The List 6022 TGB
Good Thursday Morning March 3
A bit of history and some tidbits
Regards,
Skip
This day in Naval and Marine Corps History
March 3,
1776 - First amphibious landing operation. Continental naval squadron under Commodore Esek Hopkins lands Sailors and Marines, commanded by Captain Samuel Nicholas, on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, capturing urgently-needed ordnance and gunpowder.
1871 - Navy Medical Corps established
1883 - Congress authorizes 4 modern ships of steel, "A,B,C, D Ships"; three cruisers, Atlanta, Boston and Chicago, and dispatch boat Dolphin
1915: The Office of Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is established by Congress with Adm. William S. Benson named the first CNO.
1915 - Congress creates Federal Naval Reserve. Under it Naval Reserve Force built up
1960 - USS Sargo returns to Hawaii from arctic cruise of 11,000 miles,
6,003 miles under the polar ice
1973 50 years ago Met my wife on a blind date after returning from Vietnam on the USS Midway after 11/2 months
1931 "The Star-Spangled Banner" becomes official »
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This Day in History
March 3
1791 Congress passes a resolution authorizing the U.S. Mint; legislation creating the mint will be passed on Apr. 2, 1792.
1803 The first impeachment trial of a U.S. Judge, John Pickering, begins.
1817 The first commercial steamboat route from Louisville to New Orleans is opened.
1845 Florida becomes the 27th U.S. state.
1857 Under pretexts, Britain and France declare war on China.
1861 The serfs of Russia are emancipated by Alexander II as part of a program of westernization.
1863 President Abraham Lincoln signs the conscription act compelling U.S. citizens to report for duty in the Civil War or pay $300.00.
1877 Rutherford B. Hayes, the republican governor of Ohio is elected president, his election confirmed by an electoral commission after disputed election the previous November.
1878 Russia and the Ottomans sign the Treaty of San Stefano, granting independence to Serbia.
1905 The Russian Czar agrees to create an elected assembly.
1918 The Soviets and Germany sign a peace treaty at Brest-Litovsk depriving the Soviets of White Russia.
1919 Boeing flies the first U.S. international airmail from Vancouver, British Columbia to Seattle, Washington.
1923 The first issue of Time magazine is published. It's editor, Henry R. Luce, is just out of Yale.
1931 President Herbert Hoover signs a bill that makes Francis Scott Key's "Star Spangled Banner," the national anthem.
1939 In Bombay, Gandhi begins a fast to protest the state's autocratic rule.
1940 A Nazi air raid kills 108 on a British liner in the English Channel.
1941 Moscow denounces the Axis rule in Bulgaria.
1942 The RAF raids the industrial suburbs of Paris.
1945 Finland declares war on the Axis.
1952 The U.S. Supreme Court upholds New York's Feinberg Law banning Communist teachers in the United States.
1969 Sirhan Sirhan testifies in a court in Los Angeles that he killed Robert Kennedy.
1973 Japan discloses its first defense plan since World War II.
1999 Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky appears on national television to explain her affair with President Bill Clinton.
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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 Thursday, 3 March 2022… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1967)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 3 March 1967… Senator Robert F. Kennedy to LBJ: Stop the bombing…
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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A couple of notes from Barrett
Strenuous Activities
Ref. all that physical activity...
Besides pushing one's luck there's
Pushing the envelope
and for bureaucrats...pushing all that paper!
As Rod Serling would say
Submitted for your consideration.
Jig Dog told the story,
Scientists needed some subjects for a laboratory test and chose lawyers over lab rats.
Logic being:
There are more lawyers than lab rats
People do not grow fond of lawyers
and...
there are some things a rat just won't do!
Ref. the Bismarck Sea action. I knew some 5th AF guys who were there or at least in-theater. Word about the Japs killing parachuting B-17 crewmen got around immediately. (Three P-38s that tried to intervene were lost with the pilots.) Subsequently US and Aussie aircraft strafed any lifeboats they found.
That attitude lasted throughout the war. There's color film of a submarine crew shooting Japanese sailors in the water.
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"Thanks to Dr. Rich
Russian Air Force???
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Thanks to Dutch
Good and Other
US Navy confident it can fix its fighter jet shortfall — and avoid another (defensenews.com)
US Navy confident it can fix its fighter jet shortfall — and avoid another (defensenews.com)
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Thanks to Brett
Geopolitical Futures:
Keeping the future in focus
Daily Memo: Western Firms Exit Russia, More EU Sanctions on Belarus
Several global businesses have decided to pull out of their operations in Russia.
