operations had secured several hours earlier and all but those on watch were asleep after a long day of combat operations. In fact, even some of those on duty were asleep, blue shirts lying along the catapult tracks, the steam keeping them warm from the breeze over the deck. Plane captains in brown shirts were asleep atop NC-5 jet starting units. These men had already worked a fifteen hour day and caught some sleep whenever they had an opportunity. Of course, some people could not be asleep. High above the flight deck the silhouettes of those on the bridge could be seen as they moved in front of the red-lit panels. There were also people awake down in Combat Information Center (CIC), the engine room and other important places on the ship. LTJG Dave Jordan, who was my radar intercept officer for this watch, and I were strapped into one of our squadron F-4's located on one of the waist catapults. My regular RIO, Gary Anderson was not available.
This was the second cruise for both Dave and me in these waters off the coast of North Vietnam. I had flown 138 combat missions, and Dave had flown somewhat more. We had been on this watch we call Condition CAP countless times before. Condition CAP (Combat Air Patrol) is part of the fleet's protection from unfriendly forces. During this war, since there had been no real threat to our forces, it was a very dull watch that interrupted your night's sleep or kept you from watching a movie in the ready room.
While Dave and I were engrossed in World War II fighter pilot novels, the ship made a sharp turn into the wind. Over the IMC came "Standby to launch Condition 1 CAP." The 1MC is the ship's main communications system that has speakers throughout the ship. What had been a quiet flight deck became bustling with activity. The NC-5's were started, pressure for the steam cats was increased, I started my aircraft. Excitement was in the air. The people on the flight deck did a great job. By the time the ship had finished its turn into the wind word came to "Launch Condition 1 Cap," and we were on our way-0 to 160 knots in less than 2 seconds.
As soon as I raised my landing gear CIC gave me an initial Vector of three one zero and informed me that visual ID was not required. In fact the call was, "Your bogies bear 310 at 110 miles, cleared to arm cleared to fire!" The adrenalin in my body began to flow. This was no stray of ours. We were going to go after the real thing'. As soon as I could, I tuned and armed my missiles. We had climbed on top of the low overcast and were leveled off at about 3000 feet and indicating almost 600 knots. I wanted to get our bogie, which was almost 100 miles away, before he had a chance to get away. At the same time, it would not be wise to use after burner and go faster, then have no gas to loiter or whatever was necessary when we did get there. If I climbed to altitude, gas consumption would be better but their radar would see me sooner.
The whole time we were running in toward our targets, we had a commentary going between our carrier, us, and Red Crown. Red Crown was typically stationed a hundred miles north of Yankee Station and was responsible for positive identification of all aircraft in the area similar to picket ships in WW11. For a couple of minutes there was a disagreement over whether we needed an ID and if we were cleared to fire. Our Admiral onboard who was the Carrier Division Commander stepped in and we were given a cleared to fire. There was really no doubt about the identity since there were no friendly forces flying that night anywhere near that area.
"Your bogie bears 295 at 20 miles." Rang the controller's voice.
"Dave, tell that controller I want to know where the beach is!" I yelled.
I had mentally calculated that at about 100 miles in a northwest direction from the ship was Than Hoa a very hot area. By now we were painting the two bogies and could not really tell where the coast was because in the track mode the radar does not paint the surface. This information was vital to our security because here we were on top of a low overcast approaching Than Hoa getting ready to shoot down what looked too good to be true. The whole thing smelled of a rat. I kept feeling the North Vietnamese were setting a trap for us with their SAM-2's, using the bogies for bait. They even had the overcast to keep us from seeing from where the SAM's were launched.
By now the bogies had been warned of our presence and they started a turn to the right, heading for home. At this time we were at 8 miles and Dave locked up on the wingman. The poor wingman, he always gets it first. At 3 miles, we were in a tail chase position with a huge speed overtake, I fired the first missile. It left the aircraft in a loud, blinding "whooof" of fire and smoke and followed the bogie into the overcast at about 2500 feet. When it got to where the bogies were, the missile exploded as advertised, and a large fireball glowed through the clouds. I tried to fire a second missile, but it failed to leave the rails. I remember yelling in excitement to Dave, "We got the bastard, we got the bastard."
I pulled the plane into a hard turn and we headed back out to sea. A short distance behind me was my friend LT "Barrel" McRae from VF-213 in the second Condition CAP launched. I made it quite clear to him who I was and what my heading was so there could be no mistaking us for the enemy. As we proceeded out to sea our second plane closed in for another kill. We heard him call for and watched his missile launch, track and explode as ours had done. After we fired there was only one bogie showing on the radar screens, and after Barrel fired, there were none. I rolled the airplane a couple of times in shear joy!
