TheList 6029

The List 6029     TGB

Good Thursday Morning March 10

I hope that your week has been going well.

Regards,

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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History

March 10

1783 USS Alliance (CAPT John Barry) defeats HMS Sybil in final naval action of Revolution in West Indies waters

1933 Pacific Fleet provides assistance after earthquake at Long Beach, CA

1943 USS Savannah (CL 42) and USS Eberle (DD 430) intercept German blockade runner Karin in the South Atlantic. After boarding the ship, a timed explosion goes off, killing 11 of Eberle's boarding party.

1944 USS Kete (SS 369) attacks a Japanese convoy and sinks one cargo and two transport ships while dodging counterattacks.

1945 Navy and civilian nurses interned at Los Banos, Philippines flown back to U.S. Navy nurses awarded Bronze Star.

1948 First use of jets assigned to operational squadron (VF-5A) on board a carrier (Boxer)

2001 USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) is commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk. The 31st destroyer of the Arleigh Burke class is the fourth U.S. Navy warship to be named after a British citizen. Churchill has a Royal Naval officer assigned permanently to the ship and she flies the Royal Navy's White Ensign as well as the Stars and Stripes.

2007 USS New Orleans (LPD 18) is commissioned at New Orleans, Louisiana. The second of the 12-ship San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock warships, New Orleans is homeported at Naval Base San Diego.

From NHHC

On March 10, 1945, Navy and civilian nurses interned in the Philippines as prisoners of war since early January

1942 returned to the United States, landing in San Francisco, CA. The nurses were working at the naval hospital in Cañacao when the war began. They were captured in Manila and had been at the Los Baños Internment Camp on Luzon since May 1943. While at the camp, they treated other internees the best they could considering dreadful conditions in a makeshift hospital. Their rescue came around 7 a.m. on Feb. 23, 1945, when U.S. Army paratroopers descended on the internment camp, which was still behind enemy lines. The nurses received the Bronze Star medal from the Army for their three years' work as medical specialists while incarcerated. For more, read the essay by COD's Adam Bisno at NHHC's website. 

During the Battle for Iwo Jima, Pharmacist's Mate First Class Francis Pierce repeatedly opened himself up to enemy fire to protect Marines under his care while attached to the 4th Marine Division. On March 15, 1945, while caught in heavy enemy machine gun fire that wounded multiple Marines, Pierce quickly took charge, carried the wounded to safety, and rendered first aid. After directing the evacuation of three of the casualties, he stood in the open with his weapon blasting to draw enemy fire, enabling the litter bearers to reach cover. Turning his attention to other casualties, Pierce attempted to stop the profuse bleeding of a casualty when a Japanese soldier fired at him from less than 20 yards away, wounding his patient. Pierce proceeded to kill the enemy with the last of his ammunition. He then lifted the patient on his back and trekked 200 feet unarmed, bringing him to safety. Despite extreme exhaustion, he backtracked the same terrain and rescued another fallen Marine. The following morning, he led a combat patrol to a sniper nest and, while providing aid to a stricken Marine, was seriously wounded. Pierce received the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary valor and heroism.

Today in History: March 10

0049 Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon and invades Italy. And many have crossed the Rubicon since

0241 The Roman fleet sinks 50 Carthaginian ships in the Battle of Aegusa.

0515 The building of the great Jewish temple in Jerusalem is completed.

1656 In the colony of Virginia, suffrage is extended to all free men regardless of their religion.

1776 ""Common Sense" by Thomas Paine is published.

1785 Thomas Jefferson is appointed minister to France.

1806 The Dutch in Cape Town, South Africa surrender to the British.

1814 Napoleon Bonaparte is defeated by an allied army at the Battle of Laon, France.

1848 The treaty of Guadeloupe-Hidalgo is signed which ends the United States' war with Mexico.

1876 Alexander Graham Bell makes the first telephone call to Thomas Watson saying "Watson, come here. I need you."

1893 New Mexico State University cancels its first graduation ceremony, because the only graduate was robbed and killed the night before.

