To All,
Good Thursday Morning 15 December.
.Tomorrow 16 December from 5 to 7 /the tail Hook get together will be at the MCAS Miramar O'Club. The last one of 2022. Hope to see many of you
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This Day in Navy and Marine Corps History
December 15
1845 Yorktown captures the slaver Panther off Kabenda, Africa. Previously that September, Yorktown also captured the slavers Pons and Patuxent.
1944 USS Hawkbill (SS 366) sinks the Japanese destroyer Momo west of Luzon.
1944 The invasion of Mindoro Island, Philippines begins. During the battle, USS LST 738 is hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane and set ablaze. After attempts to control the fires are unsuccessful, LST-738 is sunk by the guns of other ships of the invasion fleet. USS LST 472 is also hit by the kamikaze attack and sinks six days later.
1965 Gemini 6 is launched, making 16 orbits in 25 hours and 51 minutes. Capt. Walter M. Schirra is command pilot and Thomas P. Stafford is pilot.
1988 Operation Earnest Will ends in the Persian Gulf. U.S. Navy ships escorted reflagged Kuwaiti tankers and approximately 270 neutral ships and tankers to protect them
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This Day in History 15 December
1775 The Bill of Rights is ratified in Congress.
1862 Nathan Bedford Forrest crosses the Tennessee River at Clifton with 2,500 men to raid the communications around Vicksburg, Mississippi.
1862 In New Orleans, Louisiana, Union Major General Benjamin F. Butler turns his command over to Nathaniel Banks. The citizens of New Orleans hold farewell parties for Butler, "The Beast" - but only after he leaves.
1864 The battle at Nashville begins.
1890 As U.S. Army soldiers attempt to arrest Sitting Bull at his cabin in Standing Rock, South Dakota, shooting breaks out and Lt. Bullhead shoots the great Sioux leader.
1903 The British parliament places a 15-year ban on whale hunting in Norway.
1920 China wins a place on the League Council; Austria is admitted.
1924 The Soviet Union warns the United States against repeated entry of ships into Soviet territorial waters.
1938 Washington sends its fourth note to Berlin demanding amnesty for Jews.
1944 The battle for Luzon begins.
1946 Vietnam leader Ho Chi Minh sends a note to the new French Premier, Leon Blum, asking for peace talks.
1961 Adolf Eichmann, the former German Gestapo official accused of a major role in the Nazi murder of 6 million Jews, is sentenced by a Jerusalem court to be hanged.
1965 The United States drops 12 tons of bombs on an industrial center near Haiphong Harbor, North Vietnam.
1967 President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the meat bill in the presence of Upton Sinclair, the author of the controversial book The Jungle.
1972 The Commonwealth of Australia orders equal pay for women.
1973 The American Psychiatric Association votes to remove homosexuality from its official list of psychiatric disorders.
1976 The oil tanker MV Argo Merchant causes one of the worst marine oil spills in history when it runs aground near Nantucket, Massachusetts.
1978 US President Jimmy Carter announces the United States will recognize the People's Republic of China and will sever all relations with Taiwan.
1981 In what is often called the first modern suicide bombing, a suicide car bomb kills 61 people at the Iraqi embassy in Beirut, Lebanon; Iraq's ambassador to Lebanon is among the casualties.
1993 The Downing Street Declaration, issued jointly by UK and the Republic of Ireland, affirms the UK would transfer Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland only if a majority of Northern Ireland's people approved.
2001 The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after an 11-year, $27 million project to fortify it without eliminating its famed lean.
2005 F-22 Raptor Stealth fighter enters active service with the US Air Force.
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
… For The List for Thursday, 15 December 2022… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 15 December 1967… The very limited effort to mine NVN waters…
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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Thanks to Felix and Dr. Rich
A higher call /
This was a story we have had in the list many times over the years. The shot up B-17 trying to make it home on a couple engines and all shot up missing lots of parts of the tail and fuselage. German pilot comes up to finish it off and flys along side looking the plane over Then he escorts the plane in the right direction and then leaves them alone and goes back to base. He could have been shot for that. The crew lands the plane/flying piece of junk and many years later the pilots of both planes meet and start a long friendship. But read the book and watch the fantastic video below
Thanks to Felix …
Just about done reading this book. Here's a video of the event, which is only 3 pages in the entire book. Great read. Highly recommended. f.
Video HERE, or click on the screenshot above …
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Thanks to STRATFOR and Brett…….This puts a wet towel on things…
In Addressing Iran's Nuclear and Non-Nuclear Activities, the U.S.'s Options Are Slim
Iran's expanding missile and drone program, along with its increased weapon transfers to Russia, are hardening the U.S. position in nuclear negotiations to the point where restoring the 2015 nuclear deal (or reaching any successor agreement) may become politically infeasible — raising the risk of an Iran-U.S. nuclear crisis and potential military confrontation. In recent weeks, Iran has made announcements highlighting the acceleration of its nuclear and missile programs, both of which concern Western governments and show that the United States' strategy of separating Iran's nuclear program from the rest of its national security agenda is becoming increasingly untenable. On Nov. 10, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' aerospace unit said Iran had successfully developed hypersonic missiles — which theoretically could carry a nuclear warhead — and claimed the missile would be able to ''breach all the systems of anti-missile defense.'' On Nov. 22, the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Iran had begun enriching uranium to 60% at its Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant and that Tehran intended to install 14 cascades of its advanced IR-6 centrifuges. Iran has also been sending missiles and drones to Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, causing further alarm in the United States and Europe.
