The List 6171 TGB
Good Tuesday Morning July 26 .
I hope that your week is off to a good start
Regards,
Skip
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This Day in Navy and Marine Corps History:
July 26
1812
USS Essex captures the British brig, HMS Leander, off Newfoundland. Engaging British vessels the following week, USS Essex burns the brig, HMS Hero, and captures the ship, Nancy, also off Newfoundland on August 2.
1852
John P. Kennedy takes office as the 21st Secretary of the Navy, serving until 7 March 1853.
1912
The first tests of an airborne wireless are conducted near Annapolis, Md. using the Wright (B 1) piloted by Lt. John Rodgers. On one flight, Ensign Charles H. Maddox, who is giving technical assistance to the aviators, sends messages to USS Stringham (TB 19) at a distance of about one and a half miles.
1946
Joy Bright Hancock is promoted to Captain and is appointed Director of the WAVES, or Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. She guides WAVES in the later 1940s the early 1950s, a period that also witnesses the Navy's women achieve status as part of the Regular Navy. Capt. Hancock retires from active duty in June 1953 and dies on Aug. 20, 1986.
1948
President Harry S. Truman signs Executive Order 9981, desegregating the Armed Services.
1954
Two AD Skyraiders of Air Group 5 from USS Philippine Sea (CVA 47) are attacked by two Chinese (LA 7) aircraft while the Skyraiders are searching for survivors of Cathay Pacific airline, which was shot down three days prior off Hainan Island. Returning fire, the Skyraiders splash both attackers.
2003
USS Mustin (DDG 89) is commissioned at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer is the second to be named Mustin, but the first to be named for the distinguished family of that name: Capt. Henry D. Mustin (1874-1923; Vice Adm. Lloyd M. Mustin (1911-1999), Vietnam War veteran Vice Adm. Henry C. Mustin II and Lt. Cmdr. Thomas M. Mustin. The first USS Mustin, DD-413 of World War II era, was named for the family patriarch: Capt. Henry D. Mustin (1874-1923), who piloted the first aircraft ever catapulted from a ship, and flew the first combat missions of American aircraft from Mississippi during the Mexican campaign in 1914.
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Today in History July 26
657 Mu'awiya defeats Caliph Ali in the Battle of Siffin in Mesopotamia.
1526 Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon and colonists leave Santo Domingo for Florida.
1529 Francisco Pizarro receives a royal warrant to "discover and conquer" Peru.
1758 British forces capture France's Fortress of Louisbourg after a seven-week siege.
1759 The French relinquish Fort Ticonderoga in New York to the British under General Jeffrey Amherst.
1775 The Continental Congress establishes a postal system for the colonies with Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster general.
1790 An attempt at a counter-revolution in France is put down by the National Guard at Lyons.
1794 The French defeat an Austrian army at the Battle of Fleurus, France.
1830 King Charles X of France issues five ordinances limiting the political and civil rights of citizens.
1847 Liberia becomes the first African colony to become an independent state.
1848 The French army suppresses the Paris uprising.
1886 William Gladstone is replaced by Lord Salisbury as Prime Minister of England.
1918 Britain's top war ace, Edward Mannock, is shot down by ground fire on the Western Front.
1920 The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified.
1948 In an Executive Order, President Harry Truman calls for the end of discrimination and segregation in the U.S. armed forces.
2005 The shuttle Discovery launches on mission STS-114, marking a return to space after the shuttle Columbia crash of 2003.
Some other notables
26 July
1944 ME-262 Scores first operational victory
1945 Potsdam Declaration is issued to the Japanese instructing them to surrender unconditionally or face total destgruction
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear … Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
Thanks to THE BEAR
… For The List for Tuesday, 26 July 2022… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 26 July 1967… A long hot summer in Detroit and "steady as she goes" in the skies of NVN…
This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear's Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip
Vietnam Air Losses
Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War
. Listed by last name and has other info
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My apologies to Patty and Al for missing this in yesterday's List
Monday Morning Humor--Patty's Birthday
Patty is blaming me for ruining her birthday today. That's ridiculous because I didn't even know it was her birthday. So in hopes of getting in her good graces, I offer the following…
Submitted by Mark Logan:
Patty's musings…
• I'm at the age where my mind still thinks I'm 29, my sense of humor suggests I'm 12, while my body mostly keeps asking if I'm sure I'm not dead yet.
