The List 6316 TGB
To All,
Good Tuesday Morning 20 December.
I hope that your week has started well.
Regards,
skip
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Thanks to Mud
This was at the end of Mud's picture set this morning and after a few
cuts and pastes and stripping I got it to this. I thought it was
apropos for the daily List.
BE SURE TO READ THIS ALSO
This explains why friends forward jokes. And other items
A man and his dog were walking along a road . The man was enjoying
the scenery when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.
He remembered dying and that the dog walking beside him had been dead
for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side
of the road.
it looked like fine marble.
At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in
the sunlight.
When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch
that looked like mother-of-pearl and the street that led to the gate
looked like pure gold.
He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a
man at a desk to one side.
When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"
"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.
"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.
"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought
right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open. "Can my
friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and
continued the way he had been going with his dog.
After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came
to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had
never been closed.
There was no fence.
As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree
and reading a book.
"Excuse me!" he called the man. "Do you have any water?"
"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in."
"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog
"There should be a bowl by the pump," said the man.
They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an
old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.
The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, and
then he gave some to the dog.
When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was
standing by the tree.
"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.
"This is Heaven," he answered.
"Well, that's confusing," the traveler said.
"The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."
"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope.
That's Hell."
"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"
"No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave
their best friends behind."
So , sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding stuff to us
without writing a word.
Maybe this will explain it.
When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what
you do? You forward emails .
When you have nothing to say, but still want to keep contact, you
forward jokes .
When you have something to say, but don't know what, and don't know
how...you forward stuff .
A 'forward' lets you know that
You are still remembered,
You are still important,
You are still cared for.
So, next time you get a 'forward', don't think that you've been sent
just another forwarded joke, but that you've been thought of today and
your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send you a
smile.
You are welcome at my water bowl anytime ...
So here's to keeping in touch.
Even if sometimes it means only forwarding
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This Day in Navy and Marine Corps History
December 20
1822—Congress authorizes the West Indies Squadron to suppresspiracy
in the Caribbean. Under the leadership of Commodores James Biddle,
David Porter, and Lewis Warrington, the newly created squadron crushes
the pirates.
1941—Adm. Ernest J. King is announced as the designated
Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, in charge of all operating
naval fleets and coastal frontier forces, reporting directly to the
President.
1943—TBF aircraft (VC-19) from escort carrier USS Bogue (CVE 9)
attacks German submarine U-850, which responds with anti-aircraft
fire. TBFs and FMs (VC-19) reinforce the TBF and sink U-850 as it
tries to submerge 530 miles southwest of Fayal, Azores.
1964—USS Richard E. Kraus (DD 849) completes a successful emergency
mission in aiding the disabled American merchant ship SS Oceanic Spray
in the Red Sea.
1974—Task Force 65 concludes Operation Nimbus Star, the clearance of
mines and unexploded ordnance in the Suez Canal, as part of a joint
effort to reopen this vital artery to international shipping.
1989—Naval Special Warfare Task Force Papa attacks Punta Paitilla
Airport during Operation Just Cause to prevent the dictator, Gen.
Manuel Noriega, from leaving Panama. Chief Engineman Donald McFaul is
mortally wounded while carrying a wounded SEAL to safety.
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Today in History December 2
69 Vespians's supporters enter Rome and discover Vitellius in
hiding. He is dragged through the streets before being brutally
murdered.
1355 Stephen Urosh IV of Serbia dies while marching to attack
Constantinople.
1802 The United States buys the Louisiana territory from France.
1860 South Carolina secedes from the Union.
1861 English transports loaded with 8,000 troops set sail
for Canada so that troops are available if the "Trent Affair" is not
settled without war.
1924 Adolf Hitler is released from prison after serving less
than one year of a five year sentence for treason.
1930 Thousands of Spaniards sign a revolutionary manifesto.
1933 The German government announces 400,000
citizens are to be sterilized because of hereditary defects.
1938 First electronic television system is patented.
1941 The Flying Tigers, American pilots in China,
enter combat against the Japanese over Kunming.
1943 Soviet forces halt a German army trying to
relieve the besieged city of Stalingrad.
1946 Viet Minh and French forces fight fiercely in
Annamite section of Hanoi.
1948 U.S. Supreme Court announces that it has no
jurisdiction to hear the appeals of Japanese war criminals sentenced
by the International Military Tribunal.
