To All,
Good Wednesday Morning 14 December.
Beautiful clear sunny and cold morning here.
This Friday 16 December from 5 to y7 /the tail Hook get together will be at the MCAS Miramar O'Club.
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This Day in Navy and Marine Corps History
December 14
1814
Under the command of Commodore Thomas Catesby Jones, U.S. gunboats, along with Sea Horse and Alligator, engage the British during the Battle of Lake Borgne, La. Though the American flotilla is defeated, the engagement delays the British attack on New Orleans for nine days, buying precious time for Gen. Andrew Jacksons successful defense of New Orleans.
1911
USS California (ACR 6) breaks a red, white, and blue ribbon stretched across a Hawaiian channel to become the first ship to call on Pearl Harbor after it becomes a naval base.
1944
The rank of Fleet Admiral (five-star admiral) of the U.S. Navy is established during World War II due to the rapid build-up of U.S. military forces. The first five-star admirals are: William D. Leahy, Ernest J. King, and Chester W. Nimitz. Adm. William F. Halsey joined the selected group Dec. 11, 1945.
1944
Task Force 38 aircraft begins the attack on Japanese transport Oryoku Maru which, unbeknownst to the Task Force, is carrying approximately 1,600 Allied prisoners of war. The following day, the ship is sunk at Subic Bay.
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This Day In History 14 December
1799 George Washington dies on his Mount Vernon estate.
1819 Alabama is admitted as the 22nd state, making 11 slave states and 11 free states.
1861 Prince Albert of England, one of the Union's strongest advocates, dies.
1863 Confederate General James Longstreet attacks Union troops at Bean's Station, Tenn.
1900 Max Planck presents the quantum theory at the Physics Society in Berlin.
1906 The first U1 submarine is brought into service in Germany. Italy's MAS torpedo boats.
1908 The first truly representative Turkish Parliament opens.
1909 The Labor Conference in Pittsburgh ends with a "declaration of war" on U.S. Steel.
1911 Roald Amundsen and four others discover the South Pole.
1920 The League of Nations creates a credit system to aid Europe.
1939 The League of Nations drops the Soviet Union from its membership. Joseph Avenol sold out the League of Nations.
1941 German Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel orders the construction of defensive positions along the European coastline. Desperate Hours on Omaha Beach
1946 The United Nations adopt a disarmament resolution prohibiting the A-Bomb.
1949 Bulgarian ex-Premier Traicho Kostov is sentenced to die for treason in Sofia.
1960 A U.S. Boeing B-52 bomber sets a 10,000-mile non-stop record without refueling.
1980 NATO warns the Soviets to stay out of the internal affairs of Poland, saying that intervention would effectively destroy the détente between the East and West.
1981 Israel's Knesset passes the Golan Heights Law, extending Israeli law to the Golan Heights area.
1994 Construction begins on China's Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River.
1995 The Dayton Agreement signed in Paris; establishes a general framework for ending the Bosnian War between Bosnia and Herzegovina.
1999 Tens of thousands die as a result of flash floods caused by torrential rains in Vargas, Venezuela.
2003 Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan, narrowly escapes and assassination attempt.
2004 The Millau Viaduct, the world's tallest bridge, official opens near Millau, France.
2008 Iraqi broadcast journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi throws his shoes at US President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad.
2012 At Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Conn., 20 children and six adults are shot to death by a 20-year-old gunman who then commits suicide.
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
… For The List for Wednesday, 14 December 2022… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 14 December 1967.
The Red River Gauntlet…the enemy's Integrated Air Defense System 1967…
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 https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
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This Week In American Military History
Fredericksburg to Bastogne
by W. Thomas Smith Jr.
12/13/2011
Dec. 11, 1941: Four days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, isolated and embattled U.S. Marines – and a few good sailors, soldiers, and civilian contractors – put up a heroic defense of Wake Island in the Pacific, beating back an attempted Japanese landing with heavy losses to the enemy.
Wake will fall by Christmas. But the heroics exhibited by the American defenders – basically two companies of Marines holding off the Japanese Navy for two weeks – will be compared to the heroic nearly-two-week defense of the Alamo in 1836.
Dec. 15, 1862: Union Army Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside ends his disastrous series of frontal attacks against Gen. Robert E. Lee's well-entrenched Confederate forces along Marye's Heights during the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia. It is during the battle that Lee – emotionally moved by the valor of the Federal Army, which, despite terrible losses, attacks his impregnable position time-and-again – says, "It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it."
Dec. 16, 1944: A massive German Army force — composed of SS Panzer (SS armored units), Volksgrenadier (infantry), Panzergrenadier (armored infantry), and Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers) — burst through the snow-covered Ardennes Forest and smash headlong into the weakest stretch of the Allied frontlines in Belgium.