• Getting older is like being a haunted house. There are sounds and smells that cannot be explained.
• Do you know how weird it is being the same age as old people?
• You know you're getting old when you barely do anything all day, but still need a nap to continue to do barely anything.
• You know you're old when you go to bed at the time you used to go out.
• You know you're getting old when you can't walk past a bathroom without thinking, "I may as weel while I'm here."
• I feel that there are a number of advantages to having gotten older. I just can't seem to remember them, though.
Submitted by Dave Harris:
More of Patty's musings…
• As I've grown older, I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but ticking everyone off is a piece of cake.
• I'm responsible for what I say, not what you understand.
• Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it the most never use it.
• It's not my age that bothers me, it's the side effects.
• I'm not saying I'm old and worn out, but I make sure I'm nowhere near the curb on trash day.
• As I watch this generation try to rewrite our history, one thing I'm sure of .. it will be misspelled and have no punctuation.
• Me, sobbing: "I'm not coming back here anymore ... I'm not going to let you hurt me again."
My Trainer: "It was one sit-up."
• As I've gotten older, people think I've become lazy. The truth is I'm just being more energy efficient.
• I haven't gotten anything done today. I've been in the Produce Department trying to open this stupid plastic bag.
• Turns out that being a "senior" is mostly just googling how to do stuff.
• I want to be 18 again and ruin my life differently. I have new ideas.
• I'm on two diets. I wasn't getting enough food on one.
• I put my scale in the bathroom corner and that's where the little liar will stay until it apologizes.
• My mind is like an internet browser. At least 19 open tabs, 3 of them are frozen, and I have no clue where the music is coming from.
• Hard to believe I once had a phone attached to a wall, and when it rang, I picked it up without knowing who was calling.
• Sometimes the universe puts you in the same situation again to see if you're still a dummy.
• There is no such thing as a grouchy old person. The truth is, once you get old you stop being polite and start being honest.
Submitted by Mike Ryan:
Even more of Patty's musings…
• I used to be able to do cartwheels. Now I tip over putting on my underwear.
• Al told me I should embrace my mistakes... so I hugged him.
• At my funeral, take the bouquet off my coffin and throw it into the crowd to see who is next.
• I thought growing old would take longer.
• I came, I saw, I forgot what I was doing. Retraced my steps, got lost on the way back. Now I have no idea what's going on.
• I think the reason we are born with two hands is so we can pet two dogs at once.
• Day 12 without chocolate. Lost hearing in my left eye.
• Scientists say the universe is made up of protons, neutrons and electrons. They forgot to mention morons.
• The adult version of "head, shoulders, knees and toes" is "wallet, glasses, keys and phone."
• A dog accepts you as the boss... a cat wants to see your resume.
• Oops.... did I roll my eyes out loud?
• Wi-fi went down for five minutes, so I had to talk to my family. They seem like nice people.
• If you see me talking to myself, just move along. I'm self-employed; we're having a staff meeting.
• I won't be impressed with technology until I can download food.
• Some people call me crazy. I prefer happy with a twist.
• My doctor asked if anyone in my family suffers from mental illness. I said, "No, we all seem to enjoy it."
• I really don't mind getting old, but my body is having a major fit.
• Camping: where you spend a small fortune to live like a homeless person.
• Al told me he wanted to be cremated. I made him an appointment for Tuesday.
• Measure once, cuss twice..
• I've reached the age where my train of thought often leaves the station without me.
• If you're happy and you know it, it's your meds.
Submitted by Skip Leonard:
Seniors are under attack and this is happening right here in our own country! We must stop this immediately!
• Have you noticed that stairs are getting steeper? Groceries are heavier. And, everything is farther away. Yesterday I walked to the corner and I was dumbfounded to discover how long our street had become!
• And, you know, people are less considerate now, especially the young ones. They speak in whispers all the time! If you ask them to speak up they just keep repeating themselves, endlessly mouthing the same silent message until they're red in the face! What do they think I am, a lip reader?
• I also think they are much younger than I was at the same age. On the other hand, people my own age are so much older than I am. I ran into an old friend the other day and she has aged so much that she didn't even recognize me. I got to thinking about the poor dear while I was combing my hair this morning, and in doing so, I glanced at my own reflection well, REALLY NOW -even mirrors are not made the way they used to be!
• Another thing, everyone drives so fast these days! You're risking life and limb if you happen to pull onto the freeway in front of them. All I can say is, their brakes must wear out awfully fast, the way I see them screech and swerve in my rear view mirror.