1960 National Liberation Front is formed by
guerrillas fighting the Diem regime in South Vietnam.
1962 In its first free election in 38 years, the
Dominican Republic chooses leftist Juan Bosch Gavino as president.
1963 Four thousand cross the Berlin Wall to visit
relatives under a 17-day Christmas accord.
1989 U.S. troops invade Panama to oust General
Manuel Noriega and replace him with Guillermo Endara.
1995 NATO begins peacekeeping operation in Bosnia.
1996 NeXT merges with Apple Computer, leading to
the development of groundbreaking Mac OS X.
2007 Queen Elizabeth II becomes the oldest monarch
in the history of the UK; previously, that honor belonged to Queen
Victoria.
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1957
Elvis Presley is drafted
On this day in 1957, while spending the Christmas holidays at
Graceland, his newly purchased Tennessee mansion, rock-and-roll star
Elvis Presley receives his draft notice for the United States Army.
With a suggestive style–one writer called him "Elvis the Pelvis"–a hit
movie, Love Me Tender, and a string of gold records including
"Heartbreak Hotel," "Blue Suede Shoes," "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be
Cruel," Presley had become a national icon, and the world's first bona
fide rock-and-roll star, by the end of 1956. As the Beatles' John
Lennon once famously remarked: "Before Elvis, there was nothing." The
following year, at the peak of his career, Presley received his draft
notice for a two-year stint in the army. Fans sent tens of thousands
of letters to the army asking for him to be spared, but Elvis would
have none of it. He received one deferment–during which he finished
working on his movie King Creole–before being sworn in as an army
private in Memphis on March 24, 1958.
After six months of basic training–including an emergency leave to see
his beloved mother, Gladys, before she died in August 1958–Presley
sailed to Europe on the USS General Randall. For the next 18 months,
he served in Company D, 32nd Tank Battalion, 3rd Armor Corps in
Friedberg, Germany, where he attained the rank of sergeant. For the
rest of his service, he shared an off-base residence with his father,
grandmother and some Memphis friends. After working during the day,
Presley returned home at night to host frequent parties and impromptu
jam sessions. At one of these, an army buddy of Presley's introduced
him to 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, whom Elvis would marry some
years later. Meanwhile, Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker,
continued to release singles recorded before his departure, keeping
the money rolling in and his most famous client fresh in the public's
mind. Widely praised for not seeking to avoid the draft or serve
domestically, Presley was seen as a model for all young Americans.
After he got his polio shot from an army doctor on national TV,
vaccine rates among the American population shot from 2 percent to 85
percent by the time of his discharge on March 2, 1960
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
… For The List for Tuesday, 20 December 2022… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 20 December 1967…
Summers: The standdowns were "fatal flaws" in American conduct of the war…
This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam
War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear's
Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated
information to the work to update for history…skip
Vietnam Air Losses
Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at:
https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War .
Listed by last name and has other info
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Thanks to Brett
Geopolitical Futures:
Keeping the future in focus
Daily Memo: EU to Cap Gas Prices
The bloc agreed on the measure after months of negotiation.
By: GPF Staff
December 20, 2022
Containing prices. EU governments agreed on Monday on a price cap for
natural gas in an effort to contain rising energy prices. The cap,
which will come into effect on Feb. 15, is set at 180 euros ($191) per
megawatt hour. Germany voted for the measure despite raising concerns
earlier. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Russian
authorities would respond accordingly.
Still buying Russian oil. Russia's Transneft pipeline operator said it
has received applications from both Germany and Poland for oil in
2023. The supplies would be transported through the Druzhba pipeline,
which is exempt from EU sanctions on Russian oil that went into effect
earlier this month. Both countries have said they will aim to reduce
imports of Russian oil.
Russian concessions. Russia and Belarus agreed to a fixed price for
natural gas for the next three years after talks between Russian
President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko
in Minsk on Monday. Moscow also agreed to restructure Belarus' debt.
During Putin's visit, Lukashenko said Russia provided his country with
S-400 missile defense systems and the Iskander ballistic missile
system, which are already on combat duty.
Discount. Russian Railways, together with the railway companies from
Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran, will provide preferential rates for
container shipments in 2023 through the International North-South
Transport Corridor, which connects Russia with the Caspian Basin, the
Persian Gulf and Central, South and Southeast Asia. Russian Railways
earlier said it would introduce a 20 percent discount for container
traffic crossing between Russia and Kazakhstan. Moscow is seeking ways
to find new export markets amid the tough Western sanctions.