When we got back to the ship there were one heck of a lot more people up than when we left. Everyone was excited. Morale on the ship had been good. This incident boosted it even higher. The only one who was not too happy was my regular RIO Andy. Andy had a tooth filled that day and consequently had not been scheduled to stand Condition CAP with me. I felt bad about that. We had been through a lot together, including the mid-air collision off the coast of San Diego.
After landing we went to Strike OPS for a quick debrief. Our Skipper Hank Halleland, the CO of VF-213 were both there as well as the Commanding Officer of the ship, Captain Paul Pugh.
The Captain had bagged a couple of MiGs in Korea. After both aircrews finished describing what happened, Captain Pugh, said, "Great work. Now, maybe more of you older guys will start taking the alert five watches".
What a great feeling to have finally done what all fighter pilots train to do, shoot down an enemy airplane. Later that day I flew my second night flight some 18 hours after the first one. It was a dull BARCAP.
As a note the same thing happened to Vic Kovaleski's Rio he had the SDO that day of the Mig Kill but to make it even worse two days later he was shot down with Vic on a photo escort mission with me but both got picked up just off the coast.
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Interesting facts has this one for today
A few years into his reign, Russian Czar Peter I (aka "Peter the Great") decided to study abroad. Worried that Russia was lagging behind in key technological areas, especially when it came to shipbuilding, Peter traveled incognito from 1697–98 to various European countries, including Prussia, Holland, and England, in an effort to modernize his own nation. Afterward, with his newly learned shipbuilding know-how, he created Russia's first navy. |
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This Day in U S Military History
December 21
1620 – The Mayflower reached Plymouth, Mass. after a 63-day voyage. Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower went ashore for the first time at present-day Plymouth, Mass. The crew of the ship did not have enough beer to get to Virginia and back to England so they dropped the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock to preserve their beer stock.
1861 – U.S. Congress authorized the Medal of Honor to be awarded to Navy personnel that had distinguished themselves by their gallantry in action. The Navy and Marine Corps' Medal of Honor is our country's oldest continuously awarded decoration, even though its appearance and award criteria has changed since it was created for enlisted men by Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles on 16 December 1861. Legislation in 1915 made naval officers eligible for the award. Although originally awarded for both combat and non-combat heroism, the Medal of Honor today is presented for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty. The design of our highest military decoration is rooted in the War Between the States. Crafted by the artist Christian Schuller, the central motif is an allegory in which Columbia, in the form of the goddess Minerva uses the shield of the republic to put down the figure of discord, plainly a reference to the unfolding split in our nation. The design is encircled by 38 stars, representing the states of the Union at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War.
1944 – In the north, US forces recapture Stavelot and bring the advance of the German 67th Corps (part of 6th SS Panzer Army), on the right flank of the German attack, to a halt from here to Monschau. To the south, the German 5th Panzer Army has nearly surrounded Bastogne while Houffalize has been secured.
1945 – General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. 3rd Army, dies from injuries suffered not in battle but in a freak car accident. He was 60 years old. Descended from a long line of military men, Patton graduated from the West Point Military Academy in 1909. He represented the United States in the 1912 Olympics-as the first American participant in the pentathlon. He did not win a medal. He went on to serve in the Tank Corps during World War I, an experience that made Patton a dedicated proponent of tank warfare. During World War II, as commander of the U.S. 7th Army, he captured Palermo, Sicily, in 1943 by just such means. Patton's audacity became evident in 1944, when, during the Battle of the Bulge, he employed an unorthodox strategy that involved a 90-degree pivoting move of his 3rd Army forces, enabling him to speedily relieve the besieged Allied defenders of Bastogne, Belgium. Along the way, Patton's mouth proved as dangerous to his career as the Germans. When he berated and slapped a hospitalized soldier diagnosed with "shell shock," but whom Patton accused of "malingering," the press turned on him, and pressure was applied to cut him down to size. He might have found himself enjoying early retirement had not General Dwight Eisenhower and General George Marshall intervened on his behalf. After several months of inactivity, he was put back to work. And work he did-at the Battle of the Bulge, during which Patton once again succeeded in employing a complex and quick-witted strategy, turning the German thrust into Bastogne into an Allied counterthrust, driving the Germans east across the Rhine. In March 1945, Patton's army swept through southern Germany into Czechoslovakia-which he was stopped from capturing by the Allies, out of respect for the Soviets' postwar political plans for Eastern Europe. Patton had many gifts, but diplomacy was not one of them. After the war, while stationed in Germany, he criticized the process of denazification, the removal of former Nazi Party members from positions of political, administrative, and governmental power. His impolitic press statements questioning the policy caused Eisenhower to remove him as U.S. commander in Bavaria. He was transferred to the 15th Army Group, but in December of 1945 he suffered a broken neck in a car accident and died less than two weeks later.