By: GPF Staff
March 2, 2022
State of the Russian economy. The ruble exchange rate reached record lows – 122 rubles to the euro and 109 rubles to the dollar – on Wednesday. This comes as a number of international companies have decided to halt operations in Russia. The Ford Sollers auto plant in Tatarstan suspended its operations, and Honda and Mazda stopped deliveries of cars and components to Russia. German carmaker BMW announced on Tuesday that it stopped exporting vehicles to Russia and that it would halt production at an assembly plant in Kaliningrad. ExxonMobil said it will not invest in new developments with Russia. (Relatedly, oil prices reached a seven-year high on Wednesday, trading at roughly $110 per barrel.) Apple, meanwhile, suspended sales at its Russian stores.
No access. Several countries have started blocking port access to Russian vessels. The U.K. government passed a law banning Russian-linked ships, which include Russian-flagged vessels as well as those owned and operated by firms with Russian interests, from British ports. The Canadian government also announced it would close access to Russian-owned ships. And Malaysia's Transport Ministry denied port entry for a Russian-flagged oil tanker included on a U.S. sanctions list that was set to arrive at Kuala Linggi International Port on March 5.
Sanctions on Belarus. The French presidency of the EU said the bloc's diplomats approved new sanctions against Belarus for its involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The package will target Belarusian officials, the military and the economic sector, particularly the wood, steel and potash industries. The decision comes after Britain imposed similar sanctions against Belarus targeting Belarus' chief of the General Staff and two military enterprises.
More drones for Ukraine. Ukraine's Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that it received more Bayraktat TB2s, the Turkish-made combat unmanned aerial vehicle. Its defense minister said the drones were already in combat position.
Support for Taiwan. A delegation of former U.S. defense and security officials arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday and met with the island's president, Tsai Ing-wen. China condemned the visit.
Turkish-Kyrgyz relations. The defense ministers of Turkey and Kyrgyzstan met in Ankara to discuss regional issues and bilateral relations. They signed a roadmap for cooperation on military and military-technical matters. Meanwhile, Turkey's Foreign Ministry marked the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Kazakhstan by saying it would continue to support the stability and prosperity of the country.
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Thanks to Ken ... and Dr. Rich
Buckle up...
Guys,
Both Steve Shoemaker and Matt Connely are on camera giving their accounts of their Mig kills in this history channel show "Dogfights" ...
Both were PSA pilots in their future lives. Steve and I were Check Pilots/Instructors on the BAe 146. We spent many hours as our group designed the simulator training and check ride profiles. Interestingly Steve was on his second cruise after two years as the Lead Solo for the Blue Angels. This was probably not the best person for the Mig pilot to decide to dogfight this day.
Fasten your seat belt and enjoy. 😨John
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This Day in U S Military History
March 3
1945 – Japanese resistance in Manila comes to an end after a month-long battle. Most of the 20,000 Japanese defenders have been killed and the town has been devastated. Troops from the Americal Division are landed on Ticao and Burias Islands to the west of the San Bernadino Strait.
1945 – On Iwo Jima, an area of the island which has become known as "the Mincer" is cleared by the marines of US 5th Amphibious Corps. The third airfield is completely occupied by the American.
1945 – Troops of Canadian 1st and US 9th Armies link up near Geldern. Farther south, units of the US 12th Corps from US 3rd Army capture a crossing over the KyllRiver. Meanwhile, elements of the US 7th Army take Forbach.
1980 – The USS Nautilus is decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. USS Nautilus (SSN-571) was the world's first operational nuclear-powered submarine. The vessel was the first submarine to complete a submerged transit to the North Pole on 3 August 1958. Sharing names with the submarine in Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and named after another USS Nautilus (SS-168) that served with distinction in World War II, Nautilus was authorized in 1951 and launched in 1954. Because her nuclear propulsion allowed her to remain submerged far longer than diesel-electric submarines, she broke many records in her first years of operation, and traveled to locations previously beyond the limits of submarines. In operation, she revealed a number of limitations in her design and construction. This information was used to improve subsequent submarines. Nautilus was a component of SubRon Ten (Submarine Squadron Ten). Nautilus was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1982. The submarine has been preserved as a museum of submarine history in Groton, Connecticut, where the vessel receives some 250,000 visitors a year.
