Monday, April 26, 2021

TheList 5693

The List 5693     TGB

 

Good Monday Morning April 26.

I hope that you all had a great weekend.

Regards,

Skip.

 

This day in Naval History April 26,

This day in Naval History April 26

1869 As a post-Civil War push for re-enlistments, the Good Conduct Medal, then called Good Conduct Badge, is authorized by Secretary of the Navy Adolphus E. Borie.

 

1918 USS Stewart (DD 13) collides with an unidentified steamer near Brest, France. Just days earlier, Stewart crew members attacked a German submarine and saved the SS Florence H crew when she exploded internally.

 

1944 USS Frost (DE 144), USS Huse (DE 145), USS Barber (DE 161) and USS Snowden (DE 246) sink the German submarine U 488 northwest of the Canary Islands.

 

1952 While steaming at night in formation 700 miles west of the Azores, USS Hobson (DD 464) and USS Wasp (CV 18) collide as Hobson crossed the carriers bow from starboard to port and was struck amidships, breaking her in two. Hobson and 176 of her crew are lost, including her commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. W. J. Tierney.

 

1960 USS George Washington (SSN 598) conducts a Polaris missile test firing in Long Island Sound in the Atlantic Ocean.

 

2002 The Watson-class vehicle cargo ship USNS Soderman (T AKR 317) is launched at National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Calif.



Thanks to CHINFO

 

No CHINFO on the weekend

 

This day in World history  April 26

 

 

757 

 

Stephen II ends his reign as Catholic Pope.

1478

Pazzi conspirators attack Lorenzo and kill Giuliano de' Medici.

 

1514

Copernicus makes his first observations of Saturn.

 

1564

William Shakespeare is baptized.

 

1607

The British establish a colony at Cape Henry, Virginia.

 

1865

Joseph E. Johnston surrenders the Army of Tennessee to General William T. Sherman.

 

1915

Second Lieutenant William Rhodes-Moorhouse becomes the first airman to win the Victoria Cross after conducting a successful bombing raid.

 

1929

The first non-stop flight from England to India is completed.

 

1931

New York Yankee Lou Gehrig hits a home run but is called out for passing a runner, the mistake ultimately costs him the home run record.

 

1937

The ancient Basque town of Guernica in northern Spain is bombed by German planes.

 

1941

The first organ is played at a baseball stadium in Chicago.

 

1968

Students seize the administration building at Ohio State University.

 

1983

The Dow Jones Industrial Average breaks 1,200 for first time.

 

1986

The world's worst nuclear disaster occurs at the Chernobyl power plant in the Soviet Union.

 

1994

Nelson Mandela wins the presidency in South Africa's first multiracial elections.

 

 

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Monday Morning Humor--Saturday Is May Day   Thanks to Al

 

As a world-wide day of celebration, the first of May probably ranks second only to New Year's day.  Whereas everyone celebrates the New Year, albeit in different ways, May Day has many different customs depending on where in the world you live:

May Day - The first day of summer

Beltane - Cross quarter day. Half way between the Vernal Equinox and Mid-Summer solstice

Maypole dances in England

Walpurgis Night (Germany and Scandinavia). - Bonfires and devil worship Hitler chose this night to commit suicide in 1945

Labor Day - China and Russia hold formal parades (N.B. Labor day in USA is on first Monday in September)

While May Day is now considered to be 1st May (or May 1st), Beltane or Walpurgis starts on the last evening of April and ends on 1st May.  There is evidence that at in ancient times  pagan celebrations occurred on the nearest full moon rather than the 1st of May.  One thought that flashes through my mind is all the different drinks that people world-wide will use to toast May Day, for example beer in Bavaria (Germany), Sima in Savonlinna (Finland), cider in Cornwall and mead in Merthyr (Wales).

 

 

     In olden times, it is reported that sacrifices were made at the altar.

     Since then, weddings have been held there, and times haven't changed at all!

 

 

     Two yokels were driving to the next village's May Day Fair.  They came to a sign that said: May Day Fair Left.  ... so they turned around and went home!

 

 

     A townie was looking for the May Day Fair, he stopped and asked Jethro.

     "Will this road take me to the May Day Fair?"

     "Oh no," said Jethro. "You'll have to go by yourself!"

 

 

     Norman decides to take a balloon ride on offer at the local May Day Fair. The balloon and its customers drift along in the breeze, but eventually they are lost.  

     Norman has no idea where he is, so when the gondolier takes the basket down to ten feet above ground he calls to a passer-by: "Excuse me, sir, can you tell me where I am?"

     After looking Norman up and down, the passer-by says: "You are in a red balloon, ten feet above ground."

     The balloon's unhappy resident replied, "You must be a lawyer."

     "How could you possible know that?" asked the passer-by.

     "Because your answer is technically correct but absolutely useless, and the fact is I am still lost".

     "Then you must be in management", said the passer-by.

     "That's right!  How did you know?'"

     "You have such a good view from where you are, and yet you don't know where you are and you don't know where you are going. The fact is you are in the exact same position you were in before we met, but now your problem is somehow my fault!"

 

 

     Four high school boys afflicted with spring fever skipped morning classes.

     After lunch they reported to the teacher that they had a flat tire.

     Much to their relief she smiled and said, "Well, you missed a test today so take seats apart from one another and take out a piece of paper." Still smiling, she waited for them to sit down. Then she said: "First Question: Which tire was flat?"

 

 

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?

Pilgrims!

 

Why are trees very forgiving?

Because in the Fall they "Let It Go" and by May Day they "turn over a new leaf".

 

 

Have a great week,

Al

 

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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear

LOOKING BACK 55-YEARS to the Vietnam Air War—. For The List for Monday, 26 April 2021... BearπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ⚓️🐻

 

Operation Rolling Thunder (1965-68)

LOOKING BACK 55-YEARS to the Vietnam air war...

From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 26 April 1966...

"Then and Now" (Great YouTube 16-minute tale recreated by Phantom Flyer Art Long: access through his comment at the bottom of 26 April 1966 RTR post)...

 

http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-remembered-26-april-1966-ready-or-not/

 

 

Vietnam Air Losses

Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at:  https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.

 

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This Day in U S Military History…….April 26

 

 

1805 – First Barbary War: United States Marines captured Derne under the command of First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon and former Consul to Tunis, William Eaton. The Battle of Derne was the decisive victory of a mercenary army led by a detachment of United States Marines and United States Army soldiers against the forces of Ottoman Tripolitania during the First Barbary War. It was the first recorded land battle the United States fought overseas. U.S. forces and mercenaries marched for 600 miles (970 km) through the desert to attack Derne.

 

1937 – During the Spanish Civil War, the German military tests its powerful new air force, the Luftwaffe, and the principles of Blitzkreig, on the Basque town of Guernica in northern Spain. Although the independence-minded Basque region opposed General Francisco Franco's Nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War, Guernica itself was a small rural city of only 5,000 inhabitants that declared nonbelligerence in the conflict. With Franco's approval, the cutting-edge German aircraft began their unprovoked attack at 4:30 p.m., the busiest hour of the market day in Guernica. For three hours, the German planes poured down a continuous and unopposed rain of bombs and gunfire on the town and surrounding countryside. One-third of Guernica's 5,000 inhabitants were killed or wounded, and fires engulfed the city and burned for days. The indiscriminate killing of civilians at Guernica aroused world opinion and became a symbol of fascist brutality. Unfortunately, by 1942, all major participants in World War II had adopted the bombing innovations developed by the Nazis at Guernica, and by the war's end, in 1945, millions of innocent civilians had perished under Allied and Axis air raids.

 

1945 – On Okinawa, the US 24th Corps attacks the along the Japanese held Maeda Escarpment (Shuri Line). American armor reaches the reverse slope.

1945 – Filipino troops of the 66th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Commonwealth Army, USAFIP-NL and the American troops of the 33rd and 37th Infantry Division, United States Army are liberated in Baguio City and they fight against the Japanese forces under General Tomoyuki Yamashita.

 

1952 – Air Force Major William H. Wescott, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, scored his fifth aerial victory to become the 12th ace of the Korean War. His F-86 Sabre "Lady Francis/Michigan Center" was also used by Colonel "Gabby" Gabreski for one of his victories.

