The List 6317 TGB
To All,
Good Wednesday Morning 21 December.
Welcome to the shortest daylight of the year the Winter Solstice .
A bit of history and some tidbits
Regards,
skip
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This Day in Navy and Marine Corps History
December 21
1821—The schooner Enterprise, commanded by Lt. Lawrence Kearny,
captures and burns a pirate schooner off Cape Antonio, West Indies. A
landing party destroys a shore base and burns five pirate prizes.
1859—The sloop-of-war Constellation captures the American slaver
Delicia off Kabenda, Africa.
1861—Congress authorizes the Medal of Honor, the Nation's highest
military award, for Naval enlisted personnel.
1942—USS Seadragon (SS 194) sinks Japanese submarine I-4 between New
Britain and New Ireland while I-4 is engaged in a resupply mission to
Guadalcanal.
1951—The first helicopter lands aboard USS Consolation (AH 15) during
Operation Helicopter, where casualties are directly evacuated from the
battlefield to a hospital ship for the first time.
1968—Apollo 8 launches with Capt. James A. Lovell, Jr. as the command
module pilot. During the mission Lovell is one of the first two people
to see the far side of the moon. The mission lasts six days and three
hours and includes 10 moon orbits. Recovery is executed by HS-4
helicopters from USS Yorktown (CVS 10).
Today in History December 21
68
Vespian, a gruff-spoken general of humble origins, enters Rome and is
named emperor by the Senate.
1620
The Pilgrims land at or near Plymouth Rock.
1708
French forces seize control of the eastern shore of Newfoundland after
winning a victory at St. John's.
1790
Samuel Slater opens the first cotton mill in the United States (in
Rhode Island).
1862
The U.S. Congress authorizes the Medal of Honor to be awarded to Navy
personnel who have distinguished themselves by their gallantry in
action.
1866
Indians, led by Red Cloud and Crazy Horse, kill Captain William J.
Fetterman and 79 other men who had ventured out from Fort Phil Kearny
to cut wood.
1910
Over 2.5 million plague victims are reported in the An-Hul province of China.
1928
President Calvin Coolidge signs the Boulder Dam bill.
1944
German troops surround the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne in Belgium.
1945
General George S. Patton dies at the age of 60 after being injured in
a car accident.
1946
An earthquake and tidal wave kill hundreds in Japan.
1963
The Turk minority riots in Cyprus to protest anti-Turkish revisions in
the constitution.
1964
Great Britain's House of Commons votes to ban the death penalty.
1965
Four pacifists are indicted in New York for burning draft cards —
Thomas C. Cornell, 31, co-secretary of the Catholic Peace Fellowship;
Roy Lisker, 27, a volunteer of the Catholic Worker Movement; James E.
Wilson, 21, a volunteer at the Catholic Worker Movement and a member
of the Fellowship for Reconciliation; and M P, Edelman, a full-time
worker for the War Resisters League.
1969
American draft evaders gather for a holiday dinner in Montreal, Canada.
1986
500,000 Chinese students gather in Shanghai's People's Square calling
for democratic reforms, including freedom of the press.
1988
Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York explodes in midair over
Lockerbie, Scotland, an hour after departure. All 259 passengers were
killed in the explosion caused by a bomb-- hidden inside an audio
cassette player -- that detonated inside the cargo area when the plane
was at an altitude of 31,000 feet. A shower of airplane parts falling
from the sky also killed 11 Lockerbie residents.
1994
Popocatepetl, a volcano in Mexico spews forth gases and ash after
nearly a half-century of dormancy.
1995
The city of Bethlehem passes from Israeli to Palestinian control.
2004
A suicide bomber attacks the forward operating base next to the US
military airfield at Mosul, Iraq, killing 22 people; it is the
deadliest suicide attack on US soldiers during the Iraq War.
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Thanks to Dr. Rich
Grocery Store Jingle Bells
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
… For The List for Wednesday, 21 December 2022… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 21 December
1967… "…at Christmas time the tragedy of war must weigh heavily on the
heart of a country."…
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 Mighty THUNDER (Mighty Thunder – Rolling Thunder Remembered)
A Fighter Pilot Dream Come True: "A Kill"
December 20, 2016 Mighty Thunder
Mighty Thunder is proud to post the first person testimonial of Denny
Wisely's first shutdown of an enemy aircraft on 20 December 1966, 50
years ago today. LT WISELY and LTJG DAVID JORDAN were flying F-4B NH
215 of the VF-114 "Aardvarks" embarked in USS Kittyhawk. Denny's take
is "Chapter 17: My First Shootdown" from his book… Denny got a second
"kill", a MiG-17, four months later in the same cruise on 24 April
1967…
…OOOHRAH
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
FIRST Shoot Down
At almost 2 AM on 20 December 1966 in the Tonkin Gulf and a being
fourteen hours ahead of California, it was still my birthday back in
the states. It was a dark night, there was no moon and the sky was
overcast. It was a quiet night, flight operations had secured several
hours earlier and all but those on watch were asleep after a long day
of combat operations. In fact, even some of those on duty were asleep,
blue shirts lying along the catapult tracks, the steam keeping them
warm from the breeze over the deck. Plane captains in brown shirts
were asleep atop NC-5 jet starting units. These men had already worked
a fifteen hour day and caught some sleep whenever they had an
opportunity. Of course, some people could not be asleep. High above
the flight deck the silhouettes of those on the bridge could be seen
as they moved in front of the red-lit panels. There were also people
awake down in Combat Information Center (CIC), the engine room and
other important places on the ship. LTJG Dave Jordan, who was my radar
intercept officer for this watch, and I were strapped into one of our
squadron F-4's located on one of the waist catapults. My regular RIO,
Gary Anderson was not available.