1991 – American General H. Norman Schwarzkopf and Saudi Lt. Gen. Prince Khalid discussed cease-fire terms with Iraqi commanders Lt. Gen. Mohammed Abdez Rahman al-Dagitistani and Lt. Gen. Sabin Abdel-Aziz al Douri. The Iraqis' astonishment at the disparity involved in the prisoner exchange demonstrated how ignorant they still were of the magnitude of their own defeat. Iraq accepts the terms of ceasefire.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
Three more of the 27 Medals of honor for Iwo Jima are on the list today
FOLLETT, JOSEPH L.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company G, 1st Missouri Light Artillery. Place and date: At New Madrid, Mo., 3 March 1862; at Stone River, Tenn., 31 December 1862. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Birth: Newark, N.J. Date of issue: 19 September 1890. Citation: At New Madrid, Mo., remained on duty though severely wounded. While procuring ammunition from the supply train at Stone River, Tenn., was captured, but made his escape, secured the ammunition, and in less than an hour from the time of his capture had the batteries supplied.
*BERRY, CHARLES JOSEPH
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 10 July 1923, Lorain, Ohio. Accredited to: Ohio. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as member of a machinegun crew, serving with the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 3 March 1945. Stationed in the front lines, Cpl. Berry manned his weapon with alert readiness as he maintained a constant vigil with other members of his guncrew during the hazardous night hours. When infiltrating Japanese soldiers launched a surprise attack shortly after midnight in an attempt to overrun his position, he engaged in a pitched hand grenade duel, returning the dangerous weapons with prompt and deadly accuracy until an enemy grenade landed in the foxhole. Determined to save his comrades, he unhesitatingly chose to sacrifice himself and immediately dived on the deadly missile, absorbing the shattering violence of the exploding charge in his own body and protecting the others from serious injury. Stouthearted and indomitable, Cpl. Berry fearlessly yielded his own life that his fellow marines might carry on the relentless battle against a ruthless enemy and his superb valor and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
*CADDY, WILLIAM ROBERT
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 8 August 1925, Quincy, Mass. Accredited to: Massachusetts. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifleman with Company 1, 3d Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 3 March 1945. Consistently aggressive, Pfc. Caddy boldly defied shattering Japanese machinegun and small arms fire to move forward with his platoon leader and another marine during the determined advance of his company through an isolated sector and, gaining the comparative safety of a shell hole, took temporary cover with his comrades. Immediately pinned down by deadly sniper fire from a well-concealed position, he made several unsuccessful attempts to again move forward and then, joined by his platoon leader, engaged the enemy in a fierce exchange of hand grenades until a Japanese grenade fell beyond reach in the shell hole. Fearlessly disregarding all personal danger, Pfc. Caddy instantly dived on the deadly missile, absorbing the exploding charge in his own body and protecting the others from serious injury. Stouthearted and indomitable, he unhesitatingly yielded his own life that his fellow marines might carry on the relentless battle against a fanatic enemy. His dauntless courage and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon Pfc. Caddy and upon the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his comrades.
HARRELL, WILLIAM GEORGE
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division. Place and date: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 3 March 1945. Entered service at: Mercedes, Tex. Born: 26 June 1922, Rio Grande City, Tex. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as leader of an assault group attached to the 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division during hand-to-hand combat with enemy Japanese at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 3 March 1945. Standing watch alternately with another marine in a terrain studded with caves and ravines, Sgt. Harrell was holding a position in a perimeter defense around the company command post when Japanese troops infiltrated our lines in the early hours of dawn. Awakened by a sudden attack, he quickly opened fire with his carbine and killed 2 of the enemy as they emerged from a ravine in the light of a star shellburst. Unmindful of his danger as hostile grenades fell closer, he waged a fierce lone battle until an exploding missile tore off his left hand and fractured his thigh. He was vainly attempting to reload the carbine when his companion returned from the command post with another weapon. Wounded again by a Japanese who rushed the foxhole wielding a saber in the darkness, Sgt. Harrell succeeded in drawing his pistol and killing his opponent and then ordered his wounded companion to a place of safety. Exhausted by profuse bleeding but still unbeaten, he fearlessly met the challenge of 2 more enemy troops who charged his position and placed a grenade near his head. Killing 1 man with his pistol, he grasped the sputtering grenade with his good right hand, and, pushing it painfully toward the crouching soldier, saw his remaining assailant destroyed but his own hand severed in the explosion. At dawn Sgt. Harrell was evacuated from a position hedged by the bodies of 12 dead Japanese, at least 5 of whom he had personally destroyed in his self-sacrificing defense of the command post. His grim fortitude, exceptional valor, and indomitable fighting spirit against almost insurmountable odds reflect the highest credit upon himself and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