 

Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day

 

COOPER, JOHN (Second Award)
Rank and organization: Coxswain, U.S. Navy. Born: 1832, Ireland. Accredited to: New York G.O. No.: 62, 29 June 1865. Citation: Served as quartermaster on Acting Rear Admiral Thatcher's staff. During the terrific fire at Mobile, on 26 April 1865, at the risk of being blown to pieces by exploding shells, Cooper advanced through the burning locality, rescued a wounded man from certain death, and bore him on his back to a place of safety.

CODY, WILLIAM F.
Rank: Civilian Scout. Born: Scott County, Iowa. Organization: 3rd Cavalry U.S. Army. Action date: 26 April 1872. Place: Platte River, Nebraska. Citation: Gallantry in action.
(In 1916, the general review of all Medals of Honor deemed 900 unwarranted. This recipient was one of them. In June 1989, the U.S. Army Board of Correction of Records restored the medal to this recipient.)

FOLEY, JOHN H.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company B, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Loupe Fork, Platte River, Nebr., 26 April 1872. Entered service at:——. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 22 May 1872. Citation: Gallantry in action.

STRAYER, WILLIAM H.
Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Loupe Forke, Platte River, Nebr., 26 April 1872. Entered service at: ——. Birth: Maytown, Pa. Date of issue: 22 May 1862. Citation: Gallantry in action.

VOKES, LEROY H.
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company B, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Loupe Fork, Platte River, Nebr., 26 April 1872. Entered service at:——. Birth: Lake County, Ill. Date of issue: 22 May 1872. Citation: Gallantry in action.

SHELTON, GEORGE M.
Rank and organization: Private, Company 1, 23d U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At La Paz, Leyte, Philippine Islands, 26 April 1900. Entered service at: Bellington, Tex. Birth: Brownwood, Tex. Date of issue: 10 March 1902. Citation: Advanced alone under heavy fire of the enemy and rescued a wounded comrade.

*DUKE, RAY E.
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Mugok, Korea, 26 April 1951. Entered service at: Whitwell (Marion County), Tenn. Born: 9 May 1923, Whitwell, Tenn. G.O. No.: 20, 19 March 1954. Citation: Sfc. Duke, a member of Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Upon learning that several of his men were isolated and heavily engaged in an area yielded by his platoon when ordered to withdraw, he led a small force in a daring assault which recovered the position and the beleaguered men. Another enemy attack in strength resulted in numerous casualties but Sfc. Duke, although wounded by mortar fragments, calmly moved along his platoon line to coordinate fields of fire and to urge his men to hold firm in the bitter encounter. Wounded a second time he received first aid and returned to his position. When the enemy again attacked shortly after dawn, despite his wounds, Sfc. Duke repeatedly braved withering fire to insure maximum defense of each position. Threatened with annihilation and with mounting casualties, the platoon was again ordered to withdraw when Sfc. Duke was wounded a third time in both legs and was unable to walk. Realizing that he was impeding the progress of 2 comrades who were carrying him from the hill, he urged them to leave him and seek safety. He was last seen pouring devastating fire into the ranks of the onrushing assailants. The consummate courage, superb leadership, and heroic actions of Sfc. Duke, displayed during intensive action against overwhelming odds, reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army.

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*ESTOCIN, MICHAEL J.
Rank and organization. Captain (then Lt. Cmdr.), U.S. Navy, Attack Squadron 192, USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14). Place and date: Haiphong, North Vietnam, 20 and 26 April 1967. Entered service at: Akron Ohio, 2() July 1954. Born: 27 April 1931, Turtle Creek, Pa. Citation. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 20 and 26 April 1967 as a pilot in Attack Squadron 192, embarked in USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14). Leading a 3-plane group of aircraft in support of a coordinated strike against two thermal power plants in Haiphong, North Vietnam, on 20 April 1967, Capt. Estocin provided continuous warnings to the strike group leaders of the surface-to-air missile (SAM) threats, and personally neutralized 3 SAM sites. Although his aircraft was severely damaged by an exploding missile, he reentered the target area and relentlessly prosecuted a SHRIKE attack in the face of intense antiaircraft fire. With less than 5 minutes of fuel remaining he departed the target area and commenced in-flight refueling which continued for over 100 miles. Three miles aft of Ticonderoga, and without enough fuel for a second approach, he disengaged from the tanker and executed a precise approach to a fiery arrested landing. On 26 April 1967, in support of a coordinated strike against the vital fuel facilities in Haiphong, he led an attack on a threatening SAM site, during which his aircraft was seriously damaged by an exploding SAM; nevertheless, he regained control of his burning aircraft and courageously launched his SHRIKE missiles before departing the area. By his inspiring courage and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Captain Estocin upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

*LEE, MILTON A.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). place and date: Near Phu Bai, Thua Thien province, Republic of Vietnam, 26 April 1968. Entered service at: San Antonio, Tex. Born: 28 February 1949, Shreveport, La. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Lee distinguished himself near the city of Phu Bai in the province of Thua Thien. Pfc. Lee was serving as the radio telephone operator with the 3d platoon, Company B. As lead element for the company, the 3d platoon received intense surprise hostile fire from a force of North Vietnamese Army regulars in well-concealed bunkers. With 50 percent casualties, the platoon maneuvered to a position of cover to treat their wounded and reorganize, while Pfc. Lee moved through the heavy enemy fire giving lifesaving first aid to his wounded comrades. During the subsequent assault on the enemy defensive positions, Pfc. Lee continuously kept close radio contact with the company commander, relaying precise and understandable orders to his platoon leader. While advancing with the front rank toward the objective, Pfc. Lee observed 4 North Vietnamese soldiers with automatic weapons and a rocket launcher Lying in wait for the lead element of the platoon. As the element moved forward, unaware of the concealed danger, Pfc. Lee immediately and with utter disregard for his own personal safety, passed his radio to another soldier and charged through the murderous fire. Without hesitation he continued his assault, overrunning the enemy position, killing all occupants and capturing 4 automatic weapons and a rocket launcher. Pfc. Lee continued his 1-man assault on the second position through a heavy barrage of enemy automatic weapons fire. Grievously wounded, he continued to press the attack, crawling forward into a firing position and delivering accurate covering fire to enable his platoon to maneuver and destroy the position. Not until the position was overrun did Pfc. Lee falter in his steady volume of fire and succumb to his wounds. Pfc. Lee's heroic actions saved the lives of the lead element and were instrumental in the destruction of the key position of the enemy defense. Pfc. Lee's gallantry at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, the 502d Infantry, and the U.S. Army.

 

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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for April 26, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY

 

26 April

 

1934: Boris Sergievsky carried 16,608 pounds to 2,000 meters (1.24 miles) in altitude at Bridgeport, Conn., to set a world seaplane record. (24)

 

1945: Eighth Air Force fighters raided over 40 Luftwaffe installations in Germany and Czechoslovakia and destroyed a record 747 German fighters in one day. (4)

 

1948: The Northrop XB-49 set a record by flying 9 hours 30 minutes without refueling in a test flight.

 

1949: At Fullerton, Calif., Bill Barris and Dick Riedel set a new world endurance record of 1,008 hours 2 minutes in an Aeronca sedan, the Sunkist Lady. During the flight they picked up food and fuel four times a day from a jeep. (24)

 

1951: KOREAN WAR. At night, over the western sector, a B-29 close air support strike against enemy troops forming for an attack on the U.S. Army IX Corps broke up the assault. (28) The Boeing B-47B first flew.

 

1952: KOREAN WAR. In air-to-air operations, Maj. William H. Wescott, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group, destroyed his fifth MiG in four weeks to become the war's twelfth ace. (28)

 

1956: Naval Aircraft Factory at Philadelphia renamed as the Naval Air Engineering Facility (Ships Installations). Its mission changed to add research, engineering, design, development, and limited manufacturing of devices and equipment for launching and recovering aircraft and guided missiles.

 

1962: The US and Great Britain launched Ariel I, the first international satellite, on a Thor-Delta booster from Cape Canaveral. The 132-pound NASA-built satellite carried British equipment for six experiments. (24) NASA launched a Nike-Cajun rocket from Wallops Island to begin a joint US-Japanese threeshot test series on atmospheric phenomena. (24)

 

1963: An advanced Atlas F carried a slender, pointed reentry vehicle from Cape Canaveral over a 5,000-mile course down the Atlantic Missile Range.

