The List 6012 TGB
Good Tuesday Morning February 22
I hope that your week has started well.
Regards,
Skip
This day in Naval and Marine Corps History
February. 22
1909—The Great White Fleet returns to Hampton Roads, Va., following its 14-month round-the-world cruise.
1943—USS Iowa (BB 61), the lead ship of the last class of American fast battleships, is commissioned.
1944—U.S. Navy Task Group (TG) 39.4, commanded by Capt. Arleigh Burke, bombards Japanese airstrips, pier area, and anchorages at Kavieng, New Ireland Island, while DESRON 12 shells Rabaul.
1945—USS Becuna (SS 319) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Nichiyoku Maru off Cape Padaran Bay despite the presence of two escort vessels.
1974—Lt. j.g. Barbara Ann (Allen) Rainey becomes the first Navy-designated female aviator.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
1349 Jews are expelled from Zurich, Switzerland.
1613 Mikhail Romanov is elected czar of Russia.
1797 The last invasion of Britain takes place when some 1,400 Frenchmen land at Fishguard in Wales.
1819 Spain signs a treaty with the United States ceding eastern Florida.
1825 Russia and Britain establish the Alaska/Canada boundary.
1862 Jefferson Davis is inaugurated president of the Confederacy in Richmond, Va. for the second time.
1864 Nathan Bedford Forrest's brother, Jeffrey, is killed at Okolona, Mississippi.
1865 Federal troops capture Wilmington, N.C.
1879 Frank Winfield Woolworth's 'nothing over five cents' shop opens at Utica, New York. It is the first chain store.
1902 A fistfight breaks out in the Senate. Senator Benjamin Tillman suffers a bloody nose for accusing Senator John McLaurin of bias on the Philippine tariff issue.
1909 The Great White Fleet returns to Norfolk, Virginia, from an around-the-world show of naval power.
1911 Canadian Parliament votes to preserve the union with the British Empire.
1920 The American Relief Administration appeals to the public to pressure Congress to aid starving European cities.
1924 Columbia University declares radio education a success.
1926 Pope Pius rejects Mussolini's offer of aid to the Vatican.
1932 Adolf Hitler is the Nazi Party candidate for the presidential elections in Germany.
1935 All plane flights over the White House are barred because they are disturbing President Roosevelt's sleep.
1942 President Franklin Roosevelt orders Gen. Douglas MacArthur to leave the Philippines.
1951 The Atomic Energy Commission discloses information about the first atom-powered airplane.
1952 French forces evacuate Hoa Binh in Indochina.
1954 U.S. is to install 60 Thor nuclear missiles in Britain.
1962 A Soviet bid for new Geneva arms talks is turned down by the U.S.
1963 Moscow warns the U.S. that an attack on Cuba would mean war.
1967 Operation Junction City becomes the largest U.S. operation in Vietnam.
1984 Britain and the U.S. send warships to the Persian Gulf following an Iranian offensive against Iraq.
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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, 22 February 2022… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 22 February 1967… "Tell my father I died facing the enemy."…
http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-remembered-22-february-1967-the-last-letter/
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
Geopolitical Futures:
Keeping the future in focus
Daily Memo: More Shelling in Donbass, Raisi's Trip to Qatar
The Iranian president is attempting to build political and economic ties with Persian Gulf countries.
By: GPF Staff
February 22, 2022
Latest on Ukraine. Shelling in eastern Ukraine continued into Monday, while Russia accepted the first refugees from the separatist areas of Donbass. During a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, both leaders noted their concern over the deterioration of the situation on the line of contact in Donbass. Putin and Macron also agreed to resume work in the Normandy format, a process that also includes Germany and Ukraine. After speaking with Putin, Macron also held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday. Ukraine was the top item on the agenda of a Saturday meeting between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, both of whom called for a coordinated response to Russia. Johnson stressed the need for Europe to end its dependence on Russian hydrocarbons. Notably, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he would meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday in Europe. Meanwhile, on Monday, EU foreign ministers approved an emergency aid package worth 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in loans for Ukraine.
Iran in Qatar. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is in Qatar as part of a trip aimed at building political and economic ties with Persian Gulf countries. While in Qatar, Raisi will attend the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, which begins Tuesday. According to a privately owned Kurdish news site in Iraq, Raisi will also meet Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to discuss Doha's possible mediation of the political crisis in Iraq.
Laser-focused. The Australian government said a Chinese naval ship used a laser rangefinder to "illuminate" an Australian military aircraft while it was observing the activities of Chinese naval vessels in Australia's exclusive economic zone on Thursday. The Chinese Foreign Ministry denied the allegation and maintained that the Chinese ship acted in accordance with international law.