WAHLEN, GEORGE EDWARD
Rank and organization: Pharmacist's Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy, serving with 2d Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division. Place and date: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands group, 3 March 1945. Entered service at: Utah. Born: 8 August 1924, Ogden, Utah. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 2d Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano group on 3 March 1945. Painfully wounded in the bitter action on 26 February, Wahlen remained on the battlefield, advancing well forward of the frontlines to aid a wounded marine and carrying him back to safety despite a terrific concentration of fire. Tireless in his ministrations, he consistently disregarded all danger to attend his fighting comrades as they fell under the devastating rain of shrapnel and bullets, and rendered prompt assistance to various elements of his combat group as required. When an adjacent platoon suffered heavy casualties, he defied the continuous pounding of heavy mortars and deadly fire of enemy rifles to care for the wounded, working rapidly in an area swept by constant fire and treating 14 casualties before returning to his own platoon. Wounded again on 2 March, he gallantly refused evacuation, moving out with his company the following day in a furious assault across 600 yards of open terrain and repeatedly rendering medical aid while exposed to the blasting fury of powerful Japanese guns. Stouthearted and indomitable, he persevered in his determined efforts as his unit waged fierce battle and, unable to walk after sustaining a third agonizing wound, resolutely crawled 50 yards to administer first aid to still another fallen fighter. By his dauntless fortitude and valor, Wahlen served as a constant inspiration and contributed vitally to the high morale of his company during critical phases of this strategically important engagement. His heroic spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of overwhelming enemy fire upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
*WILLIAMS, JACK
Rank and organization: Pharmacist's Mate Third Class, U.S. Naval Reserve. Born: 18 October 1924, Harrison, Ark. Accredited to: Arkansas. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 3d Battalion 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division, during the occupation of Iwo Jima Volcano Islands, 3 March 1945. Gallantly going forward on the frontlines under intense enemy small-arms fire to assist a marine wounded in a fierce grenade battle, Williams dragged the man to a shallow depression and was kneeling, using his own body as a screen from the sustained fire as he administered first aid, when struck in the abdomen and groin 3 times by hostile rifle fire. Momentarily stunned, he quickly recovered and completed his ministration before applying battle dressings to his own multiple wounds. Unmindful of his own urgent need for medical attention, he remained in the perilous fire-swept area to care for another marine casualty. Heroically completing his task despite pain and profuse bleeding, he then endeavored to make his way to the rear in search of adequate aid for himself when struck down by a Japanese sniper bullet which caused his collapse. Succumbing later as a result of his self-sacrificing service to others, Williams, by his courageous determination, unwavering fortitude and valiant performance of duty, served as an inspiring example of heroism, in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
*STONE, LESTER R., JR.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, 1st Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, 23d Infantry Division (Americal). Place and date: West of Landing Zone Liz, Republic of Vietnam, 3 March 1969. Entered service at: Syracuse N.Y. Born: 4 June 1947, Binghamton, N.Y. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Stone, distinguished himself while serving as squad leader of the 1st Platoon. The 1st Platoon was on a combat patrol mission just west of Landing Zone Liz when it came under intense automatic weapons and grenade fire from a well concealed company-size force of North Vietnamese regulars. Observing the platoon machinegunner fall critically wounded, Sgt. Stone remained in the exposed area to provide cover fire for the wounded soldier who was being pulled to safety by another member of the platoon. With enemy fire impacting all around him, Sgt. Stone had a malfunction in the machinegun, preventing him from firing the weapon automatically. Displaying extraordinary courage under the most adverse conditions, Sgt. Stone repaired the weapon and continued to place on the enemy positions effective suppressive fire which enabled the rescue to be completed. In a desperate attempt to overrun his position, an enemy force left its cover and charged Sgt. Stone. Disregarding the danger involved, Sgt. Stone rose to his knees and began placing intense fire on the enemy at pointblank range, killing 6 of the enemy before falling mortally wounded. His actions of unsurpassed valor were a source of inspiration to his entire unit, and he was responsible for saving the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military profession and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