 

1966: Using Sidewinder missiles, an F-4C crew shot down a MiG-21 over North Vietnam, the first to be destroyed in combat. Major Paul J. Gilmore and 1Lt William T. Smith were escorting F-105 Thunderchiefs near Hanoi when the MiGs attacked. (16) (26) Col Joseph F. Cotton and Lt Col Fitzhugh L. Fulton, Jr., became the first Air Force crew to fly the XB-70A bomber. (3) The Air Force selected the Martin Company to develop a manned lifting body vehicle--a rocket plane without wing--to explore atmospheric maneuverability of future spacecraft. (16)  SECDEF Robert S. McNamara approved a joint Air Force and Navy recommendation to discontinue the Navy's participation in MAC. (16)

 

1971: Charleston AFB received its 16th C-5A aircraft to complete the first operational C-5A squadron. MACKAY TROPHY/HARMON INTERNATIONAL TROPHY. Lt Col Thomas B. Estes flew an SR-71 to a record speed at high altitude in a 10-hour 30-minute flight from Beale AFB. He flew 15,000 miles at speeds over Mach 3 above 80,000 feet. The SR-71 used inflight refuelings to make two round trips across the northern and central US and a complete circle of the western states. Colonel Estes and his reconnaissance systems officer, Maj Dewain C. Vick, later received the 1971 Mackay Trophy and the Harmon International Trophy. (1) Operation CONSTANT GUARD II (see 7 April): Through 1 May, MAC moved personnel and cargo from Homestead and Eglin AFBs to Thailand. (2) A SAM shot down an O-2 flying northwest of Ban Karai Pass, Laos. It was the first US aircraft lost over Laos. (17)

 

1983: The first GLCM training class graduated from Davis-Monthan AFB. (26)

 

1999: Operation ALLIED FORCE. Secretary of Defense William Cohen ordered 30 tankers, their aircrews and support personnel, to deploy by 1 May 1999 from active duty and Air Reserve components. They were sent overseas in response to General Wesley Clark's 13 April 1999 request for additional U.S. military aircraft. (32)

 

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World News for 26 April thanks to Military Periscope

 

USA—Funding Shortage Halts Software Development For F-35 Logistics System Defense News | 04/26/2021 The Pentagon has decided to take a "strategic pause" on software development for a new logistics system for the F-35 fighter jet due to a lack of funding, reports Defense News. On Thursday, Lt. Gen Eric Fick, the F-35 program executive officer, told the House Armed Services Committee that development work on Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN) software had been paused due to a 42 percent cut in the program's development and test funding for fiscal 2021. In 2020, the F-35 program office announced plans to develop ODIN to replace the troublesome Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), which supports logistics tasks such as ordering spare parts or logging repair work. The ODIN would combine hardware developed by Lockheed Martin with government software, enabling the Pentagon to retain more control. Despite progress, the program office "underestimated the complexity of deprecating ALIS capabilities while migrating to ODIN and learned several important lessons," Fick said. "We need to continue to improve the functionality of ALIS in the near term, as we ensure that the ODIN structure that we put into place, from a hardware perspective, from a data environment perspective, and from a software perspective, is what the users need," the general said. Fick did not provide a timeline for software development to potentially resume. The plan will be updated based on available funding, feedback from the services and a final strategy to migrate from ALIS to ODIN, he said. Hardware development is continuing, with the first kit handed over to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., in September. 

 

USA—Russia May Be Responsible For Directed Energy Attacks, Pentagon Probe Says Politico | 04/26/2021 The Dept. of Defense has briefed lawmakers on an investigation into the use of directed energy weapons against U.S. troops, reports Politico (Washington, D.C.). The Pentagon's office of special operations and low-intensity conflict began the probe in 2020, which has identified Russia as the likely suspect. The total number of troops affected by the directed energy attacks has not been revealed. Some of the incidents allegedly took place in Syria, although not all the locations under investigation have been named. The attacks reportedly used high-powered radio frequency or microwave devices as well as particle beams to harm the target. The Pentagon's investigation is part of a larger inquiry into directed energy attacks against U.S. officials in recent years, including reports since 2016 of a mysterious illness at the embassy in Havana. The attacks in Syria are reportedly similar to those identified in Cuba, although directed energy weapons have not been confirmed as the culprit in either case. 

 

Spain—Long-Delayed Isaac Peral Sub Launched Navantia | 04/26/2021 Navantia has launched the lead boat in a new class of submarines after a problematic development. The Isaac Peral was put into the water at Navantia's shipyard in Cartagena, Spain, on April 22, the shipbuilder said in a release. The boat suffered an extended construction period after it was discovered to be overweight in 2013 due to engineering miscalculations. The fix required a 33-foot (10-m) hull extension. The Isaac Peral will next undertake harbor and sea trials, with first sailing planned in early 2022. Delivery is slated for early 2023. 

 

France—5 Arrested Following Stabbing At Police Station Outside Paris Agence France-Presse | 04/26/2021 Five people have been arrested near Paris following the killing of a French police employee, reports Agence France-Presse. On Friday, Jamel Gorchene entered a police building in Rambouillet and stabbed a woman who worked with the police, according to prosecutors. He was killed by police shortly after the attack. Gorchene, 36, is originally from Tunisia and had lived in France for several years illegally until he received residency in 2020, prosecutors said. A review of his social media accounts showed several instances of jihadist propaganda. Gorchene's father had also noted some changes in his son's behavior. Police detained his father, a cousin, another family member and a couple who housed him when he was living in France illegally for questioning. On Sunday, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper that the government would propose a new law to toughen anti-terror measures, including allowing the use of computer algorithms to identify potential online threats. 

 

Czech Republic—More Russian Diplomats Expelled In Growing Dispute Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | 04/26/2021 The Czech government has ordered Russia to remove most of its staff from its embassy in Prague, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The latest in a series of tit-for-tat moves follows Prague's decision to declare 18 Russian personnel personae non gratae on April 17 following an investigation that found two Russian GRU military intelligence personnel were involved in a 2014 explosion at a Czech ammunition depot that killed two. The Russian government subsequently ordered 20 Czech staff to leave the embassy in Moscow. The Czech government on Thursday declared that Russia would not be permitted to have more staff at its embassy in Prague than were allowed at the Czech embassy in Moscow unless it reversed its expulsion. Moscow rejected the demand. Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek told the Blesk daily that each embassy would be limited to seven diplomats and 25 administrative and technical personnel. This will result in the expulsion of 63 Russian diplomats, who will have until the end of May to return to Russia, reported Reuters. The move does not affect the number of diplomats and technical personnel at Russian consulates in Brno and Karlovy Vary, as well as at Czech consulates in several Russian cities, Kulhanek said. On Thursday, Russia demanded Czechia further reduce its staff at its Moscow embassy to account for locally recruited staff, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

 

Russia—Navalny Ends Hunger Strike Moscow Times | 04/26/2021 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has ended his hunger strike after being warned by doctors that he was close to death, reports the Moscow Times. In a social media post on Friday, Navalny said he had been examined twice by a team of civilian doctors who warned that he could die "at any minute" if he continued to refuse food. Medical tests indicated Navalny was at risk of renal failure and heart problems due to dangerous levels of potassium in his blood, reported CNN. The examination appeared to satisfy the original cause for Navalny's hunger strike, which he began on March 31. The opposition leader demanded medical care for a range of ailments, which had been previously refused by prison authorities. Navalny is still demanding to see a specialist over concerns he is losing sensation in parts of his arms and legs. Days before ending his strike, Navalny was transferred to a prison hospital due to his declining health, which had been worsening since his imprisonment and following his poisoning with the Soviet-era nerve agent, Novichok. Large demonstrations were held across Russia on April 21 protesting Navalny's imprisonment and demanding that he receive health care. Russian authorities reportedly arrested nearly 2,000 demonstrators on April 22. 

 

China—Navy Commissions 3 Ships In Ceremony In Hainan South China Morning Post | 04/26/2021 The Chinese navy has commissioned three warships during a single ceremony at the naval base in Sanya in Hainan province, reports the South China Morning Post. On Friday, the Hainan, the lead ship of the Type 075-class of amphibious assault ships; the cruiser Dalian; and the ballistic missile submarine Changzheng 18 (Long March 18) formally entered service during a ceremony overseen by President Xi Jinping, reported Naval News. The Hainan, the first ship in the Type 075 class, is designed to carry around 30 helicopters and hundreds of troops and displaces about 40,000 metric tons. It has been assigned to the South Sea Fleet and is expected to operate in the South China Sea as well as near Taiwan. The Dalian is the third Nanchang-class cruiser and the second to enter service in 2021. The Changzheng 18 is believed to be the seventh Type 094 SSBN. The subs in the class carry 12 JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missiles. 