The attack — which will become known as the Battle of the Bulge (because of the temporary bulging salient the German thrust will create in the Allied
lines) — is a last ditch gamble on the part of the Germans, a surprise counteroffensive aimed at cutting American and British forces in half; crossing the Meuse River; encircling, isolating, and destroying Allied armies west of the Meuse; and perhaps reaching the North Sea.
It is not to be.
Despite the initial shock along a 60-to-70-mile front – and a 50-mile-deep penetration – German forces will quickly find themselves running up against giants of men like Gen. Anthony McAuliffe's diehard paratroopers of the crack 101st Airborne Division, who – though surrounded, outnumbered, outgunned, freezing, and nearly starving to death – refuse to surrender the strategically vital highway hub at Bastogne.
The battle, which will last until Jan. 28, 1945, will prove to be the largest land battle in western Europe during World War II, and it will be a decisive American victory. But it will not be without heavy losses: 19,000 American soldiers will be killed out of 81,000 total U.S. casualties in five weeks
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Thanks to Michael ...and Dr. Rich
The A-10's should go to the USMC for close air support !!!
This was tried several years ago, by SECNAV, but then SECAF suddenly had a crush on them … and thwarted.
For the first time in roughly a decade, Congress is allowing the Air Force to retire some of its A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, which have saved the lives of countless troops on the ground but are just not designed to survive against modern Chinese and Russian air defenses.
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Thanks to 'Brett
Geopolitical Futures:
Keeping the future in focus
https://geopoliticalfutures.com
Daily Memo: Kosovo Again
R
By: George Friedman
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There have been skirmishes between armed ethnic Serb protesters and Kosovo police. The reason is that a while ago, Kosovo ordered that drivers surrender Serbian-issued license plates and replace them with Kosovo plates. On Dec. 10, Serbs living in northern Kosovo started erecting barricades. Kosovo residents confronted them, and Kosovo police blocked the border checkpoints. A traffic jam ensued, and so did a small shootout, including the use of a stun grenade. The shooting has died down but the threats have mounted.
A shootout over license plates may seem excessive, but this is the Balkans. It is a relatively small area with multiple nationalities, and the political borders don't match the ethnic borders. In the 1990s, there was a brutal civil war among those ethnic groups. For example, Serbs are Christians and Bosniaks are Muslims. Serbs and Bosnians live in proximity to each other. The civil war that broke out included concentration camps, where some estimate that 100,000 Bosnians died – a number denied by the Serbians. However, no one doubts it was a blood bath.
The fighting threatened to extend to Kosovo, south of Serbia. The Kosovars are ethnic Albanians and Muslims living in an area that Serbia claims. When Serbian forces began to enter Kosovo, U.S. and European governments, aware of the slaughter in Bosnia, were concerned that another blood bath would take place in Kosovo. NATO aircraft, primarily British and American, carried out airstrikes to force the Serbians to leave. The bombing was extended to Serbia, and included strikes against the capital, Belgrade. Those strikes caused substantial casualties on Serbian citizens.
The United States wanted to reach a cease-fire with the Serbians. The president of Serbia refused, partly out of anger over the bombing of Belgrade, and partly because he was afraid that he would face charges in The Hague – which he ultimately did. Unable to secure Serbia's capitulation, the airstrikes continued.
The U.S. reached out to the Russians, who had close relations with the Serbians. The Russians persuaded them to accept a cease-fire. In return, the Russians expected to be treated as equal occupiers of Serbia and Kosovo, imposing the cease-fire on all regions as NATO's equal. The Americans deny that they agreed to this with the Russians. The Russians say they had no reason to negotiate with NATO except for this. Russian troops arrived in Kosovo's airport to serve as peacekeepers. They were surrounded by NATO troops and forced to leave. This event had a great deal of influence on the rise of Vladimir Putin and his distrust of the United States. It convinced him that the U.S. wanted to crush Russia, and he rose to the presidency on a promise not to allow Russia to be treated with contempt in the future.
So the Kosovars and Serbians are fighting over license plates and whatnot. What would appear trivial to others is not trivial here. In the Balkans, memories are long and unforgiving. The Balkans affect everything around them. World War I started in Bosnia. But for our time, the conclusion of the Kosovo war bred a deep Russian distrust of the United States.
Now there is a war involving Russia and the United States. It is not going well for Russia thus far. When fighting a war, forcing the enemy to divert his attention is critical, particularly when there is – at best for Russia – a stalemate. They have looked for other ways to distract the Ukrainians, but it is the Americans that must be distracted.
Serbia is close to Russia, as it has been for a long time. The United States has a deep history in the region. Another conflict between Serbia and Kosovo would not by itself change the course of the Ukrainian war, but it may, at low cost, cause the Americans to lose some focus if they were to divert forces to protect Kosovo, a sort of obligation going back to the 1990s. At any rate, Russia has little to lose and Serbia is always ready to tangle with Kosovo.