Italy's recovery. The Italian government announced on Friday that it would earmark almost 8 billion euros to help households and businesses cope with rising energy prices. According to the government, high energy costs are slowing the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
GERD progress. The Ethiopian government said the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam started generating electricity and is on track to produce 700 megawatts this year. The dam is 83.9 percent complete, and when finished, it will be able to generate 5,000 MW of electricity, according to reports from state-owned ETV News. Egypt's Foreign Ministry denounced the move.
African tour. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit three African countries this week. He began his African tour on Sunday with a stop in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he signed a defense industry cooperation agreement and six other deals on aid, river transport infrastructure, construction of the Kinshasa Financial Center, highway transport and a rail line. Erdogan will next visit Senegal and Guinea-Bissau.
Turkish connections. Turkey's parliamentary speaker, Mustafa Sentop, will pay an official visit to Georgia on Monday. He will meet with the speaker of the Georgian parliament as well as President Salome Zurabishvili and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili to discuss regional issues and strengthening relations between the two countries in various fields.
Moscow's reach. The Operational Group of Russian Forces in the Transnistrian Region held a training session with a counterterrorism unit, Russia's Ministry of Defense said on Monday. Just two days earlier, Transnistrian forces conducted tactical exercises to test motorized units, according to the Ministry of Defense of the separatist government.
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CHINA
Thanks to Mike
PONDER THIS INFO - VERY IMPORTANT READ
Four reasons why China is fast becoming the dominant power in the world….
1. They have a very low tolerance for crime. The death sentence is swiftly and routinely used for terrorists, murderers and drug traffickers.
2. Very low tolerance for Religion. They do not believe there is a Magic man in the sky. No such thing as a God. Almost no religious killings ???, and getting rid of the Indigenous Chinese Muslim population as fast as they can.
3. They have not been involved in any expensive wars or invaded any country for the last seventy years.
4. Their primary weapon of choice to conquer the world is Finance, and countries around the world are falling fast.
Not just the USA but all the world is in trouble
In the near future, China will employ millions of American workers and dominate thousands of small communities all over the United States. Chinese acquisition of US businesses set a new all-time record last year, and it is on pace to shatter that record this year
The Smithfield Foods acquisition is a great example. Smithfield Foods is the largest pork producer and processor in the world. It has facilities in 26 US states, and it employs tens of thousands of Americans. It directly owns 460 farms and has contracts with about 2,100 others. But now a Chinese company has bought it for $ 4.7 billion, and that means that the Chinese will now be the most important employer in dozens of rural communities all over America.
Thanks in part to our massively bloated trade deficit with China, the Chinese have trillions of dollars to spend. They are only just starting to exercise their economic muscle.
It is important to keep in mind that there is often not much of a difference between "the Chinese government" and "the Chinese corporations". In 2011, 43 percent of all profits in China were produced by companies where the Chinese government had a controlling interest.
Last year a Chinese company spent $2.6B to purchase AMC entertainment, one of the largest movie theater chains in the United States. Chinese companies control more movie ticket sales than anyone else in the world.
But China is not just relying on acquisitions to expand its economic power.
"Economic beachheads" are being established all over America. For example, Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. recently broke ground on a $100M plant in Thomasville, Alabama. Many of the residents of Thomas-ville, Alabama will be glad to have jobs, but it will also become yet another community that will now be heavily dependent on Communist China.
And guess where else Chinese companies are putting down roots? DETROIT.
Chinese-owned companies are investing in American businesses and new vehicle techno-logy, selling everything from seat belts to shock absorbers in retail stores, and hiring experienced engineers and designers in an effort to soak up the talent and expertise of domestic automakers and their suppliers.
If you recently purchased an "American-made" vehicle, there is a really good chance that it has a number of Chinese parts in it. Industry analysts are hard-pressed to put a number on the Chinese suppliers in the United States.
China is very interested in acquiring energy resources in the United States.
For example, China is actually mining for coal in the mountains of Tennessee. Guizhou Gouchuang Energy Holdings Group spent 616 million dollars to acquire Triple H Coal Co. in Jacksboro, Tennessee.
At the time, that acquisition really didn't make much news, but now a group of conservatives in Tennessee is trying to stop the Chinese from blowing up their mountains and taking their coal.
And pretty soon China may want to build entire cities in the United States just like they have been doing in other countries. Right now China is actually building a city larger than Manhattan just outside Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
Are you starting to get the picture yet? China is on the rise and has been for a long time while America plays political games.
If you doubt this, just read the following:
When you total up all imports and exports, China is now the number one trading nation on the entire planet.