1968 – Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the moon, is successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, Jr., and William Anders aboard. On Christmas Eve, the astronauts entered into orbit around the moon, the first manned spacecraft ever to do so. During Apollo 8's 10 lunar orbits, television images were sent back home, and spectacular photos were taken of Earth and the moon from the spacecraft. In addition to being the first human beings to view firsthand their home world in its entirety, the three astronauts were also the first to see the dark side of the moon. On Christmas morning, Apollo 8 left its lunar orbit and began its journey back to Earth, landing safely in the Pacific Ocean on December 27. On July 20 of the next year, Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission, became the first men to walk on the moon. Recovery was by HS-4 helicopters from USS Yorktown (CVS-10).
1972 – The Defense Department announces that eight B-52 bombers and several fighter-bombers were lost since the commencement of Operation Linebacker II on December 18. These losses included at least 43 flyers captured or killed. President Richard Nixon ordered the operation after the North Vietnamese negotiators walked out of the peace talks in Paris. In response, President Nixon immediately issued an ultimatum that North Vietnam send its representatives back to the conference table within 72 hours "or else." When they rejected Nixon's demand, he ordered a full-scale air campaign against Hanoi and Haiphong to force them back to the negotiating table. On December 28, after 11 days of intensive bombing, the North Vietnamese agreed to return to the talks.
1988 – Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York explodes in midair over Lockerbie, Scotland, an hour after departure. A bomb that had been hidden inside an audio cassette player detonated inside the cargo area when the plane was at an altitude of 31,000 feet. All 259 passengers, including 38 Syracuse University students returning home for the holidays, were killed in the explosion. In addition, 11 residents of Lockerbie were killed in the shower of airplane parts that unexpectedly fell from the sky. Authorities accused Islamic terrorists of having placed the bomb on the plane while it was at the low-security airport in Frankfurt, Germany. They apparently believed that the attack was in retaliation for either the 1986 bombing attack on Libya in which Gadhafi was the target, or a 1988 incident, in which the United States killed 290 passengers when it mistakenly shot down an Iran Air commercial flight over the Persian Gulf. Sixteen days before the explosion over Lockerbie, a call was made to the U.S. embassy in Helsinki, Finland, warning that a bomb would be placed on a Pan Am flight out of Frankfurt. Though some claimed that travelers should have been alerted to this threat, U.S. officials later said that the connection between the call and the bomb was purely coincidental. In the early 1990s, investigators identified Libyan intelligence agents Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah as suspects, but Libya refused to turn them over to be tried in the United States. But in 1999-in an effort to ease United Nations sanctions against Libya-Colonel Moammar Gadhafi agreed to turn the suspects over to Scotland for trial in the Netherlands using Scottish law and prosecutors. Families of the victims were dissatisfied with this deal, however, complaining that it did not allow prosecutors to pursue the leads that suggested the bombing was planned and authorized by the highest levels of the Libyan government. The United States did insist, though, that Libya pay compensation to the victims' families before sanctions against Libya are lifted
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
This day we honor men from the Philipines in 1899, WWII The Battle of the Bulge and Vietnam
STRAUB, PAUL F.
Rank and organization: Surgeon. 36th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. Place and date: At Alos, Zambales, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 21 December 1899. Entered service at: lowa. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 6 October 1906. Citation: Voluntarily exposed himself to a hot fire from the enemy in repelling with pistol fire an insurgent attack and at great risk of his own life went under fire to the rescue of a wounded officer and carried him to a place of safety.
*BENJAMIN, GEORGE, JR.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 306th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division. Place and date: Leyte, Philippine Islands, 21 December 1944. Entered service at: Carney's Point, N.J. Birth: Philadelphia, Pa. G.O. No.: 49, 28 June 1945. Citation: He was a radio operator, advancing in the rear of his company as it engaged a well-defended Japanese strong point holding up the progress of the entire battalion. When a rifle platoon supporting a light tank hesitated in its advance, he voluntarily and with utter disregard for personal safety left his comparatively secure position and ran across bullet-whipped terrain to the tank, waving and shouting to the men of the platoon to follow. Carrying his bulky radio and armed only with a pistol, he fearlessly penetrated intense machinegun and rifle fire to the enemy position, where he killed 1 of the enemy in a foxhole and moved on to annihilate the crew of a light machinegun. Heedless of the terrific fire now concentrated on him, he continued to spearhead the assault, killing 2 more of the enemy and exhorting the other men to advance, until he fell mortally wounded. After being evacuated to an aid station, his first thought was still of the American advance. Overcoming great pain he called for the battalion operations officer to report the location of enemy weapons and valuable tactical information he had secured in his heroic charge. The unwavering courage, the unswerving devotion to the task at hand, the aggressive leadership of Pfc. Benjamin were a source of great and lasting inspiration to his comrades and were to a great extent responsible for the success of the battalion's mission.