We began with a little gunplay between Serbia and Kosovo over matters too trivial to be believed. Consider that the reason for the gunfight had nothing to do with trivial matters, but with trying to recreate the Kosovo war. If the Russians wanted a low-cost, low-risk diversion, they had many chips to call in with Serbia. Of course, there have been clashes before this, but there are always clashes. The question is not how they start but what they lead to. So watching the Serbia-Kosovo border may be worthwhile.
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|Thanks to Shadow from the Archives
Crusader vs Skyray
The other event was even more memorable and didn't involved the Navy at all, other than being curious observers. That year, two fighter squadrons showed up… one was flying the rather long in tooth F4D Skyray… the other, the relatively new at the time, F8U Crusader. One plane at the end of its' service life and the other at the beginning of theirs. As I mentioned, the pilots were staying at the new BOQ on the hill… and in the evenings there'd be lots of mutual squadron camaraderie and insults going back and forth between the two squadrons. As with all masculine interactions… often things said or done in jest… sometimes gets out of hand. During a Friday afternoon Happy Hour in the BOQ Bar… insults went from funny... to a bridge too far. It culminated when an F-8 Driver claimed the F4D guys were flying a dinosaur... that should have been put out to pasture a decade or more before. The F-8 could fly circles around it any day of the week. It escalated until the F4D Skipper stood up… and issued a challenge. "If you guys think your Crusader is so shit hot… I'm willing to bet a case of beer from every pilot and Staff NCO in my squadron, versus a case of beer from your pilots and Staff NCO's… that our "Ford" can beat your MACH II wonder, to 15 to 20,000 feet from a standing start any day of the week. The F-8 C.O. immediately accepted the challenge! Evidently he had never flown an F4D or knew much about them. They set the contest for the following weekend… beer bust to follow!
Now word got around around the base and it attracted it a lot of curiosity from the locals as well as among the Marines. Each Skipper would be flying and more than a little planning was involved. Each decided to take on minimum fuel for the climb and each aircraft would be towed to the end of the runway with start carts. There was a starter assigned who had one of those checkerboard flags off a "Follow Me" truck… it would be his job to start the race after the two aircraft were started. There were also two airplanes launched ahead of time to observe and to insure no cheating. They would confirm the winner. We heard the two squadrons were even exploring a weight reduction program (not verified).
The day of the great "Great Reach For The Sky" race, finally arrived… each squadron lined up on opposite sides of the runway as the planes were pulled in the start position. Myself and about 75 other locals were up on the ridge line of South Delicious Hill… part of a series of hillsides that paralleled the runway. It was the best view in the house as we were looking down on the scene below… Once positioned… the aircraft were started and the Flag man moved in between both airplanes just forward of their noses. Once both pilots gave him a thumbs up… he took a few steps back and twirled his fingers of his right hand as a signal for both aircraft to come up on the power to 100%… once stabilized, he raises the flag up with both hands and then turns down the runway and swings the flag down as a signal that the race was on! SHOW TIME! Both planes went into full After Burner… and we could hear the retorts of the hard light burners up on the hill. The Race was on! To my surprise, the little F4D leaped out in front of the Crusader. We were all amazed that after what appeared to be a very short run, the Ford rotated to about 45 degrees nose up and got airborne before the Crusader even came close to flying speed; as he rocketed past the already airborne Ford, still on the ground. What was incredible... was the Ford's nose never dropped or lowered... and it actually seemed to accelerate in its' nose high attitude. He climbed like a home sick angel! It was astounding! They had settled on 15K for the race… by the time the Crusader reached. Flying speed… the little F4D was already past about 5K. Honestly… it was no contest. The Ford beat the Crusader to 15K by a huge margin! As he topped out and the two observers in the air confirmed he was past 15K as the Crusader was still reaching… the Ford Driver rolled off on one wing and dived down toward the runway to an almost perfect short pattern to final heading to the runway and executed a perfect landing in front of the troops and coasted all the way to their parking area off the runway to the cheers of his troops! What a display! We could hear the troops yelling and hats on one side of the runway were flying in the air! About two or three minutes later… the Crusader finally enters the pattern and lands… as he came to the turn off from the runway… he coasted to a stop. We're all wondering what he was up to… when we see a tug leave their flight line with a tow bar. The pilot raised his canopy and just sat there. The tug pulled up and two guys jumped off… attached the tow bar to the nose gear, then the tug and began towing it back to their ramp. It then became clear… theCrusader had flamed out on the runway! Outta gas! Man, that was cutting it close! They had put the absolute minimum of fuel onboard for the time to climb race. In less than 10 minutes from takeoff to landing, he was out of fuel!