Iran and the EU. Iran's foreign minister met in Jordan with the EU's
envoy to the nuclear negotiations and its foreign policy chief to
discuss reviving talks on the 2015 nuclear deal. This comes amid
deteriorating relations between Iran and the bloc.
Drills. South Korea and the United States conducted joint air drills
in the South's air defense identification zone southwest of its
southern island of Jeju. The exercises involved U.S. B-52 bombers and,
for the first time since 2018, F-22 stealth fighters, as well as South
Korea's F-35A stealth jets and F-15K fighters.
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Thanks to Micro
Old people problems.
An older man went to his doctor for a physical exam. As part of
the evaluation for urinary symptoms, the doctor handed the man a jar
saying, '"Take this home and bring me a semen sample tomorrow."
The next day the man came back and gave him the jar, which was clean and empty.
The doctor asked why and the man explained: "Well, doc, it's like this--first
I tried with my right hand, nothing. Then my left hand, still nothing. I asked
my wife for help. She tried with each hand, still nothing. She tried
with her mouth, first with her teeth in, then with her teeth out,
nothing worked. We even called up Arleen, the lady next door and she
tried. First with both hands, then an armpit. She even tried
squeezing' it between her knees. Nothing helped"
Amazed the doctor asked "You asked your neighbor?"
The old man replied, "Yep, and none of us could get the jar open."
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This Day in U S Military History
December 20
1803 – U.S. and French governments put the finishing touches on a
little land transaction known as the Louisiana Purchase. For the
relatively paltry price tag of $15 million, the U.S. acquired an area
that effectively doubled the size of the nation. The bargain price
reflected French fears that their army, already occupied with the
Napoleonic Wars, would not be able to stave off revolutionaries in New
Orleans. U.S. officials, meanwhile, coveted New Orleans as a duty-free
port for American goods that were about to be shipped. Of course, the
resulting deal provided the U.S. with much more than a port; indeed,
the nation now owned the land that would become Arkansas, Missouri,
Iowa, the Dakotas, as well as chunks of Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming,
Colorado, and of course, Louisiana.
1803 – Without a shot fired, the French hand over New Orleans and
Lower Louisiana to the United States. In April 1803, the United States
purchased from France the 828,000 square miles that had formerly been
French Louisiana. The area was divided into two territories: the
northern half was Louisiana Territory, the largely unsettled (though
home to many Indians) frontier section that was later explored by
Lewis and Clark; and the southern Orleans Territory, which was
populated by Europeans. Unlike the sprawling and largely unexplored
northern territory (which eventually encompassed a dozen large
states), Orleans Territory was a small, densely populated region that
was like a little slice of France in the New World. With borders that
roughly corresponded to the modern state of Louisiana, Orleans
Territory was home to about 50,000 people, a primarily French
population that had been living under the direction of a Spanish
administration. These former citizens of France knew almost nothing
about American laws and institutions, and the challenging task of
bringing them into the American fold fell to the newly appointed
governor of the region, twenty-eight-year-old William Claiborne.
Historians have found no real evidence that the French of Orleans
Territory resented their transfer to American control, though one
witness claimed that when the French tri-color was replaced by the
Stars and Stripes in New Orleans, the citizens wept. The French did
resent that their new governor was appointed rather than elected, and
they bridled when the American government tried to make English the
official language and discouraged the use of French. It didn't help
matters that young Claiborne knew neither French nor Spanish.
Claiborne soon found himself immersed in a complex sea of ethnic
tensions and political unrest that he little understood, and in
January he wrote to Thomas Jefferson that the population was
"uninformed, indolent, luxurious-in a word, ill-fitted to be useful
citizens for a Republic." To his dismay, Claiborne found that most of
his time was spent not governing, but dealing with an unrelenting
procession of crises like riots, robberies, and runaway slaves.
Despite his concerns, Claiborne knew that somehow these people had to
be made into American citizens, and over time he gradually made
progress in bringing the citizenry into the Union. In December 1804 he
was happy to report to Jefferson that "they begin to view their
connexion with the United States as permanent and to experience the
benefits thereof." Proof of this came eight years later, when the
people of Orleans Territory drafted a constitution and successfully
petitioned to become the eighteenth state in the Union. Despite
Claiborne's doubts about whether the French would ever truly fit into
their new nation, the approval of that petition meant that the people
of Louisiana were officially Americans.