*WILSON, ALFRED M.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Company M, 3d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division. Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 3 March 1969. Entered service at: Abilene, Tex. Born: 13 January 1948, Olney, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifleman with Company M in action against hostile forces. While returning from a reconnaissance-in-force mission in the vicinity of Fire Support Base Cunningham, the 1st Platoon of Company M came under intense automatic weapons fire and a grenade attack from a well concealed enemy force. As the center of the column was pinned down, the leading squad moved to outflank the enemy. Pfc. Wilson, acting as squad leader of the rear squad, skillfully maneuvered his men to form a base of fire and act as a blocking force. In the ensuing fire fight, both his machine gunner and assistant machine gunner were seriously wounded and unable to operate their weapons. Realizing the urgent need to bring the weapon into operation again, Pfc. Wilson, followed by another marine and with complete disregard for his safety, fearlessly dashed across the fire-swept terrain to recover the weapon. As they reached the machinegun, an enemy soldier stepped from behind a tree and threw a grenade toward the 2 marines. Observing the grenade fall between himself and the other marine, Pfc. Wilson, fully realizing the inevitable result of his actions, shouted to his companion and unhesitating threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full force of the explosion with his own body. His heroic actions inspired his platoon members to maximum effort as they aggressively attacked and defeated the enemy. Pfc. Wilson's indomitable courage, inspiring valor and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for March 3, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
3 March
1911: Lt Benjamin D. Foulois and civilian pilot Phillip O. Parmalee made a 106-mile nonstop flight from Laredo to Eagle Pass, Tex., in the Collier Wright B, trying to prove to ground forces the usefulness of the airplane. The two men dropped messages and received radiotelegraphic messages in return. (24) Congress authorized $125,000 for air operations for first time in the Army budget of Fiscal Year (FY) 1912. (11) (24)
1952: Operation SATURATE. FEAF initiated this round-the-clock interdiction effort against North Korean railroad lines. Fighter-bombers attacked during the day and B-26 bombers at night. The attacks were carried out with intensity through May, and continued periodically thereafter. The B-26's increased vulnerability to communist ground fire provoked a reassessment of the night interdiction campaign in the spring of 1952. (17)
1953: North American Aviation's missile booster engine for the Navaho fired for the first time at the Experimental Rocket Engine Test Station on Luehman Ridge at Edwards AFB. (3)
1959: Cape Canaveral launched the Pioneer IV space probe to within 38,000 miles of the moon. It eventually went into a solar orbit. Radio contact with Pioneer IV continued to a record distance of 406,620 miles from the earth. (12)
1969: APOLLO IX. Through 13 March, a Saturn V launched from Kennedy Space Center carried Apollo IX astronauts James A. McDivitt (Colonel, USAF), the commander; David R. Scott (Colonel, USAF), the command module pilot; and Russell L. Schweickart (a civilian), the lunar module pilot, into space. The mission's achievements included the first manned flight of the Apollo lunar module and the first transfer between space vehicles via an internal connection. After 152 orbits, or 241 hours 53 seconds in space, the command module splashed down in the Atlantic 180 miles east of the Bahamas. (8) TRW Systems Group received a $74 million contract to develop and produce six communications satellites for the Defense Satellite Communications System Phase II (DSCS II). (5)
1971: Exercise FREEDOM VAULT. Through 7 March, PACAF tactical aircraft and forces participated in a JCS-directed, joint Republic of Korea-US exercise at Osan AB. Events included an airborne assault by 683 US paratroopers from Fort Bragg, who flew to Korea aboard 12 MAC C-141s and were dropped at Osan AB. A Republic of Korea battalion also parachuted from 9 C-46s. (17)
1982: COMMANDO VULCAN. The first six A-10 Thunderbolts arrived at Suwon AB to bolster PACAF forces in South Korea. The USAF built more than 50 facilities, totaling 700,000 square feet, at Suwon to support the A-10 beddown project. (16)
1986: TAC's first OT-37 Tweet replaced the Cessna O-2 aircraft at Shaw AFB.
1988: The Pioneer 8 solar orbiter finally ceased operations. When launched on 13 December 1967, it had a six-month life span, but lasted more than 20 years. (20) (Note: Only one instrument, the electric field detector, remained operational past 1982. During tracking on 23 July 1995, NASA could not switch on Pioneer 8's transmitter, probably because the spacecraft was too far away from the Sun to charge its solar panels. On 22 August 1996, NASA reacquired contact via a backup transmitter. The electric field detector remained functional through June 2001.)
