To All,
Good Thursday morning January 12, 2023.
I hope that your week has been going well.
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To all from Dutch who has been a part of the List since its inception with his many posts on a daily basis. I wish him the best as he travels this great country and he can always park in my back yard when he makes it to San Diego.
Warm Regards Dutch…skip
99 Windmillers!!
Most of you know I lost my Princess, Helen, last April. She gave me almost three decades of a very wonderful, loving life which has, now, been reduced to only tremendous, heart-warming memories which I hold dear and close . Unfortunately, those wonderful moments are all too often torn by heart-aching reminders of losing her; our house is haunted by so many reminders of her – all now just stark and painful realizations she is gone. For the simple reason of sanity, I must leave this house.
Over the many years past, I have very greatly enjoyed being a part of the posts by so many of you true patriots – so refreshing to see so many folks who truly believe in the USA, its people and its freedoms – Our posts on these pages have been full of our love of this country and our strong desires that it prevail. PLEASE give that increasing passion so necessary to keep our USA from failing!
Our USA IS such a wonderful place, for so many reasons – its people, its natural beauties and our freedom to roam as we might wish. After giving up living on the boat 'cause she didn't like the storms at sea, Helen and I long toyed with a dream of spending our final years traveling in an RV to see the sights of our Great USA; I plan to embark on that journey next month.
AS I travel about, access to the internet and email will be rather limited; I shall no longer make my usual posts. Nonetheless, please do keep my email address active in your posts – so I may reconnect when I can get the 1's and 0's to align.
For all you aviation buffs, we'll see you at Oskosh! We will be camping in "Sleepy Hollow"
Remember those who have and those who continue to serve in Harm's Way to keep us safe and free!
Best regards,
Dutch
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History
January. 12
1813—During the War of 1812, the frigate Chesapeake, commanded by Capt. Samuel Evans, captures the British merchant Volunteer in the Atlantic and sends her into Portsmouth, VA, as a prize.
1943—USS Guardfish (SS 217) sinks Japanese Patrol Boat No.1 about 10 miles southwest of the Tingwon Islands, located just southwest of the northern tip of New Hanover, Bismarck Archipelago.
1944—PB4Ys bomb Japanese ships in Kwajalein lagoon and sink the gunboat Ikuta Maru, while PBY-5s from Tarawa mine Tokowa and Torappu Channels and the south entrance to Maleolap.
1945—Task Force 38, commanded by Vice Adm. John S. McCain, continues to bomb Japanese shipping, airfields and installations in French Indochina while also attacking three Japanese convoys, sinking approximately 30 Japanese vessels with numerous other vessels damaged.
1953—Aircraft begin operational landing tests, day and night, onboard USS Antietam (CVA 36), the first angled flight deck carrier.
1991—Guided missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) is commissioned.
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This Day in History January 12
1872 Russian Grand Duke Alexis goes on a gala buffalo hunting expedition with Gen. Phil Sheridan and Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer.
1879 The British-Zulu War begins. British troops -- under Lieutenant General Frederic Augustus -- invade Zululand from the southern African republic of Natal.
1908 A wireless message is sent long-distance for the first time from the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
1913 Kiel and Wilhelmshaven become submarine bases in Germany.
1915 The U.S. Congress establishes Rocky Mountain National Park.
1926 U.S. coal talks break down, leaving both sides bitter as the strike drags on into its fifth month.
1927 U.S. Secretary of State Kellogg claims that Mexican rebel Plutarco Calles is aiding communist plot in Nicaragua.
1932 Oliver Wendell Holmes retires from the Supreme Court at age 90.
1938 Austria recognizes the Franco government in Spain.
1940 Soviet bombers raid cities in Finland.
1943 Soviet forces raise the siege of Leningrad.
1952 The Viet Minh cut the supply lines to the French forces in Hoa Binh, Vietnam.
1962 The United States resumes aid to the Laotian regime.
1973 Yassar Arafat is re-elected as head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
1975 The Khmer Rouge launches its newest assault in its five-year war in Phnom Penh. The war in Cambodia would go on until the spring of 1975.