This was the second cruise for both Dave and me in these waters off
the coast of North Vietnam. I had flown 138 combat missions, and Dave
had flown somewhat more. We had been on this watch we call Condition
CAP countless times before. Condition CAP (Combat Air Patrol) is part
of the fleet's protection from unfriendly forces. During this war,
since there had been no real threat to our forces, it was a very dull
watch that interrupted your night's sleep or kept you from watching a
movie in the ready room.
While Dave and I were engrossed in World War II fighter pilot novels,
the ship made a sharp turn into the wind. Over the IMC came "Standby
to launch Condition 1 CAP." The 1MC is the ship's main communications
system that has speakers throughout the ship. What had been a quiet
flight deck became bustling with activity. The NC-5's were started,
pressure for the steam cats was increased, I started my aircraft.
Excitement was in the air. The people on the flight deck did a great
job. By the time the ship had finished its turn into the wind word
came to "Launch Condition 1 Cap," and we were on our way-0 to 160
knots in less than 2 seconds.
As soon as I raised my landing gear CIC gave me an initial Vector of
three one zero and informed me that visual ID was not required. In
fact the call was, "Your bogies bear 310 at 110 miles, cleared to arm
cleared to fire!" The adrenalin in my body began to flow. This was no
stray of ours. We were going to go after the real thing'. As soon as I
could, I tuned and armed my missiles. We had climbed on top of the low
overcast and were leveled off at about 3000 feet and indicating almost
600 knots. I wanted to get our bogie, which was almost 100 miles away,
before he had a chance to get away. At the same time, it would not be
wise to use after burner and go faster, then have no gas to loiter or
whatever was necessary when we did get there. If I climbed to
altitude, gas consumption would be better but their radar would see me
sooner.
The whole time we were running in toward our targets, we had a
commentary going between our carrier, us, and Red Crown. Red Crown was
typically stationed a hundred miles north of Yankee Station and was
responsible for positive identification of all aircraft in the area
similar to picket ships in WW11. For a couple of minutes there was a
disagreement over whether we needed an ID and if we were cleared to
fire. Our Admiral onboard who was the Carrier Division Commander
stepped in and we were given a cleared to fire. There was really no
doubt about the identity since there were no friendly forces flying
that night anywhere near that area.
"Your bogie bears 295 at 20 miles." Rang the controller's voice.
"Dave, tell that controller I want to know where the beach is!" I yelled.
I had mentally calculated that at about 100 miles in a northwest
direction from the ship was Than Hoa a very hot area. By now we were
painting the two bogies and could not really tell where the coast was
because in the track mode the radar does not paint the surface. This
information was vital to our security because here we were on top of a
low overcast approaching Than Hoa getting ready to shoot down what
looked too good to be true. The whole thing smelled of a rat. I kept
feeling the North Vietnamese were setting a trap for us with their
SAM-2's, using the bogies for bait. They even had the overcast to keep
us from seeing from where the SAM's were launched.
By now the bogies had been warned of our presence and they started a
turn to the right, heading for home. At this time we were at 8 miles
and Dave locked up on the wingman. The poor wingman, he always gets it
first. At 3 miles, we were in a tail chase position with a huge speed
overtake, I fired the first missile. It left the aircraft in a loud,
blinding "whooof" of fire and smoke and followed the bogie into the
overcast at about 2500 feet. When it got to where the bogies were, the
missile exploded as advertised, and a large fireball glowed through
the clouds. I tried to fire a second missile, but it failed to leave
the rails. I remember yelling in excitement to Dave, "We got the
bastard, we got the bastard."
I pulled the plane into a hard turn and we headed back out to sea. A
short distance behind me was my friend LT "Barrel" McRae from VF-213
in the second Condition CAP launched. I made it quite clear to him who
I was and what my heading was so there could be no mistaking us for
the enemy. As we proceeded out to sea our second plane closed in for
another kill. We heard him call for and watched his missile launch,
track and explode as ours had done. After we fired there was only one
bogie showing on the radar screens, and after Barrel fired, there were
none. I rolled the airplane a couple of times in shear joy!
When we got back to the ship there were one heck of a lot more people
up than when we left. Everyone was excited. Morale on the ship had
been good. This incident boosted it even higher. The only one who was
not too happy was my regular RIO Andy. Andy had a tooth filled that
day and consequently had not been scheduled to stand Condition CAP
with me. I felt bad about that. We had been through a lot together,
including the mid-air collision off the coast of San Diego.
After landing we went to Strike OPS for a quick debrief. Our Skipper
Hank Halleland, the CO of VF-213 were both there as well as the
Commanding Officer of the ship, Captain Paul Pugh.
The Captain had bagged a couple of MiGs in Korea. After both aircrews
finished describing what happened, Captain Pugh, said, "Great work.
Now, maybe more of you older guys will start taking the alert five
watches".
What a great feeling to have finally done what all fighter pilots
train to do, shoot down an enemy airplane. Later that day I flew my
second night flight some 18 hours after the first one. It was a dull
BARCAP.
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F-22 vs. Eurofighter Typhoon
Thanks to |Mugs
Got the following from an old AF friend (TK), then sent it to another
old AF friend (Nike) who has some time in the Raptor for comments. You
can see what he had to say below.
Mugs
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Any competent Raptor pilot will defeat any other fighter aircraft in a
1v1 scenario. That said, from what I see and hear, competency may not
be a valid assumption today.
Cheers
Nike
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On Dec 19, 2022, at 17:56, Mugs Morgan <mugsm@gvtc.com> wrote:
Nike,
Forwarded because I'd like to hear your comments.
Mugs
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Interesting 20-minute video that will bring back some memories of the
good ole' days.
Competition was like a full 3-bagger against an slick jet.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all
TK
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(4) F-22 VS Eurofighter Typhoon — What really happened in these
dogfights? - YouTube
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From Washington's Crossing to Lincoln's Gift by W. Thomas Smith Jr.