2001: COLLIER TROPHY. The FAI awarded the 2000 Robert J. Collier Trophy to the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle system as the nation's greatest achievement in aeronautics. (3)
2003: Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. Global Hawk AV-3 left Edwards AFB for the Persian Gulf area, arriving in the United Arab Emirates on 8 March, to fly reconnaissance missions as part of the prewar air campaign against Iraq's air defenses. The sorties identified Iraqi surfaceto-air missile locations and potential SCUD missile sites. (3)
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World News for 3 March thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Pentagon Delays ICBM Test Due To Tensions With Russia Dept. Of Defense | 03/03/2022 The U.S. Defense Dept. says it has postponed a planned intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test due to heightened tensions with Russia. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the postponement of the regularly scheduled Minuteman III ICBM test to prevent any misunderstandings after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his nuclear forces to a higher alert status, a Pentagon spokesman said. Russia announced that it was putting its nuclear forces on high alert on Sunday. The postponement will not affect readiness, said the spokesman. The U.S. Air Force annually tests four Minuteman III ICBMs from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. The launches are planned years in advanced and made public to avoid miscalculation. No new date has been set for the test.
USA—Oath Keeper Leader Pleads Guilty To Seditious Conspiracy Dept. Of Justice | 03/03/2022 A leader of a far-right group has pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, reports the U.S. Dept. of Justice. On Wednesday, Joshua James, 34, of Arab, Ala., an Army veteran and leader of the Alabama chapter of the Oath Keepers, pleaded guilty to participating in the group's efforts to prevent the lawful transfer of power to President Joe Biden following the elections in November 2020. As part of his plea, he has agreed to cooperate with a government investigation into the insurrection. Separately, the House select committee investigating the events of Jan. 6 filed documents in court alleging that former President Trump and his lawyer, John Eastman, engaged in a criminal conspiracy to overturn the November 2020 presidential elections, reported CNN. In a 61-page filing, lawyers for the House wrote that Trump and those close to him, including lawyers, "engaged in criminal and/or fraudulent acts" in pursuit of overturning the election. Members of the House of Representatives committee have said that they may make recommendations to file criminal charges to the Justice Dept.
USA—Space Force Orders Demonstration Weather Satellites Space News | 03/03/2022 U.S. Space Force has tapped General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) and Orion Space Solutions, Louisville, Colo., to build demonstration weather satellites, reports Space News. The contracts, the value of which were not disclosed, cover the development and launch of one demonstration satellite by each company, Space Systems Command said in a release on Monday. The award is part of the Electro-Optical/Infrared Weather System (EWS) program. Raytheon Technologies also competed for the deal but was not selected. The EWS satellites are launched into low polar orbits to collect weather imaging and cloud characterization data. Orion Space is expected to launch a cubesat by the end of the year for a one-year demonstration mission. GA-EMS is expected to launch its satellite in 2024 or 2025 for a three-year demonstration mission. The 880-pound (400-kg) General Atomics spacecraft features a high-resolution electro-optical/infrared sensor from EO Vista that can sense in 16 spectral bands ranging from visible to infrared. Parsons is developing the ground system for GA-EMS. The General Atomics EWS satellites are intended to fill an expected gap in weather coverage as the aging Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites run out of fuel and exit service between 2023 and 2026. GA-EMS has received around $200 million in Space Force contracts for EWS satellite development and demonstration since 2020, company officials said. General Atomics has proposed a constellation of 12 satellites for the EWS program that would provide a high refresh rate. Space Force anticipates buying EWS satellites starting in 2023 with a steady stream of purchases over time, eventually including buys of new satellites to replace older spacecraft that age out.
USA—Sensors Selected For Next-Gen Missile Warning Satellites Space News | 03/03/2022 Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have chosen subcontractors to build payloads for separate missile warning satellite programs, reports Space News. Lockheed selected Raytheon Technologies to provide a second mission payload for the Next-Generation Overheard Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit Block 0 missile warning satellite system, dubbed NGG, Lockheed said in a press release on Monday. Raytheon and Northrop Grumman were previously contracted to provide one mission payload each for the three NGG satellites that have been ordered from Lockheed. Those payloads have already completed the critical design phase and will fly on the first two NGG satellites. Raytheon Technologies will now provide the sensor for the final satellite. Also on Monday, Northrop Grumman announced that it had selected its team with Ball Aerospace to design and develop two mission payloads for the Next Generation OPIR Polar (NGP) program. The decision covers payloads for the two NGP satellites being developed by Northrop Grumman under a $2.4 billion contract awarded by the Space Force in May 2020. The NGP satellites will operate in highly elliptical orbits and carry advanced infrared sensors to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles; an enhanced communication system to transmit mission data to the ground; and increased resiliency against counter-space and cyberattack threats.