- Iran appears to be developing a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), which is a warhead that can fly at hypersonic speeds and remain maneuverable. This makes them far more difficult to counter compared with ballistic missiles, which follow a specific path.
- Prior to enriching uranium to 60% at Fordow, Iran had only been enriching uranium to 60% at its Natanz plant. Fordow is an underground facility, making it more difficult for Israel or the United States to attack and destroy.
- White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Dec. 9 that Iran and Russia had seen ''an unprecedented level of military and technical support that is transforming their relationship into a full-fledged defense partnership,'' citing both Iranian-Russian plans to jointly manufacture drones in Russia and Russia training Iranian pilots to fly Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighters.
Iran has aggressively advanced and deployed its drone and missile programs since the United States left the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018. Ballistic and cruise missile (and more recently drone) technologies have long been a crucial component of Iran's national security strategy. And in recent years, the importance of these weapons to Iran's national security agenda has only grown. Iran's missile and drone programs enable it to project force beyond its border and compensate for shortcomings in Iran's conventional air force and army. Iran also needs to develop its ballistic and now hypersonic missile capabilities in case it decides to develop nuclear weapons, because in order to have the reliable deterrent that nuclear weapons provide, Iran would need to have a delivery system. Moreover, Iran's drone and missile programs are critical in increasing the military capacity of the various foreign militias Tehran supports in the region (like Houthi rebels in Yemen) against better-equipped adversaries.
- Iran's air force and army largely still depend on old Western systems sold to the country before its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran's air force, for example, is heavily reliant on F-4 and F-14 fighters developed over 50 years ago.
- Iran has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to deploy its arsenal of ballistic and cruise missiles against U.S. and Israeli interests, including the January 2020 attack on an Iraqi air base hosting U.S. troops and the March 2021 attack on an Israeli ship in the Arabian Sea. Iran's drones (and missiles) have also been used either directly or indirectly to target Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, including the 2019 attack claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia's Abqaiq oil processing facility (which is arguably the world's most important oil facility, with a processing capacity of about 7 million barrels per day, or roughly 7% of the global oil supply).
The United States is becoming increasingly concerned about Iran's drone and missile program and the broad threat it could pose to U.S. interests in the Middle East and elsewhere, given Tehran's demonstrated willingness to not only use such weapons but provide them to other countries like Russia. Prior to 2015, the United States' primary concern with Iran beyond its nuclear program was Tehran's financial, logistical and small arms support of militias and terrorist groups carrying out physical attacks against U.S. troops in the Middle East and U.S. regional partners, such as Israel. Washington has always been concerned about Iran's missile development — particularly ballistic missiles that could be used in a fully functional nuclear weapon. But Tehran's increased use of drones and missiles (coupled with the U.S. drawdown of troops in the Middle East) over the past five years has pushed it up on Washington's list of priorities. Moreover, Iran's transfer of weapons to Russia has been a significant focal point in the United States this year, with the U.S. Pentagon and State Department both making several public announcements about Iran sending weapons to Russia and Russia training Iranian pilots. For Washington, Iran's recent arms exports to Russia demonstrate that Tehran's drone and missile program, which had once predominantly been a concern about regional stability, could have broader implications. And this emerging reality is making it more difficult for the United States to segment Iran's ballistic and drone programs from Iran's nuclear program in its talks with Iran, given that the former is now clearly having a much more significant impact on Washington's primary interest: the ongoing war in Ukraine.
- On Nov. 14, the U.S. State Department's Iran envoy said the United States was not pushing for renewed nuclear talks with Iran due to Tehran's recent drone sales to Russia, as well as the Iranian government's heavy-handed domestic crackdown on ongoing protests over the death of a young woman in police custody.
- On Oct. 17, a U.S. State Department official said Iran was violating a U.N. Security Council resolution by sending drones to Russia for use in Ukraine.
But Iran's nuclear program remains a critical part of its national security and one the United States cannot overlook, as Iran's nuclear breakout time is likely down to just a few months. Despite ostensibly saying it has no nuclear weapon ambitions, Tehran appears to be trying to gain as much of the technological capabilities needed to build a nuclear weapon and enrich uranium to 90%, or weapons-grade. Since the JCPOA broke down in 2018, Iran has enriched uranium to 60% — well above the 20% threshold generally considered the top end of enrichment needed for most civilian applications. Iran has also started efforts to produce uranium metal, which Western diplomats say has no civilian use. Iran has begun researching and installing more advanced and efficient centrifuges as well, which could enable Tehran to more rapidly enrich uranium to weapons grade if wanted. Even if Iran agrees to dismantle these centrifuges in the future as part of a new deal, the know-how it's currently developing would still reduce the country's nuclear breakout time in the future. But Iran also uses the threat of its nuclear program to draw Western attention away from other issues, including its missile and drone strategy. By having a provocative nuclear program, Iran hopes to narrow the scope of any talks with the West over sanctions relief to the nuclear issue, which is likely of less importance to Tehran than its other activities. Washington's growing attention on Iran's transfer of drones and missiles to Russia is thus only granting Tehran a greater incentive to escalate the nuclear issue further.