# Overall, the US has run a trade deficit with China over the past decade that comes to more than 23 trillion dollars.
# China has more foreign currency reserves than anyone else on the planet.
# China now has the largest new car market in the entire world.
# China now produces more than twice as many automobiles as does the United States.
# After being bailed out by US taxpayers, GM is involved in 11 joint ventures with Chinese companies.
# China is the number one gold producer in the world.
# The uniforms for the US Olympic team were made in China.
# 85% of all artificial Christmas trees the world over are made in China.
# The new World Trade Center tower in New York includes glass imported from China.
# China now consumes more energy than does the United States.
# China is now in aggregate the leading manufacturer of goods in the entire world.
# China uses more cement than the rest of the world combined.
# China is now the number one producer of wind and solar power on the entire globe.
# China produces 3 times as much coal and 11 times as much steel as the United States does.
# China produces more than 90 percent of the global supply of rare earth elements.
# China is now the number one supplier of components that are critical to the operation of any national defense system.
# In published scientific research articles, China will become number one in the world very shortly. And what we have seen so far may just be the tip of the iceberg. And for now, I will just leave you with one piece of advice - Learn to speak Chinese.
I wonder if it is past time for us to wake up?
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Thanks to Bill….Just like it was yesterday. It brings back so many memories
Sixty years of life as we knew it--in 5 minutes
Wasn't this just yesterday!!!!???
Sixty years of life as we knew it--in 5 minutes
Another bit of nostalgia about a past. However, you probably will remember much of this being a part of your life. Brings back many memories! Even if you're a bit younger, there will be things that you will remember i.e. records. Enjoy!
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This Day in U S Military History
February 22
This Day in U S Military History….22 February
1909 – The Great White Fleet returned to Norfolk, Va., from an around-the-world show of naval power. 1st US fleet to circle the globe. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons, along with various escorts. Roosevelt sought to demonstrate growing American military power and blue-water navy capability. Hoping to enforce treaties and protect overseas holdings, the U.S. Congress appropriated funds to build American sea power. Beginning with just 90 small ships, over one-third of them wooden, the navy quickly grew to include new modern steel fighting vessels. The hulls of these ships were painted a stark white, giving the armada the nickname "Great White Fleet".
1943 – The USS Campbell, CG, rammed the U-606 in the North Atlantic after the U-boat was forced to surface after being attacked by the Polish destroyer Burza. The U-boat sank before a boarding party could reach the submarine. The Campbell rescued five of the U-606's crew. Due to the collision, Campbell's engine room was flooded and she lost power but was towed to safety, repaired, and returned to service.
1945 – The naval gun and air bombardment (by US Task Forces 52, 54 and 58) continues. Elements of the US 5th Amphibious Corps continue to make slow progress toward Mount Suribachi to the south and the airfield to the north (most of which has now been captured). There are Japanese counterattacks and infiltration attempts during the night.
1994 – CIA operative Aldrich Ames is arrested for selling secrets to the Soviet Union. Ames had access to the names and identities of all U.S. spies in Russia, and by becoming a double agent he was directly responsible for jeopardizing the lives of CIA agents working in the Eastern bloc. At least 10 men were killed after Ames revealed their identities, and more were sent to Russian gulags. Maria del Rosario Casas Ames, Aldrich's wife and an ex-CIA employee herself, was also charged for her role in accepting approximately $2.7 million (the most the Soviets ever paid a foreign spy) for providing the highly confidential information to the KGB. It was the Ames' spending that finally led to their downfall, but for many years no one questioned their ability to buy expensive cars and homes (paid for with cash) on his government salary. Ames picked up the cash at secret drops in the Washington, D.C., area and in unauthorized travels to Colombia and Venezuela. Aldrich Ames was the biggest success of the Soviet Union's reinvigorated espionage program. After the disastrous invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the Russians decided that spying was their best bet for improving their strategic position vis-ý-vis the United States. Dimitri Yakushkin was put in charge of a team called Group North. Yakushkin put more emphasis and money into clandestine operations and was rewarded when they turned Ames into a double agent. Ames, who had worked for the CIA since 1962, and whose main duties had included contacting Soviet sources, was the crown jewel for Group North. His information destroyed almost the whole American intelligence program in Russia. Later, a Senate Intelligence Committee issued a report that harshly criticized the CIA leadership for their negligence in allowing Ames to get away with his subterfuge for so long.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
WILLIAMS, ANTHONY
Rank and organization: Sailmaker's Mate, U.S. Navy. Born: 1822, Plymouth, Mass. Accredited to: Maine. G.O. No.: 59, 22 June 1865. Citation: Served as sailmaker's mate on board the U.S.S. Pontoosuc during the capture of Fort Fisher and Wilmington, 24 December 1864 to 22 February 1865. Carrying out his duties faithfully throughout this period, Williams was recommended for gallantry and skill and for his cool courage while under the fire of the enemy throughout these various actions.