• Clothing manufacturers are less civilized these days. Why else would they suddenly start labeling a size 4 as 12? Do they think no one notices? The people who make bathroom scales are pulling the same prank. Do they think I actually believe the number I see on that dial? HA! I would never let myself weigh that much! Just who do these people think they're fooling?
• I'd like to call up someone in authority to report what's going on--but the telephone company is in on the conspiracy too: they've printed the phone books in such small type that no one could ever find a number in there!
All I can do is pass along this warning: WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! Unless something drastic happens pretty soon everyone will have to suffer these awful indignities.
Submitted by John Hudson:
Patty's memories…
• I'm so old I remember multiplication was called 'times tables'.
• I'm so old that when I was a kid, we actually had to win to get a trophy.
• I'm old enough to remember when paper bags were being blamed for the destruction of trees—and plastic bags were the solution.
• One minute you're 21, staying up all night partying, eating pizza, and doing sketchy stuff just for fun. THEN…in a blink of an eye you're drinking water, eating kale, and you can't do any sketchy stuff, because you pulled a muscle putting on your socks.
• When I was a kid, I didn't need an 'elf on the shelf' to motivate me to behave during Christmas time. I had a belt on the shelf that motivated me to behave the whole year through.
Happy birthday dear,
Al
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I remember watching my dad getting his brand new blue uniform ready for his first day in it. Putting all the ribbons and insignia on and making the hat. I was not that keen on the blue. What is really neat about these pictures is that I saw and remembered all these aircraft while growing up at Air Force bases all over the country. One sound you will never forget is a B-36 taking off and then you can hear it droning up at 35,000 feet. One thing I will always remember is going with my dad to the airshow at the base and he would talk to me about each airplane. One day he stopped at a funny looking airplane with no propeller and told me very soon most of the airplanes would be built like that
Skip
Thanks to Carl
The US Air Force at 75: From early jets to stealth aircraft
40 Photos with details in link! Enjoy!
In 1947, the flyboys broke away from the US Army to establish the Air Force as a separate branch. Here's a look back at the aircraft of those seven decades.
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Thanks to Brett
Geopolitical Futures:
Keeping the future in focus
Daily Memo: Strange Events and the Future of the Russo-Ukrainian War
By: George Friedman
July 26, 2022
Russia and Ukraine have signed an agreement to permit the shipping of grain through the Black Sea to world markets. A few hours after the agreement was signed in Turkey, Russia attacked the Black Sea port in Odesa. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also fired his security chief to investigate allegations of treason and dismissed his chief prosecutor and other officials – all while a U.S. congresswoman asks President Joe Biden to investigate Zelenskyy's chief of staff for his alleged ties to Russia. The war is becoming complex.
The decision to permit shipments of wheat makes sense for the rest of the world. Ukraine is the fifth-largest exporter of wheat, accounting for a little under 10 percent of global supply, and the Russian blockade drove the price of grain up dramatically. Whatever sense the agreement makes, though, it is unheard of for two nations engaged in war to reach formal agreements on the side. Stranger still is that though Russia benefits from the agreement too, it is far more beneficial for Ukraine, which not only receives more revenue but also gains a sense of security for its Black Sea ports. The attack on Odesa was no doubt meant to remind Ukraine that such agreements can be abandoned quickly, but the fact that it was reached to begin with is odd nonetheless.
Also startling is the firing of senior officials. Zelenskyy claimed that they were guilty of treason. General corruption is one thing, especially in the former Soviet Union. The invocation of treason is quite another. In some quarters of Kyiv, support for Russia is nothing new; Ukraine has more than its fair share of pro-Russia sympathizers. But if, say, the FSB had penetrated Ukrainian security – which is likely – then the weeks of speculation about their job security makes little sense. If senior officials are found to be compromised, their removal would be instant. Instead, Zelenskyy destabilized his government and unnerved his allies. (Of course, it could have been a foreign intelligence service that detected the breach, and Zelenskyy may have been reluctant until forced to act. As in all such matters, those who know don't talk, and those who talk don't know. What is clear is that this sort of matter in the course of war is not normal.)
Russians and Ukrainians sitting side by side can't help but bring to mind the possibilities of a peace treaty. The firings in Kyiv seem to indicate a degree of instability and discord in Ukraine, creating the possibility, however remote, that new considerations are being made that could lead to some kind of larger deal.