1982 Peking protests the sale of U.S. planes to Taiwan.
1991 The U.S. Congress gives the green light to military action against Iraq in the Persian Gulf Crisis.
1998 Nineteen European nations agree to prohibit human cloning.
2010 An earthquake in Haiti kills an estimated 316,000 people.
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
Skip… For The List for Thursday, 12 January 23… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 12 January 1968… The NVN integrated air defense system blossoms to world class nasty…
This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear's Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip
Vietnam Air Losses
Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Listed by last name and has other info https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
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Thanks to Locust …..These are fun
Words of Wisdom (read: insanity)
1. When one door closes and another door opens, you are probably in prison.
2. To me, "drink responsibly" means don't spill it.
3. Age 60 might be the new 40, but 9:00 pm is the new midnight.
4. It's the start of a brand new day, and I'm off like a herd of turtles.
5. The older I get, the earlier it gets late.
6. When I say, "The other day," I could be referring to any time between yesterday and 15 years ago.
7. I remember being able to get up without making sound effects.
8. I had my patience tested. I'm negative.
9. Remember, if you lose a sock in the dryer, it comes back as a Tupperware lid that doesn't fit any of your containers.
10. If you're sitting in public and a stranger takes the seat next to you, just stare straight ahead and say, "Did you bring the money?"
11. When you ask me what I am doing today, and I say "nothing," it does not mean I am free. It means I am doing nothing.
12. I finally got eight hours of sleep. It took me three days, but whatever.
13. I run like the winded.
14. I hate when a couple argues in public, and I missed the beginning and don't know whose side I'm on.
15. When someone asks what I did over the weekend, I squint and ask, "Why, what did you hear?"
16. When you do squats, are your knees supposed to sound like a goat chewing on an aluminum can stuffed with celery?
17. I don't mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited.
18. When I ask for directions, please don't use words like "east."
19. Don't bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring. Spend 30 seconds in my head. That'll freak you right out.
20. Sometimes, someone unexpected comes into your life out of nowhere, makes your heart race, and changes you forever. We call those people cops.
21. My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb.
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This Day in Aviation History" brought to you by the Daedalians Airpower Blog Update. To subscribe to this weekly email, go to https://daedalians.org/airpower-blog/.
Jan. 8, 1944: The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star made its first flight. The Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the U.S. Army Air Forces. Designed and built by Lockheed in 1943 and delivered just 143 days from the start of the design process, production models were flying, and two pre-production models did see very limited service in Italy just before the end of World War II. Designed with straight wings, the type saw extensive combat in Korea with the U.S. Air Force as the F-80. America's first successful turbojet-powered combat aircraft, it helped usher in the "jet age" in the Air Force, but was outclassed with the appearance of the swept-wing transonic MiG-15 and was quickly replaced in the air superiority role by the transonic F-86 Sabre.
Jan. 9, 1923: The first flight of a practical gyroplane or rotorcraft is made by Juan de la Cierva's C-3 "Autogiro," which is flown by Spenser Gomes in Madrid, Spain.
Jan. 10, 1956: Three pilots – 1st Lieutenant Barty Ray Brooks, Capt. Rusty Wilson and Lt. Crawford Shockley — picked up three brand new F-100C Super Sabre fighters at the North American Aviation Inc. assembly plant at Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, Calif. This was to be a short ferry flight to nearby George Air Force Base, only 42.5 miles to the east. Initially, the flight was uneventful until the pilots lowered the landing gear to land. One of the other pilots saw that the scissors link joining the upper and lower sections of the nose gear strut on Brooks' Super Sabre was loose. Concerned that he would not be able to steer the fighter after touching down, Brooks diverted to Edward Air Force Base, 36 miles to the northwest, where a larger runway and more emergency equipment was available. Wilson escorted Brooks to Edwards. During his final approach to the runway Brooks allowed the fighter to slow too much and the outer portion of the wings stalled and lost lift. This shifted the wings' center of lift forward, which caused the airplane to pitch up, causing even more of the outer wing to stall. Brooks fought to regain control of the airplane, but he was unable to. At 4:27 p.m., PST, the F-100 crashed on the runway and exploded. Brooks was killed. In preparation for a test later that afternoon, the Edwards' film crews had their equipment set up along the runway and captured the last seconds of Brook's flight on film. This is the most widely seen crash footage, and is still in use in pilot training. It is named "The Sabre Dance."