1902 The Boers of South Africa score their last victory over the British, capturing British General Methuen and 200 men.

1910 Slavery is abolished in China.

1924 The U.S. Supreme Court upholds a New York state law forbidding late-night work for women.

1927 Prussia lifts its Nazi ban, Adolf Hitler is allowed to speak in public.

1933 Nevada becomes the first U.S. state to regulate drugs.

1941 Vichy France threatens to use its navy unless Britain allows food to reach France.

1943 Adolf Hitler calls Field Marshall Erwin Rommel back from Tunisia in North Africa.

1944 The Irish refuse to oust all Axis envoys and deny the accusation of spying on Allied troops.

1945 American B-29 bombers attack Tokyo, killing 100,000.

1947 The Big Four meet in Moscow to discuss the future of Germany.

1948 Author Zelda Fitzgerald (wife of F. Scott) dies in a fire at Highland Hospital.

1953North Korean gunners at Wonsan fire on the USS Missouri, the ship responds by firing 998 rounds at the enemy position.

1954 President Dwight Eisenhower calls Senator Joseph McCarthy a peril to the Republican Party.

1966 The North Vietnamese capture a Green Beret camp at Ashau Valley.

1969 James Earl Ray pleads guilty to the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King and is sentenced to 99 years in jail.

1971 The Senate approves a Constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to 18.

1975 The North Vietnamese Army attacks the South Vietnamese town of Buon Ma Thout, the offensive will end with total victory in Vietnam.

1980 Iran's leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, lends his support to the militants holding the American hostages in Tehran.

1982 The United States bans Libyan oil imports, because of the continued support of terrorism.

1987 The Vatican condemns surrogate parenting as well as test-tube and artificial insemination.

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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, 10 March 2022… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…

From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 10 March 1967… "U.S. Casualties for Week at 1,617"… "Highest of War"…

http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-remembered-10-march-1967-thinking-out-loud/

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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In Yesterday's Rolling thunder the URL  for Pardo's Push di not work. Below is the story…skip

Bob Pardo Once Pushed a Crippled F-4 Home With His F-4. In ...

https://www.smithsonianmag.com › military-aviation

Pardo's Push, as the feat became known, had lasted for about 20 minutes and carried both jets 80 miles—far enough for a safe rescue. Pardo, Aman, and Houghton ...

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MiG kills by a ship

Thanks to John

I didn't know about this. Evidently, some ships took hits and shot down a couple of MiG's.

The Gulf of Tonkin – 1972 | Hard Charger!

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Thanks to Dr. Rich and Mark C.

Sky Trucks

Opa Locka Airport Sky Trucks

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This Day in U S Military History

10 March

This Day in U S Military History  March 10

1783 – USS Alliance (CAPT John Barry) defeats HMS Sybil in final naval action of Revolution in West Indies waters. Barry, in defense of a companion ship, the Duc de Lauzun which was carrying gold to fund the US war effort, maneuvered her between Sybil and Duc De Lauzun to demand the full attention of the former so that the latter might slip away to safety. Sybil then turned her fire toward Alliance and managed to send one shot from her bow chaser into the American frigate's cabin, mortally wounding a junior officer and scattering many splinters. Yet, Barry held Alliance's fire until she was within a stone's throw of her opponent. At that point, a broadside from the American warship opened some 40 minutes of close-in fighting which finally forced Sybil to flee

1849 – A riot erupts in New York where a British actor named Macready is performing at the Astor Place Opera House. Crowds are angry because of the theater's snobbish dress requirements and because Macready makes scornful comments on the vulgarity of Americans. Twenty-two people are killed and thirty-six injured when troops are called in.

1917 – On a third day of riots and demonstrations in Moscow, Russia, an estimated 25,000 workers are on strike. Army units are called in to deal with the growing unrest, but they refuse to fire on the demonstrators. These vents become known as the 'February Revolution'–the Russian (Julian) calendar of the time was 11 days behind the western one.

1942 – American aircraft launched from the American carriers Lexington and Yorktown attack Japanese vessels near Lae, New Guinea.

1943 – Chennault is promoted and his command in China is to be enlarged and named the 14th Air Force.

1944 – On New Britain, American forces capture Talasea.

1944 – On Bougainville, Japanese forces capture Hill 260 but lose ground to American counterattacks in other areas.

1945 – Patton's 3rd Army made contact with Hodge's 1st Army. They link up near Andernach completing the Allied hold on the west bank of the Rhine everywhere north of Koblenz. Field Marshal Kesselring arrives from Italy to take command of the German armies in the west.

1945 – Germany blew up the Wessel Bridge on the Rhine.