It was one of the highlights of my time at Roosey Roads… but... here were so many more! Awesome!
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December 14
This Day in U S Military History
1863 – General Beauregard ordered Lieutenant Dixon, CSA, to proceed with submarine H. L. Hunley to the mouth of Charleston harbor and "sink and destroy any vessel of the enemy with which he can come in conflict." The General directed that "such assistance- as may he practicable" he rendered to Lieutenant Dixon.
1903 – The Wright brothers make their first attempt to fly with the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. With the help of men from the nearby government life-saving station (today's Coast Guard), the Wrights moved the Flyer and its launching rail to the incline of a nearby sand dune, Big Kill Devil Hill, intending to make a gravity-assisted takeoff. The brothers tossed a coin to decide who would get the first chance at piloting, and Wilbur won. The airplane left the rail, but Wilbur pulled up too sharply, stalled, and came down in about three seconds with minor damage. Repairs after the abortive first flight took three days.
1941 – U.S. Marines made a stand in battle for Wake Island. Wake Island defenders were left with one aircraft surviving Japanese attacks.
1942 – Japanese reinforcement land about 30 miles west of Gona and begin marching toward the Australian flank. In Buna, the American's take the village, but the Japanese still hold the well fortified Government Station.
1944 – Congress established the rank of General of Army, the 5-star General.
1944 – Rank of Fleet Admiral, U.S. Navy (five star admiral) is established. It is interesting to note that each of these officers followed a differently patterned naval career. Only eight years of seniority separated them. They served as younger officers when the Navy was making its expansion in aviation and submarine development. One of these officers was essentially a destroyer officer and aviator with only one short tour ashore in Washington. One was a submariner with European training in diesel propulsion, a big ship sailor with shore cruises in Washington including Chief of Naval Personnel. One had almost all his sea duty in big ships and with the exception of one tour, all shore duty in Washington, including being chief of two bureaus. Only one had a seagoing career in the surface, submarine and aviation branches of the service with shore tours including the head of the Postgraduate School and the Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics. Three served as Chiefs of Naval Operations. The Navy's Fleet Admirals were: William Daniel Leahy, Ernest Joseph King, Chester William Nimitz, and William Frederick Halsey, Jr.
1944 – The former NYK liner Oryoku Maru left Manila with 1619 American POWs packed in the holds. U.S. Navy planes from the "Hornet" attacked, causing the Hell Ship to sink the following day. Only 200 of the men survived.
1944 – US 3rd Army continues advancing east of Sarreguemines while US 9st Army reaches the Roer River bank.
1944 – US Task Force 38 (Admiral McCain) launches air strikes on airfields throughout Luzon. TF38 includes 13 carriers, 8 battleships and numerous cruisers and destroyers. The attacks are in support of the American landing on Mindoro.
1945 – Captain Sue S. Dauser receives the first Distinguished Service Medal awarded to a nurse.
1986 – The experimental aircraft Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, took off from Edwards Air Force Base in California on the first non-stop, non-refueled flight around the world. The trip took nine days.
1999 – In Panama former US Pres. Jimmy Carter symbolically turned over the Panama Canal. The official ownership transfer date was Dec 31.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
BROGAN, JAMES
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company G, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Simon Valley, Ariz., 14 December 1877. Entered service at: ——. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 9 January 1880. Citation: Engaged singlehanded 2 renegade Indians until his horse was shot under him and then pursued them so long as he was able.
NEPPEL, RALPH G.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company M, 329th Infantry, 83d Infantry Division. Place and date: Birgel, Germany, 14 December 1944. Entered service at: Glidden, lowa. Birth: Willey, lowa. G.O. No.: 77, 10 September 1945. Citation: He was leader of a machinegun squad defending an approach to the village of Birgel, Germany, on 14 December 1944, when an enemy tank, supported by 20 infantrymen, counterattacked. He held his fire until the Germans were within 100 yards and then raked the foot soldiers beside the tank killing several of them. The enemy armor continued to press forward and, at the pointblank range of 30 yards, fired a high-velocity shell into the American emplacement, wounding the entire squad. Sgt. Neppel, blown 10 yards from his gun, had 1 leg severed below the knee and suffered other wounds. Despite his injuries and the danger from the onrushing tank and infantry, he dragged himself back to his position on his elbows, remounted his gun and killed the remaining enemy riflemen. Stripped of its infantry protection, the tank was forced to withdraw. By his superb courage and indomitable fighting spirit, Sgt. Neppel inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and broke a determined counterattack.
NETT, ROBERT B.