The war has been raging for five months – six months if we count the noisy leadup. It has not gone as Russia hoped. Moscow's initial offensive, a three-pronged attack on Kyiv, Odesa and Donetsk, failed for a variety of reasons: the limits of Russian logistics, the difficulty of coordinating an armored system at distance, and above all Ukrainian tactics and American weapons. The Ukrainians fought an infantry battle with a decentralized command structure and tactical mobility, and they did so with weapons such as Javelin missiles that were ideally suited for combatting the Russian army.
The Russians were forced to retreat to the east as they fought for the Donetsk region, a relatively small area along the Russian border in which Moscow already had a large presence. Moscow has been engaged there for five months, with mercifully short supply lines to Russia proper, and is now almost in control of the area. Even this highly vulnerable region predisposed to Russian victory took months to subdue. The experience there signals a long war in which Russia will struggle to project force over increasingly large areas of a country it does not really occupy.
Ukraine, meanwhile, may have had the luxury of resting and training its infantry to the west and north, but it cannot be sure of how it'll fare against new Russian tactics. Kyiv has the advantage of American weaponry and intelligence, and in theory it has the capability to at least resist a Russian offensive even if it cannot launch a larger one of its own. This is why instability at the top of the Ukrainian command is a problem. It's possible that Zelenskyy is simply cleaning house in preparation for a Russian offensive, but that doesn't explain why he dragged his feet on the dismissals. Russia might strike sooner rather than later, but the unrest at the top is likely going to trickle down to lower levels. Officers linked to offenders may lose focus, or troops might lose confidence in the chain of command. It is one thing to fight a war based on unity of purpose. It is another thing to fight the war with the chain of command uncertain.
Though it's unclear what exactly is happening in Kyiv, the Americans and the Russians are likely well informed. Assuming they didn't force the firings for reasons unknown, the Americans will be pressing to contain the purge until a later date. The Russians, who certainly have assets in the Ukrainian government and military, will seek to destabilize.
Of course, there's a chance that the firings were a minor event amounting to little more than domestic political machination. But that doesn't seem likely. More likely is that the war has created tension and risk at the highest levels of authority. The immediate challenge for Ukraine is to contain the issue before it affects the army.
Both sides, then, would seem to have an interest in a negotiated settlement. The problem is that neither side can afford one. Russia's objective was to make Russia, and Moscow in particular, secure against NATO (read: American) actions. So far, the distance to Moscow is where it was when the war started. Russia cannot accept a peace that does not move Russian control far to the west. Ukraine, and by extension the United States, might be interested in a stand-still. Russia can't accept that without risking confidence in the government.
And it's not a given that Ukraine would settle for it either. There is clearly dysfunction at the top. If Kyiv were to cede major portions of territory to Russia, things would get only more dysfunctional. For the West, moving the Russian border closer to Eastern Europe would not end the war; it would only create the pretext for the next. The closer Russia is to the western Ukrainian border, the more it must be assumed that Russia would choose to move farther still. True or not, it must be assumed.
As the risks mount for both sides, a settlement seems likely. The agreement on grain was obviously signed with some notion of what it could mean. The concept of a peace agreement is sound, but the geography of such an agreement, and the imperatives on both sides, seems to make this impossible. What is needed here is fear.
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This Day in U S Military History…….July 26
1942 – About 400 miles southeast of Fiji, the American aircraft carriers Wasp, Enterprise and Saratoga rendezvous with the invasion force for Guadalcanal. It is the most powerful force the US Navy has yet assembled in the Pacific.