 

Australia—Latest Reaper Drones Sought From U.S. U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency | 04/26/2021 The Australian government wants to buy advanced drones from the U.S., reports the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The potential US$1.65 billion deal covers 12 weapons-ready MQ-9B air vehicles; 15 Raytheon Multispectral Targeting Systems-D (MTS-D) electro-optical/infrared sensors; 16 AN/APY-8 Lynx synthetic aperture radars (SAR) with ground moving target indicator (GTMI); 15 RIOTM communication intelligence systems; and 36 embedded GPS/inertial navigation systems (EGI) with selective availability anti-spoofing modules (SAASMs). The possible sale also includes six KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits for 500-pound bombs; four MXU-650 airfoil groups for 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II guided bombs; seven MXU-1006 airfoil groups for 250-pound GBU-58 Paveway IIs; four MAU-169 or MAU-209 computer control groups (CCGs) for 250-/500-pound Paveway II GBU-58/GBU-12 bombs; six FMU-139 fuse systems; 12 Mk 82 general-purpose 500-pound inert bombs; and five high-bandwidth compact telemetry modules (HCTMs). In addition, the proposed deal involves Honeywell engines; certifiable ground-control stations (CGCSs); mobile satellite communication ground data terminals (SGDTs); Leonardo SAGE 750 electronic surveillance measures system (ESM); GATES/RSO/GRMA; automatic information system (AIS); ARC-210 radios; AN/DPX-7 IFF transponders; General Dynamics satellite communication (SATCOM) antennas and Hughes modems with U.S. government encryption; Leonardo/Selex Seaspray 7500 maritime radars; KY-100M security voice terminals; KIV-77 Mode 4/5 IFF cryptographic appliques; AN/PYQ-10C simple key loaders; training systems; and support. The drones would enhance Australian intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR); target acquisition; and submarine-hunting, counter-land and counter-surface capabilities, the agency said. 

 

Indonesia—Nanggala Sub Declared Sunk After Wreckage Found Reuters | 04/26/2021 The remains of a missing Indonesian submarine has been located and all 53 sailors onboard declared dead, reports Reuters. The Nanggala disappeared on April 21 during a training exercise in the Bali Strait. The boat was declared sunk on Saturday after its oxygen would have run out, reported the Sydney Morning Herald. Later in the day, search teams located objects from the boat, including periscope lubricant and prayer mats, near the sub's last known location. On Sunday, officials said that the missing boat had been found, broken into at least three pieces. The sub was located at a depth of about 2,790 feet (850 m), far below its depth rating. The cause of the sinking is under investigation. Officials have ruled out an explosion, reported the Maritime Executive. Navy officials told CNN that the service plans to raise the wreckage and recover the bodies of the crew. All 53 sailors have been posthumously advanced one rank, reported the Jakarta Globe. 

 

Vietnam—S. China Sea On The Agenda Of Defense Talks With China South China Morning Post | 04/26/2021 Top Chinese and Vietnamese defense officials met last week to discuss disputes over the South China Sea and areas to boost cooperation, reports the South China Morning Post. On Friday, Central Military Commission deputy chief Shao Yuanming and Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Hoang Xuan Chien held talks last week in Dongxing in southern China. The talks included a "frank and in-depth exchange of views" on international and regional security and military relations, said a release from the Chinese Ministry of Defense. Chien said that the Vietnamese military was prepared to "strengthen strategic mutual trust with China and make a greater contribution to the comprehensive strategic partnership," the ministry said. The agenda focused on ongoing maritime disputes in the South China Sea, reported the Vietnam News Agency. Vietnam emphasized that countries should "work together to maintain peace and stability" and maritime disputes should be resolved peacefully. Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe arrived in Hanoi on Sunday ahead of high-level talks, reported the VN Express. 

 

Iran—Zarif Slams IRGC's Influence Over Foreign Policy In Leaked Interview Guardian | 04/26/2021 Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif has criticized the influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over Iranian foreign policy, according to leaked audio cited by the Guardian (U.K.). In an interview with journalist Saeed Laylaz in March, Zarif acknowledged that the IRGC often plays the leading role in formulating foreign policy, with diplomatic relations seen through a securitized lens. This forced Zarif to spend much of his time cultivating relations with the IRGC, he said. Zarif also said that some Iranian officials, including slain IRGC external operations chief Qassem Suleimani, attempted to disrupt the passage of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement by lobbying foreign officials and orchestrating the 2015 attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran. The minister suggested that he was unaware of the scale of Iranian troop deployments in Syria until he was informed by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, reported Al Jazeera (Qatar). The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed the interview with Iran International, a Saudi-backed news venture, was genuine, but claimed the published excerpts distorted Zarif's comments to give a negative view of Soleimani. Some analysts say the leaks are an attempt to discredit Zarif amid ongoing negotiations to resume the 2015 nuclear deal. Others argue that Zarif was attempting to exonerate himself for the failures of Iranian foreign policy. 

 

Jordan—16 Freed 3 Weeks After Arrest In Alleged Coup Plot Al Jazeera | 04/26/2021 The Jordanian government has released most of those detained three weeks ago in an alleged plot to overthrow King Abdullah II, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar). On Thursday, Jordanian prosecutors announced that it had released 16 detainees at the request of the king. Those released reportedly included several members of the prominent Majali clan, including Yasser Majali, the head of former crown prince Hamzah bin Hussein's office, and Sheikh Sameer Majali, reported the Washington Post. Those who were released were "misled, wronged, dragged behind this sedition," said King Abdullah. Two remain in custody: Former royal court chief Bassem Awadallah and former special envoy to Saudi Arabia Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, due to their differing indictments, roles in the plot and the degree of incitement compared to those who were freed, prosecutors said.

 

Israel—Kohavi Makes 1st Visit To U.S. Times of Israel | 04/26/2021 The head of the Israeli Defense Forces is in the U.S. this week for his first visit since assuming the job in 2019, reports the Times of Israel. Kohavi was scheduled to arrive in the U.S. on Sunday ahead of meetings with top defense officials. He is expected to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Gen. Mike Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, head of Central Command, and Gen. Richard Clarke, who leads U.S. Special Operations Command, the IDF said in a Friday release. The talks are expected to cover shared security challenges, with a focus on the Iranian nuclear threat; Iranian retrenchment efforts in the Middle East; Hezbollah armament efforts; and Iranian precision-guided missiles and joint force buildup, the IDF said. Kohavi is known as a strong opponent of the Iran nuclear deal and warned in a speech shortly after President Biden's inauguration that returning to it was a mistake. 

 

Somalia—Fighting Reported After Lower House Unilaterally Extends President's Mandate Garowe Online | 04/26/2021 Fighting has erupted in Mogadishu after the lower house of Parliament extended the term of President Mohammed Abdullahi "Farmajo" without Senate approval, reports the Garowe Online (Mogadishu). Fighting in the Middle Shabelle region began on Sunday, when forces  opposed to Farmajo seized control of several towns, including Fagah and Sanawith. In Mogadishu, numerous opposition candidates reported that their residences came under attack by soldiers loyal to Farmajo. Most of the soldiers involved in the attacks were said to be from Turkish-trained units. The government denied involvement in a statement. Somali troops loyal to opposition figures also fought pro-government troops in Mogadishu. Troops from both camps blocked key roads in the area, a witness told Agence France-Presse. Opposition forces were still in control of positions near the presidential palace on Monday. There were no immediate casualty figures. On April 12, the lower house of Parliament voted to extend Farmajo's term, which ended on Feb. 8, for two years. The Senate and others say the move is unconstitutional.

 

Chad—France Voices Support For Military Council Voice Of America News | 04/26/2021 French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has expressed support for the Chadian military's move to take power after the death of President Idriss Deby, reports the Voice of America News. On Thursday, Le Drian said in a television interview that the military's decision to dissolve Chad's National Assembly and form a transition council was necessary given the exceptional circumstances. Under the Chadian constitution, the speaker of the National Assembly, Haroun Kabadi, was next in line for the presidency. Kabadi says he supports the transition council, due to the "military, security and political context." The council named Deby's son, Gen. Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, as interim president. 