1941 – The Flying Tigers, American pilots in China, entered combat
against the Japanese over Kunming. Aircraft of the 1st and 2nd
squadrons intercepted 10 unescorted Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" bombers of
the 21st Hikōtai attacking Kunming. The bombers jettisoned their loads
before reaching Kunming. Three of the Japanese bombers were shot down
near Kunming and a fourth was damaged so severely that it crashed
before returning to its airfield at Hanoi. Furthermore, the Japanese
discontinued their raids on Kunming while the AVG was based there.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
NORRIS, J. W.
Rank and organization: Landsman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1862, England.
Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 326, 18 October 1884. Citation:
Serving on board the U.S.S. Jamestown, New York Navy Yard, 20 December
1883, Norris rescued from drowning A. A. George, who had fallen
overboard.
SWEENEY, ROBERT
SECOND AWARD
Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Jamestown, at the Navy Yard New
York, 20 December 1883, Sweeney rescued from drowning A. A. George,
who had fallen overboard from that vessel.
VOSLER, FORREST T. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Corps. 358th
Bomber Squadron, 303d Bomber Group. Place and date. Over Bremen,
Germany, 20 December 1943. Entered service at: Rochester, N.Y. Born:
29 July 1923, Lyndonville, N.Y. G.O. No.: 73, 6 September 1944.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry in action against the enemy above
and beyond the call of duty while serving as a radio operator-air
gunner on a heavy bombardment aircraft in a mission over Bremen,
Germany, on 20 December 1943. After bombing the target, the aircraft
in which T/Sgt. Vosler was serving was severely damaged by
antiaircraft fire, forced out of formation, and immediately subjected
to repeated vicious attacks by enemy fighters. Early in the engagement
a 20-mm. cannon shell exploded in the radio compartment, painfully
wounding T/Sgt. Vosler in the legs and thighs. At about the same time
a direct hit on the tail of the ship seriously wounded the tail gunner
and rendered the tail guns inoperative. Realizing the great need for
firepower in protecting the vulnerable tail of the ship, T/Sgt.
Vosler, with grim determination, kept up a steady stream of deadly
fire. Shortly thereafter another 20-mm. enemy shell exploded, wounding
T/Sgt. Vosler in the chest and about the face. Pieces of metal lodged
in both eyes, impairing his vision to such an extent that he could
only distinguish blurred shapes. Displaying remarkable tenacity and
courage, he kept firing his guns and declined to take first-aid
treatment. The radio equipment had been rendered inoperative during
the battle, and when the pilot announced that he would have to ditch,
although unable to see and working entirely by touch, T/Sgt. Vosler
finally got the set operating and sent out distress signals despite
several lapses into unconsciousness. When the ship ditched, T/Sgt.
Vosler managed to get out on the wing by himself and hold the wounded
tail gunner from slipping off until the other crewmembers could help
them into the dinghy. T/Sgt. Vosler's actions on this occasion were an
inspiration to all serving with him. The extraordinary courage,
coolness, and skill he displayed in the face of great odds, when
handicapped by injuries that would have incapacitated the average
crewmember, were outstanding.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for December 20, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF
HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE
AGENCY
20 December
1928: In a British expedition, Sir Hubert Wilkins and Lt Carl B.