Jan. 11, 1944: While escorting a group of B-17s and B-24s near Oschersleben, Germany, Lt. Col. James H. Howard engages a group of German Bf-109s and Bf-110s climbing to attack the bombers. Howard shoots down one of the fighters and his squadron mates shoot down eight more. Realizing the "Big Friends' are now unprotected, he climbs and single-handedly takes on 30 fighters attacking the bombers without waiting for his wingman or the rest of his squadron. He shoots down at least four of the attackers and then three of his six .50 cal. machine guns jam. Even though his fuel is low, he continues to press the fight and damages two more aircraft. He survives the engagement and is later awarded the Medal of Honor. He is the only pilot flying a North American P-51 Mustang to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II.
Jan. 12, 1973: Pilot Lt. Victor T. Kovaleski and radar intercept officer Lt. James A. Wise of VF-161, embarked on board Midway (CVA 41), shot down a North Vietnamese MiG-17 Fresco with an AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile from their F-4B Phantom II. Theirs was the last victory of the war, making a total of 62 enemy aircraft shot down by Navy and Marine Corps pilots during the Vietnam War.
Jan. 13, 1942: The Sikorsky XR-4, the U.S. Army Air Force's first helicopter, made its initial flight with its creator, Igor Sikorsky at the controls. The R-4 was a two-seat helicopter designed by Igor Sikorsky with a single, three-bladed main rotor and powered by a radial engine. The R-4 was the world's first large-scale mass-produced helicopter and the first helicopter used by the United States Army Air Forces, the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. In U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard service, the helicopter was known as the Sikorsky HNS-1. In British service it was known as the Hoverfly.
Jan. 14, 1961: Lt. Col. Harold E. Confer, Lt. Col. Richard Weir and Major Howard Bialas, flying Convair B-58A-10-CF Hustler 59-2441, Roadrunner, obliterated the FAI closed-course speed records established only two days earlier by another B-58 crew flying 59-2442. They averaged 2,067.58 kilometers per hour (1,284.73 miles per hour) over a 1,000-kilometer closed circuit, more than 200 miles per hour faster, and set three Fédération Aéronautique Internationale records. They were awarded the Thompson Trophy.
Jan. 15, 1915: At San Diego, California, Lieutenant Byron Quinby Jones, Aviation Section, Signal Corps, United States Army, set a flight endurance record of 8 hours, 53 minutes, flying a Glenn L. Martin Company Martin T Army Tractor. The flight consumed 30 gallons (114 liters) of gasoline. Lieutenant Jones estimated that he had sufficient fuel remaining for another two hours in the air, but approaching darkness forced him to land. For this and other flights at San Diego, Lieutenant Jones was awarded the Mackay Trophy.
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This Day in U S Military History January 12
1918 – The Distinguished Service Medal, authorized by Presidential Order January 2, 1918, and confirmed by Congress July 9, 1918, was announced by War Department General Order No. 6, January 12, 1918, with the following information concerning the medal: "A bronze medal of appropriate design and a ribbon to be worn in lieu thereof, to be awarded by the President to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Army shall hereafter distinguish himself or herself, or who, since April 6, 1917, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility in time of war or in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States." The Act of Congress on July 9, 1918, recognized the need for different types and degrees of heroism and meritorious service and included such provisions for award criteria. The current statutory authorization for the Distinguished Service Medal is Title 10, United States Code, Section 3743. Among the first awards of the Distinguished Service Medal for service in World War I, were those to the Commanding Officers of the Allied Armies: Marshals Foch and Joffre, General Petain of France, Field Marshal Haig of Great Britain, General Diaz of Italy, General Gillain of Belgium, and General Pershing.
1945 – There are air attacks from the planes of the carriers of Task Force 38 against Japanese installations at the naval base at Camranh Bay and others areas in Indochina. TG 38.5 continues the attacks from its specially trained carriers. Japanese losses to the attacks amount to 29 ships of 116,000 tons. Eleven small warships are also sunk.