CHAMBERS, JUSTICE M.
Rank and organization: Colonel. U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 3rd Assault Battalion Landing Team. 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division. Place and date: On Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands. from 19 to 22 February 1945. Entered service at: Washington, D.C. Born: 2 February 1908, Huntington, W. Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the 3d Assault Battalion Landing Team, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, from 19 to 22 February 1945. Under a furious barrage of enemy machinegun and small-arms fire from the commanding cliffs on the right, Col. Chambers (then Lt. Col.) landed immediately after the initial assault waves of his battalion on D-day to find the momentum of the assault threatened by heavy casualties from withering Japanese artillery, mortar rocket, machinegun, and rifle fire. Exposed to relentless hostile fire, he coolly reorganized his battle-weary men, inspiring them to heroic efforts by his own valor and leading them in an attack on the critical, impregnable high ground from which the enemy was pouring an increasing volume of fire directly onto troops ashore as well as amphibious craft in succeeding waves. Constantly in the front lines encouraging his men to push forward against the enemy's savage resistance, Col. Chambers led the 8-hour battle to carry the flanking ridge top and reduce the enemy's fields of aimed fire, thus protecting the vital foothold gained. In constant defiance of hostile fire while reconnoitering the entire regimental combat team zone of action, he maintained contact with adjacent units and forwarded vital information to the regimental commander. His zealous fighting spirit undiminished despite terrific casualties and the loss of most of his key officers, he again reorganized his troops for renewed attack against the enemy's main line of resistance and was directing the fire of the rocket platoon when he fell, critically wounded. Evacuated under heavy Japanese fire, Col. Chambers, by forceful leadership, courage, and fortitude in the face of staggering odds, was directly instrumental in insuring the success of subsequent operations of the 5th Amphibious Corps on Iwo Jima, thereby sustaining and enhancing the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
MONTGOMERY, JACK C.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near, Padiglione, Italy, 22 February 1944. Entered service at: Sallisaw, Okla. Birth: Long, Okla. G.O. No.: 5, 15 January 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 22 February 1944, near Padiglione, Italy. Two hours before daybreak a strong force of enemy infantry established themselves in 3 echelons at 50 yards, 100 yards, and 300 yards, respectively, in front of the rifle platoons commanded by 1st Lt. Montgomery. The closest position, consisting of 4 machineguns and 1 mortar, threatened the immediate security of the platoon position. Seizing an Ml rifle and several hand grenades, 1st Lt. Montgomery crawled up a ditch to within hand grenade range of the enemy. Then climbing boldly onto a little mound, he fired his rifle and threw his grenades so accurately that he killed 8 of the enemy and captured the remaining 4. Returning to his platoon, he called for artillery fire on a house, in and around which he suspected that the majority of the enemy had entrenched themselves. Arming himself with a carbine, he proceeded along the shallow ditch, as withering fire from the riflemen and machinegunners in the second position was concentrated on him. He attacked this position with such fury that 7 of the enemy surrendered to him, and both machineguns were silenced. Three German dead were found in the vicinity later that morning. 1st Lt. Montgomery continued boldly toward the house, 300 yards from his platoon position. It was now daylight, and the enemy observation was excellent across the flat open terrain which led to 1st Lt. Montgomery's objective. When the artillery barrage had lifted, 1st Lt. Montgomery ran fearlessly toward the strongly defended position. As the enemy started streaming out of the house, 1st Lt. Montgomery, unafraid of treacherous snipers, exposed himself daringly to assemble the surrendering enemy and send them to the rear. His fearless, aggressive, and intrepid actions that morning, accounted for a total of 11 enemy dead, 32 prisoners, and an unknown number of wounded. That night, while aiding an adjacent unit to repulse a counterattack, he was struck by mortar fragments and seriously wounded. The selflessness and courage exhibited by 1st Lt. Montgomery in alone attacking 3 strong enemy positions inspired his men to a degree beyond estimation.