1945 – 300 American bombers drop almost 2,000 tons of incendiaries on Tokyo, Japan, destroying large portions of the Japanese capital and killing 100,000 civilians. In the closing months of the war, the United States had turned to incendiary bombing tactics against Japan, also known as "area bombing," in an attempt to break Japanese morale and force a surrender. The firebombing of Tokyo was the first major bombing operation of this sort against Japan. Early in the morning, the B-29s dropped their bombs of napalm and magnesium incendiaries over the packed residential districts along the Sumida River in eastern Tokyo. The conflagration quickly engulfed Tokyo's wooden residential structures, and the subsequent firestorm replaced oxygen with lethal gases, superheated the atmosphere, and caused hurricane-like winds that blew a wall of fire across the city. The majority of the 100,000 who perished died from carbon monoxide poisoning and the sudden lack of oxygen, but others died horrible deaths within the firestorm, such as those who attempted to find protection in the Sumida River and were boiled alive, or those who were trampled to death in the rush to escape the burning city. As a result of the attack, 10 square miles of eastern Tokyo were entirely obliterated, and an estimated 250,000 buildings were destroyed. During the next nine days, U.S. bombers flew similar missions against Nagoya, Osaka, and Kobe. In August, U.S. atomic attacks against Hiroshima and Nagasaki finally forced Japan's hand.

1945 – Navy and civilian nurses interned at Los Banos, Philippines flown back to U.S. Navy nurses awarded Bronze Star.

1953 – North Korean gunners at Wonsan fired on the USS Missouri, the ship responds by firing 998 rounds at the enemy position.

1968 – Battle of Lima Site 85, concluding the 11th with largest single ground combat loss of United States Air Force members (12) during the Vietnam War. Also called Battle of Phou Pha Thi, was fought as part of a military campaign waged during the Vietnam War and Laotian Civil War by the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) (then known as NVA) and the Pathet Lao, against airmen of the United States Air Force 1st Combat Evaluation Group, elements of the Royal Laos Army, Royal Thai Border Patrol Police, and the Central Intelligence Agency-led Hmong Clandestine Army. The battle was fought on Phou Pha Thi mountain in Houaphanh Province, Laos, on 10 March 1968, and derives its name from the mountaintop where it was fought or from the designation of a 700 feet (210 m) landing strip in the valley below.

Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day

ATKINS, THOMAS E.

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 127th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division. Place and date: Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 10 March 1945. Entered service at: Campobello, S.C. Birth: Campobello, S.C. G.O. No.: 95, 30 October 1945. Citation: He fought gallantly on the Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands. With 2 companions he occupied a position on a ridge outside the perimeter defense established by the 1st Platoon on a high hill. At about 3 a.m., 2 companies of Japanese attacked with rifle and machinegun fire, grenades, TNT charges, and land mines, severely wounding Pfc. Atkins and killing his 2 companions. Despite the intense hostile fire and pain from his deep wound, he held his ground and returned heavy fire. After the attack was repulsed, he remained in his precarious position to repel any subsequent assaults instead of returning to the American lines for medical treatment. An enemy machinegun, set up within 20 yards of his foxhole, vainly attempted to drive him off or silence his gun. The Japanese repeatedly made fierce attacks, but for 4 hours, Pfc. Atkins determinedly remained in his fox hole, bearing the brunt of each assault and maintaining steady and accurate fire until each charge was repulsed. At 7 a.m., 13 enemy dead lay in front of his position; he had fired 400 rounds, all he and his 2 dead companions possessed, and had used 3 rifles until each had jammed too badly for further operation. He withdrew during a lull to secure a rifle and more ammunition, and was persuaded to remain for medical treatment. While waiting, he saw a Japanese within the perimeter and, seizing a nearby rifle, killed him. A few minutes later, while lying on a litter, he discovered an enemy group moving up behind the platoon's lines. Despite his severe wound, he sat up, delivered heavy rifle fire against the group and forced them to withdraw. Pfc. Atkins' superb bravery and his fearless determination to hold his post against the main force of repeated enemy attacks, even though painfully wounded, were major factors in enabling his comrades to maintain their lines against a numerically superior enemy force.