- Iran's enrichment to 60% is of particular concern to the West as there is very little work (measured in separative work units used to measure the amount of effort needed to enrich uranium to a certain level) to enrich uranium to 90% once it is already enriched to 60%.
While Washington is currently focusing more on Iran's growing defense relationship with Russia, an Iran-U.S. nuclear crisis is probably bubbling under the surface, as negotiations remain stalled and the JCPOA likely no longer adequately addresses U.S. concerns. The JCPOA is technically in force despite the U.S. withdrawal and Iran suspending its compliance, which means that many of its sunset clauses are starting to go into effect. One of the key sunset clauses that expire in October 2023 is the U.N. ban on the transfer of ballistic missile technology to and from Iran (i.e. Iran's sales of missiles to Russia). Under the deal, the United States is also supposed to remove (and not just suspend the application of) sanctions on Iran in October. Washington wants none of these sunsets to occur, making a simple re-entry into the JCPOA difficult. Moreover, from a proliferation standpoint, the technical conditions prior to the signing of the JCPOA have changed because Iran has more advanced centrifuges, has enriched uranium to higher levels and has seen Washington exit the deal before — something that Tehran will be more concerned about as the 2024 U.S. election approaches, which yield a new White House administration. These make some of the technical conditions that the JCPOA has included more difficult to revert to. There may still be a brief window to revive the JCPOA (and largely ignore some of the sunset clauses) during the first few months of 2023, before the October deadline for those clauses to take effect start looming ever larger over negotiations. But the United States is unlikely to seize that window due to its growing concerns with Tehran's missile and drone programs and weapon transfers to Russia. The embattled 2015 deal is thus highly unlikely to be restored and more likely to become, at best, a blueprint to start from in drafting up a new Iran-U.S. nuclear agreement.
The United States has no good diplomatic options to address Iran's growing nuclear and non-nuclear activities, and its focus on the Ukraine war and Iran's role in it is likely to ensure that diplomacy fails to reach a new agreement. There are two main diplomatic options the United States can pursue beyond the JCPOA, but neither is good. First, the United States could try to use the 2015 nuclear deal as a starting point to negotiate another broad deal where it would offer similar sanctions relief in exchange for similar restrictions on Iran's nuclear program. The White House may try to include Iran's missile and drone program in talks, but Tehran has repeatedly ruled out such inclusion and will likely continue to do so. There is virtually no trust between Washington and Tehran, and Tehran won't agree to similar conditions on its nuclear program without substantial guarantees from Washington that it won't exit the deal. In order for this option to actually yield an agreement, the United States might have to settle for fewer restrictions on Iran's nuclear program, making it more difficult to sell at home. But such an agreement would also allow Iran to save face and say it gained concessions from the United States. The United States' other option is pursuing a limited agreement with Iran similar to the 2012 Joint Plan of Action that preceded the JCPOA. In such an arrangement, Washington would try to freeze Iran's nuclear activities at current levels or at levels significantly higher than the 2015 JCPOA (such as at 20% enrichment). The United States would only offer limited sanctions relief in exchange for placing a cap on Iran's nuclear program. While this may provide a temporary fix from Washington's perspective, it wouldn't necessarily reduce Iran's breakout time significantly. The United States also proposed such a limited agreement as an interim deal in 2021, which Iran quickly rejected. A narrow agreement, however, would allow the U.S. to tie broader sanctions relief to non-nuclear issues in addition to nuclear issues in the future.
Should diplomatic efforts fail, the United States will face increased calls from Iran hawks both at home and in Israel to escalate against Iran, potentially even militarily. With Iran's nuclear breakout time probably at no more than six months, Iran hawks in Israel and the United States will likely propose covert and overt options to disrupt and push back Iran's nuclear program, even if temporarily. The Biden administration will likely try to keep the Iran nuclear issue on the back burner to maintain its focus on the Ukraine war, but Iran's nuclear advancement may make this impossible. There remain several triggers that could lead to more aggressive U.S. action, including Iran announcing it will enrich uranium to 90%, Iran rejecting IAEA inspections under the Additional Protocol, Iran withdrawing from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and Iran announcing more advancements in uranium metal production. In Israel, former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's expected return to office will also likely lead to an even more hawkish position and call for strikes on Iran. Even if Biden avoids those calls during his presidency, military escalation in the future under a different administration — potentially as early as 2025, if the Republicans gain the White House — will become more likely.