Rank and organization: Captain (then Lieutenant), U.S. Army, Company E, 305th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Cognon, Leyte, Philippine Islands, 14 December 1944. Entered service at: New Haven, Conn. Birth: New Haven, Conn. G.O. No.: 16, 8 February 1946. Citation: He commanded Company E in an attack against a reinforced enemy battalion which had held up the American advance for 2 days from its entrenched positions around a 3-story concrete building. With another infantry company and armored vehicles, Company E advanced against heavy machinegun and other automatic weapons fire with Lt. Nett spearheading the assault against the strongpoint. During the fierce hand-to-hand encounter which ensued, he killed 7 deeply entrenched Japanese with his rifle and bayonet and, although seriously wounded, gallantly continued to lead his men forward, refusing to relinquish his command. Again he was severely wounded, but, still unwilling to retire, pressed ahead with his troops to assure the capture of the objective. Wounded once more in the final assault, he calmly made all arrangements for the resumption of the advance, turned over his command to another officer, and then walked unaided to the rear for medical treatment. By his remarkable courage in continuing forward through sheer determination despite successive wounds, Lt. Nett provided an inspiring example for his men and was instrumental in the capture of a vital strongpoint.
*THOMAS, CHARLES L.
Citation: For extraordinary heroism in action on 14 December 1944, near Climbach, France. While riding in the lead vehicle of a task force organized to storm and capture the village of Climbach, France, then First Lieutenant Thomas's armored scout car was subjected to intense enemy artillery, self-propelled gun, and small arms fire. Although wounded by the initial burst of hostile fire, Lieutenant Thomas signaled the remainder of the column to halt and, despite the severity of his wounds, assisted the crew of the wrecked car in dismounting. Upon leaving the scant protection which the vehicle afforded, Lieutenant Thomas was again subjected to a hail of enemy fire which inflicted multiple gunshot wounds in his chest, legs, and left arm. Despite the intense pain caused by these wounds, Lieutenant Thomas ordered and directed the dispersion and emplacement of two antitank guns which in a few moments were promptly and effectively returning the enemy fire. Realizing that he could no longer remain in command of the platoon, he signaled to the platoon commander to join him. Lieutenant Thomas then thoroughly oriented him on enemy gun dispositions and the general situation. Only after he was certain that his junior officer was in full control of the situation did he permit himself to be evacuated. First Lieutenant Thomas' outstanding heroism were an inpiration to his men and exemplify the highest traditions of the Armed Forces.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for December 14, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
14 December
1903: Wilbur Wright made a first powered airplane flight at Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk. Although he flew 105 feet in 3.5 seconds, the plane crashed; therefore, this effort was not recognized as the first sustained or controlled flight. (20)
1924: At Bremerton, Wash., the battleship USS Mississippi launched a Martin MO-1 plane from its forward turret by powder catapult. (24)
1925: The Lampert Committee, set up on 24 March 1924 by the House to examine US Air Service operations, made its report. The committee wanted a DoD, more aviation representation in higher military councils, and more money for aviators. (24) 1927: The USN commissioned the USS Lexington aircraft carrier. (24)
1944: Through 16 December, aircraft from six escort carriers in USN Task Unit 77.12.1 flew cover for landings at Mindoro in the Philippines. (24)
1950: KOREAN WAR. Due to advancing Chinese troops, through 17 December the Combat Cargo Command moved 228 patients, 3,891 passengers, and 20,088 tons of cargo from Yonpo Airfield. The airlift support helped to evacuate the Army's X Corps from the Hamhung-Hungnam area in Northeastern Korea. A FEAF airplane dropped the first six-ton Tarzon on a tunnel near Huichon with limited effectiveness. (21) (26) (28)
1951: KOREAN WAR. In the night, 19th Bombardment Group B-29s inflicted severe damage on marshalling yards at Maengjung-Dong.
1959: Capt Joe B. Jordan set a FAI altitude record of 103,395.9 feet at Edwards AFB in a Lockheed F-104C Starfighter. (3) (9)
1960: In a nonstop, nonrefueled flight, Lt Col T. R. Grissom and crew flew their B-52G over a record 10,079-mile closed course. They flew from Edwards AFB over Texas, Washington DC, Newfoundland, Alaska, Montana, and back to Edwards. They had fuel for 1,000 more miles after the 19-hour, 44-minute flight. (1) (24)
1961: The Army's Nike-Zeus intercepted a Nike-Hercules missile in flight. The interception was a first for Nike-Zeus. 1962: Mariner II, launched on 27 August 1962, scanned the atmosphere and surface of Venus with instruments for 42 minutes as it passed 21,600 miles above the surface. This probe then began a 345.9-day solar orbit. (16) (24)
1964: Donald Segner flew Lockheed's XH-51A, a helicopter with wings and rotor blades, at 242 MPH. The Army called this "the fastest known speed for any rotor craft in the world." FIRST BARREL ROLL MISSION. The first armed reconnaissance mission flown in Laos. Code-named Barrel Roll, this mission initiated tactical fighter operations in Southeast Asia on a continuous basis. (17)
1965: The USAF accepted the final Minuteman flight in Wing VI.