CURREY, FRANCIS S.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company K, 120th Infantry, 30th Infantry Division. Place and date: Malmedy, Belgium, 21 December 1944. Entered service at: Hurleyville, N.Y. Birth: Loch Sheldrake, N.Y. G.O. No.: 69, 17 August 1945. Citation: He was an automatic rifleman with the 3d Platoon defending a strong point near Malmedy, Belgium, on 21 December 1944, when the enemy launched a powerful attack. Overrunning tank destroyers and antitank guns located near the strong point, German tanks advanced to the 3d Platoon's position, and, after prolonged fighting, forced the withdrawal of this group to a nearby factory. Sgt. Currey found a bazooka in the building and crossed the street to secure rockets meanwhile enduring intense fire from enemy tanks and hostile infantrymen who had taken up a position at a house a short distance away. In the face of small-arms, machinegun, and artillery fire, he, with a companion, knocked out a tank with 1 shot. Moving to another position, he observed 3 Germans in the doorway of an enemy-held house. He killed or wounded all 3 with his automatic rifle. He emerged from cover and advanced alone to within 50 yards of the house, intent on wrecking it with rockets. Covered by friendly fire, he stood erect, and fired a shot which knocked down half of 1 wall. While in this forward position, he observed 5 Americans who had been pinned down for hours by fire from the house and 3 tanks. Realizing that they could not escape until the enemy tank and infantry guns had been silenced, Sgt. Currey crossed the street to a vehicle, where he procured an armful of antitank grenades. These he launched while under heavy enemy fire, driving the tankmen from the vehicles into the house. He then climbed onto a half-track in full view of the Germans and fired a machinegun at the house. Once again changing his position, he manned another machinegun whose crew had been killed; under his covering fire the 5 soldiers were able to retire to safety. Deprived of tanks and with heavy infantry casualties, the enemy was forced to withdraw. Through his extensive knowledge of weapons and by his heroic and repeated braving of murderous enemy fire, Sgt. Currey was greatly responsible for inflicting heavy losses in men and material on the enemy, for rescuing 5 comrades, 2 of whom were wounded, and for stemming an attack which threatened to flank his battalion's position.
*THORNE, HORACE M.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Troop D, 89th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Armored Division. Place and date: Near Grufflingen, Belgium, 21 December 1944. Entered service at: Keyport, N.J. Birth. Keansburg, N.J. G.O. No.: 80, 19 September 1945. Citation. He was the leader of a combat patrol on 21 December 1944 near Grufflingen, Belgium, with the mission of driving German forces from dug-in positions in a heavily wooded area. As he advanced his light machinegun, a German Mark Ill tank emerged from the enemy position and was quickly immobilized by fire from American light tanks supporting the patrol. Two of the enemy tankmen attempted to abandon their vehicle but were killed by Cpl. Thorne's shots before they could jump to the ground. To complete the destruction of the tank and its crew, Cpl. Thorne left his covered position and crept forward alone through intense machinegun fire until close enough to toss 2 grenades into the tank's open turret, killing 2 more Germans. He returned across the same fire-beaten zone as heavy mortar fire began falling in the area, seized his machinegun and, without help, dragged it to the knocked-out tank and set it up on the vehicle's rear deck. He fired short rapid bursts into the enemy positions from his advantageous but exposed location, killing or wounding 8. Two enemy machinegun crews abandoned their positions and retreated in confusion. His gun Jammed; but rather than leave his self-chosen post he attempted to clear the stoppage; enemy small-arms fire, concentrated on the tank, killed him instantly. Cpl. Thorne, displaying heroic initiative and intrepid fighting qualities, inflicted costly casualties on the enemy and insured the success of his patrol's mission by the sacrifice of his life.
*WARNER, HENRY F.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Antitank Company, 2d Battalion, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Dom Butgenbach, Belgium, 20-21 December 1944. Entered service at: Troy, N.C. Born: 23 August 1923, Troy, N.C. G.O. No.: 48, 23 June 1945. Citation: Serving as 57-mm. antitank gunner with the 2d Battalion, he was a major factor in stopping enemy tanks during heavy attacks against the battalion position near Dom Butgenbach, Belgium, on 20-21 December 1944. In the first attack, launched in the early morning of the 20th, enemy tanks succeeded in penetrating parts of the line. Cpl. Warner, disregarding the concentrated cannon and machinegun fire from 2 tanks bearing down on him, and ignoring the imminent danger of being overrun by the infantry moving under tank cover, destroyed the first tank and scored a direct and deadly hit upon the second. A third tank approached to within 5 yards of his position while he was attempting to clear a jammed breach lock. Jumping from his gun pit, he engaged in a pistol duel with the tank commander standing in the turret, killing him and forcing the tank to withdraw. Following a day and night during which our forces were subjected to constant shelling, mortar barrages, and numerous unsuccessful infantry attacks, the enemy struck in great force on the early morning of the 21st. Seeing a Mark IV tank looming out of the mist and heading toward his position, Cpl. Warner scored a direct hit. Disregarding his injuries, he endeavored to finish the loading and again fire at the tank whose motor was now aflame, when a second machinegun burst killed him. Cpl. Warner's gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty contributed materially to the successful defense against the enemy attacks.