Eielson (US Air Service) made the first long flight over the
Antarctic. They took 10 hours in the air. (9) (24)
1941: Claire Chennault's American Volunteer Group, the Flying Tigers,
entered combat for the first time over Kunming, China. They flew P-40
Warhawks in the service of Chinese Premier Chiang Kai-shek. (20) (21)
1943: MEDAL OF HONOR. On a mission to Bremen, Germany, radio operator
TSgt Forest Vosler showed unusual courage, when his B-17 sustained
flak damage and hits from enemy aircraft. He received wounds in his
legs, but still fired his gun at the attackers. Then another shell
exploded near him, lodging splinters in his chest, head, and both
eyes. He refused first aid and, between lapses of consciousness,
repaired a damaged radio by touch. When the plane ditched in water,
Vosler scrambled out on the wing unaided and held another badly
wounded man until others could help them into a dingy. He received the
Medal of Honor. (4)
1946: Lt Cmdr M. W. Davenport used a Navy F8F Grumman Bearcat and took
off in 115 feet from a standing start and climbed to 10,000 feet
within 94 seconds. (24)
1948: The XB-47 Stratojet averaged 500 MPH for a 1,000-mile flight
from Moses Lake, Wash., to Albuquerque, N. Mex. (24)
1950: KOREAN WAR/Operation CHRISTMAS KIDLIFT. The 61 TCG airlifted
more than 800 endangered South Korean orphans on 12 C-54s to Kimpo to
Cheju-do, an island off the South Korean coast. (21) (28)
1958: First attempted Titan I launch from Cape Canaveral failed. (6)
1960: The USAF used a Thor-Agena A to launch Discoverer XIX from Cape
Canaveral into a polar orbit, where infrared scanners tested future
Midas equipment. The Glenn L. Martin Company delivered its last
aircraft, a P5M-2 Marlin seaplane, to the Navy. This ended 48 years of
manufacturing that produced more than 12,000 aircraft. The company
later became involved in missile and space programs. (8: Dec 90)
1962: When SAC declared the Atlas F missiles of the 556 SMS at
Plattsburgh AFB to be operational, the Atlas deployment program ended.
(6)
1963: SAC's responsibility for the Thor missile in the UK ended when
the RAF phased out the missile. (1) (6)
1968: NASA terminated the X-15 program. The X-15's 200th flight,
scheduled for today, was cancelled for bad weather. (3)
1971: The NF-104 rocket-powered aerospace training aircraft completed
its last flight. Students at Edwards AFB used the NF-104 for steep
zoom climb flights to reach the fringes of space. (3)
1972: The M2-F3 lifting body completed its 27th and final flight after
an air launch from a B-52. It reached 1,066 MPH and 17,500 feet.
1984: Two C-130 Hercules aircraft moved 23.8 tons of emergency rescue
equipment and vehicles to help in the unsuccessful rescue of 27 miners
trapped over a mile below the earth's surface near Huntington, Utah.
(16)
1989: Operation JUST CAUSE. US forces restored democracy in Panama.
MAC played a significant role in the operation as 24 active and 9
reserve units completed 84 airdrops, and 22 C-130s, 77 C-141s, and 12
C-5s flew employment missions. Another 40 C-141 and 13 C-5s airlifted
follow-on security forces. Meanwhile, SAC KC-135s and KC-10s flew more
than 160 missions to deliver 10 million pounds of fuel. From TAC, the
F-117A Stealth Fighter made its combat debut by dropping 2,000 pound
bombs to "disorient, stun, and confuse" Panamanian Defense Force
troops near Rio Hato. The Army's AH-64 Apache helicopter from the 82d
Airborne Division's Aviation Brigade saw action for the first time,
launching AGM-114 Hellfire missiles against enemy targets. In
aeromedical evacuations from 20 December 1989 to 5 January
1990, 8 C-141s and 1 C-130 flew 257 wounded soldiers from Panama to
the US. During the 27 December 1989 to 3 January
1990 humanitarian airlift, airlifters carried 3 tons of medical
supplies, 10,000 blankets, sheets, and food to Panama. For the 1
January through 14 February redeployment, nearly 18,000 troops
returned to the US. From 17 December 1989 to 4 January 1990, over 100
KC-10s and KC-135s delivered more than 12 million pounds of fuel to
airlifters and other aircraft in 256 sorties. (18) (26) MACKAY TROPHY.