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A COUPLE THAT ARE MJUST WORTH REPEATING
Thanks to Micro
Musings from an older person
1. My goal for 2020 was to lose 10 pounds. Only have 14 to go.
2. Ate salad for dinner. Mostly croutons and tomatoes. Really just one big round crouton covered with tomato sauce, and cheese. FINE, it was a pizza.... OK, I ate a pizza! Are you happy now?
3. How to prepare Tofu:
a. Throw it in the trash
b. Grill some meat, chicken or fish
4. I just did a week's worth of cardio after walking into a spider web.
5. I don't mean to brag, but I finished my 14-day diet food supply in 3 hours and 20 minutes.
6. A recent study has found women who carry a little extra weight live longer than men who mention it.
7. Kids today don't know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk 9 feet through shag carpet to change the TV channel.
8. Senility has been a smooth transition for me.
9. Remember back when we were kids and every time it was below zero outside they closed school? Yeah, Me neither.
10. I may not be that funny or athletic or good looking or smart or talented. I forgot where I was going with this.
11. I love approaching 90, I learn something new every day and forget 5 other things.
12. A thief broke into my house last night. He started searching for money so I woke up and searched with him.
13. I think I'll just put an "Out of Order" sticker on my forehead and call it a day.
14. Just remember, once you're over the hill you begin to pick up speed.
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Thanks to Mike
English hospitality
An Australian tourist in London decides to skip his tour group and explore the city on his own. He wanders around, seeing the sights, and occasionally stopping at a quaint pub to soak up the local culture, chat with the lads, and have a pint of Guinness.
After a while, he finds himself in a very high class neighbourhood.....big, stately residences... no pubs, no stores, no restaurants, and worst of all...NO PUBLIC RESTROOMS.
He really, really has to go, after all those Guinness'. He finds a narrow side street, with high walls surrounding the adjacent buildings and decides to use the wall to solve his problem.
As he is unzipping, he is tapped on the shoulder by a London Bobby, who says, "I say, sir, you simply cannot do that here, you know."
"I'm very sorry, officer," replies the Australian, "but I really, really HAVE TO GO, and I just can't find a public restroom."
"Ah, yes," said the bobby..."Just follow me". He leads him to a back "delivery alley", then along a wall to a gate, which he opens. "In there," points the bobby. "Whiz away sir, anywhere you want."
The fellow enters and finds himself in the most beautiful garden he has ever seen. Manicured grass lawns, statuary, fountains, sculpted hedges, and huge beds of gorgeous flowers, all in perfect bloom. Since he has the cop's blessing, he unburdens himself and is greatly relieved.
As he goes back through the gate, he says to the bobby, "That was really decent of you... is that what you call 'English Hospitality'?"
"No, sir" replies the bobby, "that is what we call the French Embassy."
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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/.
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December 14
This Day in U S Military History December 15
1942 – The Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse begins during the Guadalcanal Campaign. The battle, part of which is sometimes called the Battle of the Gifu, lasted to 23 January 1943 and was primarily an engagement between United States and Imperial Japanese forces in the hills near the Matanikau River area on Guadalcanal during the Guadalcanal Campaign. The U.S. forces were under the overall command of Alexander Patch and the Japanese forces were under the overall command of Harukichi Hyakutake. In the battle, U.S. Soldiers and Marines, assisted by native Solomon Islanders, attacked Japanese Army (IJA) forces defending well-fortified and entrenched positions on several hills and ridges. The most prominent hills were called Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse by the Americans. The U.S. was attempting to destroy the Japanese forces on Guadalcanal and the Japanese were trying to hold their defensive positions until reinforcements could arrive. Both sides experienced extreme difficulties in fighting in the thick jungles and tropical environment that existed in the battle area. Many of the American troops were also involved in their first combat operations. The Japanese were mostly cut off from resupply and suffered greatly from malnourishment and lack of medical care. After some difficulty, the U.S. succeeded in taking Mount Austen, in the process reducing a strongly defended position called the Gifu, as well as the Galloping Horse and the Sea Horse. In the meantime, the Japanese secretly decided to abandon Guadalcanal and withdrew to the west coast of the island. From that location most of the surviving Japanese troops were successfully evacuated during the first week of February 1943.
1944 – Army Air Force Band leader and trombonist Glenn Miller boarded a single-engine C-64 Norseman in England for a flight to France, where he was to make arrangements for a Christmas broadcast. The plane never reached France and no trace of it or its occupants was ever found. Iowa-born Glenn Miller became a professional musician after graduating from high school. By the time he volunteered for military service in 1942, the Glenn Miller Orchestra was world famous and had appeared in two motion pictures. Miller persuaded the U.S. Army to accept his service to "put a little more spring into the feet of our marching men and a little more joy into their hearts." For the next 18 months, Miller's 50-member band stayed busy with morale-building concerts and radio broadcasts. No cause has ever been established for the loss of Miller's aircraft, but the Norseman did not have de-icing equipment on board and it is likely that icy weather forced the plane down in the English Channel.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
CHURCHILL, SAMUEL J.