*SMEDLEY, LARRY E.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and date: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, 21 December 1967. Entered service at: Orlando, Fla. Born: 4 March 1949, Front Royal, Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader with company D, in connection with operations against the enemy. On the evenings of 20-21 December 1967, Cpl. Smedley led his 6-man squad to an ambush site at the mouth of Happy Valley, near Phouc Ninh (2) in Quang Nam Province. Later that night an estimated 100 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army regulars, carrying 122mm rocket launchers and mortars, were observed moving toward Hill 41. Realizing this was a significant enemy move to launch an attack on the vital Danang complex, Cpl. Smedley immediately took sound and courageous action to stop the enemy threat. After he radioed for a reaction force, he skillfully maneuvered his men to a more advantageous position and led an attack on the numerically superior enemy force. A heavy volume of fire from an enemy machinegun positioned on the left flank of the squad inflicted several casualties on Cpl. Smedley's unit. Simultaneously, an enemy rifle grenade exploded nearby, wounding him in the right foot and knocking him to the ground. Cpl. Smedley disregarded this serious injury and valiantly struggled to his feet, shouting words of encouragement to his men. He fearlessly led a charge against the enemy machinegun emplacement, firing his rifle and throwing grenades, until he was again struck by enemy fire and knocked to the ground. Gravely wounded and weak from loss of blood, he rose and commenced a l-man assault against the enemy position. Although his aggressive and singlehanded attack resulted in the destruction of the machinegun, he was struck in the chest by enemy fire and fell mortally wounded. Cpl. Smedley's inspiring and courageous actions, bold initiative, and selfless devotion to duty in the face of certain death were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for December 21, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
21 December
1926: MACKAY TROPHY/DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSSES. Maj Herbert A. Dargue led a Pan Am goodwill flight from San Antonio around South America, to Washington DC. For the 22,065-mile flight, Major Dargue used five Loening Amphibians with 420-horsepower Liberty engines. On 2 May 1927, 4 aircraft and 8 of 10 aviators (including Capt Ira C. Eaker and 1Lt Muir S. Fairchild) completed the flight. They received the Mackay Trophy and DFCs for their effort. The other plane crashed in Argentina, killing the crewmen. (24)
1944: Gen Henry H. Arnold became General of the Army (5 stars) and the first airman to hold this rank. (4) (24)
1948: The Navy announced that the development of a stallproof automatic pilot that could land planes by radar in the "most unfavorable" weather. (24)
1950: Boeing delivered the first KC-97A Stratofreighter to the USAF. The company unveiled the first C–97 model converted to a tanker-transport earlier in the month. The KC–97A, a propeller driven, four-engine aircraft, had a flying boom and four added fuselage tanks with a 14,990-gallon capacity. (18)
1951: KOREAN WAR. Fifth Air Force units flew 530 sorties, making 30 cuts in the main rail line between Sinanju and Sukchon and attacking a supply complex near Kunu-ri. (28)
1959: General Thomas S. Power accepted the first production-model Hound Dog guided air-to-surface missile at North American Aviation's plant in Downey for the Air Force. (6)
1962: President Kennedy cancelled the Skybolt air-to-surface missile program. (6)
1964: General Dynamics pilots Richard Johnson and Val Prahl flew the F-111A, a variable sweptwing fighter, for the first time at Carswell AFB. It was formerly known as the TFX. (12)
1965: The USAF phased out its last two active-duty KC-97s, when one from the 100 AREFS at Pease AFB, and another from the 384 AREFS at Westover AFB, flew to the aircraft storage area at Davis Monthan AFB. At one time, the USAF had 36 KC-97 squadrons with 780 aircraft. (1)
1966: An Atlas launched the first SV-5D Precision Recovery Including Maneuvering Entry (PRIME) vehicle into space from Vandenberg AFB. The PRIME vehicle explored and advanced the development of possible manned and unmanned lifting body vehicles capable of operating like spacecraft in orbit and maneuvering like aircraft in the atmosphere. (16)
1968: APOLLO VIII. Through 27 December, Astronauts Col Frank Borman (USAF), Capt James A. Lovell, Jr. (USN), and Col William Anders (USAF) flew the Apollo VIII mission, the first to use the Saturn V booster. They set FAI records for maximum altitude and greatest mass lifted, 234,672.5 miles and 282,197 pounds, respectively. They also achieved man's first circumlunar space travel by orbiting the moon. (9) (16)
1970: A Gruman pilot, Robert Smyth, flew the F-14A Tomcat on a 10-minute first flight at its Calverton plant at Long Island, N. Y.