DETHLEFSEN, MERLYN HANS

Rank and organization: Major (then Capt.), U.S. Air Force. Place and date: In the air over North Vietnam, 10 March 1967. Entered service at: Royal, Iowa. Born: 29 June 1934, Greenville, Iowa. Citation: Maj. Dethlefsen was 1 of a flight of F-105 aircraft engaged in a fire suppression mission designed to destroy a key antiaircraft defensive complex containing surface-to-air missiles (SAM), an exceptionally heavy concentration of antiaircraft artillery, and other automatic weapons. The defensive network was situated to dominate the approach and provide protection to an important North Vietnam industrial center that was scheduled to be attacked by fighter bombers immediately after the strike by Maj. Dethlefsen's flight. In the initial attack on the defensive complex the lead aircraft was crippled, and Maj. Dethlefsen's aircraft was extensively damaged by the intense enemy fire. Realizing that the success of the impending fighter bomber attack on the center now depended on his ability to effectively suppress the defensive fire, Maj. Dethlefsen ignored the enemy's overwhelming firepower and the damage to his aircraft and pressed his attack. Despite a continuing hail of antiaircraft fire, deadly surface-to-air missiles, and counterattacks by MIG interceptors, Maj. Dethlefsen flew repeated close range strikes to silence the enemy defensive positions with bombs and cannon fire. His action in rendering ineffective the defensive SAM and antiaircraft artillery sites enabled the ensuing fighter bombers to strike successfully the important industrial target without loss or damage to their aircraft, thereby appreciably reducing the enemy's ability to provide essential war material. Maj. Dethlefsen's consummate skill and selfless dedication to this significant mission were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

FISHER, BERNARD FRANCIS

Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Air Force, 1st Air Commandos. Place and date: Bien Hoa and Pleiku, Vietnam, 10 March 1966. Entered service at: Kuna, Idaho. Born: 11 January 1927, San Bernardino, Calif. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On that date, the special forces camp at A Shau was under attack by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army regulars. Hostile troops had positioned themselves between the airstrip and the camp. Other hostile troops had surrounded the camp and were continuously raking it with automatic weapons fire from the surrounding hills. The tops of the 1,500-foot hills were obscured by an 800 foot ceiling, limiting aircraft maneuverability and forcing pilots to operate within range of hostile gun positions, which often were able to fire down on the attacking aircraft. During the battle, Maj. Fisher observed a fellow airman crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Maj. Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue. Although aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, he elected to continue. Directing his own air cover, he landed his aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway, which was littered with battle debris and parts of an exploded aircraft. While effecting a successful rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed, with 19 bullets striking his aircraft. In the face of the withering ground fire, he applied power and gained enough speed to lift-off at the overrun of the airstrip. Maj. Fisher's profound concern for his fellow airman, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country

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This Day in Aviation History" brought to you by the Daedalians Airpower Blog Update. To subscribe to this weekly email, go to https://daedalians.org/airpower-blog/

March 8, 1908

In Washington, D.C., the Secretary of War approved the Wright brothers' bid to construct a viable military aircraft within 200 days.

March 9, 1918

The first American air casualty in World War I was Capt. James E. Miller, who lost his life in a French SPAD while flying a practice patrol across the German lines. Miller, Daedalian Founder Member #1690, was honored with a Distinguished Flying Cross on June 6, 2017. Learn more HERE.

March 10, 1966

Maj. Bernard Fisher risked his life to rescue a fellow pilot shot down over the A Shau Valley in Vietnam in his Douglas A-1E Skyraider. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson during a ceremony at the White House on Jan. 19, 1967. To learn more about retired Colonel Fisher, view this VIDEO.

March 11, 1912

Secretary of the Navy George von L. Meyer authorized the expenditure of not more than $50 for developing models of a helicopter design proposed by MMC F. E. Nelson of West Virginia (Armored Cruiser No. 5). Meyer did allow for the possibility of an expanded interest in the future, stating, "The Department recognizes the value of the helicopter principle in the design of naval aircraft and is following closely the efforts of others in this direction." Meyer, shown in the photo, served as secretary of the Navy from 1909-1913.

March 12, 1918

Capt. Phelps Collins became the first Air Service pilot killed in combat when his SPAD XII fighter crashed following a high-altitude dive over France. Collins, of Alpena, Michigan, enlisted in the French Aviation Service in May 1917 and transferred to the U.S. Air Service when America entered the war. He was assigned as a pilot to the 103rd Aero Squadron, successor to the Lafayette Escadrille, at La Noblette, France. On March 12, Collins and four other pilots were attempting to intercept enemy airplanes in the area of Paris when, for an unknown reason, Collins' SPAD VII fighter left the formation. Observers on the ground saw his plane make wide circles at about 15,000 feet, then descend and finally spin and dive into the ground. Collins' commanding officer wrote that "It will never be known whether he was shot down in combat, fought at so great an altitude that it could neither be seen nor heard, whether some vital part of his machine gave way or whether he fainted as a result of the terrific strain he had placed upon himself, flying at every possible opportunity." Investigators believed that Collins had fainted at high altitude, perhaps from lack of oxygen. He was Daedalian Founder Member #1839.