This Week in American Military History:
Dec. 21, 1861: The congressionally conceived "Medal of Honor" is
signed into law authorizing such medals be awarded to enlisted sailors
and Marines who "distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action
and other seamanlike qualities." The Army version of the medal is
signed into law the following summer.
Dec. 22, 1864: Following his "March to the Sea" and just before his
"March through the Carolinas," Union Army Gen. William Tecumseh
Sherman presents the captured city of Savannah (Ga.) to Pres. Lincoln
as a "Christmas gift."
Dec. 24, 1814: The Treaty of Ghent is signed ending the War of 1812.
Dec. 25, 1776: Continental Army Gen. George Washington conducts his
famous crossing of the Delaware River from the icy Pennsylvania
shoreline to the equally frozen banks of New Jersey. It will be
followed by an eight-mile march to the town of Trenton where he will
meet and defeat the Hessians (German soldiers allied to the British).
Speed of movement, surprise, maneuver, violence of action, and the
plan's simplicity are all key. Fortunately, the elements will all come
together.
The factors in Washington's favor are clear: The weather is so bad
that no one believes the Continentals will attempt a river crossing,
much less a forced march at night. The Continentals are numerically –
and perceived to be qualitatively – inferior to the British Army. The
Hessians, mercenaries allied to the British and who are garrisoned in
Trenton, have a battlefield reputation that far exceeds their actual
combat prowess. And no one believes the weary Americans will want to
attempt anything with anyone on Christmas.
Hours before kickoff, Washington has his officers read to the men
excerpts of Thomas Paine's The American Crisis.
By 4:00 p.m. the force of just under 2,500 men gathers at McKonkey's
Ferry, the launching point for the mission. The watchword, "Victory or
death," is given. As darkness sets in, the men climb into the boats
and begin easing out into the black river.
Washington's crossing and subsequent raid has been dubbed "America's
first special operation" in some military circles: Though there were
many small-unit actions, raids, and Ranger operations during the
Colonial Wars, and there was a special Marine landing in Nassau in the
early months of the American Revolution. Still no special operation in
American military history has been more heralded than that which took
place on Christmas night exactly 236 years ago, this week.
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Interesting facts has this one for today
Russian Czar Peter the Great established a tax on beards.
A few years into his reign, Russian Czar Peter I (aka "Peter the
Great") decided to study abroad. Worried that Russia was lagging
behind in key technological areas, especially when it came to
shipbuilding, Peter traveled incognito from 1697–98 to various
European countries, including Prussia, Holland, and England, in an
effort to modernize his own nation. Afterward, with his newly learned
shipbuilding know-how, he created Russia's first navy.
But it wasn't just maritime skills Peter learned on his "Grand
Embassy." He also picked up a few fashion and grooming ideas —
including a particular interest in the freshly shaven chins of most
Western European men. Determined to integrate Russia into the
increasingly powerful club of European countries, Peter established
(around 1705) a tax that fiscally punished anyone sporting a beard.
The tax was progressive, with the well-to-do shelling out more for
their facial adornments than the peasantry; nobility and merchants
could pay as much as 100 rubles a year, while peasants might pay one
kopek (1/100 of a ruble). Yet the tax was almost universally reviled —
and even helped spark a few riots. The biggest opponent of the tax was
the Russian Orthodox Church, which regarded clean-shaven faces as
sinful. Despite this stiff opposition, Peter I stuck with the tax and
was known to even shave off the beards of his guests at parties, much
to the horror displayed on their now-clean-shaven faces.
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This Day in U S Military History
December 21
1620 – The Mayflower reached Plymouth, Mass. after a 63-day voyage.
Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower went ashore for the first time at
present-day Plymouth, Mass. The crew of the ship did not have enough
beer to get to Virginia and back to England so they dropped the
Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock to preserve their beer stock.
1861 – U.S. Congress authorized the Medal of Honor to be awarded to
Navy personnel that had distinguished themselves by their gallantry in
action. The Navy and Marine Corps' Medal of Honor is our country's
oldest continuously awarded decoration, even though its appearance and
award criteria has changed since it was created for enlisted men by
Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles on 16 December 1861. Legislation
in 1915 made naval officers eligible for the award. Although
originally awarded for both combat and non-combat heroism, the Medal
of Honor today is presented for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty. The design of
our highest military decoration is rooted in the War Between the
States. Crafted by the artist Christian Schuller, the central motif is
an allegory in which Columbia, in the form of the goddess Minerva uses
the shield of the republic to put down the figure of discord, plainly
a reference to the unfolding split in our nation. The design is
encircled by 38 stars, representing the states of the Union at the
time of the outbreak of the Civil War.
1944 – In the north, US forces recapture Stavelot and bring the
advance of the German 67th Corps (part of 6th SS Panzer Army), on the
right flank of the German attack, to a halt from here to Monschau. To
the south, the German 5th Panzer Army has nearly surrounded Bastogne
while Houffalize has been secured.