1942 – Actor Gene Autry is sworn into the Army Air Corps on the air, during his regular radio show, Gene Autry's Melody Ranch. He served as an officer until 1945, when he resumed his show. Autry was born in Tioga, Texas, in 1907, the son of a livestock and horse trader who was also a Baptist minister. The family later moved to Oklahoma. In high school, Autry worked as a railway telegrapher at the local railroad depot, where he spent slow moments strumming his $8 guitar and singing. Passing through the depot one day, a stranger-who turned out to be Will Rogers-suggested that Autry try singing on the radio. Inspired, Autry traveled to New York City to look for a singing job but had no luck. Back home, he began working for a local radio station and found success as "Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy." Eventually, Autry and railroad dispatcher Jim Long wrote several country songs, including the world's first gold record, "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine." Autry became a regular on National Barn Dance, the forerunner of the Grand Ole Opry. In 1934, producer Nat Levine was looking for an actor who could sing and ride a horse. Autry wasn't an actor but had already established a loyal radio audience, so Levine put him in numerous B-grade westerns. Playing the lead role in a long-running series of Saturday matinee films, Autry became America's favorite singing cowboy. In 1940, his musical-variety radio show, Gene Autry's Melody Ranch, debuted; it ran until 1956. He became America's favorite TV cowboy in 1950 when he debuted The Gene Autry Show, which ran through 1956. In each episode, he and his sidekick, Pat Buttram, rode from town to town, maintaining law and order. From "Back in the Saddle Again" to yuletide mainstays such as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman," Autry's music became part of American life. He was also an entrepreneur, owning hotels, gas stations, and the California Angels baseball team, among other ventures. He also owned a television production company and was proud of discovering "Annie Oakley" star Gail Davis, whom he featured in dozens of his movies and television program episodes and who had performed in his traveling rodeo. Her appearances spun off into her own series, which Autry's company produced. Autry was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1969. Autry died in 1998.
1972 – Although South Vietnamese paratroopers hoist their flag over Quang Tri Citadel, they prove unable to hold the Citadel for long or to secure Quang Tri City. Fighting outside the city remained intense. Farther to the south, South Vietnamese troops under heavy shelling were forced to abandon Fire Base Bastogne, which protected the southwest approach to Hue. North Vietnamese troops had captured Quang Tri City on May 1 as part of their Nguyen Hue Offensive (later called the "Easter Offensive"), a massive invasion by North Vietnamese forces that had been launched on March 31. The attacking force included 14 infantry divisions and 26 separate regiments, with more than 120,000 troops and approximately 1,200 tanks and other armored vehicles. The main North Vietnamese objectives, in addition to Quang Tri in the north, were Kontum in the Central Highlands, and An Loc farther to the south. Initially, the South Vietnamese defenders were almost overwhelmed, particularly in the northernmost provinces, where they abandoned their positions in Quang Tri. At Kontum and An Loc, the South Vietnamese were more successful in defending against the attacks, but only after weeks of bitter fighting. Although the defenders suffered heavy casualties, they managed to hold their own with the aid of U.S. advisors and American airpower. Fighting continued all over South Vietnam into the summer months. The heavy fighting would continue in the area of Quang Tri and Hue until September, when the South Vietnamese forces finally succeeded in recapturing Quang Tri. With the communist invasion blunted, President Nixon declared that the South Vietnamese victory proved the viability of his "Vietnamization" program, which he had instituted in 1969 to increase the combat capability of the South Vietnamese armed forces so U.S. troops could be withdrawn.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
COREY, WILLIAM
Rank and organization: Landsman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1853, New York, N.Y. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 215, 9 August 1876. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Plymouth, Navy Yard, New York, 26 July 1876. Showing heroic conduct, Corey endeavored to save the life of one of the crew of that ship who had fallen overboard from aloft.
GIDDING, CHARLES
Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1853, Bangor, Maine. Accredited to: Maine. G.O. No.: 215, 9 August 1876. Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Plymouth, Gidding showed heroic conduct in trying to save the life of one of the crew of that ship, who had fallen overboard from aloft at the Navy Yard, New York, 26 July 1876.
KERSEY, THOMAS
Rank and organization: Ordinary Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1847, St. Johns, Newfoundland. Accredited to: Massachusetts. G.O. No.: 215, 9 August 1876. Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Plymouth at the Navy Yard, New York, 26 July 1876, Kersey displayed bravery and presence of mind in rescuing from drowning one of the crew of that vessel.
BATSON, MATTHEW A.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 4th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Calamba, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 26 July 1899. Entered service at: Carbondale, Ill. Birth: Anna, Ill. Date of issue: 8 March 1902. Citation: Swam the San Juan River in the face of the enemy's fire and drove him from his entrenchments.
McGRATH, HUGH J.
Rank and organization: Captain, 4th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Calamba, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 26 July 1899. Entered service at: Eau Claire, Wis. Birth: Fond du Lac, Wis. Date of issue: 29 April 1902. Citation: Swam the San Juan River in the face of the enemy's fire and drove him from his entrenchments.