March 13, 2007

The first MQ-9 Reaper, a newer, larger and stronger version of the MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, arrived at Creech AFB, Nevada.

March 14, 1988

In ceremonies at Greenville, Texas, E-Systems Inc. unveiled the new MC-130H Combat Talon II special operations airlifter. The Air Force planned to use the aircraft for special operations units to infiltrate/exfiltrate troops and resupply behind enemy lines at night or in poor weather.

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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for March 10, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY

10 March

1934: The army suspended Air Corps airmail operations until 19 March to assess the high fatality rate. A lack of instrumentation for flying at night and in bad weather contributed to nine fatalities. (5)

1943: A few P-47 Thunderbolts participated in a fighter sweep from the UK for the first time.

1945: When a pilot from the 36th Fighter Squadron landed a P-47 on an airstrip near Aachen, Germany, he became the first to land an American combat plane voluntarily in Germany since the war began. (4)

1948: A B-29 dropped a nonexplosive, 42,000-pound bomb at Muroc. (24)

1959: A Snark missile flew a several-thousand-mile round-trip after launching from Cape Canaveral. (24) The X-15A-1 rocket research plane completed its first captive flight on the wing of a B-52. (3)

1961: The 565 SMS became the second US war-ready ICBM unit to achieve operational status. (24)

1966: TAC accepted its first F-4D at Nellis AFB. (5) MEDAL OF HONOR. Maj Bernard Fisher from the 1st Commando Squadron landed an A-1E on A Shau runway, Vietnam, under fire from North Vietnamese troops to rescue a downed pilot, Maj Dafford W. Myers from the 602 FS. President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Major Fisher this medal for heroism on 19 January 1967. He thus became the first Air Force man to be so honored for action in the Southeast Asian conflict. (5) (16)

1967: MEDAL OF HONOR. F-105 Thunderchiefs and F-4C Phantoms bombed the Thai Nguyen steel plant in North Vietnam for the first time. At the time, Thai Nguyen was the only plant in Southeast Asia making bridge sections, barges, and drums for fuels and lubricants. While attacking the steel plant, Capt Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen used his severely damaged F-105 to silence enemy defenses, despite intense enemy ground fire and fighter attacks, to earn the Medal of Honor. (16) (17) (21) TWIN MIG KILLER. Capt Mac C. Brestel, a F-105 pilot with the 355 TFS at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB), Thailand, became the first USAF pilot to down two MiGs in one mission in the Vietnam War. (16) (26)

1971: An Air Force helicopter saved 10 Japanese fishermen from rough surf and a coral reef after they were shipwrecked 200 miles southwest of Kadena AB. (16) (26)

1977: The first female navigator candidates reported to Mather AFB for undergraduate navigator training. (16) (26)

1995: The 11th Space Warning Squadron became the first unit with the ability to warn battlefield commanders of incoming theater ballistic missiles, such as the Scud missiles fired by Iraq in DESERT STORM. (26)

2007: The 326th Airlift Squadron, 512th Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserve Command), at Dover AFB, Del., flew its final C-5 Galaxy flight. According to plans, the squadron converted to the C-17 Globemaster III mission on 1 April and the first of 12 C-17s arrived in June. (AFNEWS, "Dover Reserve Squadron Flies Final C-5 Flight," 13 Mar 2007.)

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World News for 10 March thanks to Military Periscope

USA—Testing Delays Push Back F-35 Full-Rate Production Decision Again Defense News | 03/10/2022 Air Force officials say that it will be at least another year before the F-35 fighter program is ready for a full-rate production decision, reports Defense News. The Milestone C decision cannot be made until the operational test and evaluation phase is completed. This phase is paused until the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) -- a virtual testbed that allows the F-35 to take on high-end threats that cannot be simulated in live training -- completes verification activities. The JSE has begun component validation, which is expected to conclude in May. Around half of the 88 packages have already completed the process. The system will then undergo validation verification, bringing the components together into broader scenarios. This validation, verification and accreditation work is expected to be completed in September, reported Breaking Defense. The F-35 will need to complete 64 test runs in the JSE before a full-rate production decision is made. Those trials are expected to take place in the early spring or summer of 2023, Lt. Gen. Eric Frick, program executive officer for the F-35 Joint Program Office, said on Tuesday. The results of the simulations will then be validated and used to create a report for the review. Accordingly, a Milestone C decision could be made as soon as the end of fiscal 2023. Any delays in the testing would likely push the decision into fiscal 2024, Frick said. 