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company G, 2d Illinois Light Artillery. Place and date: At Nashville, Tenn., 15 December 1864. Entered service at: DeKalb County, Ill. Birth: Rutland County, Vt. Date of issue: 20 January 1897. Citation: When the fire of the enemy's batteries compelled the men of his detachment for a short time to seek shelter, he stood manfully at his post and for some minutes worked his gun alone.
SAPP, ISACC
Rank and organization: Seaman, Engineer's Force, U.S. Navy. Born: 1844, Philadelphia, Pa. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 169, 8 February 1872. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Shenandoah during the rescue of a shipmate at Villefranche, 15 December 1871. Jumping overboard, Sapp gallantly assisted in saving Charles Prince, seaman, from drowning.
*JOHNSON, LEROY
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company K, 126th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Limon, Leyte, Philippine Islands, 15 December 1944. Entered service at: Oakdale, La. Birth: Caney Creek, La. G.O. No.: 83, 2 October 1945. Citation: He was squad leader of a 9-man patrol sent to reconnoiter a ridge held by a well-entrenched enemy force. Seeing an enemy machinegun position, he ordered his men to remain behind while he crawled to within 6 yards of the gun. One of the enemy crew jumped up and prepared to man the weapon. Quickly withdrawing, Sgt. Johnson rejoined his patrol and reported the situation to his commanding officer. Ordered to destroy the gun, which covered the approaches to several other enemy positions, he chose 3 other men, armed them with hand grenades, and led them to a point near the objective. After taking partial cover behind a log, the men had knocked out the gun and begun an assault when hostile troops on the flank hurled several grenades. As he started for cover, Sgt. Johnson saw 2 unexploded grenades which had fallen near his men. Knowing that his comrades would be wounded or killed by the explosion, he deliberately threw himself on the grenades and received their full charge in his body. Fatally wounded by the blast, he died soon afterward. Through his outstanding gallantry in sacrificing his life for his comrades, Sgt. Johnson provided a shining example of the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.
VLUG, DIRK J.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 126th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division. Place and date. Near Limon, Leyte, Philippine Islands, 15 December 1944. Entered service at: Grand Rapids, Mich. Birth: Maple Lake, Minn. G.O. No.: 60, 26 June 1946. Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty when an American roadblock on the Ormoc Road was attacked by a group of enemy tanks. He left his covered position, and with a rocket launcher and 6 rounds of ammunition, advanced alone under intense machinegun and 37-mm. fire. Loading single-handedly, he destroyed the first tank, killing its occupants with a single round. As the crew of the second tank started to dismount and attack him, he killed 1 of the foe with his pistol, forcing the survivors to return to their vehicle, which he then destroyed with a second round. Three more hostile tanks moved up the road, so he flanked the first and eliminated it, and then, despite a hail of enemy fire, pressed forward again to destroy another. With his last round of ammunition he struck the remaining vehicle, causing it to crash down a steep embankment. Through his sustained heroism in the face of superior forces, Pfc. Vlug alone destroyed 5 enemy tanks and greatly facilitated successful accomplishment of his battalion's mission.
LYNCH, ALLEN JAMES
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company D, 1st Battalion (Airmobile), 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). place and date: Near My An (2), Binh Dinh province, Republic of Vietnam, 15 December 1967. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 28 October 1945, Chicago, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Lynch (then Sp4c.) distinguished himself while serving as a radio telephone operator with Company D. While serving in the forward element on an operation near the village of My An, his unit became heavily engaged with a numerically superior enemy force. Quickly and accurately assessing the situation, Sgt. Lynch provided his commander with information which subsequently proved essential to the unit's successful actions. Observing 3 wounded comrades Lying exposed to enemy fire, Sgt. Lynch dashed across 50 meters of open ground through a withering hail of enemy fire to administer aid. Reconnoitering a nearby trench for a covered position to protect the wounded from intense hostile fire, he killed 2 enemy soldiers at point blank range. With the trench cleared, he unhesitatingly returned to the fire-swept area 3 times to carry the wounded men to safety. When his company was forced to withdraw by the superior firepower of the enemy, Sgt. Lynch remained to aid his comrades at the risk of his life rather than abandon them. Alone, he defended his isolated position for 2 hours against the advancing enemy. Using only his rifle and a grenade, he stopped them just short of his trench, killing 5. Again, disregarding his safety in the face of withering hostile fire, he crossed 70 meters of exposed terrain 5 times to carry his wounded comrades to a more secure area. Once he had assured their comfort and safety, Sgt. Lynch located the counterattacking friendly company to assist in directing the attack and evacuating the 3 casualties. His gallantry at the risk of his life is in the highest traditions of the military service, Sgt. Lynch has reflected great credit on himself, the 12th Cavalry, and the U.S. Army.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for December 15, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
15 December
1942: Nine B-24s from the 376th Bombardment Group bombed Sfax to open Ninth Air Force's campaign against Tunisian ports. (24)
1944: MINDORO INVADED. US Army forces landed on the island of Mindoro against very light opposition. Far East Air Forces aircraft from Leyte provided fighter cover for the invasion, but enemy aircraft destroyed two Landing Ship-Tanks (LSTs)--a Kamikaze hit and sank LST 738 with most of the equipment of the 8th Fighter Group and the 418th Night Fighter Squadron. The forces quickly constructed an airfield (Hill Field) by 20 December, which allowed the 8th FG . and the 418th Night Fighter Squadron to fly into the base. The 8th's pilots, flying new P-38Ls, shot down six enemy aircraft prior to landing. Within a few days, a second base at Elmore Hill opened and all three P-47 squadrons of the 58th Fighter Group moved to Hill Field. A Noorduyn C-64 Norseman carrying famed bandleader, Maj Glenn Miller, disappeared over the English Channel. Miller, pilot John Morgan, and Lt Col Norman Baessell were flying to Paris, France, from Twinwood Farm airfield in England.