A 16th Special Operations Squadron AC-130 crew, under the command of
Captain Greg McMillian, received the 1990 Mackay Trophy for leading
the attack on the Panamanian Commandancia in JUST CAUSE. (18) (26)
AFRES crews contributed to the success of JUST CAUSE. Reserve
airlifters carried more than 5,900 passengers and 3,700 tons of cargo,
while refuelers supports active and reserve aircraft. Reserve gunships
flew 29 sorties and expended over 7,000 rounds of ammunition. (26) ANG
fighter, special operations, and airlift units participated in JUST
CAUSE too. Participants included the 114 TFG, 180 TFG, 193d Special
Operations Group, and the 105, 136, 139, 146, 166, and 172 TAGs. (26)
1997: A C-141A towed a modified QF-106 Delta Dart into the air for the
first Eclipse Project flight. Dryden Research Center pilot Mark Stucky
flew the Eclipse experimental Demonstrator-1 (EXD-01) to 10,000 feet
above Edwards AFB. Eclipse was a joint USAF/NASA/Kelly Space &
Technology Inc. concept demonstrator for a future reusable space
vehicle. (3)
1999: Torrential rains in mid-December caused massive landslides down
Mount Avila near Caracas, Venezuela. The landslides destroyed most
shantytowns around Caracas and killed as many as 30,000 people, while
leaving another 400,000 homeless. A 105 AW C-5 from the New York ANG
arrived at Roosevelt Roads NAS in Puerto Rico on 23 December with
water purification equipment. From Roosevelt Roads, C-130 aircrews
from the Puerto Rico ANG airlifted the C-5's cargo to Simon Bolivar
IAP near Caracas. Through 28 December, the USAF dispatched 6 C-130s, 1
C-5, and 2 MH-60 helicopters to Caracus, Venezuela, to provide
humanitarian relief. (21) (22)
2004: The USAF inactivated its last operational F-4 Phantom II
squadron at Holloman AFB. The 20th Fighter Squadron's inactivation
also ended a 33-year German-American joint fighter training program in
F-4E and F aircraft. The last F-4s from Holloman were transferred to
the Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan AFB
by 7 January 2005. (AFNEWS Article, "Silver Lobos Fly into
Retirement," 22 December 2004)
2006: Operation DEEP FREEZE. Airmen from McChord AFB flew the first
C-17 Globemaster III (tail no. 02-1106) airdrop mission to the South
Pole by dropping 70,000 pounds of supplies to the National Science
Foundation team at Antarctica's South Pole Station. The airdrop showed
that one C-17 could deliver up to four times the tonnage of a
ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules, when bad weather interfered with the
resupply mission. The LC-130s belonged to the 109 AW at Stratton ANGB
in Scotia, N. Y. (22)
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Back to reality in the real world
World News for 20 December thanks to Military Periscope
AFRICOM Conducts 2 Strikes In Support Of Somali Forces
Source: U.S. Africa Command
December 20 2022
Somalia
U.S. forces have conducted a pair of strikes in support of Somali
National Army operations against the Al-Shabaab, reports U.S. Africa
Command.
A strike on Dec. 14, killed at least seven Al-Shabaab militants near
Cadale, about 109 miles (176 km) northeast of the capital, Mogadishu,
the command said in a Sunday release.
Another attack on Dec. 17 killed eight militants about 136 miles (220
km) northeast of Mogadishu, also in the vicinity of Cadale.
There were no civilian casualties in either strike, according to an
initial AFRICOM assessment.
L3Harris Set To Acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne
Source: L3Harris
December 20 2022
USA
L3Harris has announced plans to acquire rocket motor maker Aerojet Rocketdyne.
On Sunday, the company announced that it would purchase the company in
a cash transaction with a total value of $4.7 billion.
The deal is expected to close in 2023.
The acquisition would help strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base
and promote scientific discovery and innovation through targeted
investment in advanced missile technologies, hypersonics and other
technologies, said L3Harris.
New Destroyer Reaches New Homeport In Japan
Source: U.S. Navy
December 20 2022
USA
A new U.S. Navy destroyer has arrived at its new homeport in Japan,
reports the service.
On Monday, USS Shoup (DDG-86) arrived at its new forward-deployed
location in Yokosuka, where it joins Commander, Task Force 71
(CTF-71)/Destroyer Squadron 15 (DESRON 15) under U.S. 7th Fleet.
The Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA destroyer can carry two MH-60
Seahawk helicopters and features improved ballistic missile defense,
anti-air and surface warfare capabilities.
CTF 71/DESRON 15 is the Navy's largest forward-deployed destroyer
squadron and 7th Fleet's primary surface force, the service said.
USAF Awards Leidos Contract For Air-Breathing Hypersonic System
Source: Leidos
December 20 2022
USA
Leidos says it has received a U.S. Air Force contract to assist in the
development of an air-breathing hypersonic system.
The 51-month, $334 million contract from the U.S. Air Force Research
Laboratory (AFRL) is for the Expendable Hypersonic Multimission ISR
and Strike program, also known as "Project Mayhem," the company said
in a Dec. 16 release.