FOX, WESLEY L.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division. Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 22 February 1969. Entered service at: Leesburg, Va. Born: 30 September 1931, Herndon, Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as commanding officer of Company A, in action against the enemy in the northern A Shau Valley. Capt. (then 1st Lt.) Fox's company came under intense fire from a large well concealed enemy force. Capt. Fox maneuvered to a position from which he could assess the situation and confer with his platoon leaders. As they departed to execute the plan he had devised, the enemy attacked and Capt. Fox was wounded along with all of the other members of the command group, except the executive officer. Capt. Fox continued to direct the activity of his company. Advancing through heavy enemy fire, he personally neutralized 1 enemy position and calmly ordered an assault against the hostile emplacements. He then moved through the hazardous area coordinating aircraft support with the activities of his men. When his executive officer was mortally wounded, Capt. Fox reorganized the company and directed the fire of his men as they hurled grenades against the enemy and drove the hostile forces into retreat. Wounded again in the final assault, Capt. Fox refused medical attention, established a defensive posture, and supervised the preparation of casualties for medical evacuation. His indomitable courage, inspiring initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger inspired his marines to such aggressive action that they overcame all enemy resistance and destroyed a large bunker complex. Capt. Fox's heroic actions reflect great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and uphold the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
LANG, GEORGE C.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. place and date: Kien Hoa province, Republic of Vietnam, 22 February 1969. Entered service at: Brooklyn, N.Y. Born: 20 April 1947, Flushing, N.Y . Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Lang, Company A, was serving as a squad leader when his unit, on a reconnaissance-in-force mission, encountered intense fire from a well fortified enemy bunker complex. Sp4c. Lang observed an emplacement from which heavy fire was coming. Unhesitatingly, he assaulted the position and destroyed it with hand grenades and rifle fire. Observing another emplacement approximately 15 meters to his front, Sp4c. Lang jumped across a canal, moved through heavy enemy fire to within a few feet of the position, and eliminated it, again using hand grenades and rifle fire. Nearby, he discovered a large cache of enemy ammunition. As he maneuvered his squad forward to secure the cache, they came under fire from yet a third bunker. Sp4c. Lang immediately reacted, assaulted his position, and destroyed it with the remainder of his grenades. After returning to the area of the arms cache, his squad again came under heavy enemy rocket and automatic weapons fire from 3 sides and suffered 6 casualties. Sp4c. Lang was 1 of those seriously wounded. Although immobilized and in great pain, he continued to direct his men until his evacuation was ordered over his protests. The sustained extraordinary courage and selflessness exhibited by this soldier over an extended period of time were an inspiration to his comrades and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.
*LAW, ROBERT D.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company 1 (Ranger), 75th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. place and date: Tinh Phuoc Thanh province, Republic of Vietnam, 22 February 1969. Entered service at: Dallas, Tex. Born: 15 September 1944, Fort Worth, Tex. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Law distinguished himself while serving with Company 1. While on a long-range reconnaissance patrol in Tinh Phuoc Thanh province, Sp4c. Law and 5 comrades made contact with a small enemy patrol. As the opposing elements exchanged intense fire, he maneuvered to a perilously exposed position flanking his comrades and began placing suppressive fire on the hostile troops. Although his team was hindered by a low supply of ammunition and suffered from an unidentified irritating gas in the air, Sp4c. Law's spirited defense and challenging counterassault rallied his fellow soldiers against the well-equipped hostile troops. When an enemy grenade landed in his team's position, Sp4c. Law, instead of diving into the safety of a stream behind him, threw himself on the grenade to save the lives of his comrades. Sp4c. Law's extraordinary courage and profound concern for his fellow soldiers were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army
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22 February
AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for February 2 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
22 February
1921: Jack Knight, Ernest M. Allison, and five others flew the first transcontinental airmail flight from San Francisco, Calif., to New York, N. Y., in 33 hours 30 minutes, using US-built De Havilland DH-4s. Knight also flew at night from North Platte, Nebr., to Chicago, Ill. (9) (21)
1945: Operation CLARION. Aircraft from Eighth, Ninth, and Fifteenth Air Forces began an all-out assault on German communications and other transportation targets. (24)
1962: EXERCISE BANYAN TREE. USAF and USA elements from the Strike Command began this exercise in Panama's Rio Hato training area. (24)
1967: Operation JUNCTION CITY. 23 USAF C-130s carried 700 troops from the 173d Airborne Brigade on the first parachute personnel drop in the Vietnam War. Heavy drops of equipment and supplies followed the personnel drop. (16) (17)
1968: The first AC-130A gunship deployed to Southeast Asia in 1967 and returned later in December to the US for refurbishment. On 22 February 1967, the aircraft redeployed to Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, while seven more C-130s were being modified as gunships for deployment in Southeast Asia by year's end. The USAF also activated the 16th Special Operations Squadron on 30 October 1968 as a gunship unit for the AC-130As. (17)