1966: MACKAY TROPHY. Col Albert R. Howarth demonstrated exemplary courage and airmanship under the most hazardous conditions of darkness and intense enemy fire while participating in a SEA combat mission. He received the Mackay Trophy for his flight. (26)
1970: Byran Graham set a 3-kilometer helicopter speed record by flying a Sikorsky S-67 to 216.839 MPH. The final Minuteman III research and development, and the last ICBM launch, from Cape Kennedy succeeded. (6)
1972: Robert Sparks used a Semco Challenger balloon at Lafayette, Ind., to set a duration record of 11 hours 14 minutes for subclasses AX-7 (1,600 to 2,200 cubic meters) through AX-10 (over 4,000 cubic meters) balloons. (9)
1984: Grumman pilot Chuck Sewell flew the X-29 forward-swept wing aircraft on its first flight at Edwards AFB. (16)
1986: Chuck Yeager left Edwards AFB on a record-setting flight to Kitty Hawk. Through 23 December, Richard Rutan and Jeana Yeager completed the first nonstop, unrefueled flight around the world in the experimental aircraft, the Voyager. The flight started and stopped 24,986.7 miles later at Mojave, Calif. (20) (21)
1988: W. Stuart Symington, the first SECAF, died at his home in New Canaan, Conn.
1989: MAC allowed female aircrew members to serve on C-130 and C-141 airdrop missions for the first time. (16) (26)
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World News for 14 December thanks to Military Periscope
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5 Russians, 2 Americans Charged With Sanctions-Dodging
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of New York
December 13 2022
Russia
USA
A 16-count indictment has been unsealed in Brooklyn, charging several Russians and Americans with violating U.S. sanctions on Russia, reports the U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of New York.
Defendants in the U.S. being charged include Alexey Brayman, a resident, and Vadim Yermolenko, an American citizen, who are accused, with the other defendants, of aiding the U.S.-sanctioned Serniya Engineering and Sertal firms, the office said in a Tuesday release.
Serniya and Sertal are front companies used by Russian intelligence organizations to purchase advanced electronics and testing equipment abroad.
The five Russian nationals charged include Yevgeniy Grinin, Aleksey Ippolitov, Boris Livshits, Svetlana Skvortsova and Vadim Konoshchenok.
Konoshchenok, a suspected Federal Security Service (FSB) officer, was arrested by Estonian officials on Dec. 6 and faces extradition to the U.S.
Following his arrest, Estonian authorities found 375 pounds (170 kg) of U.S.-origin ammunition in a warehouse used by Konoshchenok.
The remaining Russian defendants remain at large.
Fusion Ignition Breakthrough Provides Hope For Limitless Clean Energy
Source: Dept. of Energy
December 13 2022
USA
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California has achieved a significant breakthrough toward fusion power, reports the Dept. of Energy.
On Dec. 5, a team at the LLNL National Ignition Facility reached what is referred to as scientific energy breakeven, in which more energy was produced than it took to fuse two hydrogen atoms, the department said in a Tuesday release.
Using a series of lasers to push the atoms together, the LLNL team yielded 50 percent more energy from the reaction than that required by the laser.
Nuclear fusion reactions power the sun and other stars.
The breakthrough comes after decades of resource-intense research, officials said. The results indicate that for more work is required to develop a commercial energy production system.
Fusion Ignition Breakthrough Provides Hope For Limitless Clean Energy
Source: Dept. of Energy
December 13 2022
USA
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California has achieved a significant breakthrough toward fusion power, reports the Dept. of Energy.
On Dec. 5, a team at the LLNL National Ignition Facility reached what is referred to as scientific energy breakeven, in which more energy was produced than it took to fuse two hydrogen atoms, the department said in a Tuesday release.
Using a series of lasers to push the atoms together, the LLNL team yielded 50 percent more energy from the reaction than that required by the laser.
Nuclear fusion reactions power the sun and other stars.
The breakthrough comes after decades of resource-intense research, officials said. The results indicate that for more work is required to develop a commercial energy production system.
Patriot Missile System To Be Transferred To Ukraine
Source: CNN
December 13 2022
Ukraine
USA
The U.S. government plans to soon approve the transfer of advanced air defense systems to Ukraine, reports CNN, citing three government officials.
The transfer of a Patriot missile system to Kyiv is awaiting the approval of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and President Joe Biden. Both are expected to authorize the move.
It was not clear how many launchers might be sent. A typical Patriot battery includes a radar, computers, power generator, engagement control station and up to eight launchers, each with four ready-to-fire missiles.
Once the plan is approved, the Patriot systems are expected to ship within days. Ukrainian personnel will be trained on the system at the U.S. base in Grafenwoehr, Germany, the officials said.