1946: National Airlines set a commercial record of 6 hours 15 minutes for a flight from Newark, N. J., to Havana, Cuba. (24)
1950: KOREAN WAR. The 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group inaugurated F-86 Sabrejet operations in Korea. Far East Air Forces Bomber Command launched its first mission in a new zone interdiction plan. (28)
1951: The USAF directed the Military Air Transport Service to develop the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program. (18)
1957: The 556th Strategic Missile Squadron activated at Patrick AFB, Fla., to train missile crews and conduct test launches. It was the Strategic Air Command's first operational SM-62 Snark squadron and first missile squadron. (6)
1959: Capt Joseph W. Rogers flew a F-106 Delta Dart to 1,520.9-MPH speed record on an 11-mile straight course at Edwards AFB, Calif. (9)
1961: The first class of five military space pilots graduated from an 8-month-long Aerospace Research Pilots School. (16) (24) North American Air Defense Command's Semi-automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense system became fully operational with the completion of its 21st and last control center at Sioux City, Iowa. (16) (24)
1962: In a joint American-Danish-Norwegian test, a Nike-Cajun sounding rocket traveled to a height of 68 miles to secure data on the ionosphere and the Northern Lights. (24)
1964: The Strategic Air Command inactivated the last Atlas D missile squadron, the 549th Strategic Missile Squadron, at Offutt AFB, Nebr. (6) In a FC-47, Capt Jack Harvey and his crew flew the first gunship mission in the Vietnam War. The FC-47 later became the AC-47. It was equipped with Gatling guns in its cargo bay. (21) 1969: The US agreed to withdraw from Wheelus AB, Libya.
1989: The Navy launched the fifth Trident II missile successfully. Its inert warheads landed 4,000 nautical miles away near the Ascension Islands about 35 minutes after launch. (8: Feb 90)
2005: ACC Commander General Ronald E. Keys declared an initial operating capability for the 27th Fighter Squadron and the F-22A Raptor with the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va. At this time, the USAF also changed the aircraft's designation from F/A-22 back to F-22A. (3) At Vandenberg AFB, Calif., the 30th Space Wing activated the Western Range Operations Control Center to command and control all Vandenberg launches and to oversee the Western Range, an area that encompasses the west coast of the US and extends more than 4,200 miles across the Pacific Ocean. (AFNEWS Article, "Vandenberg Activates Area Control Center," 23 Dec 05)
2006: Testing of the synthetic Fischer-Tropsch fuel met a critical goal when an Air Force Flight Test Center B-52H flew a successful 6.1-hour sortie from Edwards AFB, Calif., using the alternative fuel in all eight engines. The aircraft performed exactly as it would with a standard petroleumderived JP-8 fuel. Major General Curtis Bedke, the Test Center Commander, flew the aircraft. (3) Air Force officials released a new draft Request for Proposal for the KC-X, a tanker to replace the KC-135 Stratotanker. (AFNEWS, "Air Force Releases KC-X Draft Request for Proposal," 16 Dec 2006.) An F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter took off for its first flight as part of system development testing in Fort Worth, Tex. (AFNEWS, "Engineers Contribute to F-35 Initial Flight Success," 16 Dec 2006)
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World News for 15 December thanks to Military Periscope
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World News for 15 December thanks to Military Periscope
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Biden Administration Considers JDAM Transfer To Ukraine
Source: Washington Post
December 14 2022
Ukraine
USA
Washington is considering transferring guidance kits to improve the accuracy of Ukrainian bombs, reports the Washington Post, citing unnamed senior U.S. officials.
Under the plan, the U.S. would supply Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits to Ukraine. The kits employ global positioning devices, converting unguided aerial munitions up to 2,000 pounds (907 kg) into precision-guided weapons.
It was not immediately clear how the kits would be employed and from what platforms. The U.S. has long used JDAMs to precisely strike high-value targets and limit collateral damage.
Heavy Waves Send 19 Overboard On Hospital Ship
Source: CBS News
December 14 2022
USA
Nineteen people have been knocked overboard from a Navy hospital ship operating near Haiti, reports CBS News.