An initial $24 million award covers the system requirements review
(SRR) and conceptual design review (CoDR) in a digital engineering
(DE) environment.
Project Mayhem will use a scramjet engine to achieve speeds greater than Mach 5.
For its part, Leidos will develop a large-class variant that provides
greater range and payload than existing air-breathing systems. The
company will use digital engineering in support of future development
and transition to production.
3 Countries Sign Deal For Arctic All-Terrain Vehicles With BAE Systems
Source: BAE Systems
December 20 2022
United Kingdom
Germany
Sweden
BAE Systems has announced an agreement with Germany, Sweden and the
U.K. for Arctic all-terrain vehicles.
The US$760 million Collaborative All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV) program
covers a total of 436 BvS10 armored all-terrain vehicles, the company
said in a Dec. 16 release.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2024, with Sweden in line for 236
vehicles; Germany, 140; and the U.K., 60.
The vehicles are based on the latest configuration, already in Swedish
service, and will include variants for troop transport, logistics,
medical evacuation, recovery and command and control, said BAE
Systems.
The CATV program includes a framework agreement supporting future
procurements of the BvS10.
The U.K. Commando Force will begin to receive its vehicles under the
Future All-Terrain Vehicles (FATVs) program in February 2025, reported
the U.K. Ministry of Defense. The British component of the deal is
worth 140 million pounds (US$170 million).
In British service, the new vehicles will replace Bv206 and older
BvS10 models and equip Royal Navy Littoral Response Groups, the
ministry said.
The FATV offers better swimming and lift capabilities, and can
accommodate up to 11 marines. Navy plans call for the vehicles to
remain in service through 2058.
France Accuses Rwanda Of Backing Congolese Rebels
Source: East African
December 20 2022
Rwanda
France
Democratic Republic of the Congo
France has accused Rwanda of supporting a notorious rebel group in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, reports the East African (Kenya).
On Monday, the French Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning
Rwanda's support of the M23 rebel group, which has seized territory in
the North Kivu region in the eastern DRC.
The ministry further called on all parties to respect the Luanda and
Nairobi peace processes, which outlined roadmaps to end the fighting.
The U.S. and DRC have both repeatedly denounced Rwandan support for
the M23 movement.
Rwanda has denied supporting the rebel group.
Putin Orders FSB To Step Up Surveillance Efforts
Source: Reuters
December 20 2022
Russia
President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Federal Security Service
(FSB) to increase surveillance of Russian society and its borders,
reports Reuters.
On Monday, Putin, citing the emergence of new threats, directed
Russian intelligence services to maximize its efforts to tighten
control.
These measures will include oversight of public gatherings as well as
strategic facilities and energy infrastructure.
Putin instructed the FSB and border services to increase border
surveillance, and encouraged the use of whatever "forces and means"
available.
Identifying suspected traitors and foreign agents will also be a
larger component of FSB work moving forward, the president said.
Fighter Procurement To Be Finalized Soon, Defense Minister Says
Source: Global News
December 20 2022
Canada
The Canadian Dept. of National Defense will soon wrap up its purchase
of new fighter jets, reports Global News.
Earlier this year, the department said it was moving into final
negotiations to buy the F-35 Lightning II stealthy fighter from
Lockheed Martin to replace the air force's aging CF-18 Hornet jets. At
the time, officials emphasized that the talks did not guarantee a
signed contract.
Defense Minister Anita Anand recently said in an interview that the
contract would be concluded "in the very short term" with the goal of
fielding the new aircraft as soon as possible.
She noted that Canada needed to ensure it had trained pilots in place
and the required infrastructure to support the new fleet of 88 jets.
Iran Claims To Have Uncovered Mossad Network
Source: Jerusalem Post
December 20 2022
Iran
Israel
Iranian authorities claim to have discovered an Israeli spy network
attempting to disrupt its defense industries, reports the Jerusalem
Post.
According to Iranian officials, Mossad, the Israeli national
intelligence agency, contacted Iranian defense companies seeking
information.
The alleged Mossad network worked through a company that manufactures
alloys for aerospace purposes.
Tehran claims to have arrested 44 people in connection with the
network last week and another 15 in October.
The claims reflect either a flaw in Israel's intelligence operations
in Iran, or a misinformation campaign intended to deflect attention
from the government's crackdown on domestic protests, analysts said.