WILSON, LOUIS HUGH, JR.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, Commanding Rifle Company, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division. Place and date: Fonte Hill, Guam, 25-26 July 1944. Entered service at: Mississippi. Born: 11 February 1920, Brandon, Miss. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of a rifle company attached to the 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Fonte Hill, Guam, 25-26 July 1944. Ordered to take that portion of the hill within his zone of action, Capt. Wilson initiated his attack in mid-afternoon, pushed up the rugged, open terrain against terrific machinegun and rifle fire for 300 yards and successfully captured the objective. Promptly assuming command of other disorganized units and motorized equipment in addition to his own company and 1 reinforcing platoon, he organized his night defenses in the face of continuous hostile fire and, although wounded 3 times during this 5-hour period, completed his disposition of men and guns before retiring to the company command post for medical attention. Shortly thereafter, when the enemy launched the first of a series of savage counterattacks lasting all night, he voluntarily rejoined his besieged units and repeatedly exposed himself to the merciless hail of shrapnel and bullets, dashing 50 yards into the open on 1 occasion to rescue a wounded marine Iying helpless beyond the frontlines. Fighting fiercely in hand-to-hand encounters, he led his men in furiously waged battle for approximately 10 hours, tenaciously holding his line and repelling the fanatically renewed counterthrusts until he succeeded in crushing the last efforts of the hard-pressed Japanese early the following morning. Then organizing a 17-man patrol, he immediately advanced upon a strategic slope essential to the security of his position and, boldly defying intense mortar, machinegun, and rifle fire which struck down 13 of his men, drove relentlessly forward with the remnants of his patrol to seize the vital ground. By his indomitable leadership, daring combat tactics, and valor in the face of overwhelming odds, Capt. Wilson succeeded in capturing and holding the strategic high ground in his regimental sector, thereby contributing essentially to the success of his regimental mission and to the annihilation of 350 Japanese troops. His inspiring conduct throughout the critical periods of this decisive action sustains and enhances the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for July 26, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
26 July
1915: Through 29 July, Capt Benjamin D. Foulois and his 1st Aero Squadron with 8 JN-2 airplanes traveled from San Diego by train to Fort Sill, Okla. There they participated in observation and fire control experiments with the Field Artillery School. (24)
1937: Jacqueline Cochran, flying a Beechcraft, set the women's US record of 203.895 MPH for 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). (24)
1939: A B-17 Flying Fortress, carrying a 1,123-pound load, set a 204-MPH average speed record over a closed triangular course of 1,000 kilometers. 1943: A flight of 10 P-47s destined for various units in the United Kingdom, supported by two B-24s and one C-87, flew from Presque Isle, Me., to Prestwick, Scotland, with stops at Goose Bay, Labrador, Bluie West One, Greenland, and Reykjavik, Iceland. The formation lost one P-47 in a landing accident at Greenland, while a second P-47 developed a mechanical problem on the last leg to Prestwick and had to return to Iceland. When the eight P-47s landed at Prestwick on 11 August, the pilots achieved the first, last, and only flight of single-engine fighters (reciprocating engines) across the Atlantic in World War II. The P-47 with mechanical problems made the flight to Prestwick on 12 August. The P-47 pilots from the 2d Ferrying Group at Newcastle Army AB in Wilmington, Del., included Capt Barry Goldwater, who ran as the Republican nominee for President in 1964. 1949: The National Military Establishment announced production of the Sikorsky H-5H, the first amphibian helicopter.
1951: The US services created Project LINCOLN, an Armed Forces-supported and MIT-managed study of the air defense program. (24)
1958: Explorer IV, a US Army satellite, placed in orbit. (16) (24) Capt Iven C. Kincheloe, a Korean War ace who set a 126,200-foot altitude record in 1956, died in a F-104 crash at Edwards AFB. In September 1959, the Air Force renamed Kinross AFB, Mich., as Kincheloe AFB. (24)
1960: The Pershing I missile first launched from a mobile tactical launcher. (16) (24)
1963: The launch of Syncon 2 placed the first satellite in a geosynchronous orbit. The satellite's speed matched the earth's rotation, which allowed it to remain over the same geographic area. (21)
1970: In a Schleicher ASW-12 sailplane, Ben Green and Wallace A. Scott and set a new glider record of 717 miles for straight-line distance between Odessa, Tx., and Columbus, N. Mex.