1973: CEASE FIRE IN LAOS. After signing the cease-fire for S. Vietnam on 27 January, the U. S. redirected most of its air operations against N. Vietnamese forces in Laos. In addition to the 4,482 attack sorties flown by the Royal Lao Air Force, the USAF flew 50 B-52 Arc Light sorties and 4,000 tactical sorties in January. After the 22 February cease-fire, the Laotian government requested three B-52 strikes on 23 February to answer N. Vietnamese violations. B-52s also flew 41 more sorties on 15, 16, and 17 April. These were the final B-52 strikes against targets in Laos. (17)
1977: The Carter Administration ended Minuteman III production. (6)
1978: From Vandenberg AFB, Calif., an Atlas F booster placed the first Navigation System Timing and Ranging (NAVSTAR 1), a Global Positioning Satellite, into orbit. On 31 March, the satellite became operational. (26)
1998: Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen asked for a Presidential Selective Reserve Call-Up to support operations against Iraq in Southwest Asia. (32)
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World News for 22 February thanks to Military Periscope
Ukraine—Russia Formally Sends Troops Into Donbas Washington Post | 02/22/2022 Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially ordered troops into separatist-held regions of eastern Ukraine after recognizing their independence, reports the Washington Post. On Monday, Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the Moscow-backed self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, reported the Tass news agency (Moscow). The decrees included provisions allowing Russia to unilaterally move troops into the region without the need for legislative approval, said a source in the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian Parliament. The republics in Donetsk and Luhansk were proclaimed in 2014 following a Russian-backed uprising. The Russian-held area makes up about a third of the Ukrainian oblasts of the same name, totaling about 6,500 square miles (16,830 square km) along the border with Russia. Putin ordered Russian troops into eastern Ukraine for "peacekeeping" purposes citing an alleged uptick in fighting between the separatists and Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian media last week reported an increase in shelling by Russian-backed forces in the east. In an hour-long speech outlining a litany of long-held grievances, Putin appeared to threaten a broader war with Ukraine if Kyiv did not immediately stand down. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borell said on Tuesday that Russian troops had entered Ukrainian territory, though he noted it fell short of a "fully-fledged invasion." On Monday, President Biden announced new sanctions on anyone conducting business in Donetsk and Luhansk. New measures would follow on Tuesday, though the administration did not immediately disclose details.
USA—Reports Of Sexual Assaults At Military Academies At Record High Military Times | 02/22/2022 The Dept. of Defense has reported the largest number of sexual assaults at its military academies since it started tracking data, reports the Military Times. On Feb. 17, the Pentagon released data on sexual assaults at the military academies, indicating that 131 sexual assaults were reported by cadets and midshipmen during the school year from 2020 to 2021. Forty-six reports were from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; 33 from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis; and 52 from the Air Force Academy in Colorado. This represented a 50 percent increase from the previous academic year, with a doubling of reports at West Point. Before personnel left campus in March 2020 due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the academies had been on track for 122 reports. It also represented a 7 percent increase from the 2018-2019 academic year, the last year where students were on campus for the entire year. An additional 16 cases saw cadets or midshipmen reported for sexually assaulting non-students. This was the highest number of reported assaults since the Pentagon began tracking numbers in 2005. According to officials with the Dept. of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office, 11 suspects were charged as a result of the reports, with eight resulting in administrative punishment and three cases ongoing. None of the cases were referred to a court-martial. It was not clear if the increase in reported cases reflected an increase in sexual assaults, since the DoD was unable to conduct a prevalence survey for the academic year. The prevalence survey allows cadets and midshipmen to anonymously report assaults without filing a formal report in an attempt to determine the actual number of sexual assaults. The Pentagon has warned in the past that the reported assaults likely represents only a small fraction of the actual number of incidents.
USA—5 Sailors Charged Over Leaked Crash Footage USNI News | 02/22/2022 Five sailors are facing charges for leaking footage from the crash of an F-35C fighter on the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson last month, reports USNI News. The aircraft crashed on Jan. 24 during operations in the South China Sea. Cellphone footage was later leaked showing imagery of the crash from the Pilot's Landing Aid Television system. An ensign, a senior chief and three chiefs have been charged with failure to obey an order under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice over the leak, reported the Navy Times. A photo also leaked of the F-35C floating in the water immediately after the crash. The Navy elected not to charge the personnel who released that image. The PLAT video was considered a government document that was released without being properly cleared, while the photo of the F-35 was from a personal device. By pressing charges over the incident, the Navy can address potential leaks of sensitive information by deterring similar conduct and deterring sailors from recording onboard systems with personal cellphones, experts said.