 

Mozambique—Total Withdraws From LNG Project In Cabo Delgado Total | 04/26/2021 French energy giant Total has declared force majeure under its contract with the Mozambican government to develop liquefied natural gas (LNG) resources in the northern Cabo Delgado province, the company said in a release. On Monday, Total announced the withdrawal of all personnel from the site in Afungi, saying it would be unable to execute its contract due to ongoing security issues. The company indicated that it would like to resume work once security has been restored in the area. Total and ExxonMobil operate massive LNG projects in the region, noted Reuters. The French company halted plans to resume work at the site last month amid a renewed offensive by the Ansar Al Sunnah militant group in Palma, near the Afungi site. 

 

 

 

Sunday, April 25, 2021

TheList 5692

The List 5692     TGB

 

Good Sunday Morning April 25.

I hope that your weekend is going well.

Regards,

Skip.

 

This day in Naval History April 25, 2019

 

1862 Union Flag Officer David G. Farragut's fleet sails into New Orleans, La., after long preparation and fierce battles while passing through the Confederate defenses of Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip the previous day.

 

1914 In the first use of U.S. Navy aircraft in a combat situation, Lt. j.g. P.N.L. Bellinger made a flight from USS Mississippis aviation unit at Vera Cruz, Mexico, to observe the city and make preliminary search for mines in the harbor.

 

1944 USS Crevalle (SS 291) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kashiwa Maru, north of Borneo and USS Guvania (SS 362) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Tetsuyo Maru, northwest of Chichi Jima.

 

1957 USS Forrestal (CVA 59) and USS Lake Champlain (CVS 39), with accompanying destroyers, enter the Eastern Mediterranean to support King Hussein of Jordans government from a possible coup conspiracy. The planned coup failed.

 

1959 USS Eversole (DD 789) rescues 14 Chinese Nationalist fishermen from their sinking fishing trawler in the Formosa Strait.

 

1998 The first-in-class Impeccable (T-AGOS 23), an ocean surveillance ship designed to gather acoustic data, detect and track submarines, is launched from Pascagoula, Miss. The ship is given to Military Sealift Command to be operated by both civilian and military crew members.

 

1998 The destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) is commissioned at Garden City Terminal in Savannah, Ga., before departing for her homeport of Norfolk, Va. The 24th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is named after Chief Petty Officer Donald L. McFaul, a Navy SEAL who posthumously received the Navy Cross for attempting to save a platoon mate on Dec. 20, 1989, while serving in Panama during Operation Just Cause.

 

2009 Destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) is commissioned at Naval Weapons Station Charleston, S.C., before cruising to her homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

 

2009 Boeings new P8-A Poseidon test jet, a 737-based submarine hunter for the Navy that will replace the P3-C Orion, flies for first flight from Renton, Va., to Boeing Field, Seattle, Wash.

 

Thanks to CHINFO

 

No CHINFO on the weekend

 

This day in World history

April 25

1590

The Sultan of Morocco launches a successful attack to capture Timbuktu.

1644

The Ming Chongzhen emperor commits suicide by hanging himself.

1707

At the Battle of Almansa, Franco-Spanish forces defeat the Anglo-Portugese forces.

1719

Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe is published in London.

1792

The guillotine is first used to execute highwayman Nicolas J. Pelletier.

1859

Work begins on the Suez Canal in Egypt.

1862

Admiral David Farragut occupies New Orleans, Louisiana.

1864

After facing defeat in the Red River Campaign, Union General Nathaniel Bank returns to Alexandria, Louisiana.

1867

Tokyo is opened for foreign trade.

1882

French commander Henri Riviere seizes the citadel of Hanoi in Indochina.

1898

The United States declares war on Spain.

1915

Australian and New Zealand troops land at Gallipoli in Turkey.

1925

General Paul von Hindenburg takes office as president of Germany.

1926

In Iran, Reza Khan is crowned Shah and chooses the name "Pahlavi."

1926

Puccini's opera Turandot premiers at La Scala in Milan with Arturo Toscanini conducting.

1938

A seeing eye dog is used for the first time.

1945

U.S. and Soviet forces meet at Torgau, Germany on Elbe River.

1951

After a three day fight against Chinese Communist Forces, the Gloucestershire Regiment is annihilated on "Gloucester Hill," in Korea.

1953

The magazine Nature publishes an article by biologists Francis Crick and James Watson, describing the "double helix" of DNA.

1956

Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" goes to number one on the charts.

1959

The St. Lawrence Seaway--linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes--opens to shipping.

1960

The first submerged circumnavigation of the Earth is completed by a Triton submarine.

1962

A U.S. Ranger spacecraft crash lands on the Moon.

1971

The country of Bangladesh is established.

1980

President Jimmy Carter tells the American people about the hostage rescue disaster in Iran.

1982

In accordance with the Camp David agreements, Israel completes a withdrawal from the Sinai peninsula.

1990

Violeta Barrios de Chamorro begins a six year term as Nicaragua's president.

1983   Andropov writes to U.S. student

 

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Thanks to Carl

 

Mask Insanity!

 

(Heard a story on the news this morning about a girl collapsing in an 800 M run at a track meet in OR. https://www.reddit.com/r/TheTwitterFeed/comments/mxchal/anncoulter_rt_claytravis_an_oregon_high_school/  Complete insanity!!)

ALERT: Meta-Analysis of 65 Studies Reveals Face Masks Induce Mask-Induced Exhaustion Syndrome (MIES)

Posted on: 

Friday, April 23rd 2021 at 7:15 am

Written By: 

Sayer Ji, Founder

 

A first-of-its-kind literature review on the adverse effects of face masks, titled "Is a Mask That Covers the Mouth and Nose Free from Undesirable Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of Potential Hazards?," reveals there are clear, scientifically demonstrable adverse effects for mask wearers, both on psychological, social and physical levels.



https://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/alert-meta-analysis-65-studies-reveals-face-masks-induce-mask-induced-exhaustion-?utm_campaign=Daily%20Newsletter%3A%20ALERT%3A%20Meta-Analysis%20of%2065%20Studies%20Reveals%20Face%20Masks%20Induce%20Mask-Induced%20Exhaustion%20Syndrome%20%28MIES%29%20%28WftGYR%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Daily%20Newsletter&_ke=eyJrbF9jb21wYW55X2lkIjogIksydlhBeSIsICJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJjd2FybmVyNDdAY29tY2FzdC5uZXQifQ%3D%3D



 

 

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This one from the List archives

 

Thanks to Carl

 

Cannot make this stuff up!!

 

https://worldnewsdailyreport.com/irish-midget-accused-of-posing-as-a-leprechaun-to-extort-sex-from-26-women-in-exchange-for-pot-of-gold/

 

IRISH MIDGET ACCUSED OF POSING AS A LEPRECHAUN TO EXTORT SEX FROM 26 WOMEN IN EXCHANGE FOR POT OF GOLD

A 3-foot-and-4-inches-tall Irishman was arrested this morning for allegedly taking advantage of credulous women by posing as a leprechaun and extorting sexual favors in exchange for a fictional "pot of gold hidden at the end of a rainbow".

29-year old Connor O'Byrne was arrested this morning at his Dublin residence by the Garda SΓ­ochΓ‘na, the Irish national police.

According to police spokesman Seamus Murphy, Mr. O'Byrne used a rather unusual stratagem to cheat both tourists and naive locals sexual favors from them:

"The victims all said he dressed up like a leprechaun and said he had a huge pot filled with gold coins, hidden at the end of a rainbow, that he was willing to offer for sex."

Surprisingly, that rather far-fetched scam fooled dozens of gullible women. 26 victims have already filed complaints with the Garda, but investigators believe the real number of victims could be over 200 or even 300.

"Many of these women were extremely naive and vulnerable. Some even cried when we told them that leprechauns don't really exist."

While searching through his house, the police found six different leprechaun costumes, as well as a few ancient gold coins he used to "prove the existence of his pot" and lure his victims.

Mr. Connor faces a total of 64 criminal charges, including 26 accusations of embezzlement, 18 charges of sexual abuse and 8 charges of fraud.