1971: APOLLO XV. The Apollo XV Endeavor capsule carried David R. Scott, Alfred M. Worden, Jr., and James B. Irwin, on the fourth moon mission from Kennedy Space Center. The lunar module Falcon separated from the Endeavor and landed in the Moon's Hadley-Apennine region near Salyut Crater on 30 July. It left on 2 August and landed in the Pacific on 7 August. Apollo XV had two firsts: use of a lunar rover and first deep space walk. The mission also set three FAI records: greatest mass lifted from the earth to lunar orbit, 76,278 pounds; time outside a spacecraft on the moon, Scott with 18 hours 18 minutes; and distance traveled on the moon, 16,470 feet in the Lunar Rover. (9)
1972: North American Rockwell selected to develop a $2.6 billion space shuttle and space transportation system. (12)
2005: The Space Shuttle Discovery made the first "Return to Flight" flight into space (STS-114) after the 1 February 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. On 9 August, the Discovery returned from its successful trip to resupply the International Space Station. Prolonged bad weather in Florida caused Mission Commander Eileen Collins to land at Edwards AFB. The external tank debris problem that destroyed Columbia unexpectedly recurred during Discovery's launch. As a result, on July 27 NASA postponed future flights to make additional modifications to the flight hardware. On 4 July 2006, NASA resumed shuttle flights with STS-121. (3)
2006: A C-17 from the 62 AW at McChord AFB airdropped a 72,000 pound mockup of a 65-foot long rocket booster over Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards AFB. The airdrop was the third in a series of airdrop tests flown to verify the C-17's ability to safely release at launch altitude the AirLaunch Company's QuickReach rockets, which carried small satellites into low-earth orbit under the Falcon Small Launch Vehicle (SLV) program. This was the heaviest weight ever dropped by a C-17 and a new record for the heaviest single item ever dropped from an aircraft. (3)
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World News for 26 July thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Austal Wins Contract For 2 More Salvage Ships Austal | 07/26/2022 Austal USA says it has been awarded a contract for two more salvage and rescue ships for the U.S. Navy. The company announced on Sunday that it had received a $156.2 million contract for the third and fourth Navajo-class towing, salvage and rescue (T-ATS). The Navy ordered the first two ships in the class in October 2021. Construction of the third and fourth ships (T-ATS-13 and T-ATS-14) is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2023 and first half of 2024, respectively. Delivery would follow in the second half of 2025 and first half of 2026. The oceangoing tugs feature a multimission hull capable of towing heavy ships and supporting missions such as oil-spill response, humanitarian assistance, search-and-rescue and surveillance, said Austal.
Ukraine—Russia Continues Strikes On Black Sea Ports Reuters | 07/26/2022 Russia has conducted fresh attacks on Ukrainian Black Sea ports days after signing an agreement that would permit safe passage for ships carrying agricultural products from Ukraine, reports Reuters. On Tuesday, Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Senkevich said that Russia had launched "a massive missile strike" on southern Ukraine from aircraft over the Black Sea. Moscow attacked port infrastructure in Odesa on Saturday, a day after inking a deal to allow Ukraine to export grain safely through its Black Sea ports. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the Russian attack on Odesa as "barbarism," and said it demonstrated that Moscow could not be trusted. Russia claimed its strikes on Tuesday hit eight Ukrainian missile and weapons depots in the region.
Afghanistan—Progress Seen In Possible Deal To Release Central Bank Funds Reuters | 07/26/2022 Afghan and U.S. officials have exchanged proposals to release billions of dollars in Afghan central bank reserves held abroad to a trust fund in an effort to relieve an ongoing economic crisis, reports Reuters. Such a move could restore trust in the central bank by establishing a wall between the funds and the de facto Afghan government led by the Taliban. U.S. negotiators indicated that the trust fund could resemble the World Bank-administered Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund designed to move foreign donations to Afghanistan without funding the Taliban. Washington has been in talks with Switzerland and other parties on a possible mechanism that would include the trust fund. An international board would approve disbursements, said an unnamed U.S. official. However, Taliban negotiators oppose third-party control over central bank assets and have rejected requests to replace top political appointees at the bank, one of whom is under U.S. sanctions. Around US$9 billion in Afghan reserves have been held internationally since the Taliban overthrew the Western-backed government in Kabul last year. The U.S. holds around US$7 billion, half of which President Joe Biden ordered set aside "for the benefit of the Afghan people." The other half is being contested in lawsuits against the Taliban related to the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001, although courts could decide to release those funds as well.