USA—Proud Boys Leader Arrested Over Role In Jan. 6 Insurrection  Dept. Of Justice | 03/10/2022 The former leader of the Proud Boys far-right extremist group has been indicted on charges related to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, reports the Dept. of Justice. On Tuesday, Enrique Tarrio was arrested in Miami and was scheduled to make his initial appearance on Wednesday in the Southern District of Florida.  Tarrio was named in a superseding indictment returned on Monday in Washington, D.C., that included five previously charged defendants. The charges include one count each of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and obstruction of an official proceeding and two counts each of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers and destruction of government property. Tarrio served as the national chairman of the Proud Boys through at least Jan. 6, 2021. In mid-December 2021, Tarrio established a special "Ministry of Self-Defense" chapter of the organization. Tarrio and the co-defendants were leaders or members of the Ministry of Self-Defense and are accused of conspiring to corruptly obstruct, influence and impede an official proceeding, specifically the certification of the electoral college vote. Tarrio led the advance planning of the assault on the Capitol by the Proud Boys and remained in contact with members during the insurrection. Proud Boys members are alleged to have directed, mobilized and led members of the crowd onto the Capitol grounds that day and into the Capitol, dismantling metal barricades, destroying property and assaulting law enforcement. Tarrio is not accused of participating the assault on the Capitol. He had been temporarily released from custody related to a separate incident on Jan. 5 and ordered to remain outside of Washington as a condition of his release. 

USA—Army Chief Touts Planning Behind Recent European Deployments Army Times | 03/10/2022 Planning and preparation over the last several years paved the way for the rapid deployment of Army units to Europe in response to Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, according to Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville, as cited by the Army Times. A variety of planning and staging work, the establishment of new units and a renewed focus on Europe have allowed U.S. troops to "set the theater," McConville told the newspaper on Tuesday. This included reworked prepositioned stocks that have been used by units deploying to Europe as well as the reactivation of V Corps, which now has 635 soldiers stationed at Fort Knox, Ky., and another 200 personnel rotating through Europe. The former head of U.S. Army Materiel Command, the recently retired Gen. Gustave Perna, revamped prepositioned stocks and coordinated planning to pair the stocks with units rotating to Europe, elevating the Army to "an incredible level of readiness," said McConville. The Army also established a Multidomain Task Force and a Theater Fires Command in Europe last year. Those moves had reversed the drastic drawdown of U.S. forces in Europe following the end of the Cold War and in response to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sweden—PM Rejects Calls To Seek NATO Membership Financial Times | 03/10/2022 Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has pushed back against calls by opposition lawmakers to apply for NATO membership, reports the Financial Times (London). On Tuesday, Andersson said that Swedish NATO membership at this time would destabilize regional and European security and increase tensions in Europe. She made her comments after leaders from opposition center-right parties called on the government to start discussions on the possibility of joining NATO. The prime minister turned down the request for talks. The leader of Sweden's main opposition Moderate party called Andersson's announcement unfortunate and said that it risked causing a split with Finland. Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has pledged to hold a quick and comprehensive debate among the leaders of political parties on whether to join NATO. Public opinion has shifted radically in both countries following Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. For the first time, a plurality in Finland and Sweden support NATO membership. 

Ukraine—High-Level Talks In Turkey Yield No Progress Reuters | 03/10/2022 High-level talks in Turkey between Ukrainian and Russian officials have yielded no results, reports Reuters. On Thursday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, met in Antalya for the highest-level talks between the countries since Russia's unprovoked invasion. Following the meeting, Kuleba said he had sought a 24-hour cease-fire across the battlefield and the opening of a route from Mariupol to allow civilians to escape the besieged city. Lavrov did not commit to either proposal and said that there had been no discussion of a cease-fire. He also repeated Moscow's demands that Ukraine disarm and declare its neutrality. Kuleba suggested that Lavrov might lack the authority to make any decisions on a cease-fire or other issues, reported the Wall Street Journal. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said that Ukraine would open seven humanitarian corridors on Thursday, including one out of Mariupol. 

Russia—Defense Ministry Acknowledges Deployment Of Conscripts In Ukraine Cable News Network | 03/10/2022 The Russian Defense Ministry has acknowledged that conscript soldiers have been deployed to Ukraine as part of its unprovoked invasion, reports CNN. On Wednesday, a ministry spokesman said that an undisclosed number of conscripts had been "discovered" and claimed that they had since returned home. He also acknowledged that some conscripts had been captured during the fighting. On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin in a speech marking International Women's Day said that no conscripts had been sent into Ukraine, reported Reuters.  Earlier, Putin said that there were no plans to employ conscripts in the invasion and that there would be no additional call-up of reservists. 