1945 – General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. 3rd Army, dies
from injuries suffered not in battle but in a freak car accident. He
was 60 years old. Descended from a long line of military men, Patton
graduated from the West Point Military Academy in 1909. He represented
the United States in the 1912 Olympics-as the first American
participant in the pentathlon. He did not win a medal. He went on to
serve in the Tank Corps during World War I, an experience that made
Patton a dedicated proponent of tank warfare. During World War II, as
commander of the U.S. 7th Army, he captured Palermo, Sicily, in 1943
by just such means. Patton's audacity became evident in 1944, when,
during the Battle of the Bulge, he employed an unorthodox strategy
that involved a 90-degree pivoting move of his 3rd Army forces,
enabling him to speedily relieve the besieged Allied defenders of
Bastogne, Belgium. Along the way, Patton's mouth proved as dangerous
to his career as the Germans. When he berated and slapped a
hospitalized soldier diagnosed with "shell shock," but whom Patton
accused of "malingering," the press turned on him, and pressure was
applied to cut him down to size. He might have found himself enjoying
early retirement had not General Dwight Eisenhower and General George
Marshall intervened on his behalf. After several months of inactivity,
he was put back to work. And work he did-at the Battle of the Bulge,
during which Patton once again succeeded in employing a complex and
quick-witted strategy, turning the German thrust into Bastogne into an
Allied counterthrust, driving the Germans east across the Rhine. In
March 1945, Patton's army swept through southern Germany into
Czechoslovakia-which he was stopped from capturing by the Allies, out
of respect for the Soviets' postwar political plans for Eastern
Europe. Patton had many gifts, but diplomacy was not one of them.
After the war, while stationed in Germany, he criticized the process
of denazification, the removal of former Nazi Party members from
positions of political, administrative, and governmental power. His
impolitic press statements questioning the policy caused Eisenhower to
remove him as U.S. commander in Bavaria. He was transferred to the
15th Army Group, but in December of 1945 he suffered a broken neck in
a car accident and died less than two weeks later.
1968 – Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the moon, is successfully
launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with astronauts Frank Borman,
James Lovell, Jr., and William Anders aboard. On Christmas Eve, the
astronauts entered into orbit around the moon, the first manned
spacecraft ever to do so. During Apollo 8's 10 lunar orbits,
television images were sent back home, and spectacular photos were
taken of Earth and the moon from the spacecraft. In addition to being
the first human beings to view firsthand their home world in its
entirety, the three astronauts were also the first to see the dark
side of the moon. On Christmas morning, Apollo 8 left its lunar orbit
and began its journey back to Earth, landing safely in the Pacific
Ocean on December 27. On July 20 of the next year, Neil A. Armstrong
and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission, became
the first men to walk on the moon. Recovery was by HS-4 helicopters
from USS Yorktown (CVS-10).
1972 – The Defense Department announces that eight B-52 bombers and
several fighter-bombers were lost since the commencement of Operation
Linebacker II on December 18. These losses included at least 43 flyers
captured or killed. President Richard Nixon ordered the operation
after the North Vietnamese negotiators walked out of the peace talks
in Paris. In response, President Nixon immediately issued an ultimatum
that North Vietnam send its representatives back to the conference
table within 72 hours "or else." When they rejected Nixon's demand, he
ordered a full-scale air campaign against Hanoi and Haiphong to force
them back to the negotiating table. On December 28, after 11 days of
intensive bombing, the North Vietnamese agreed to return to the talks.
1988 – Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York explodes in midair
over Lockerbie, Scotland, an hour after departure. A bomb that had
been hidden inside an audio cassette player detonated inside the cargo
area when the plane was at an altitude of 31,000 feet. All 259
passengers, including 38 Syracuse University students returning home
for the holidays, were killed in the explosion. In addition, 11
residents of Lockerbie were killed in the shower of airplane parts
that unexpectedly fell from the sky. Authorities accused Islamic
terrorists of having placed the bomb on the plane while it was at the
low-security airport in Frankfurt, Germany. They apparently believed
that the attack was in retaliation for either the 1986 bombing attack
on Libya in which Gadhafi was the target, or a 1988 incident, in which
the United States killed 290 passengers when it mistakenly shot down
an Iran Air commercial flight over the Persian Gulf. Sixteen days
before the explosion over Lockerbie, a call was made to the U.S.
embassy in Helsinki, Finland, warning that a bomb would be placed on a
Pan Am flight out of Frankfurt. Though some claimed that travelers
should have been alerted to this threat, U.S. officials later said
that the connection between the call and the bomb was purely
coincidental. In the early 1990s, investigators identified Libyan
intelligence agents Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi and Lamen Khalifa
Fhimah as suspects, but Libya refused to turn them over to be tried in
the United States. But in 1999-in an effort to ease United Nations
sanctions against Libya-Colonel Moammar Gadhafi agreed to turn the
suspects over to Scotland for trial in the Netherlands using Scottish
law and prosecutors. Families of the victims were dissatisfied with
this deal, however, complaining that it did not allow prosecutors to
pursue the leads that suggested the bombing was planned and authorized
by the highest levels of the Libyan government. The United States did
insist, though, that Libya pay compensation to the victims' families
before sanctions against Libya are lifted
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
This day we honor men from the Philipines in 1899, WWII The Battle of
the Bulge and Vietnam
STRAUB, PAUL F.
Rank and organization: Surgeon. 36th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. Place
and date: At Alos, Zambales, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 21 December
1899. Entered service at: lowa. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 6
October 1906. Citation: Voluntarily exposed himself to a hot fire from
the enemy in repelling with pistol fire an insurgent attack and at
great risk of his own life went under fire to the rescue of a wounded
officer and carried him to a place of safety.
*BENJAMIN, GEORGE, JR.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company A,
306th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division. Place and date: Leyte,
Philippine Islands, 21 December 1944. Entered service at: Carney's
Point, N.J. Birth: Philadelphia, Pa. G.O. No.: 49, 28 June 1945.
Citation: He was a radio operator, advancing in the rear of his
company as it engaged a well-defended Japanese strong point holding up
the progress of the entire battalion. When a rifle platoon supporting
a light tank hesitated in its advance, he voluntarily and with utter
disregard for personal safety left his comparatively secure position
and ran across bullet-whipped terrain to the tank, waving and shouting
to the men of the platoon to follow. Carrying his bulky radio and
armed only with a pistol, he fearlessly penetrated intense machinegun
and rifle fire to the enemy position, where he killed 1 of the enemy
in a foxhole and moved on to annihilate the crew of a light
machinegun. Heedless of the terrific fire now concentrated on him, he
continued to spearhead the assault, killing 2 more of the enemy and
exhorting the other men to advance, until he fell mortally wounded.