Australia—S. Korea Offers Conventional Subs To Bridge Anticipated Capability Gap Breaking Defense | 07/26/2022 South Korean defense officials met with their Australian counterparts to discuss strengthening cooperation, including conventional submarines to bridge the gap between its aging Collins-class boats and planned nuclear-powered subs, reports Breaking Defense. The Collins class is expected to operate safely until 2030. However, experts believe it could take until 2040 for Australia to field its planned nuclear boats. During a dinner in Canberra on July 21, South Korean officials touted the new KSS-III design, which they said would be the largest and quietest conventionally powered submarine in the world as well as the first air-independent propulsion-powered boat that can launch ballistic missiles. The design also features comfortable accommodations to increase crew morale and effectiveness, the officials said. The talks also covered the South Korean Redback armored vehicle, which is competing for an Australian army contract for 450 infantry fighting vehicles, first flight of the indigenously designed KF-21 fighter jet and a low Earth orbit national communications system. South Korean Amb. Jeong Sik Kang emphasized that Seoul is less interested in specific defense contracts than developing broader and deeper defense ties with Australia.
Democratic Republic of the Congo—5 Die In Protests At U.N. Peacekeeper Base In Goma Africa News Online | 07/26/2022 At least five people have been killed as protests at the U.N. peacekeeping base in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo entered their second day, reports Africa News (Republic of the Congo). On Monday, hundreds of protesters stormed the U.N. base in Goma and a logistics facility outside the city. The demonstrators smashed windows and looted computers, furniture and other valuables from the building. A government spokesman said at least five protesters had been killed and 50 injured during protests on Tuesday, reported Reuters. Witnesses said that they saw peacekeepers shoot live rounds at a largely peaceful crowd, killing two and injuring two others. The demonstrations came after Modeste Bahati, the president of the Congolese Senate, told supporters in Goma on July 15 that MONUSCO should leave the country, citing its failure to protect civilians from dozens of militias active in the eastern part of the country.
Indonesia—U.S. Defense Chief Pays Visit As President Heads To Beijing Australian Broadcasting Corporation | 07/26/2022 Gen. Mark Milley became the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to visit Indonesia since 2008 as part of efforts to shore up ties in the region, reports the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Milley met with his Indonesian counterpart, Gen. Andika Perkasa, and warned of growing Chinese aggression in the region. He called Indonesia a key regional partner. Following the visit, Perkasa told reporters that Indonesia found China to be more assertive and "a little bit aggressive" with naval vessels in connection with territorial disputes. The visit comes after Washington approved a US$20 billion sale of advanced fighter jets to Indonesia earlier this year. In late 2021, the sides also signed an agreement to enhance joint naval training. Meanwhile, on Monday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo kicked off a visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, reported the Global Times, the English-language newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party. Chinese officials said the visit was focused on strengthening economic ties.
Iraq—New Air Defense Operations Center To Use French, American Radars Iraqi News Agency | 07/26/2022 Iraq has formally launched construction on a new operations center for its air defense command, reports the Iraqi News Agency. On Sunday, Defense Minister Juma Inad and Lt. Gen. Maan al-Saadi, the air defense command chief, oversaw the laying of the foundation stone for the new operations center. During the event, Inad said that long-range radars from the U.S. would soon arrive, while Iraq was working to choose new low- and medium-altitude radars. The new U.S. radars were the AN/TPS-77 long-range surveillance systems, reported Army Recognition. Meanwhile, Thales officials said the new air defense headquarters was part of an extension of the company's activities in Iraq. In the first phase, Thales was supplying four GM-403 long-range radars with a command and operations center. The second phase involved 14 GM-200 tactical air defense radars. Thales would also train Iraqi air defense personnel to independently operate and maintain the radars, the officials said.
Taiwan—Live-Fire Phase Of Annual Han Kuang Drills Kicks Off Taipei Times | 07/26/2022 The Taiwanese military has just begun a week-long live-fire exercise simulating its response to a Chinese invasion, reports the Taipei Times. The active component of the annual Han Kuang exercise began on Monday, with F-16V fighters launching from Hualien air base to defend Taiwan's east coast. Meanwhile, some jets based in western Taiwan were dispatched to Hualien following the simulated destruction of their facilities. C-130 transports also took fighter maintenance personnel and equipment to designated locations in eastern Taiwan. Warships and troops also simulated defensive tactics in the face of mock air and missile attacks. The live-fire drills are scheduled to conclude on Friday.
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