On Monday night, heavy swells hit USNS Comfort, sending 12 military personnel and seven civilians overboard.
All 19 were successfully rescued by a small boat shortly after, although two were injured in the process.
The incident caused the ship to temporarily halt medical services.
The Comfort has been deployed to Haiti as part of a U.S. humanitarian mission to help deal with the nation's health crisis, which includes a recent cholera outbreak that infected more than 14,000 people.
Space Force Launches New S. Korean Unit
Source: Yonhap News Agency
December 14 2022
South Korea
USA
U.S. Space Force has launched a new unit based in South Korea, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul).
On Wednesday, U.S. Space Forces Korea was activated during a ceremony at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, which is also home to the U.S. 7th Air Force.
The new unit will operate under U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific, which was established in November.
Space Forces Korea will provide space planning and employment expertise, as well as space command and control to the commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), the command said.
It is expected to monitor, detect and track projectiles launched from North Korea and elsewhere to enhance readiness and deterrence.
President Throws Water On New Fighter Plan
Source: Defense News
December 14 2022
Argentina
Argentinean President Alberto Fernandez has ruled out the purchase of new fighter jets in the immediate future, reports Defense News.
During an interview last week, Fernandez was asked about long-discussed plans to buy new fighters. He said that "there are other priorities before buying weapons."
He also noted that "there are no war problems" in South America that would require such a procurement.
Argentina has been mulling the acquisition of new fighter jets for years. Among the options discussed have been the Israeli Kfir, Dassault Mirage F1, Saab Gripen, China's Chengdu FC-1, South Korean F-50 and Indian Tejas.
Argentina has not operated supersonic fighter jets since 2015, when its last Mirage jets were retired.
P-8 Poseidon Under Consideration For Maritime Patrol Requirement
Source: Ottawa Citizen
December 14 2022
Canada
The Canadian Dept. of National Defense is considering buying new maritime patrol aircraft from the U.S., reports the Ottawa Citizen.
Under the proposal, Ottawa would purchase eight to 12 P-8 Poseidon aircraft from Boeing to replace its aging CP-140 Auroras, which are scheduled to retire in 2030.
The Canadian Multimission Aircraft Project is expected to cost more than Can$5 billion (US$3.7 billion).
In June, Boeing announced it had partnered with several Canadian firms for the potential program, including CAE, AE Aviation Canada, IMP Aerospace & Defense, KF Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace Canada and Raytheon Canada.
The company has warned that the P-8 production line could be shut down by 2025 if additional orders are not received by then.
The Defense Dept. has put out a request for information and is considering several options for the program. The requirements call for aircraft capable of anti-submarine warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
Navy Takes Command Of Multinational Red Sea Task Force
Source: U.S. Navy
December 14 2022
Egypt
USA
The U.S. Navy has formally handed over command of a multinational naval task force in the Red Sea to the Egyptian navy, reports U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT).
On Dec. 12, the Navy turned over command of Combined Task Force 153 (CTF-153) to the Egyptian navy. This is the first time that Egypt has led a combined maritime forces (CMF) operational staff since Cairo joined the naval partnership in 2021.
CTF-153, established in April 2022, is one of four CMF task forces. It is intended to enhance maritime security and capacity-building operations in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden.
Defense Ministry Announces F-35 Procurement
Source: Lockheed Martin
December 14 2022
Germany
The German Ministry of Defense has announced that it will buy advanced fighter aircraft from the U.S., reports Lockheed Martin.
On Wednesday, the ministry announced plans to purchase 35 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.
The program includes engines, role-specific mission equipment, spare and replacement parts, technical and logistic support, training and armament, Lockheed said.
In March, Berlin selected the F-35A to replace its aging fleet of Tornado strike jets. The Lightning II will take up Germany's NATO nuclear deterrent mission.
Germany is the ninth FMS customer for the F-35 program, U.S. Air Force program officials said.
Air Force Drills Near NE Border With China
Source: Press Trust of India
December 14 2022
India
The Indian air force has deployed nearly all of its front-line fighters in northeastern India to a major exercise near the border with China, reports the Press Trust of India.
The two-day exercise began on Thursday to evaluate the combat readiness of its aircraft, reported Asian News International (New Delhi).
The drill were planned long before a recent confrontation with Chinese forces near the Tawang sector of their disputed border.
The exercise also comes as France has delivered the 36th and last Rafale fighter ordered by India
Pilot Dies In Typhoon Crash Off Sicily
Source: Anadolu Agency
December 14 2022
Italy
An Italian air force fighter jet has crashed off the coast of Sicily, reports the Anadolu Agency (Ankara).
The Eurofighter Typhoon was returning to Trapani Air Base and was on approach with another Typhoon when it went down on Tuesday, reported the Aviationist blog.
The jet crashed about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of the airfield. A search-and-rescue effort was immediately launched. The pilot's body was recovered early Wednesday morning
The jet was attached to the 37th Wing of the Italian air force.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Yama Sakura Drills With U.S. Wrap Up
Source: U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
December 14 2022
USA
Japan
The U.S. and Japanese militaries have just concluded a major joint exercise, reports U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
The annual Yama Sakura drills kicked off on Nov. 28 and ended on Tuesday. It was the largest and most complex joint command-post exercise between Japan and the U.S. to date, the command said.