Puma Tanks Purchase Suspended Due To Breakdowns
Source: Agence France-Presse
December 20 2022
Germany
Germany will suspend all purchases of its new Puma infantry fighting
vehicles (IFV) following a series of breakdowns, reports Agence
France-Presse.
During military exercises, all 18 Puma IFVs involved were rendered
inoperable due to unspecified equipment breakdowns.
The Puma vehicles were intended to be part of Germany's contribution
to a NATO rapid deployment force in January. Because of the
breakdowns, Germany will instead send aging Marder vehicles.
Germany is acquiring the Puma to replace the Marder.
64 Killed In Airstrikes In NW
Source: Premium Times
December 20 2022
Nigeria
A Nigerian air force strike has killed dozens in the northwestern
Zamfara state, reports the Premium Times (Abuja).
The Nigerian air force said it launched the air operation on Sunday in
response to requests for help after armed bandits attacked the
communities of Malele, Ruwan Tofa and Yan-Awake.
Both civilians and armed militants were reportedly killed in the
airstrikes, including women and children.
Witnesses said the strikes forced the gunmen to flee to the
neighboring community of Mutumji
Air Force Engineers Return 2 Aircraft To Service
Source: Khaama Press
December 20 2022
Afghanistan
Afghan air force engineers have repaired a pair of aircraft, returning
them to flight status, reports the Khaama Press (Kabul).
The engineers repaired, tested and prepared for flight a Cessna 208
Combat Caravan multirole aircraft and an Mi-35 attack helicopter, the
Afghan Defense Ministry said on Sunday.
The ministry says it has restored more than 60 military aircraft since
the coalition withdrawal in August 2021.
The air force under the internationally backed government is believed
to have had around 130 aircraft, many of which ended up in neighboring
countries as personnel fled the Taliban takeover.
Army Receives New Domestic Machine Guns
Source: Defence Blog
December 20 2022
South Korea
The South Korean military has taken initial deliveries of new
domestically produced machine guns, reports Defence Blog.
On Dec. 16, SNT Motiv, the manufacturer, held a ceremony launching the
new K15 machine gun system.
The K15 will replace aging Daewoo K3 machine guns, which have been in
South Korean army service for more than 30 years.
The new weapon features day and night sighting devices, a 5.56-mm
chamber and the Hanwha Systems PAS-18K thermal sight. It has a range
of 875 yards (800 m) and can fire up to 1,000 rounds per minute.
Deal Inked With U.S. For HIMARS Rocket Systems
Source: Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense
December 20 2022
Lithuania
The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense says it has signed a
contract with the U.S. for multiple rocket launchers.
The US$495 million contract finalized last week covers eight M142
High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, live and
training ammunition, including Lockheed Army Tactical Missile System
(ATACMS) rockets with a range of 190 miles (300 km), maintenance
resources and training, the ministry said in a Dec. 16 release.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2025, reported the Baltic Times.
Navy Rescues Rohingya Refugees From Stranded Trawler
Source: Al Jazeera
December 20 2022
Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan navy has rescued more than 100 Rohingya refugees
stranded at sea, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar).
The 104 Burmese refugees were found adrift on a trawler in the Indian
Ocean about 3.5 nm (6.5 km) from Sri Lanka.
The ship was apparently bound for Indonesia before it suffered engine trouble.
A search-and-rescue operation led to the towing of the vessel into
port on Sunday.
The Rohingya, a Muslim minority group in Burma, has suffered under a
brutal repression by the Burmese government, which has been accused of
genocide.
The refugees were handed over to the police for processing before any
further steps would be taken, a navy spokesman said.
President Backs Plan To Reduce Troop Presence In Papua
Source: Reuters
December 20 2022
Indonesia
President Joko Widodo has announced support for a plan to reduce the
Indonesian military's presence in the eastern region of Papua, reports
Reuters.
The Indonesian military has been accused of human-rights abuses in the
Papua region, where separatists have long sought independence.
Fighting has escalated in recent years, resulting in increased
military crackdowns in the underdeveloped territory.
New military chief Yudo Margono said on Monday that he would go to the
Papua region to evaluate the situation before confirming any future
plans regarding troop movements.
According to the Jakarta-based research group, Institute for Policy
Analysis of Conflict, insurgency-related violence in Papua increased
from an average of 11 incidents per year from 2010 to 2017 to 52
incidents a year from 2018 to 2021.
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