USA—Offensive Drone Swarm Test Planned Later This Year Defense News | 03/03/2022 The Army plans to show off an offensive drone swarm capability later this year, reports Defense News. The service began work on prototypes to demonstrate an offensive drone swarm capability in March 2021, according to the Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO). The swarm capability is expected to be able to identify and engage threats under the control of a single operator while also being low cost. On Feb. 24, BlueHalo announced that it had been awarded a $14 million contract to develop the capability over a 30-month period. BlueHalo will deliver artificial intelligence and machine learning swarm logic capabilities; communication systems; and evolving technologies to provide improved mission efficiency, sensor performance and a reduction in workload, the company said. On Tuesday, the RCCTO confirmed that it planned to demonstrate a proof of concept of the swarm capability during the Project Convergence event scheduled for this fall at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.
Germany—Scholz Warns Against Delaying Nuclear Deal Times of Israel | 03/03/2022 The chancellor of Germany has called for quickly finalizing a revived nuclear agreement with Iran, reports the Times of Israel. Now is the time to reach an agreement on a nuclear deal with Iran, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Scholz's visit to Israel on Wednesday was planned before Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Israel is concerned that the nuclear talks in Vienna could result in a deal that would permit Iran to install centrifuges on a large scale in a few years. Bennett said that such an agreement would be unacceptable.
Romania—MiG-21 Fighter, IAR-330 Chopper Go Down In Deadly Crashes AGERPRES | 03/03/2022 Eight Romanian military personnel have been killed in two separate air crashes, reports AGERPRES, Romania's national news agency. On Wednesday, a MiG-21 Lancer went missing shortly after taking off from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, near Constanta on Romania's Black Sea coast, reported the War Zone website. The fighter was on a routine patrol over the southeastern Dobrogea region when contact was lost between the Cogealac and Gura Dobrogei localities, said the military. An IAR-330 Puma helicopter with search-and-rescue personnel onboard was quickly dispatched to search for the jet. The helicopter went down about three minutes into its flight, 6.8 miles (11 km) from the airfield in the Gura Dobrogei area, reported Agence France-Presse. The pilot of the MiG-21 and all seven personnel, including two naval rescue specialists, onboard the IAR-330 were killed. Contact with the helicopter was lost after the pilot reported poor weather and was told to return to base, a Romanian Defense Ministry spokesman told Digi24 television. Bad weather may have been a factor in both crashes, analysts said.
Sweden—Gripens Intercept Russian Sukhois Over Baltic United Press International | 03/03/2022 The Swedish air force has intercepted Russian combat jets that violated Swedish airspace, reports United Press International. On Wednesday, two Russian Su-27 Flanker fighters and two Su-24 Fencer strike jets entered Swedish airspace east of Gotland Island in the Baltic Sea, the air force said. Two Swedish Gripen fighters intercepted the jets and documented the incursion, reported Sweden's TT newswire. The Russian aircraft flew "a few kilometers" into Swedish airspace, according to the air force. The violation took place during a bilateral Swedish-Finnish exercise in the Baltic Sea, reported the Local (Stockholm). The rapid response demonstrated the readiness of Swedish forces, said Maj. Gen. Carl-Johan Edstrom, the air force chief. Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist called the violation "unacceptable" and said it would lead to a "firm diplomatic response."
Ukraine—1 Million Flee Russian Invaders NPR News | 03/03/2022 One million refugees have fled Ukraine following Russia's unprovoked invasion, reports NPR News. U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi released the figure on Wednesday, which covers the first seven days of fighting. The total represents about 2 percent of Ukraine's population of 44 million. About half have fled to Poland, with the remainder relocating to other European countries, including Hungary, Moldova and Slovakia. At this rate, the number of refugees could hit 4 million within weeks, Grandi told the Washington Post. Former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for Europe Richard Shirreff told CNN that it appeared that Russia was pushing to create a land corridor to Crimea, raising concerns of further humanitarian catastrophe. The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission estimates that 750 Ukrainian civilians have been killed in Russian attacks so far.
Ukraine—ICC Team To Investigate Possible War Crimes Reuters | 03/03/2022 The International Criminal Court in The Hague has sent an advanced team to Ukraine to begin an investigation into potential war crimes, reports Reuters. The team departed on Wednesday, hours after ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said he would begin collecting evidence as part of a formal investigation. Thirty-nine member states have requested a probe into Russian actions in Ukraine. Such requests typically accelerate investigations by allowing the prosecutor to bypass court approval. The investigation will cover any and all incidents of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide by any party in Ukraine, Khan said. In December 2020, the ICC prosecutor said that it had gathered evidence of war crimes and other wrongdoing in the eastern Donbas region after 2014, but it has yet to file a full investigation. Russia and Ukraine are not members of the ICC. In 2014, Kyiv signed a declaration granting the ICC jurisdiction over alleged grave crimes committed on its territory.