1953 – Landings tested on board USS Antietam, first angled deck carrier USS Antietam, a 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, was commissioned in January 1945. She transited the Panama Canal to the Pacific in June and was en route to the Western Pacific war zone when Japan capitulated in August 1945. Antietam operated in Far Eastern waters during the first years of the post-war era, returning to the UnitedStates in 1949, when she was decommissioned and placed in the Reserve Fleet. Recommissioned in January 1951, in response to Korean War requirements, the carrier made one combat deployment, between September 1951 and March 1952. In September-December 1952, after joining the Atlantic Fleet, Antietam was modified to receive the U.S. Navy's first angled flight deck. During the next few years, she served as the test platform for this feature, which was to revolutionize carrier flight operations. After being rated as an attack aircraft carrier (CVA-36) from October 1952 to August 1953, she was thereafter classified as an antisubmarine support aircraft carrier, with the hull number CVS-36. In that role, Antietam made Sixth Fleet cruises in the Mediterranean Sea in 1955 and in 1956-57. She was then assigned to carrier flight training duty, generally operating in waters near Pensacola, Florida. Relieved as training carrier in October 1962, she was decommissioned for the last time in May 1963. Following a decade in the Reserve Fleet, USS Antietam was sold for scrapping in February 1974.
1962 – Operation Chopper, the first American combat mission in the Vietnam War, takes place. In December 1961, the USNS Core (T-AKV-41) docked in Saigon with 82 US Army Piasecki H-21 helicopters. A little more than 12 days later, Operation Chopper commenced. The helicopters transported over 1,000 South Vietnamese paratroopers for an assault on a suspected Viet Cong stronghold 10 miles west of Saigon. The Viet Cong were surprised and soundly defeated, but they gained valuable combat experience they would later use with great effect against US troops. The paratroopers also captured a sought-after underground radio transmitter. This operation heralded a new era of air mobility for the U.S. Army, which had been slowly growing as a concept since the Army formed twelve helicopter battalions in 1952 as a result of the Korean War. These new battalions eventually formed a sort of modern day cavalry for the Army.
1962 – The United States Air Force launches Operation Ranch Hand, a "modern technological area-denial technique" designed to expose the roads and trails used by the Viet Cong. Flying C-123 Providers, U.S. personnel dumped an estimated 19 million gallons of defoliating herbicides over 10-20 percent of Vietnam and parts of Laos between 1962-1971. Agent Orange – named for the color of its metal containers – was the most frequently used defoliating herbicide. The operation succeeded in killing vegetation, but not in stopping the Viet Cong. The use of these agents was controversial, both during and after the war, because of the questions about long-term ecological impacts and the effect on humans who either handled or were sprayed by the chemicals. Beginning in the late 1970s, Vietnam veterans began to cite the herbicides, especially Agent Orange, as the cause of health problems ranging from skin rashes to cancer to birth defects in their children. Similar problems, including an abnormally high incidence of miscarriages and congenital malformations, have been reported among the Vietnamese people who lived in the areas where the defoliating agents were used.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
DAVIS, CHARLES W.
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Guadalcanal Island, 12 January 1943. Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala. Birth: Gordo, Ala. G.O. No.: 40, 17 July 1943. Citation: For d1stinguishing himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy on Guadalcanal Island. On 12 January 1943, Maj. Davis (then Capt.), executive officer of an infantry battalion, volunteered to carry instructions to the leading companies of his battalion which had been caught in crossfire from Japanese machineguns. With complete disregard for his own safety, he made his way to the trapped units, delivered the instructions, supervised their execution, and remained overnight in this exposed position. On the following day, Maj. Davis again volunteered to lead an assault on the Japanese position which was holding up the advance. When his rifle jammed at its first shot, he drew his pistol and, waving his men on, led the assault over the top of the hill. Electrified by this action, another body of soldiers followed and seized the hill. The capture of this position broke Japanese resistance and the battalion was then able to proceed and secure the corps objective. The courage and leadership displayed by Maj. Davis inspired the entire battalion and unquestionably led to the success of its attack.