United Kingdom—Agreements Signed For Additional Work On Future Joint Cruise Missile Naval News | 02/22/2022 The heads of the U.K. Defense and Equipment Support (DE&S), French Directorate General of Armaments and MBDA have been discussing the Future Cruise and Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) program, reports Naval News. On Feb. 17, the officials held a kickoff meeting for the program, during which the parties signed state agreements and contracts for the continuation of work on the program, reported Defense Brief. The program focuses on two separate missiles: a supersonic anti-ship missile and a cruise missile. The release may also indicate that the program has moved on from the concept phase, analysts said. The progress follows France's decision to cancel a September 2021 meeting that was expected to discuss the FC/ASW program. The cancellation was linked to the AUKUS submarine partnership that triggered the cancellation of an Australian order for French submarines. The FC/ASW program seeks to develop replacements for the Storm Shadow/SCALP air-launched cruise missile and the Exocet and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The missiles are expected to be compatible with the Mk 41 and Sylver A70 vertical launch systems. The first missiles are expected to be fielded by the U.K. on the Glasgow-class frigates and on its Typhoon fighters in 2028. The program was launched in 2017 and is considered a pillar of the Lancaster House Treaties signed in November 2010.
United Kingdom—Security Partnerships Launched With Ukraine, Poland U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office | 02/22/2022 The U.K., Ukraine and Poland have agreed to form a new security partnership to strengthen their relationship as Kyiv prepares for a potential Russian invasion, reports the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The security pact was announced on Feb. 17 during a visit by U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to Kyiv, reported Defense News. The trilateral partnership is intended to strengthen ties between the three states in areas including cybersecurity, energy security and countering disinformation, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The partnership is planned to be finalized under a memorandum of understanding.
Lithuania—PM Calls For More Defense Spending Reuters | 02/22/2022 The Lithuanian government says it will boost defense spending in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, reports Reuters. On Monday, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said that she had instructed Defense Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and Chief of Defense Gen. Valdemaras Rupsys to accelerate planned defense programs. Increases beyond the planned 1.2 billion euros (US$1.36 billion) already authorized for this year would require parliamentary approval.
South Korea—LAH Completes Cold-Weather Tests Yonhap | 02/22/2022 South Korea's domestically developed light helicopter has completed cold weather testing in Canada as it approaches the end of development, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). On Friday, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) had completed the low-temperature flight tests in Yellowknife, Canada. The region's average temperatures hovers around -26 degrees Fahrenheit (-32 degrees Celsius) in the winter. The testing included 40 flights to gather data in 165 testing categories to check the helicopter's ability to withstand the cold weather conditions. This included a soaking check to determine whether the LAH's engine and other equipment could function properly after being exposed in -26 degree Fahrenheit conditions for 12 hours. The LAH program is on track to finish its development by the end of the year, officials said.
Taiwan—Army To Retire Walker Bulldog Tanks Central News Agency | 02/22/2022 Taiwan is set to retire its last M41A3 Walker Bulldog light tanks after six decades of service, reports the semi-official Central News Agency (Taipei). On Tuesday, an officer told the news agency that the final M41A3 tanks would be decommissioned in a ceremony at the Army Infantry Training Command in Hsinchu County on Friday. Taiwan has operated the M41 since 1958. There are fewer than 20 still in service. The type has been gradually replaced by M60A3, CM-11 and CM-12 tanks. The M41D, an enhanced version of the M41A3, remains deployed on Lieyu Islet, near mainland China.
Afghanistan—Taliban Announces Military Restructuring Plans Agence France-Presse | 02/22/2022 The Taliban has made public new details on its plans to build a new Afghan military, reports Agence France-Presse. The group is seeking to build an armed force that includes officers and soldiers who served under the Western-backed government in Kabul. The new force is expected to total around 110,000 troops, acting Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob told Radio Television Afghanistan, as cited by the Voice of American News. Around 80,000 people had already registered to join the new armed forces, he said. Latifullah Hakimi, the head of the Taliban's Ranks Clearance Commission, said on Monday that half of the 81 aircraft left behind and rendered unserviceable during the U.S. withdrawal had been repaired. Taliban fighters also seized 300,000 light arms, 26,000 heavy weapons and about 61,000 military vehicles, he said. Hakimi maintained that the Taliban's amnesty policy extended to most of the enlisted members of the military, which numbered 120,000 at the time, had succeeded in preventing chaos. However, the U.N. has recorded at least 100 instances of revenge killings against former military members. As part of reform efforts, more than 4,500 personnel have been expelled from the force for various violations, including 135 minors, reported Tolo News (Kabul).