After being evacuated to an aid station, his first thought was still
of the American advance. Overcoming great pain he called for the
battalion operations officer to report the location of enemy weapons
and valuable tactical information he had secured in his heroic charge.
The unwavering courage, the unswerving devotion to the task at hand,
the aggressive leadership of Pfc. Benjamin were a source of great and
lasting inspiration to his comrades and were to a great extent
responsible for the success of the battalion's mission.
CURREY, FRANCIS S.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company K, 120th Infantry,
30th Infantry Division. Place and date: Malmedy, Belgium, 21 December
1944. Entered service at: Hurleyville, N.Y. Birth: Loch Sheldrake,
N.Y. G.O. No.: 69, 17 August 1945. Citation: He was an automatic
rifleman with the 3d Platoon defending a strong point near Malmedy,
Belgium, on 21 December 1944, when the enemy launched a powerful
attack. Overrunning tank destroyers and antitank guns located near the
strong point, German tanks advanced to the 3d Platoon's position, and,
after prolonged fighting, forced the withdrawal of this group to a
nearby factory. Sgt. Currey found a bazooka in the building and
crossed the street to secure rockets meanwhile enduring intense fire
from enemy tanks and hostile infantrymen who had taken up a position
at a house a short distance away. In the face of small-arms,
machinegun, and artillery fire, he, with a companion, knocked out a
tank with 1 shot. Moving to another position, he observed 3 Germans in
the doorway of an enemy-held house. He killed or wounded all 3 with
his automatic rifle. He emerged from cover and advanced alone to
within 50 yards of the house, intent on wrecking it with rockets.
Covered by friendly fire, he stood erect, and fired a shot which
knocked down half of 1 wall. While in this forward position, he
observed 5 Americans who had been pinned down for hours by fire from
the house and 3 tanks. Realizing that they could not escape until the
enemy tank and infantry guns had been silenced, Sgt. Currey crossed
the street to a vehicle, where he procured an armful of antitank
grenades. These he launched while under heavy enemy fire, driving the
tankmen from the vehicles into the house. He then climbed onto a
half-track in full view of the Germans and fired a machinegun at the
house. Once again changing his position, he manned another machinegun
whose crew had been killed; under his covering fire the 5 soldiers
were able to retire to safety. Deprived of tanks and with heavy
infantry casualties, the enemy was forced to withdraw. Through his
extensive knowledge of weapons and by his heroic and repeated braving
of murderous enemy fire, Sgt. Currey was greatly responsible for
inflicting heavy losses in men and material on the enemy, for rescuing
5 comrades, 2 of whom were wounded, and for stemming an attack which
threatened to flank his battalion's position.
*THORNE, HORACE M.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Troop D, 89th Cavalry
Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Armored Division. Place and date: Near
Grufflingen, Belgium, 21 December 1944. Entered service at: Keyport,
N.J. Birth. Keansburg, N.J. G.O. No.: 80, 19 September 1945. Citation.
He was the leader of a combat patrol on 21 December 1944 near
Grufflingen, Belgium, with the mission of driving German forces from
dug-in positions in a heavily wooded area. As he advanced his light
machinegun, a German Mark Ill tank emerged from the enemy position and
was quickly immobilized by fire from American light tanks supporting
the patrol. Two of the enemy tankmen attempted to abandon their
vehicle but were killed by Cpl. Thorne's shots before they could jump
to the ground. To complete the destruction of the tank and its crew,
Cpl. Thorne left his covered position and crept forward alone through
intense machinegun fire until close enough to toss 2 grenades into the
tank's open turret, killing 2 more Germans. He returned across the
same fire-beaten zone as heavy mortar fire began falling in the area,
seized his machinegun and, without help, dragged it to the knocked-out
tank and set it up on the vehicle's rear deck. He fired short rapid
bursts into the enemy positions from his advantageous but exposed
location, killing or wounding 8. Two enemy machinegun crews abandoned
their positions and retreated in confusion. His gun Jammed; but rather
than leave his self-chosen post he attempted to clear the stoppage;
enemy small-arms fire, concentrated on the tank, killed him instantly.
Cpl. Thorne, displaying heroic initiative and intrepid fighting
qualities, inflicted costly casualties on the enemy and insured the
success of his patrol's mission by the sacrifice of his life.
*WARNER, HENRY F.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Antitank Company, 2d
Battalion, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and date: Near
Dom Butgenbach, Belgium, 20-21 December 1944. Entered service at:
Troy, N.C. Born: 23 August 1923, Troy, N.C. G.O. No.: 48, 23 June
1945. Citation: Serving as 57-mm. antitank gunner with the 2d
Battalion, he was a major factor in stopping enemy tanks during heavy
attacks against the battalion position near Dom Butgenbach, Belgium,
on 20-21 December 1944. In the first attack, launched in the early
morning of the 20th, enemy tanks succeeded in penetrating parts of the
line. Cpl. Warner, disregarding the concentrated cannon and machinegun
fire from 2 tanks bearing down on him, and ignoring the imminent
danger of being overrun by the infantry moving under tank cover,
destroyed the first tank and scored a direct and deadly hit upon the
second. A third tank approached to within 5 yards of his position
while he was attempting to clear a jammed breach lock. Jumping from
his gun pit, he engaged in a pistol duel with the tank commander
standing in the turret, killing him and forcing the tank to withdraw.
Following a day and night during which our forces were subjected to
constant shelling, mortar barrages, and numerous unsuccessful infantry
attacks, the enemy struck in great force on the early morning of the
21st. Seeing a Mark IV tank looming out of the mist and heading toward
his position, Cpl. Warner scored a direct hit. Disregarding his
injuries, he endeavored to finish the loading and again fire at the
tank whose motor was now aflame, when a second machinegun burst killed
him. Cpl. Warner's gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above
and beyond the call of duty contributed materially to the successful
defense against the enemy attacks.