Russia—Defense Ministry Acknowledges Deployment Of Conscripts In Ukraine Cable News Network | 03/10/2022 The Russian Defense Ministry has acknowledged that conscript soldiers have been deployed to Ukraine as part of its unprovoked invasion, reports CNN. On Wednesday, a ministry spokesman said that an undisclosed number of conscripts had been "discovered" and claimed that they had since returned home. He also acknowledged that some conscripts had been captured during the fighting. On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin in a speech marking International Women's Day said that no conscripts had been sent into Ukraine, reported Reuters.  Earlier, Putin said that there were no plans to employ conscripts in the invasion and that there would be no additional call-up of reservists. 

China—Y-8 Transport Crashes In S. China Sea Central News Agency | 03/10/2022 Taiwanese officials say that a Chinese transport aircraft crashed into the South China Sea earlier this month, reports the semi-official Central News Agency (Taipei). A Vietnamese reporter on social media said that a Y-8 cargo plane had disappeared near Sanya in Hainan on March 1. The reporter said that China then launched a search-and-rescue operation disguised as a training exercise on March 1-2.  On Thursday, the Taiwanese National Security Bureau (NSB) confirmed that the Chinese Y-8 had gone down in the South China Sea. China sealed off the area around the crash site and reasserted its territorial claims in the South China Sea, NSB officials said. Beijing continues to use its coast guard law to exert authority and threaten neighboring states with competing territorial claims in the region, the officials said. 

South Korea—Conservative Yoon Wins Presidency Yonhap | 03/10/2022 Yoon Suk Yeol of the conservative People Power Party has been elected president of South Korea, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). On Thursday, Yoon defeated Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae Myung in a tightly contested election, obtaining a 0.73 percent margin of victory. Yoon has promised to take a tougher line against North Korea and strengthen relations with the U.S. He is a foreign policy outsider, having spent most of his career as a prosecutor, including corruption investigations into the aides of incumbent Moon Jae In, reported CNN. Following his election, he pledged to seek a new relationship with Japan focused on the future rather than the disputes of the past. Yoon also promised to strengthen South Korea's security posture to deter North Korean threats. 

Japan—New Taigei-Class Sub Enters Service Diplomat | 03/10/2022 The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has commissioned its first submarine in a new class, reports the Diplomat (Tokyo). On March 9, the Taigei formally entered service during a ceremony in the Hyogo prefecture in west-central Japan. She was launched by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in October 2020. The sub is assigned to Escort Division 4, Escort Flotilla 2, which is homeported at Yokosuka naval base in the eastern Kanagawa prefecture. The Taigei class is around 10 feet (3 m) longer and 50 metric tons heavier than the preceding Soryu class. It also features new lithium-ion batteries in place of lead-acid batteries. A new combat management system is installed, and its electromagnetic and acoustic signatures have been reduced, reported Jane's. The second sub in the class, Hakugei, was launched in October and is expected to enter service in March 2023. 

Australia—Government Unveils Plans For Significantly Larger Military Australian Broadcasting Corporation | 03/10/2022 The Australian government has announced plans to increase the size of the armed forces to levels not seen since the end of the Vietnam War, reports the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Defense Minister Peter Dutton announced the plan on Thursday at the Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane, in which the number of uniformed personnel would increase by 18,500 from the current 60,000 personnel by 2040, reported Breaking Defense. This will bring uniformed personnel to 78,500 and total defense personnel, including civilians, to around 101,000. The largest increase is expected in the navy, which needs additional sailors for its planned fleet of nuclear-powered submarines and new frigates. The increase is 6,000 more personnel than the "critical minimum" recommended by the Australian Dept. of Defense to provide redundancy and resilience in the event of a major conflict. The expansion of the submarine fleet is expected to require an increase in the number of assigned sailors from 900 to 2,300. In the short term, 800 additional uniformed personnel, 250 civilians and an unspecified number of personnel for the Australian Signals Directorate will be added by 2024. The increase is in line with the 2020 Force Structure Plan, which was approved by the cabinet National Security Committee in November. Detailed planning on the increase has been underway since. Some military officials are concerned that the armed forces will not be able to recruit enough personnel to fill the new positions since it is already struggling to hit recruiting and retention targets. The expansion is expected to cost around Aus$38 billion (US$27.8 billion). 