Iran—3 Die In Fighter Crash In NW Islamic Republic News Agency | 02/22/2022 An Iranian fighter jet has crashed in the northwestern East Azerbaijan province, reports the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). The F-5 jet went down on Monday in the town of Tabriz near a school, said the Shahid Fakouri air force base. The two pilots onboard and a civilian on the ground were killed in the crash, said a provincial official. The fighter was used for training. It suffered a technical issue and was unable to return to base, said air force officials cited by the Daily Sabah (Istanbul). The pilots directed the stricken jet toward a stadium in an effort to avoid residential areas and did not eject, the officials said.
Saudi Arabia—16 Wounded In Houthi Drone Attack In Jizan Province Al Jazeera | 02/22/2022 At least 16 people have been injured in a drone attack in southwestern Saudi Arabia, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar). On Monday, Saudi forces shot down a drone launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen against the King Abdullah Airport in the southwestern Jizan province, reported the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The drone was fitted with an explosive device, reported Agence France-Presse. Shrapnel from the interception injured more than a dozen civilians, three critically. The Ekhbariya news channel (Riyadh) reported that the airport resumed normal operations within hours.
Morocco—New Military Zone Set Up On E. Border Morocco World News | 02/22/2022 Morocco has established a new military zone along its eastern border with Algeria, reports Morocco World News. The magazine of the Moroccan armed forces (FAR) announced that the zone was established during a ceremony in early January in Errachidia in eastern Morocco on the order of King Mohammed VI. The new zone, which joins Morocco's northern and southern military zones, is designed to ensure the "coherence of the command, control, and support of the land, air, and maritime components of the FAR in combined arms and joint framework to have more flexibility and freedom of action necessary for the accomplishment of different missions," the magazine said. The Ziz river is the only major body of water in the area, noted analysts. The establishment of the zone is largely seen as demonstrating Morocco's readiness to confront any military provocations from Algeria. The neighbors are embroiled in a military and diplomatic standoff, which was punctuated by the Algerian government's decision in August to cut ties with Rabat over spying allegations.
Mali—65 Killed In Fighting In North Agence France-Presse | 02/22/2022 At least 65 soldiers and rebels have been killed in a counterterrorism operation in northern Mali, reports Agence France-Presse. On Friday, eight soldiers and 57 suspected militants were killed in an attack on a suspected ISIS base, the military said. The operation was a response to a militant attack on a Malian military base in the Archam region. About 40 civilians, which local sources said were loyal to rival jihadist groups, were killed in the same region last week.
Somalia—Al-Shabaab Strengthened By U.S. Withdrawal Stars And Stripes | 02/22/2022 Top U.S. officials have warned that the U.S. decision to pull troops out of Somalia last year created room for Al-Shabaab to expand, reports Stars & Stripes. Then-President Donald Trump ordered 700 troops in Somalia to withdraw in 2021 shortly before leaving office. In the aftermath, the U.S. has also halted most airstrikes in Somalia. The drawdown reduced pressure on Al-Shabaab, which has allowed the group to regain strength and conduct more attacks, two senior U.S. officials warned last week. Al-Shabaab is believed to field around 5,000 to 7,000 fighters and manages an annual income of around US$120 million through taxation in areas it controls. Officials also said that the group has demonstrated an increased ability to move around the country to conduct attacks.
Niger—European Troops To Shift From Mali After Withdrawal Al Jazeera | 02/22/2022 President Mohamed Bazoum says French and other European forces will deploy to Niger after withdrawing from Mali, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar). On Friday, Bazoum announced that Niger had agreed that European special operations forces could redeploy to its territory. The French and European personnel would help boost security on the border with Mali, he said. The size of the deployment was not immediately disclosed. There are more than 2,400 French and additional European troops relocating from Mali, noted France 24. Bazoum's announcement came a day after France said it would withdraw all its military forces from Mali alongside its European partners. Niger expects that the withdrawal will increase the security threats along the border, said Bazoum.
Kenya—More MD 530s Sought From U.S. Defence Web | 02/22/2022 Kenya has expressed interest in acquiring additional MD 530 light helicopters from the U.S., reports Defence Web (South Africa). The Kenyan military initially sought 12 MD 530F helicopters in May 2017, but only acquired six aircraft through the U.S. Army Non-Standard Rotary-Wing Aircraft Project Office. Those aircraft entered service in January 2020. The U.S. is now looking to restart production of MD 530s for Kenya, said a U.S. Army spokesman, as cited by Jane's. India and Lebanon have also expressed interest in acquiring new MD 530s. Such interest could also provide a destination for a pair of MD 530 helicopters that were under construction for Afghanistan at the time the Taliban seized power. Work on the aircraft was subsequently halted.
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