*SMEDLEY, LARRY E.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Company D, 1st
Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and date: Quang Nam
Province, Republic of Vietnam, 21 December 1967. Entered service at:
Orlando, Fla. Born: 4 March 1949, Front Royal, Va. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader with
company D, in connection with operations against the enemy. On the
evenings of 20-21 December 1967, Cpl. Smedley led his 6-man squad to
an ambush site at the mouth of Happy Valley, near Phouc Ninh (2) in
Quang Nam Province. Later that night an estimated 100 Viet Cong and
North Vietnamese Army regulars, carrying 122mm rocket launchers and
mortars, were observed moving toward Hill 41. Realizing this was a
significant enemy move to launch an attack on the vital Danang
complex, Cpl. Smedley immediately took sound and courageous action to
stop the enemy threat. After he radioed for a reaction force, he
skillfully maneuvered his men to a more advantageous position and led
an attack on the numerically superior enemy force. A heavy volume of
fire from an enemy machinegun positioned on the left flank of the
squad inflicted several casualties on Cpl. Smedley's unit.
Simultaneously, an enemy rifle grenade exploded nearby, wounding him
in the right foot and knocking him to the ground. Cpl. Smedley
disregarded this serious injury and valiantly struggled to his feet,
shouting words of encouragement to his men. He fearlessly led a charge
against the enemy machinegun emplacement, firing his rifle and
throwing grenades, until he was again struck by enemy fire and knocked
to the ground. Gravely wounded and weak from loss of blood, he rose
and commenced a l-man assault against the enemy position. Although his
aggressive and singlehanded attack resulted in the destruction of the
machinegun, he was struck in the chest by enemy fire and fell mortally
wounded. Cpl. Smedley's inspiring and courageous actions, bold
initiative, and selfless devotion to duty in the face of certain death
were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and
the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for December 21, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF
HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE
AGENCY
21 December
1926: MACKAY TROPHY/DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSSES. Maj Herbert A.
Dargue led a Pan Am goodwill flight from San Antonio around South
America, to Washington DC. For the 22,065-mile flight, Major Dargue
used five Loening Amphibians with 420-horsepower Liberty engines. On 2
May 1927, 4 aircraft and 8 of 10 aviators (including Capt Ira C. Eaker
and 1Lt Muir S. Fairchild) completed the flight. They received the
Mackay Trophy and DFCs for their effort. The other plane crashed in
Argentina, killing the crewmen. (24)
1944: Gen Henry H. Arnold became General of the Army (5 stars) and the
first airman to hold this rank. (4) (24)
1948: The Navy announced that the development of a stallproof
automatic pilot that could land planes by radar in the "most
unfavorable" weather. (24)
1950: Boeing delivered the first KC-97A Stratofreighter to the USAF.
The company unveiled the first C–97 model converted to a
tanker-transport earlier in the month. The KC–97A, a propeller driven,
four-engine aircraft, had a flying boom and four added fuselage tanks
with a 14,990-gallon capacity. (18)
1951: KOREAN WAR. Fifth Air Force units flew 530 sorties, making 30
cuts in the main rail line between Sinanju and Sukchon and attacking a
supply complex near Kunu-ri. (28)
1959: General Thomas S. Power accepted the first production-model
Hound Dog guided air-to-surface missile at North American Aviation's
plant in Downey for the Air Force. (6)
1962: President Kennedy cancelled the Skybolt air-to-surface missile
program. (6)
1964: General Dynamics pilots Richard Johnson and Val Prahl flew the
F-111A, a variable sweptwing fighter, for the first time at Carswell
AFB. It was formerly known as the TFX. (12)
1965: The USAF phased out its last two active-duty KC-97s, when one
from the 100 AREFS at Pease AFB, and another from the 384 AREFS at
Westover AFB, flew to the aircraft storage area at Davis Monthan AFB.
At one time, the USAF had 36 KC-97 squadrons with 780 aircraft. (1)
1966: An Atlas launched the first SV-5D Precision Recovery Including
Maneuvering Entry (PRIME) vehicle into space from Vandenberg AFB. The
PRIME vehicle explored and advanced the development of possible manned
and unmanned lifting body vehicles capable of operating like
spacecraft in orbit and maneuvering like aircraft in the atmosphere.
(16)
1968: APOLLO VIII. Through 27 December, Astronauts Col Frank Borman
(USAF), Capt James A. Lovell, Jr. (USN), and Col William Anders (USAF)
flew the Apollo VIII mission, the first to use the Saturn V booster.
They set FAI records for maximum altitude and greatest mass lifted,
234,672.5 miles and 282,197 pounds, respectively. They also achieved
man's first circumlunar space travel by orbiting the moon. (9) (16)
1970: A Gruman pilot, Robert Smyth, flew the F-14A Tomcat on a
10-minute first flight at its Calverton plant at Long Island, N. Y.
1980: NASA's AD-1 oblique-wing research aircraft flown for the first
time. Its wing could be pivoted 60 degrees from a perpendicular
position to reduce drag and permit higher speeds and longer range
without increasing fuel usage.
1984: The B-52G reached its initial operating capability with the
Harpoon missile. (16)
1991: Rockwell's AC-130U Spectre gunship made its first flight. (16)
2000: At Edwards AFB, Boeing's X-32A Joint Strike Fighter concept
plane made its first supersonic flight, when Lt Col Edward Cabrera,
the USAF's lead X-32 test pilot, took the jet to 30,000 feet and
exceeded Mach 1 (660 mph). (3).