According to investigators, the number of accusations could easily double or even triple over the next few days.

If found guilty on all charges, he already faces a sentence of life in prison and a fine of  €75,000.

His trial is expected to begin in March at the Dublin criminal courts of Justice.

 

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Thanks to Dr.Rich

 

Don't try to beat a dog!!

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/dog-enters-high-school-track-field-relay-utah-wins-final-sprint-hilarious-200759024.html

 

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Thanks to Dale….this is really good. Gun camera kills galore

Skip,

Found this 1945 video of WWll in Europe

The Fight For The Sky: Our Fighter Pilots Versus The Luftwaffe In Western Europe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEJa9iBPYb0

 

 

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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear

LOOKING BACK 55-YEARS to the Vietnam Air War— ... For The List for Sunday, 25 April 2021... BearπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ⚓️🐻

 

Operation Rolling Thunder 1965-68

LOOKING BACK FIFTY-FIVE YEARS to the Vietnam air war...

From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 25 April 1966 "The mission: Interdiction"

 

http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-remembered-25-april-1966-panhandle/

 

 

 

Vietnam Air Losses

Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at:  https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.

 

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This Day in U S Military History…….April 25

 

 

1960 – First submerged circumnavigation of the Earth was completed by a Triton submarine. Operation Sandblast was the code name for the first submerged circumnavigation of the world executed by the United States Navy nuclear-powered radar picket submarine USS Triton (SSRN-586) in 1960 while under the command of Captain Edward L. Beach, USN. The New York Times described Triton '​s submerged circumnavigation of the Earth as "a triumph of human prowess and engineering skill, a feat which the United States Navy can rank as one of its bright victories in man's ultimate conquest of the seas." The actual circumnavigation took place between 24 February and 25 April 1960, covering 26,723 nautical miles (49,491 km; 30,752 mi) over 60 days and 21 hours. Operation Sandblast used the St. Peter and Paul Rocks, located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean near the Equator, as the starting point and terminus for the circumnavigation. During the course of the circumnavigation, Triton crossed the Equator four times while maintaining an average speed of advance (SOA) of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). Triton '​s overall navigational track during Operation Sandblast generally followed the same course for the first circumnavigation of the world led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan between 1519-1522. The initial impetus for Operation Sandblast was to enhance American technological and scientific prestige prior to the May 1960 Paris Summit between U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Additionally, Operation Sandblast provided a high-profile public demonstration of the capability of U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarines to carry out long-range submerged operations independent of external support and undetected by hostile forces, presaging the initial deployment of the U.S Navy's Polaris ballistic missile submarines later in 1960. Finally, Operation Sandblast gathered extensive oceanographic, hydrographic, gravimetric, geophysical, and psychological data during Triton '​s circumnavigation. Although official celebrations for Operation Sandblast were cancelled following the diplomatic furor arising from the shooting down of a CIA U-2 spy plane over the Soviet Union in early May 1960, the Triton did receive the Presidential Unit Citation with a special clasp in the form of a golden replica of the globe in recognition of the successful completion of its mission, and Captain Beach received the Legion of Merit for his role as Triton '​s commanding officer. In 1961, Beach received the Magellanic Premium, the United States' oldest and most prestigious scientific award, from the American Philosophical Society in "recognition of his navigation of the U.S. submarine Triton around the globe."

 

Captain Edward L Beach Went on to write several best selling novels about Submarines including; Run Silent Run Deep.

skip

 

 

 

1972 – Hanoi's 320th Division drives 5,000 South Vietnamese troops into retreat and traps about 2,500 others in a border outpost northwest of Kontum in the Central Highlands. This was part of the ongoing North Vietnamese Nguyen Hue Offensive, also known as the "Easter Offensive," which included an invasion by 120,000 North Vietnamese troops. The offensive was based on three objectives: Quang Tri in the north, Kontum in the Central Highlands, and An Loc in the south–just 65 miles north of Saigon. If successful, the attack at Kontum would effectively cut South Vietnam in two across the Central Highlands, giving North Vietnam control of the northern half of South Vietnam. The South Vietnamese defenders were able to hold out and prevent this from happening.

 

1990 – The crew of the U.S. space shuttle Discovery places the Hubble Space Telescope, a long-term space-based observatory, into a low orbit around Earth. The space telescope, conceived in the 1940s, designed in the 1970s, and built in the 1980s, was designed to give astronomers an unparalleled view of the solar system, the galaxy, and the universe. Initially, Hubble's operators suffered a setback when a lens aberration was discovered, but a repair mission by space-walking astronauts in December 1993 successfully fixed the problem, and Hubble began sending back its first breathtaking images of the universe. Free of atmospheric distortions, Hubble has a resolution 10 times that of ground-based observatories. About the size of a bus, the telescope is solar-powered and orbits Earth once every 97 minutes. Among its many astronomical achievements, Hubble has been used to record a comet's collision with Jupiter, provide a direct look at the surface of Pluto, view distant galaxies, gas clouds, and black holes, and see billions of years into the universe's past.

 

 

Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day

*GONZALES, DAVID M.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 127th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division. Place and date: Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 25 April 1945. Entered service at: Pacoima, Calif. Birth: Pacoima, Calif. G.O. No.: 115, 8 December 1945. Citation: He was pinned down with his company. As enemy fire swept the area, making any movement extremely hazardous, a 500-pound bomb smashed into the company's perimeter, burying 5 men with its explosion. Pfc. Gonzales, without hesitation, seized an entrenching tool and under a hail of fire crawled 15 yards to his entombed comrades, where his commanding officer, who had also rushed forward, was beginning to dig the men out. Nearing his goal, he saw the officer struck and instantly killed by machinegun fire. Undismayed, he set to work swiftly and surely with his hands and the entrenching tool while enemy sniper and machinegun bullets struck all about him. He succeeded in digging one of the men out of the pile of rock and sand. To dig faster he stood up regardless of the greater danger from so exposing himself. He extricated a second man, and then another. As he completed the liberation of the third, he was hit and mortally wounded, but the comrades for whom he so gallantly gave his life were safely evacuated. Pfc. Gonzales' valiant and intrepid conduct exemplifies the highest tradition of the military service.

*KNIGHT, RAYMOND L. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps. Place and date: In Northern Po Valley, Italy, 24 25 April 1945. Entered service at: Houston, Tex. Birth: Texas. G.O. No.: 81, 24 September 1945. Citation: He piloted a fighter-bomber aircraft in a series of low-level strafing missions, destroying 14 grounded enemy aircraft and leading attacks which wrecked 10 others during a critical period of the Allied drive in northern Italy. On the morning of 24 April, he volunteered to lead 2 other aircraft against the strongly defended enemy airdrome at Ghedi. Ordering his fellow pilots to remain aloft, he skimmed the ground through a deadly curtain of antiaircraft fire to reconnoiter the field, locating 8 German aircraft hidden beneath heavy camouflage. He rejoined his flight, briefed them by radio, and then led them with consummate skill through the hail of enemy fire in a low-level attack, destroying 5 aircraft, while his flight accounted for 2 others. Returning to his base, he volunteered to lead 3 other aircraft in reconnaissance of Bergamo airfield, an enemy base near Ghedi and 1 known to be equally well defended. Again ordering his flight to remain out of range of antiaircraft fire, 1st Lt. Knight flew through an exceptionally intense barrage, which heavily damaged his Thunderbolt, to observe the field at minimum altitude. He discovered a squadron of enemy aircraft under heavy camouflage and led his flight to the assault. Returning alone after this strafing, he made 10 deliberate passes against the field despite being hit by antiaircraft fire twice more, destroying 6 fully loaded enemy twin-engine aircraft and 2 fighters. His skillfully led attack enabled his flight to destroy 4 other twin-engine aircraft and a fighter plane. He then returned to his base in his seriously damaged plane. Early the next morning, when he again attacked Bergamo, he sighted an enemy plane on the runway. Again he led 3 other American pilots in a blistering low-level sweep through vicious antiaircraft fire that damaged his plane so severely that it was virtually nonflyable. Three of the few remaining enemy twin-engine aircraft at that base were destroyed. Realizing the critical need for aircraft in his unit, he declined to parachute to safety over friendly territory and unhesitatingly attempted to return his shattered plane to his home field. With great skill and strength, he flew homeward until caught by treacherous air conditions in the Appennines Mountains, where he crashed and was killed. The gallant action of 1st Lt. Knight eliminated the German aircraft which were poised to wreak havoc on Allied forces pressing to establish the first firm bridgehead across the Po River; his fearless daring and voluntary self-sacrifice averted possible heavy casualties among ground forces and the resultant slowing on the German drive culminated in the collapse of enemy resistance in Italy.