1980: NASA's AD-1 oblique-wing research aircraft flown for the first time. Its wing could be pivoted 60 degrees from a perpendicular position to reduce drag and permit higher speeds and longer range without increasing fuel usage.
1984: The B-52G reached its initial operating capability with the Harpoon missile. (16)
1991: Rockwell's AC-130U Spectre gunship made its first flight. (16)
2000: At Edwards AFB, Boeing's X-32A Joint Strike Fighter concept plane made its first supersonic flight, when Lt Col Edward Cabrera, the USAF's lead X-32 test pilot, took the jet to 30,000 feet and exceeded Mach 1 (660 mph). (3).
2001: NASA's X-38 Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) completed its highest, fastest and longest flight to date. A B-52 from the Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB dropped the lifting body-shaped craft at 45,000 feet. It descended three miles at transonic speeds before its drogue parachute deployed for the landing. (3)
2002: The first C-5 Galaxy (No. 85-0004) with Avionics Modernization Program equipment made its maiden flight, two months ahead of schedule. Departing and recovering at Dobbins AFB, the 5.2-hour C-5 mission demonstrated the basic flying qualities of the new avionics and navigational system. (22)
2005: After nearly five years, the AFFTC completed its C-130J operational testing and evaluation at Edwards AFB. (3)
2006: The YAL-1A Airborne Laser returned to the AFFTC at Edwards AFB after Boeing installed solid-state beam control and fire control laser illuminators, and strengthened its fuselage and chemical-fuel tanks. Plans called for the YAL-1 to test-fire its lasers against an instrumented target board on the side of the NC-135E Big Crow aircraft. (3)
2007: Air Force technicians successfully launched a United Launch Alliance Delta II booster, with the fifth modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellite, from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., into space. It joined a constellation of on-orbit satellites that provided global coverage and global positioning services to users around the world. (AFNEWS, "Delta II with GPS Payload Successfully Launches," 21 Dec 2007,
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World News for 21 December thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Pentagon Revises Policies In Effort To Fight Extremism Washington Post | 12/21/2021 The Pentagon has updated its policies designed to combat extremism in the military, reports the Washington Post. The new rules disclosed on Monday were developed by the Countering Extremism Working Group and focus on servicemembers' online activity. This includes liking, sharing and posting extremist content online and on social media, as well as attending events, fundraising and organizing for those groups, reported the Military Times. Senior officials said the department will not expressly prohibit membership in extremist groups, focusing instead on actions taken by individuals. The Pentagon will not actively monitor social media accounts, instead largely relying on military personnel or outside law enforcement to report concerning behavior. Officers will play a significant role in escalating suspected violations but will now have a greater degree of guidance in identifying extremist content, said analysts. Officials say about 100 cases of extremism were identified in the military in 2021, which was believed to represent an increase.
USA—Another Air Force Hypersonic Weapon Test Fails The War Zone | 12/21/2021 The latest attempt by the Air Force to test its new air-launched hypersonic boost-glide weapon failed, reports the War Zone website. The trial on Dec. 15 involving the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) was forced to abort before release due to an unknown issue, the Air Force Lifecycle Management Command's Armament Directorate told the website on Dec. 17. The test was intended to evaluate the performance of the rocket booster, which is designed to carry the weapon to the required speed and altitude for the release of the unpowered hypersonic glide vehicle. The missile would be returned to the factory and an analysis of the telemetry and onboard data undertaken to determine the cause of the problem and enable flight-testing to resume as quickly as possible, the directorate said. The first ARRW test in April was also forced to abort before launch due to an unspecified issue. In the second test in July, the missile separated cleanly from its B-52H bomber, but the booster rocket failed to ignite.
USA—Air Force Has New Chief Information Security Officer Air Force Magazine | 12/21/2021 The Dept. of the Air Force has announced that it has a new chief information security officer, reports Air Force magazine. On Dec. 16, Chief Information Officer Lauren Knausenberger announced that James Bishop had begun work in the role on Nov. 22. Bishop's appointment fills a year-long vacancy. The previous chief information security officer, Wanda Jones-Heath, was dual-hatted in December 2020 to serve as acting principal cyber adviser in the Air Force Secretary's office. A replacement for Jones-Heath could not be hired until she was permanently appointed as the principal cyber adviser, officials said. Bishop is the CEO and founder of the Quantum Security Alliance public-private partnership research organization. He has also held several jobs with private companies in the national security IT space.
Belgium—Defense Ministry Latest Victim Of Log4j Hack Politico Europe | 12/21/2021 The Belgian Defense Ministry says it has experienced a hacking attack, reports Politico Europe. On Dec. 16, the ministry uncovered intrusions that used the Log4j software vulnerability, which was discovered earlier this month, reported De Standaard (Brussels) on Monday. The ministry " discovered an attack on its computer network with internet access" and took steps to isolate the affected network, reported the Hill (Washington, D.C.). Defense ministry teams have been working hard to secure its networks, a spokesperson said. The Log4j vulnerability stems from a piece of code commonly reused for logging, or record keeping, that is common across several different pieces of software, reported the Washington Post. Private firms, including Microsoft and Amazon, have also been affected. Experts say that the ubiquity of the Log4j vulnerability across multiple different users and platforms could make the exploit one of the most dangerous to date.