2001: NASA's X-38 Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) completed its highest,
fastest and longest flight to date. A B-52 from the Dryden Flight
Research Center at Edwards AFB dropped the lifting body-shaped craft
at 45,000 feet. It descended three miles at transonic speeds before
its drogue parachute deployed for the landing. (3)
2002: The first C-5 Galaxy (No. 85-0004) with Avionics Modernization
Program equipment made its maiden flight, two months ahead of
schedule. Departing and recovering at Dobbins AFB, the 5.2-hour C-5
mission demonstrated the basic flying qualities of the new avionics
and navigational system. (22)
2005: After nearly five years, the AFFTC completed its C-130J
operational testing and evaluation at Edwards AFB. (3)
2006: The YAL-1A Airborne Laser returned to the AFFTC at Edwards AFB
after Boeing installed solid-state beam control and fire control laser
illuminators, and strengthened its fuselage and chemical-fuel tanks.
Plans called for the YAL-1 to test-fire its lasers against an
instrumented target board on the side of the NC-135E Big Crow
aircraft. (3)
2007: Air Force technicians successfully launched a United Launch
Alliance Delta II booster, with the fifth modernized NAVSTAR Global
Positioning System satellite, from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., into
space. It joined a constellation of on-orbit satellites that provided
global coverage and global positioning services to users around the
world. (AFNEWS, "Delta II with GPS Payload Successfully Launches," 21
Dec 2007,
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
World News for 21 December thanks to Military Periscope
Jack H. Lucas Destroyer Completes Builder's Trials
Source: Huntington Ingalls Industries
December 21 2022
USA
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) says it has completed builder's
trials for another guided-missile destroyer.
The Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125), the first Arleigh Burke-class Flight III
destroyer, underwent hull, mechanical and electrical testing;
first-in-class Flight III testing of the SPY-6 radar; and evaluated
the machinery control system to ensure remote operability of the new
electric plant.
The Flight III upgrade significantly enhances target detection and
engagement and ballistic missile defense capabilities.
HII has delivered a 34 destroyers to the U.S. Navy to date, with five
more under construction, including the Jack H. Lucas.
New General Dynamics Encryptor Certified By NSA
Source: General Dynamics
December 21 2022
USA
General Dynamics Mission Systems says the National Security Agency
(NSA) has certified a new encryptor.
The TACLANE-C175N CHVP small form factor High Assurance Internet
Protocol Encryptor (HAIPE) has been certified for use by the National
Security Agency (NSA), the company said on Monday.
The new encryptor provides high-assurance security, interoperability
and mission-focused features in a single device. It has fewer handling
requirements as well as safe-keying capabilities that secure
classified information, the company said.
The non-controlled, cryptographic item (non-CCI) protects voice and
data communications classified as secret and below.
Kuznetsov Carrier Set To Leave Dry Dock
Source: Naval News
December 21 2022
Russia
Russia's only aircraft carrier will soon leave dry dock after years of
repair work, reports Russia's Tass news agency.
The Admiral Kuznetsov has been undergoing maintenance and repairs
since 2017. She was set to leave dry dock for a final phase of
pierside maintenance within a few days, United Shipbuilding Corp.
officials said on Tuesday.
The carrier was moved to a modernized dry dock facility at the 35th
shipyard of the JSC Ship Repair Center "Zvezdochka" in Murmansk in
June.
The Kuznetsov began her overhaul in 2017. In October 2018, she was
departing a floating dry dock at the 82nd shipyard in Roslyakovo when
it began to sink. A crane fell on the deck causing additional damage.
The maintenance period, covering service life-extension work and
upgrades, including the close-in weapons systems, is scheduled to be
completed in 2024.
Russian, Chinese Navies Hold Live-Fire Exercises
Source: CNN
December 21 2022
China
Russia
The Russian and Chinese navies have just begun a joint live-fire
exercise, reports CNN.
The Maritime Cooperation 2022 drills kicked off on Wednesday in the
East China Sea.
The Russian contingent includes the guided-missile cruiser Varyag, a
frigate and two corvettes, while China has deployed two destroyers,
two patrol ships, a supply ship and a diesel submarine.
The training includes missile and artillery firings against air and
sea targets and joint anti-submarine warfare operations.
The drills are intended to strengthen bilateral naval cooperation and
contribute to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, the
Russian Defense Ministry said.
2 Troops Injured In Suspected Israeli Airstrikes
Source: Times of Israel
December 21 2022
Israel
Syria
At least two Syrian soldiers have been injured in suspected Israeli
airstrikes in Damascus, reports the Times of Israel.
On late Monday night, airstrikes were reported in Damascus, hitting
several sites and wounding two soldiers. Their conditions were
unclear.
The official Syrian Arab News Agency said that Israeli jets had
launched their missiles from above the Sea of Galilee in northern
Israel.
Syria claimed to have shot down several Israeli missiles during the attack.
Israel rarely comments on its military operations in Syria.
Initial Batch Of Indigenous Boran Howitzers Delivered
Source: Defence Blog
December 21 2022
Turkey
Turkey has received its first batch of a domestically designed
lightweight howitzer, reports Defence Blog.
The 105-mm Boran howitzer, developed by MKE, was recently delivered
after completing 24 tests to international standards.
The lightweight gun weighs 3,920 pounds (1,780 kg) and has a range of
10 miles (17 km).
The Boran has a bow-type carriage and saddle, while the
105-mm/30-caliber ordnance can be traversed to the rear and locked in
position, reported Jane's.
Rheinmetall Wins NATO Ammo Contract
Source: Rheinmetall
December 21 2022
Germany
Rheinmetall says it has been awarded an artillery framework contract
by an undisclosed NATO customer.
The five-year contract, valued in the mid-three-digit million euro
range, covers the delivery of 155-mm M2005 velocity enhanced
long-range artillery projectiles (V-LAPs), M92 modular charges and
various fuzes.