*ESSEBAGGER, JOHN, JR.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company A, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Popsudong, Korea, 25 April 1951. Entered service at: Holland, Mich. Born: 29 October 1928, Holland, Mich. G.O. No.: 61, 24 April 1952. Citation: Cpl. Essebagger, a member of Company A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Committed to effect a delaying action to cover the 3d Battalion's withdrawal through Company A, Cpl. Essebagger, a member of 1 of 2 squads maintaining defensive positions in key terrain and defending the company's right flank, had participated in repulsing numerous attacks. In a frenzied banzai charge the numerically superior enemy seriously threatened the security of the planned route of withdrawal and isolation of the small force. Badly shaken, the grossly outnumbered detachment started to fall back and Cpl. Essebagger, realizing the impending danger, voluntarily remained to provide security for the withdrawal. Gallantly maintaining a l-man stand, Cpl. Essebagger raked the menacing hordes with crippling fire and, with the foe closing on the position, left the comparative safety of his shelter and advanced in the face of overwhelming odds, firing his weapon and hurling grenades to disconcert the enemy and afford time for displacement of friendly elements to more tenable positions. Scorning the withering fire and bursting shells, Cpl. Essebagger continued to move forward, inflicting destruction upon the fanatical foe until he was mortally wounded. Cpl. Essebagger's intrepid action and supreme sacrifice exacted a heavy toll in enemy dead and wounded, stemmed the onslaught, and enabled the retiring squads to reach safety. His valorous conduct and devotion to duty reflected lasting glory upon himself and was in keeping with the noblest traditions of the infantry and the U.S. Army.

*GILLILAND, CHARLES L.
Rank and organization: Corporal (then Pfc.), U.S. Army, Company I, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Tongmang-ni, Korea, 25 April 1951. Entered service at: Yellville (Marion County), Ark. Born: 24 May 1933, Mountain Home, Ark. G.O. No.: 2, 11 January 1955. Citation: Cpl. Gilliland, a member of Company I, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. A numerically superior hostile force launched a coordinated assault against his company perimeter, the brunt of which was directed up a defile covered by his automatic rifle. His assistant was killed by enemy fire but Cpl. Gilliland, facing the full force of the assault, poured a steady fire into the foe which stemmed the onslaught. When 2 enemy soldiers escaped his raking fire and infiltrated the sector, he leaped from his foxhole, overtook and killed them both with his pistol. Sustaining a serious head wound in this daring exploit, he refused medical attention and returned to his emplacement to continue his defense of the vital defile. His unit was ordered back to new defensive positions but Cpl. Gilliland volunteered to remain to cover the withdrawal and hold the enemy at bay. His heroic actions and indomitable devotion to duty prevented the enemy from completely overrunning his company positions. Cpl. Gilliland's incredible valor and supreme sacrifice reflect lasting glory upon himself and are in keeping with the honored traditions of the military service.

*GOODBLOOD, CLAIR
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company D, 7th Infantry Regiment. Place and date: Near Popsu-dong, Korea, 24 and 25 April 1951. Entered service at: Burnham, Maine. Born: 18 September 1929, Fort Kent, Maine. G.O. No.: 14, 1 February 1952. Citation: Cpl. Goodblood, a member of Company D, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations. Cpl. Goodblood, a machine gunner, was attached to Company B in defensive positions on thickly wooded key terrain under attack by a ruthless foe. In bitter fighting which ensued, the numerically superior enemy infiltrated the perimeter, rendering the friendly positions untenable. Upon order to move back, Cpl. Goodblood voluntarily remained to cover the withdrawal and, constantly vulnerable to heavy fire, inflicted withering destruction on the assaulting force. Seeing a grenade lobbed at his position, he shoved his assistant to the ground and flinging himself upon the soldier attempted to shield him. Despite his valorous act both men were wounded. Rejecting aid for himself, he ordered the ammunition bearer to evacuate the injured man for medical treatment. He fearlessly maintained his l-man defense, sweeping the onrushing assailants with fire until an enemy banzai charge carried the hill and silenced his gun. When friendly elements regained the commanding ground, Cpl. Goodblood's body was found lying beside his gun and approximately 100 hostile dead lay in the wake of his field of fire. Through his unflinching courage and willing self-sacrifice the onslaught was retarded, enabling his unit to withdraw, regroup, and resecure the strongpoint. Cpl. Goodblood's inspirational conduct and devotion to duty reflect lasting glory on himself and are in keeping with the noble traditions of the military service.

MIYAMURA, HIROSHI H.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company H, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Taejon-ni, Korea, 24 and 25 April 1951. Entered service at: Gallup, N. Mex. Birth: Gallup, N. Mex. G.O. No.: 85, 4 November 1953. Citation: Cpl. Miyamura, a member of Company H, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. On the night of 24 April, Company H was occupying a defensive position when the enemy fanatically attacked threatening to overrun the position. Cpl. Miyamura, a machine gun squad leader, aware of the imminent danger to his men unhesitatingly jumped from his shelter wielding his bayonet in close hand-to-hand combat killing approximately 10 of the enemy. Returning to his position, he administered first aid to the wounded and directed their evacuation. As another savage assault hit the line, he manned his machine gun and delivered withering fire until his ammunition was expended. He ordered the squad to withdraw while he stayed behind to render the gun inoperative. He then bayoneted his way through infiltrated enemy soldiers to a second gun emplacement and assisted in its operation. When the intensity of the attack necessitated the withdrawal of the company Cpl. Miyamura ordered his men to fall back while he remained to cover their movement. He killed more than 50 of the enemy before his ammunition was depleted and he was severely wounded. He maintained his magnificent stand despite his painful wounds, continuing to repel the attack until his position was overrun. When last seen he was fighting ferociously against an overwhelming number of enemy soldiers. Cpl. Miyamura's indomitable heroism and consummate devotion to duty reflect the utmost glory on himself and uphold the illustrious traditions on the military service.

SPRAYBERRY, JAMES M .
Rank and organization: Captain (then 1st Lt.), U.S. Army, Company D, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry , 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 25 April 1968. Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala. Born: 24 April 1947, LaGrange, Ga. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Sprayberry, Armor, U.S. Army, distinguished himself by exceptional bravery while serving as executive officer of Company D. His company commander and a great number of the men were wounded and separated from the main body of the company. A daylight attempt to rescue them was driven back by the well entrenched enemy's heavy fire. Capt. Sprayberry then organized and led a volunteer night patrol to eliminate the intervening enemy bunkers and to relieve the surrounded element. The patrol soon began receiving enemy machinegun fire. Capt. Sprayberry quickly moved the men to protective cover and without regard for his own safety, crawled within close range of the bunker from which the fire was coming. He silenced the machinegun with a hand grenade. Identifying several l-man enemy positions nearby, Capt. Sprayberry immediately attacked them with the rest of his grenades. He crawled back for more grenades and when 2 grenades were thrown at his men from a position to the front, Capt. Sprayberry, without hesitation, again exposed himself and charged the enemy-held bunker killing its occupants with a grenade. Placing 2 men to cover his advance, he crawled forward and neutralized 3 more bunkers with grenades. Immediately thereafter, Capt. Sprayberry was surprised by an enemy soldier who charged from a concealed position. He killed the soldier with his pistol and with continuing disregard for the danger neutralized another enemy emplacement. Capt. Sprayberry then established radio contact with the isolated men, directing them toward his position. When the 2 elements made contact he organized his men into litter parties to evacuate the wounded. As the evacuation was nearing completion, he observed an enemy machinegun position which he silenced with a grenade. Capt. Sprayberry returned to the rescue party, established security, and moved to friendly lines with the wounded. This rescue operation, which lasted approximately 71/2 hours, saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers. Capt. Sprayberry personally killed 12 enemy soldiers, eliminated 2 machineguns, and destroyed numerous enemy bunkers. Capt. Sprayberry's indomitable spirit and gallant action at great personal risk to his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