Germany—Controversial Arms Sales Approved Before New Government Took Office Deutsche Welle | 12/21/2021 The government of Chancellor Angela Merkel approved several arms sales to Egypt shortly before leaving office, reports Deutsche Welle. On Dec. 7, then-Economy Minister Peter Altmaier sent a letter to Bundestag President Barbel Bas on the arms sales, the day before Olaf Scholz was sworn in as the new chancellor, reported Der Spiegel magazine. The approvals covered the sale of three MEKO A-200 EN frigates, to be built in Kiel by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), and 16 Diehl Defense air defense systems for Egypt. The letter also informed lawmakers about the sale of a Type 218SG submarine to Singapore. The Green Party, a member of Germany's new coalition government, criticized the timing of the sales before the new government began work. Arms sales to Egypt are controversial in Germany due to Cairo's poor human-rights record and involvement in the conflict in Libya.
Italy—Navy Orders 2nd Vulcano-Class Support Ship Fincantieri | 12/21/2021 Fincantieri has signed a contract with the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) in Bonn, Germany, to build a second logistics support ship for the Italian navy. On Monday, Fincantieri announced that it had signed a 410 million euro (US$460 million) contract with OCCAR for a second Vulcano-class logistic support ship and its combat system, with an option for a third ship. The deal also covers 10 years of lifecycle support, including logistics and in-service support as well as the supply of naval components and machinery, including shaft lines, steering systems, maneuvering thrusters, fin stabilizers and other handling systems built by Fincantieri Mechanical Systems and Components Unit. The lead ship, Vulcano, was delivered to the Italian navy in March 2021.
Russia—German Diplomats Expelled In Retaliation Over Verdict In Berlin Killing Deutsche Welle | 12/21/2021 Russia has ordered two German diplomats to leave the country after a German court ruled that the murder of a former Chechen militant in a Berlin park in 2019 was ordered by the Russian government, reports Deutsche Welle. On Dec. 15, the second criminal division of the High Regional Court in Berlin convicted Russian national Vadim Krasikov of the murder an ex-Chechen commander in the Berlin Tiergarten in 2019, noted Agence France-Presse. The court also said that evidence showed that the Russian government had played a role in the killing. Germany subsequently expelled two Russian diplomats. On Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that it had declared two diplomats at the German Embassy persona non grata. The expulsion was a "symmetrical response to the aforementioned unfriendly decision of the government of the Federal Republic of Germany," the ministry said.
Russia—Withdrawal From Open Skies Treaty Completed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | 12/21/2021 Russia has completed the formal process to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. As of Saturday, Russia was no longer party to the treaty, the defense ministry said, as cited by Russia's Tass news agency. Russia triggered the withdrawal process on June 18 in response to the U.S. withdrawal in November 2020. The treaty permits short-notice overflights of the territory of participants by reconnaissance aircraft as a confidence-building measure. Thirty-three countries remain signatories to the Open Skies Treaty, although the departure of Russia and the U.S. reduces the area covered by the treaty by 80 percent.
Japan—Government Approves $660 Million Increase To Host-Nation Support Kyodo News Agency | 12/21/2021 Japan has agreed to increase its contribution for the cost of hosting U.S. troops over the next five years, reports the Kyodo news agency (Tokyo). On Monday, government sources said that the Japanese spending on host-natin support would total US$9.2 billion from fiscal 2022 through fiscal 2026, an increase of around US$660 million from the current agreement. The deal is slated to be finalized and signed during a meeting of defense and foreign ministers in January, the sources said. The increase would strengthen cooperation amid growing concerns about Chinese military activity in the region. The additional funding would also help fund the acquisition of advanced training equipment for joint exercises and improvement of U.S. facilities.
India—Deal Reached With French For Jet Engine Cooperation The Hindu | 12/21/2021 France and India have agreed to work together to develop an engine for Indian fighter aircraft, reports the Hindu (Chennai). On Saturday, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced that the sides had reached an agreement to cooperate on the development of a new powerplant for fighter jets. Under the accord, a French company with partner with an Indian firm to produce an indigenous engine in India. Singh did not provide further details of the agreement. The government recently informed lawmakers that it proposed to develop indigenous engines for aircraft such as the Tejas light combat aircraft and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) in cooperation with the International Engine House. Defense officials noted that discussions have been held with Safran in France for the development of the engine for the AMCA and confirmed that this was the engine covered by the latest cooperation agreement.