China—No Sanctions On Russia, Top Banking Official Says CNBC | 03/03/2022 The top banking and insurance regulator in China says that his country will not join international financial sanctions against Russia over its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, reports CNBC. On Wednesday, Guo Shuqing confirmed that China would not join the financial sanctions and emphasized Beijing's opposition to unilateral sanctions. Guo is the chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission as well as the Chinese Communist Party secretary of the People's Bank of China, China's central bank. He also said that the sanctions on Russia to date have not had any effect on China. China has refused to acknowledge that the Russian attack on Ukraine is an invasion. Beijing has attempted to distance itself from Russia somewhat after the two sides were seen as closely linked following a prominent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the start of last month's Winter Olympics in Beijing.
South Korea—Bird Strike Led To F-35 Belly Landing, Probe Finds Yonhap | 03/03/2022 An investigation into an F-35 mishap in South Korea earlier this year has attributed it to a bird strike, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). On Jan. 4, a South Korea air force F-35A made a belly landing at Seosan Air Base, south of Seoul. Air force officials said on Thursday that a 22-pound (10-kg) eagle hit the left air intake of the jet and penetrated a bulkhead into its weapons bay, damaging a hydraulic duct and power supply wiring, which affected its navigation system and landing gear. The bird strike occurred as the F-35 was flying at low altitude in preparation to enter a shooting range for an air-to-ground strike mission. South Korea has grounded its F-35s since the incident. The jets are expected to return to flight status on Monday.
Singapore—New Digital And Intelligence Service Planned Channel News Asia | 03/03/2022 The Singapore armed forces plan to establish a new service integrating intelligence, digital and command-and-control capabilities, reports Channel News Asia (Singapore). The Singapore Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday that it planned to launch the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) by the last quarter of 2022. The new service would provide accurate, relevant and timely early warning and operational intelligence and advance command, control, communications and computers (C4) connectivity for networked operations. The DIS will also identify and exploit emerging digital technologies, including the cloud, data science and artificial intelligence, to accelerate the Singapore armed forces' planned next-generation transformation efforts. The service will be responsible for defending against digital threats, including through cyber defense; electronic protection of networks and systems; and psychological defense to support personnel commitment and resilience during operations, the ministry said.
Yemen—9 Sudanese Troops Die In Houthi Missile Strike Agence France-Presse | 03/03/2022 Nine Sudanese fighters have been killed in a Houthi missile attack in northwest Yemen, reports Agence France-Presse. On Wednesday, a Houthi missile struck a camp used by pro-government fighters in Midi, Hajjah province, near the border with Saudi Arabia, Yemeni Defense Ministry sources said. At least 30 other Sudanese troops were wounded, the sources said. Sudan has sent thousands of fighters to join the Saudi-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government. Other Sudanese personnel have been recruited to fight as mercenaries.
Libya—Tobruk Parliament Approves New Cabinet; Rejected By Tripoli Government Daily Sabah | 03/03/2022 The House of Representatives in Tobruk in eastern Libya has approved a new Cabinet, putting it on a collision course with the unity government in Tripoli that has rejected handing power to any non-elected government, reports the Daily Sabah (Istanbul). On Tuesday, 92 of the 101 members of the House of Representatives in attendance voted to approve the new Cabinet proposed by former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha. The Tobruk-based Parliament voted to name Bashagha as the new prime minister last month, claiming that the mandate for Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah's unity government ran out after planned elections did not take place in December. Dbeibah has refused to concede power, saying that he will only hand power to a new elected government. His government called the Tobruk elections fraudulent, arguing that the Parliament failed to reach quorum when holding the vote. Dbeibah's administration has vowed to continue its work and accused the House of Representatives of threatening Libya's stability. The Tripoli government has indicated that it plans to hold legislative elections in June. Experts have warned of the that parallel administrations in Libya could result in a renewed conflict, reported Al Jazeera (Qatar).
Uganda—Military Video Shows MALE UAV Defence Web | 03/03/2022 The Ugandan military appears to have fielded an Israeli-made uncrewed aerial vehicle, reports Defence Web (South Africa). In a video released on Feb. 24 by Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the head of the Ugandan army and son of the president, shows a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone in the background. The configuration of the UAV suggests that it is an Israeli Hermes 900. The East African newspaper (Kenya) reported in 2019 that Uganda had taken delivery of 24 Hermes 900 drones from Israel. The drones had reportedly been ordered in July 2019. The imagery appears to confirm that the Hermes 900 has entered Ugandan service.
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