Philippines—Initial T129 Attack Helos Finally Arrive Philippine News Agency | 03/10/2022 After a delay, the Philippine air force has received its first two of six attack helicopters purchased from Turkey, reports the official Philippine News Agency. On Wednesday, two T129s were delivered by Turkish A400M cargo aircraft at Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, an air force spokesman said. Deliveries were originally scheduled for December but were pushed back for for unknown reasons. The helicopters are scheduled to complete a technical inspection and flight tests before entering Philippine air force service. The T129s are expected to be fielded in one or two months, the spokesman said. Manila ordered six T129s from Turkish Aerospace Industries in July 2020 as part of its Modernization Plan – Horizon 2. 

Thailand—Chinese Sub Purchase Hits Snag Over Engines South China Morning Post | 03/10/2022 The Thai navy's purchase of a submarine from China has stalled over the planned installation of German engines, reports the South China Morning Post.  In 2017, the Thai government signed a US$408 million contract for an S26T submarine in a government-to-government deal with China. Last month, Thai opposition lawmaker Yutthapong Charasathien said that a review of the program's budget indicated that the boat was being assembled without German-made MTU 396 diesel engines. The contract stipulated that the sub would be powered by German engines. German Military Attache Philipp Doert told the Bangkok Post that China had not requested authorization to import German engines for the Thai submarine. Berlin refused the request because it was intended for a Chinese military/defense item, he said. Yutthapong said it was possible that the contract needed to be revised to allow for the installation of Chinese engines. Thai navy officials have not indicated whether they were aware of restrictions on the export of German components to China at the time of contract signature. 

Saudi Arabia—Houthi Drone Shot Down Near Jizan Al Arabiya | 03/10/2022 Saudi Arabia says its forces intercepted a drone launched by Houthi militants in Yemen, reports Al Arabiya (Dubai).  On Thursday, Saudi air defenses shot down an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) as it flew toward the southern city of Jizan, reported the state-run Saudi Press Agency. Shrapnel from the destroyed drone fell into civilian areas but did not cause any damage, officials said. The air vehicle was reportedly launched from Hodeidah province on Yemen's Red Sea coast. Saudi officials have previously accused Houthi rebels of launching attacks from a civilian port in the region. 

Tunisia—Air Force Set To Receive Cessna ISR Aircraft Textron Press Release | 03/10/2022 Textron Aviation says it has received a contract from ATI Engineering Services to supply utility aircraft for modification for the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance role for the Tunisian air force. Under the deal, Textron will provide four Grand Caravan EX aircraft, which will be modified by ATI with electro-optical/infrared sensors, operator console, tactical radio, video data link and night-vision-compatible lighting, the company said in a release on Monday. On Sept. 30, 2021, the Defense Dept. announced that ATI had received a US$9.7 million contract for a Tunisian ISR system covering two aircraft, noted Defence Web (South Africa). A Textron spokesman told Jane's that the company had received a follow-on contract for a third and fourth aircraft "a couple months" after the initial award. 

Nigeria—19 Security Personnel Killed In Kebbi Assault Agence France-Presse | 03/10/2022 Gunmen have killed 19 security personnel in an attack in Nigeria's northwestern Kebbi state, reports Agence France-Presse.  On Tuesday, hundreds of gunmen assaulted the village of Kanya in the Danko-Wasagu district, sparking a three-hour battle with security forces. Thirteen soldiers, five policemen and a member of a local vigilante group were reportedly killed in the fighting. Eight security personnel, including four soldiers, were injured. Afterwards, the assailants attacked another village where they kidnapped a local chief, local sources said. The attack was blamed on a group of armed criminals, locally known as bandits, who killed 57 vigilante group members in the nearby Sakba area on Monday. 

Guatemala—Air Force Receives 1st Upgraded Bell 212 Chopper AIN Online | 03/10/2022 The Guatemalan air force has taken delivery of its first upgraded Bell 212 utility helicopter, reports AIN Online. The Bell 212 was modernized by Central American Aviation Services (CAAS) at La Aurora international Airport in Guatemala City.  The helicopter was fitted with the Archangel Systems AHR150A heading sensors and flight displays and an Astronautics Badger Pro+ integrated primary flight display. The AHR150A is compliant with ARINC 429 standards, enabling compatibility with most digital cockpit displays, radar and autopilots. It can be configured to accommodate maximum allowable airspeed; altitude and airspeed corrections; angle-of-attack sensors; and temperature probes.