Iran—IRGC Drills Features Drones, Precision Weapons Tasnim News Agency | 12/21/2021 The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is holding a major exercise on the coast of southern Iran, reports the semi-official Tasnim news agency (Tehran). On Monday, the Payambar-e Azam (Great Prophet) 17 exercise began along the coasts of the southern Hormozgan, Bushehr and Khuzestan provinces. The training included Mohajer-6 drones employing Qaem smart bombs and Almas guided missiles against ground and sea targets. An IRGC Su-22 strike aircraft also launched Yasin guided bombs during the drills. Marines simulated coastal defense operations, including launching anti-tank missiles at speedboats, while naval units employed various air defense systems against hostile drones. Various ballistic missiles were launched against mock enemy bases and ships, the IRGC said. The Basij, the paramilitary volunteer auxiliary wing of the IRGC, also took part in the drills. The training is scheduled to conclude on Friday.
Pakistan—3 TTP Militants Killed In Ops Along Afghan Border Dawn | 12/21/2021 Pakistani forces have killed at least three militants in separate operations along the border with Afghanistan, reports the Dawn newspaper (Karachi). During an intelligence operation on Saturday in the Bajuar district in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Ghafoor, also known as Jaleel, was killed. Ghafoor was a close associate of Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, the head of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group, and involved in many terrorist activities, the military said. A security officer was injured in an exchange of fire during the operation. Separately, two TTP militants were killed during a clearance operation in the Boya area of the North Waziristan district. They were spotted fleeing from Mohammad Khel village toward Vezda Sar and then killed during a gun battle, said the Pakistani military.
Ethiopia—TPLF Says Its Forces Have Withdrawn From Amhara, Afar Regions Reuters | 12/21/2021 Tigrayan forces say they have withdrawn from the Amhara and Afar regions in northern Ethiopia in effort to kickstart negotiations with the federal government, reports Reuters. On Monday, a spokesman for the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) wrote on social media that that it had just completed pulling out its forces from the Amhara and Afar regions, which border Tigray. "We trust that our bold act of withdrawal will be a decisive opening for peace," TPLF chief Debretsion Gebremichael wrote in a letter to the U.N. He also called for a no-fly zone for hostile aircraft over Tigray, an arms embargo on Ethiopia and Eritrea and a U.N. mechanism to verify the withdrawal of Ethiopian and other foreign troops from Tigray. On Tuesday, the Ethiopian government said that its forces were still clearing TPLF fighters from Amhara and Afar and rejected the TPLF's claim that it was conducting a strategic withdrawal.
Central African Republic—5 Civilians Die In Rebel Assault In Mann Agence France-Presse | 12/21/2021 Five civilians have been killed in a rebel attack in the Central African Republic, reports Agence France-Presse. On Sunday, militants attacked army positions in Mann, about 370 miles (600 km) northwest of Bangui, the capital, killing five civilians, said an unnamed soldier. A C.A.R. soldier and a rebel were also killed in the fighting. The soldier blamed the attack on the predominately Fulani Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation (3R) group. Violence in the Central African Republic has been increasing. Earlier this month, 15 civilians were killed in an attack about 250 miles (400 km) east of Bangui. The MINUSCA peacekeeping mission blamed that assault on the mainly Christian and animist anti-Balaka militia.
Mozambique—10 Suspected Jihadists Killed In Cabo Delgado Op Agence France-Presse | 12/21/2021 The Mozambican government says its forces killed 10 militants in an operation in the northern Cabo Delgado province, reports Agence France-Presse. On Sunday, local and international troops stormed a rebel base in the Macomia district, said Defense Minister Cristovao Chume. The raid follows a series of attacks by the jihadists, known as Ansar Sunnah, on villages in the district. Troops from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) participated in the operation, the minister said. More than 3,100 African, European and U.S. soldiers have deployed in the region since July as part of international efforts to crack down on the ISIS-aligned group, which is also known locally as Al-Shabaab. It has no ties to the Somali group of the same name.
Chile—Boric Wins Majority In Presidential Runoff Cable News Network | 12/21/2021 A leftist candidate will be the next president of Chile after defeating his right-wing opponent in a runoff, reports CNN. Gabriel Boric, 35, won 55.9 percent of the vote in the election on Sunday, beating Jose Antonio Kast, 55, who received 44.1 percent. Kast conceded to Boric on Sunday. Both candidates advanced to the runoff after an initial vote on Nov. 21 in which no candidate received a majority. Boric entered politics as one of the leaders of a student protest movement in 2011 for free high-quality education. He has since served two terms in the Chilean Congress. His campaign focused on addressing longstanding inequalities, social justice and implementing a welfare state, noted the Washington Post. Kast ran on a far-right message focused on crime, public disorder, drug-trafficking and traditional values. Boric, who will be the youngest person to hold the presidency in Chile, is scheduled to be inaugurated on March 11.
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