STUMPF, KENNETH E.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant (then Sp4c.), U.S. Army, Company C, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Duc Pho, Republic of Vietnam, 25 April 1967. Entered service at: Milwaukee, Wis. Born: 28 September 1944, Neenah, Wis. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Stumpf distinguished himself while serving as a squad leader of the 3d Platoon, Company C, on a search and destroy mission. As S/Sgt. Stumpf's company approached a village, it encountered a North Vietnamese rifle company occupying a well fortified bunker complex. During the initial contact, 3 men from his squad fell wounded in front of a hostile machinegun emplacement. The enemy's heavy volume of fire prevented the unit from moving to the aid of the injured men, but S/Sgt. Stumpf left his secure position in a deep trench and ran through the barrage of incoming rounds to reach his wounded comrades. He picked up 1 of the men and carried him back to the safety of the trench. Twice more S/Sgt. Stumpf dashed forward while the enemy turned automatic weapons and machineguns upon him, yet he managed to rescue the remaining 2 wounded squad members. He then organized his squad and led an assault against several enemy bunkers from which continuously heavy fire was being received He and his squad successfully eliminated 2 of the bunker positions, but one to the front of the advancing platoon remained a serious threat. Arming himself with extra hand grenades, S/Sgt. Stumpf ran over open ground, through a volley of fire directed at him by a determined enemy, toward the machinegun position. As he reached the bunker, he threw a hand grenade through the aperture. It was immediately returned by the occupants, forcing S/Sgt. Stumpf to take cover. Undaunted, he pulled the pins on 2 more grenades, held them for a few seconds after activation, then hurled them into the position, this time successfully destroying the emplacement. With the elimination of this key position, his unit was able to assault and overrun the enemy. S/Sgt. Stumpf's relentless spirit of aggressiveness, intrepidity, and ultimate concern for the lives of his men, are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

 

 

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Thanks to Ray …and Dr. Rich

Omaha Beach

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdzWRdZgan0 

 

Excellent, should be in every classroom !!!

 

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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for April 25, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY

1914: FIRST SORTIE AGAINST ANOTHER COUNTRY. The USS Mississippi's aviation unit completed its first flight near Vera Cruz, Mexico, when Lt (JG) Patrick N. L. Bellinger flew the Curtiss AB-3 Flying Boat from the battleship to observe the city and harbor. (20)

 

1922: Eddie Stinson flew Stout Engineering Laboratory's twin-engine ST-1, the Navy's first all-metal plane, on its first flight. Although the ST-1 had inadequate longitudinal stability, it marked a step forward in the development of all-metal planes. (24)

 

1940: The Navy commissioned the carrier USS Wasp. (24)

 

1944: Seventh Air Force B-24s made the first land plane attack on Guam from Eniwetok, while Navy PBYs flew photo reconnaissance missions. (24) Flying a Sikorsky YR-4 helicopter, Lt Carter Harman, 1st Air Commando Group, rescued four men from the jungle in Burma. That rescue was the first combat rescue by helicopter in the US AAF. (21)

 

1945: Eighth Air Force made its last attack on an industrial target in World War II, when 274 bombers dropped 500 tons of bombs on Skoda Works at Plyen, Czechoslovakia. (4) (24)

 

1953: Col Joseph J. Preston, 91 SRW Commander, flew the first RB-47 (# 51-2194) to Lockbourne AFB, Ohio. (1)

 

1956: The X-2 completed its first supersonic flight.

 

1966: The first Minuteman II squadron, the 447 SMS, became operational at Grand Forks AFB, when AFSC's Ballistic Systems Division transferred the 50 missiles and 5 launch control centers to

SAC. (6) (16)

 

1967: Maj Gen Benjamin D. Foulois died at Andrews AFB at the age of 87. He was the first person to fly an Army dirigible; first military observer on a cross-country flight with Orville Wright; first military man to teach himself to fly; one of two Americans to first use a plane in combat; and the first Chief of Staff of the Army Air Corps to be a military aviator. (16) (26)

The first jet-assisted C-123K Provider assault transports arrived at Tan Son Nhut AB for duty

with the 19th Air Commando Squadron. The older C-123Bs began returning to the CONUS for

modification on 27 April. (17)

 

1969: SAC decided to disperse its bomber and tanker aircraft to improve the survivability of its alert

forces. (16)

 

1970: The 175 TFG in Baltimore, Md., received an A-37 aircraft, the ANG's first. (16)

 

1971: The last C-130A in PACAF, assigned to the 374 TAW at Naha AB, flew to the states for an

assignment with a reserve or ANG unit. (17)

 

1990: Boeing delivered the 200th re-engined KC-135R to the 340 AREFG at Altus AFB. This program

replaced the Pratt & Whitney J57 engines on 237 KC-135's with CFM International F-108

engines. (20)

 

2001: An AFFTC pilot from Edwards AFB released the first Joint-Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile

(JASSM) from a B-52H. (3)

 

2003: The General Electric F110-GE-132 engine, with 32,500 lbs of thrust, flew for the first time.

The engine would be fitted in the Block 60 F-16. It was the highest-thrust fighter engine ever

developed for that aircraft. (3)

 

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Thanks to Ed ... and Dutch



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fwgVUfW_O4

Former Coca-Cola Employee Convicted of Stealing $120 Million Worth

 of Trade Secrets to Sell in China

By Cathy He

April 23, 2021 Updated: April 23, 2021

biggersmaller

Print

A Chinese-born American chemist was found guilty on April 22 for her role in a scheme to steal trade secrets worth an estimated $120 million from American companies for the purpose of setting up a Chinese company that would manufacture the product for the global market.

After a 12-day trial, 59-year-old You Xiaorong—also known as Shannon You—of Lansing, Michigan, was convicted of conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, conspiracy to commit economic espionage, possession of stolen trade secrets, economic espionage, and wire fraud, according to the Justice Department.

While working at two U.S. companies—Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia, and Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport, Tennessee—she stole trade secrets related to BPA-free (bisphenol-A) coating technology, which lines the insides of cans and other food and beverage containers to prevent flavor loss, corrosion, and reactions to the food or beverage content. In recent years, companies have turned to developing BPA-free coatings because of the potential health risks of BPA.

The trade secrets cost nearly $120 million to develop, and were stolen from major chemical and coating companies including Akzo-Nobel, BASF, Dow Chemical, PPG, Toyochem, Sherwin Williams, and Eastman Chemical Company, prosecutors said. You's role as a principal engineer for global research for Coca-Cola from December 2012 to August 2017 and later as a manager at Eastman Chemical Company from September 2017 to June 2018 allowed her access to these coating companies' BPA-free technology.

You stole the trade secrets to help establish a new BPA-free coating company in China, prosecutors said.  She had two co-conspirators, Liu Xiangchen, a 63-year-old man from eastern China's Shandong Province, and an unnamed relative of Liu, according to the department. Liu, who was indicted at the same time as You in February 2019, formed the plan to bring You's stolen technology to China, where Liu would set up and manage a firm that would develop BPA-free packaging. In return, Liu promised You an ownership share in the new company, prosecutors said.

You also found a Chinese corporate partner in Weihai Jinhong Group, which in 2017 agreed to invest 180 million yuan ($26.58 million) for the company's production line manufacturing BPA-non-intent coating, according to a 2018 Chinese media report.

The report also said that Weihai Jinhong Group sponsored You in her application to join the "Thousand Talents Plan" in 2018, through which she was to be rewarded 3 million yuan ($443,000) from the central government, Shandong provincial government, and Weihai City government for bringing her stolen BPA-free technology to China. At the same time, the production line also received 50 million yuan ($7.4 million) in funding from those governments, the report said.

The "Thousand Talents Plan" is a Chinese-state-sponsored recruitment program designed to entice foreign experts to work in the country. This program, and other similar Chinese plans, have drawn intense scrutiny from the U.S. government over its role in facilitating the transfer of intellectual property to China.

Prosecutors said evidence, including You's Thousand Talents application documents, presented at the trial showed You's intention to benefit not only Weihai Jinhong Group, but also the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

 

(MORE)

https://www.theepochtimes.com./former-coca-cola-employee-convicted-of-stealing-120-million-worth-of-trade-secrets-to-sell-in-china_3788504.html

 

 

 

 

 

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