The M2005 HE V-LAP provides an extended range interdiction capability
against soft targets and soft-skinned vehicles, including the ability
to disrupt supply lines beyond the close battlefield.
The artillery meets NATO Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding
requirements and Standard Agreement (STANAG) guidelines.
The rocket-assisted V-LAP projectile and Assegai M92 tactical charges
also feature barrel erosion and muzzle signature reducer properties.
Air Force Gets New Bell 412EPX Utility Helicopters
Source: Bell Textron
December 21 2022
Guatemala
Bell Textron has announced the delivery of a pair of multirole
helicopters to the Guatemalan air force.
Two Subaru Bell 412EPX helicopters were handed over during a joint
ceremony on Monday at La Aurora International Airport, marking the
101st anniversary of the Guatemalan air force.
The aircraft were delivered under an
indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract signed earlier this
year between Bell and the U.S. Army Multinational Aviation Special
Programs Office (MASPO).
The Bell 412EPX helicopters, the latest version of the Bell 412, will
support disaster response, humanitarian relief and various utility
missions, said Guatemalan Defense Minister Henry Yovani Reyes.
The aircraft has a maximum internal weight of 12,000 pounds (5,440 kg)
and an external weight of 13,000 pounds (5,900 kg).
ELN Rebels Announce End-Of-Year Cease-Fire
Source: Telesur
December 21 2022
Colombia
The National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group in Colombia has
announced an end-of-year ceasefire, reports Telesur (Caracas,
Venezuela).
On Monday, the rebel group declared a unilateral cease-fire from Dec.
24 to Jan. 2, citing their desire to support ongoing peace talks.
ELN leaders emphasized that the cease-fire applied only to military
and police forces, and that it reserved the right to defend itself if
attacked.
An initial round of peace negotiations with the Colombian government
took place last week in Caracas.
Lack Of Funding Hurts Naval Operations, Defense Minister Says
Source: Defence Web
December 21 2022
South Africa
South African Defense Minister Thandi Modise says a lack of funding
has prevented the navy from meeting its sea hour goals, reports
Defence Web (South Africa).
In response to parliamentary questions, Modise said the navy did not
have enough funding to deploy sufficient ships to meet the directed
operational objectives.
The navy currently plans for its ships to spend 7,800 hours at sea
annually, plus 2,200 hours for force preparation, for a total of 8,000
hours at sea.
This figure was reduced from 10,000 hours due to budget shortfalls in
2021-2022, she said.
Modise said tight budgets and naval underfunding make efficient time
allocation difficult.
She also noted that three of South Africa's four Valour-class
frigates, and two Manthatisi-class submarines are temporarily out of
service for refit cycles.
On the positive side, the defense minister noted that funding had been
provided to complete maintenance on frigate integrated platform
management systems and the ongoing refit for the submarine Charlotte
Maxeke.
Operational Activities Begin For Gripen E Fighters
Source: Saab
December 21 2022
Brazil
The Brazilian air force has formally begun operations with its new
Gripen E fighters, reports Saab, the manufacturer.
On Monday, the service launched operations with the Gripen E,
designated F-39 in Brazilian service, during a ceremony at Anapolis
Air Base in south-central Brazil, where they will be operated by the
First Air Defense Group.
Flight-testing of the Gripen E began in Brazil in September 2020. Last
month, the Gripen E received military certification from Brazilian and
Swedish authorities.
In 2014, Saab signed a US$5.4 billion contract with Brazil for 36
Gripen E/F fighters.
Parliament Legalizes Self-Defense Militias
Source: Agenzia Fides
December 21 2022
Mozambique
The Mozambican parliament has passed legislation which legalizing
local self-defense militias, reports Agenzia Fides (Vatican).
As part of efforts to defeat an Islamist insurgency in the northern
Cabo Delgado province, lawmakers have decided to permit local groups
to arm themselves against the militants.
The goal is for such militias to support Mozambican and regional
military forces fighting the Islamic State-affiliated Ansar Sunnah
group.
Around 4,000 people have been killed and more than a million displaced
in the jihadist violence that began in 2017.
Restrictions Implemented On Parts Of Border With Ukraine, Russia
Source: Reuters
December 21 2022
Belarus
Belarus has announced temporary restrictions on access to parts of its
borders with Ukraine and Russia, reports Reuters.
The restrictions cover entry, stay and movement in the border zone
within Loevsky, Braginsky and Khoiniki in the southeastern Gomel
region.
Restrictions will reportedly not apply to officials, workers and
residents of the affected areas.
The decision comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Belarus
for the first time since 2019 on Monday.
The duration of the restrictions was not made public.
Security Council Lifts Arms Embargo
Source: Daily Monitor
December 21 2022
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The U.N. Security Council has lifted its arms embargo on the armed
forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), reports the
Daily Monitor (Kampala,Uganda).
On Tuesday, the council agreed to unanimously to lift the embargo on
weapons sales and training to the Congolese government, which has been
in place since 2008.
This decision gives the DRC leeway to buy weapons needed to fight the
M23 rebel group and other armed groups in the eastern part of the
country.
Security Forces Retake Police Station From Islamic Militants
Source: BBC News
December 21 2022
Pakistan
Pakistani security forces have retaken a police station seized by
militants in the remote northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,
reports the BBC News.
On Sunday, Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) militants seized the police station
in the Bannu district, near the border with Afghanistan.
The insurgents sought to negotiate safe passage in return for
releasing the hostages. When talks stalled, Pakistani special
operations forces launched an operation to regain control of the
police station, said Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
All 33 militants involved were killed, along with two special
operations troops, he said. Ten to 15 soldiers were injured in the
fighting.
The attack comes after the TTP called off a cease-fire with the
Pakistani government in November.
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