Ukraine has called for Patriot systems to help protect against Russian cruise missile and drone attacks, which have destroyed key infrastructure across the country in recent weeks.
Washington has hesitated to supply the system given the logistical and operational challenges it poses, including requiring much larger crews than smaller air defense systems already delivered. However, the reality of the Russian assault on Ukrainian infrastructure led the administration to move forward, said the officials.
Patrols With Kurdish Forces To Resume, Says Pentagon
Source: Reuters
December 13 2022
USA
Syria
The Pentagon says U.S. patrols with Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria have resumed, reports Reuters.
The patrols were previously paused due to Turkish attacks on Kurdish forces.
U.S. forces in the region have been working with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against ISIS militants in the region.
Ankara accuses the SDF of being an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish government.
Paris Conference Yields Nearly US$1 Billion In Aid
Source: Interfax-Ukraine
December 13 2022
Ukraine
During a conference in Paris, Ukraine's partners have pledged about 1 billion euros (US$1.06 billion) in aid for Kyiv to help it through winter, reports Interfax-Ukraine.
Approximately half of the aid package contains new grant funds with the balance to be allocated toward goods, services and public sector enterprise loans, said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
The aid is scheduled to be dispersed by the end of the year, he said.
Lachin Corridor Blockaded By Azerbaijani Environmentalists
Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
December 13 2022
Azerbaijan
Armenia
Azerbaijani environmental activists have blockaded the sole road into the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
On Monday, a group described by state-run media as environmentalists set up a blockade of the strategic Lachin corridor, which links Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.
The protesters say they oppose allegedly illegal Armenian mining operations in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The blockade has sparked a standoff between the protesters and Russian peacekeeping forces enforcing the cease-fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan following their conflict in 2020.
Armenian authorities accused Baku of organizing the demonstrations to cut off Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh from outside support and drive out the ethnic Armenian population.
Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but is almost entirely populated by ethnic Armenians, who refer to the region as the republic of Artsakh.
Elbit To Provide Army With New UAS Systems
Source: Elbit Systems
December 13 2022
Australia
The Australian army has chosen Elbit Systems Australia to supply with new tactical uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), reports the defense firm.
Under the contract, the value of which was not disclosed, Elbit will supply its Skylark I-LEX UAS equipped with electro-optical sensors and the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system.
The Skylark will enable the army to conduct a broader range of missions through integration into additional airspace classes.
Potential missions include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; force protection; law enforcement; border patrol; and supporting civilian humanitarian and disaster-relief operations.
Eight units are scheduled for delivery in 2024, reported Jane's.
Ministers Endorse Candidacy For E.U. Membership
Source: Euronews
December 13 2022
Bosnia-Herzegovina
European Union
The General Affairs Council of the European Union has endorsed Bosnia-Herzegovina's candidacy to join the bloc, reports Euronews.
All 27 E.U. member states must also approve Bosnia's application before it officially becomes a candidate for E.U. membership. The leaders of the member states are expected to consider the matter at their Dec. 15 meeting.
Bosnia applied to join the European Union in 2016.
In 2019, the European Commission endorsed its accession bid.
UN Peacekeepers And Soldiers Attacked By Rebels
Source: Xinhua News Agency
December 13 2022
Central African Republic
Rebels have attacked U.N. peacekeepers and Central African Republic troops at a base in Ouaka prefecture in the south-central part of the CAR, reports Xinhua, China's state news agency.
Militants, believed to be affiliated with the opposition Coalition of Patriots for Change, a coalition of rebel groups, launched an attack on a temporary joint base, about 56 miles (90 km) northeast of the town of Bambari.
There were no casualties among the peacekeepers, although a vehicle outside the base was damaged by gun fire, a U.N. spokesman said.
The U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) said it reinforced its presence in Birao, the capital of the northeastern Vakaga prefecture after receiving reports that the Coalition of Patriots for Change was mobilizing in the region.
An intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission was conducted in the area on Monday, the spokesman said.
Floods Kill 120 In Kinshasa
Source: France24
December 13 2022
Democratic Republic of the Congo
An all-night downpour in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) capital has submerged the city of 15 million in mud, reports France24.
At least 120 people died in the flooding, with most deaths attributed to landslides and architectural failures.
Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde said that some homes had simply been "swept away."
In recent years, the city has seen a significant influx of new arrivals who have established themselves in rickety homes on treacherous terrain, overwhelming the city's drainage system.
DRC's National Highway 1, a key supply route, was also blocked by the floods.
Lukonde said that National Highway 1 should be open to small vehicles on Wednesday and for trucks between Dec. 16 and Dec. 17.
IDF Acknowledges Killing Of Teenage Girl In W. Bank Raid
Source: Al Jazeera
December 13 2022
Israel
Israeli forces have acknowledged the unintentional killing of a Palestinian teenage girl during an operation on the West Bank, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar).