The training focused on enhancing interoperability, force lethality and multidomain warfare through staff activities, realistic scenario simulation and hypothetical future combat situations.
The participants included elements of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, U.S. 7th Fleet, 5th Air Force, 1st Corps, 11th Airborne Division, 3rd Marine Division and 7th Infantry Division.
Representatives of the Philippine and Australian militaries observed the drills.
Order Placed With Saab For Air Defense Systems
Source: Saab
December 14 2022
Latvia
Latvia has finalized an order with Saab for short-range air defense systems, reports the Swedish defense firm.
On Wednesday, Saab said that it had received a Latvian order for RBS 70 NG portable surface-to-air missile launchers and Giraffe 1X radars. The value of the contract and number of systems involved was not disclosed.
Deliveries are scheduled to start before the end of the year, the company said.
Irish Peacekeeper Killed In Ambush
Source: Irish Times
December 14 2022
Ireland
United Nations
Lebanon
An Irish peacekeeper has been killed in an ambush in Lebanon, reports the Irish Times.
On Wednesday night, militants stopped two U.N. vehicles at a roadblock. The two vehicles became separated and one surrounded by a hostile mob, said Irish Foreign and Defense Minister Simon Coveney, as quoted by Reuters.
Shots were fired and one peacekeeper was killed. A second Irish soldier was in critical condition.
Two more Irish soldiers suffered minor injuries when their vehicle overturned.
The incident took place in Hezbollah-controlled territory during a routine administrative run between their base and Beirut, Coveney said.
Hezbollah later said that it was not involved in the incident.
The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said it had launched an investigation.
President Declares State Of Emergency
Source: MercoPress
December 14 2022
Peru
President Dina Boluarte has declared a state of emergency following violent demonstrations by supporters of former President Pedro Castillo, who was ousted after attempting a coup earlier this month, reports MercoPress (Uruguay).
Under the 30-day state of emergency, the right of assembly, inviolability of the home, freedom of transit and other individual rights protected by Peru's constitution are suspended.
The national police and armed forces have been called on to maintain order.
In the seven provinces where Castillo's supporters have been most active, a 60-day state of emergency has already been implemented.
Rheinmetall Delivers New Swap-Body Military Trucks
Source: Rheinmetall
December 14 2022
Germany
Slovenia
As part of a German initiative to deliver military equipment to Ukraine, Rheinmetall has delivered new swap-body military trucks to the Slovenian armed forces, reports the company.
Rheinmetall delivered 40 HX-series trucks, similar to those supplied to the German military under its unprotected transport vehicle (UTF) program, to the Slovenian military in Ljubljana, said a company release on Wednesday.
The deal was valued in the low two-digit million-euro range.
Germany also pledged to deliver variable-loader platforms, five palletized water tank modules and an initial service package, including training. In return, Slovenia delivered various Soviet-era military equipment to Ukraine.
As part of Germany's Ringtausch program, Slovenia and other NATO member nations transfer aging military equipment to Ukraine in return for newer Western equipment.
Istanbul Mayor Convicted For Dissenting Comments
Source: Human Rights Watch
December 14 2022
Turkey
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has been sentenced to prison and banned from holding elected political office for making dissenting remarks, reports Human Rights Watch (New York).
On Nov. 4, 2019, Imamoglu told media that "those who canceled the March 31 [2019 Istanbul mayoral] election are fools," in reference to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's attempt to overturn the 2019 mayoral vote, which Imamoglu won.
He subsequently won the "rerun" election on Jun. 23, 2019. His victory marked the first time since 1994 that Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, and predecessor Welfare Party, lost control of Istanbul.
A Turkish court sentenced the mayor to 2 years, 7 months and 15 days in prison, saying that his remarks were an insult to the Higher Electoral Board, which had controversially issued the decision to cancel the first election.
Human Rights Watch described the conviction as a "violation of rights" as part of a "calculated assault on Turkey's political opposition in the run up to 2023 elections."
U.S. Arms Companies Seek Inroads With Vietnamese Military
Source: Reuters
December 14 2022
Vietnam
USA
U.S. defense firms are in talks with the Vietnamese government about a variety of potential weapons deals, reports Reuters.
The preliminary talks come as Hanoi seeks to diversify its arms sources. Russia currently supplies about 80 percent of the Vietnamese military's equipment.
American companies were forbidden from doing business in Vietnam until Washington ended its arms embargo in 2016.
The U.S. previously supplied two former Coast Guard cutters and has transferred two of 12 T-6 Texan II basic training aircraft ordered by Hanoi. Deliveries of the T-6s are due to conclude by 2027.
Boeing is also set to deliver ScanEagle reconnaissance drones to Vietnam.
Vietnam is also considering arms deals with India, Israel, European firms and Northeast Asian countries.
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