On Sunday, Jana Majdi Zakarneh, 16, was killed during an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operation in Jenin, in the northern West Bank.
The Palestinian Health Ministry released her name and certified her death shortly after midnight on Monday.
The IDF subsequently released a statement saying that Zakarneh had been unintentionally shot by Israeli forces, while standing on the roof of her home near gunmen who were firing at Israeli forces.
A local official in Jenin announced a general strike in the city as part of a mourning process for Zakarneh.
This year has seen increased fighting between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces. It has been the deadliest year for Palestinians since 2006, according to the U.N.
Government Announces Plans For New Missile Unit, Purchase of U.S. Tomahawk Missiles
Source: Asahi Shimbun
December 13 2022
Japan
The Japanese government has proposed creating a new missile unit equipped with U.S.-made cruise missiles in a new strategy document, reports the Asahi Shimbun (Tokyo).
The standoff missile unit would be added to the Ground Self-Defense Force to conduct long-range strikes against hostile forces preparing to attack Japan, according to the government.
The unit would comprise seven anti-ship missile regiments, two high-speed gliding missile battalions for island defense and two long-range guided-missile troops.
The unit would be equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles, Type 12 anti-ship missiles and hypersonic guided missiles.
The new strategy also calls for information warfare units for the Ground and Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Navy Picks Naval Strike Missile To Replace Harpoons
Source: Kongsberg
December 13 2022
Netherlands
The Netherlands Ministry of Defense has signed a contract with Kongsberg for long-range missiles for its frigates, reports the Norwegian firm.
The deal, the value of which was not disclosed, covers Naval Strike Missiles for the Dutch De Zeven Provincien-class air defense and command frigates.
The contract also includes options for planned Dutch anti-submarine warfare frigates and two similar ships planned for the Belgian navy, reported Naval News.
The NSM is a long-range, multimission precision strike missile designed to defeat naval and land targets. It will replace the Harpoon anti-ship missile in Dutch navy service, according to a release from the Dutch Defense Ministry.
The 13-foot (3.95-m) missile weighs 900 pounds (410 kg) and has a range of up to 115 miles (185 km).
Deliveries are expected to begin in 2025. The Netherlands will be the 11th customer for the NSM.
2 More Subs Launched In Germany
Source: Singapore Ministry of Defense
December 13 2022
Singapore
ThysseKrupp Marine Systems has launched a pair of submarines for the Singapore navy at its shipyard in Kiel, reports the Singapore Ministry of Defense.
On Tuesday, the Invincible-class boats Impeccable and Illustrious were put into the water for the first time during a ceremony.
The new subs are designed for operations in shallow, tropical waters and have a longer endurance and greater payload than previous Singapore navy subs.
The two boats will complete sea trials in Germany before heading to Singapore.
Singapore ordered four Invincible-class boats, two in 2013 and two in 2017, to replace its aging fleet of Challenger- and Archer-class subs. The lead sub, Invincible, was launched in 2019. The last boat, Inimitable, is under construction.
Ramaphosa Evades Impeachment From Scandal
Source: BBC News
December 13 2022
South Africa
President Cyril Ramaphosa will not be investigated for impeachment by the South African Parliament, reports BBC News.
Despite a large sum of stolen cash found in his sofa and an independent report alleging constitutional violations, the African National Congress party decided not to move against its leader.
Lawmakers voted 214-148 against opening an impeachment committee, with two members of Parliament abstaining.
Ramaphosa was first accused of corruption in June 2022, when former South African State Security Agency Director-General Arthur Fraser complained to police of Ramaphosa's US$4 million theft from his Phala Phala game farm in 2020.
Ramaphosa confessed to the theft, but said the amount was US$580,000 and related to the sale of a buffalo.
Foreign Minister Warns China Prepares New Pretext For Attacks
Source: Guardian
December 13 2022
Taiwan
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu has claimed that China is preparing a pretext for practicing future attacks against the island country, reports the Guardian (U.K.).
China has escalated its threats significantly this year, including military operations, economic coercion, cyber-attacks, legal warfare and anti-Taiwanese diplomatic initiatives, the minister said in an interview with the newspaper in Taipei over the weekend.
Wu noted that incursions by Chinese military aircraft into Taiwan's defense zone had increased fivefold since 2020.
President Xi's purge of rivals in the Communist Party following the securing of his third term could also lead to reduced cross-strait communication, he said.
China conducted a large-scale exercise simulating potential operations against Taiwan in August following a trip to Taipei by U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Analysts said that the drills appeared to be long-planned, with the Pelosi visit providing a suitable pretext for holding them.
Wu said Beijing may seek future such pretexts to practice future attacks against Taiwan, calling them a military threat to the nation.
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