LAWS, ROBERT E.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company G, 169th Infantry, 43d Infantry Division. Place and date: Pangasinan Province, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 12 January 1945. Entered service at: Altoona, Pa. Birth: Altoona, Pa. G.O. No.: 77, 10 September 1945. Citation: He led the assault squad when Company G attacked enemy hill positions. The enemy force, estimated to be a reinforced infantry company, was well supplied with machineguns, ammunition, grenades, and blocks of TNT and could be attacked only across a narrow ridge 70 yards long. At the end of this ridge an enemy pillbox and rifle positions were set in rising ground. Covered by his squad, S/Sgt Laws traversed the hogback through vicious enemy fire until close to the pillbox, where he hurled grenades at the fortification. Enemy grenades wounded him, but he persisted in his assault until 1 of his missiles found its mark and knocked out the pillbox. With more grenades, passed to him by members of his squad who had joined him, he led the attack on the entrenched riflemen. In the advance up the hill, he suffered additional wounds in both arms and legs, about the body and in the head, as grenades and TNT charges exploded near him. Three Japs rushed him with fixed bayonets, and he emptied the magazine of his machine pistol at them, killing 2. He closed in hand-to-hand combat with the third, seizing the Jap's rifle as he met the onslaught. The 2 fell to the ground and rolled some 50 or 60 feet down a bank. When the dust cleared the Jap lay dead and the valiant American was climbing up the hill with a large gash across the head. He was given first aid and evacuated from the area while his squad completed the destruction of the enemy position. S/Sgt. Laws' heroic actions provided great inspiration to his comrades, and his courageous determination, in the face of formidable odds and while suffering from multiple wounds, enabled them to secure an important objective with minimum casualties.
*NININGER, ALEXANDER R., JR.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 57th Infantry, Philippine Scouts. Place and date: Near Abucay, Bataan, Philippine Islands, 12 January 1942. Entered service at: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Birth: Gainesville, Ga. G.O. No.: 9, 5 February 1942. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Abucay, Bataan, Philippine Islands, on 12 January 1942. This officer, though assigned to another company not then engaged in combat, voluntarily attached himself to Company K, same regiment, while that unit was being attacked by enemy force superior in firepower. Enemy snipers in trees and foxholes had stopped a counterattack to regain part of position. In hand-to-hand fighting which followed, 2d Lt. Nininger repeatedly forced his way to and into the hostile position. Though exposed to heavy enemy fire, he continued to attack with rifle and handgrenades and succeeded in destroying several enemy groups in foxholes and enemy snipers. Although wounded 3 times, he continued his attacks until he was killed after pushing alone far within the enemy position. When his body was found after recapture of the position, 1 enemy officer and 2 enemy soldiers lay dead around him.
ROSSER, RONALD E.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Heavy Mortar Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Place and date: Vicinity of Ponggilli, Korea, 12 January 1952. Entered service at: Crooksville, Ohio. Born: 24 October 1929, Columbus, Ohio. G.O. No.: 67, 7 July 1952. Citation: Cpl. Rosser, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. While assaulting heavily fortified enemy hill positions, Company L, 38th Infantry Regiment, was stopped by fierce automatic-weapons, small-arms, artillery, and mortar fire. Cpl. Rosser, a forward observer was with the lead platoon of Company L, when it came under fire from 2 directions. Cpl. Rosser turned his radio over to his assistant and, disregarding the enemy fire, charged the enemy positions armed with only carbine and a grenade. At the first bunker, he silenced its occupants with a burst from his weapon. Gaining the top of the hill, he killed 2 enemy soldiers, and then went down the trench, killing 5 more as he advanced. He then hurled his grenade into a bunker and shot 2 other soldiers as they emerged. Having exhausted his ammunition, he returned through the enemy fire to obtain more ammunition and grenades and charged the hill once more. Calling on others to follow him, he assaulted 2 more enemy bunkers. Although those who attempted to join him became casualties, Cpl. Rosser once again exhausted his ammunition obtained a new supply, and returning to the hilltop a third time hurled grenades into the enemy positions. During this heroic action Cpl. Rosser single-handedly killed at least 13 of the enemy. After exhausting his ammunition he accompanied the withdrawing platoon, and though himself wounded, made several trips across open terrain still under enemy fire to help remove other men injured more seriously than himself. This outstanding soldier's courageous and selfless devotion to duty is worthy of emulation by all men. He has contributed magnificently to the high traditions of the military service.
*PORT, WILLIAM D.
Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Pfc.), U.S. Army, Company C, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division. Place and date: Que Son Valley, Heip Duc Province, Republic of Vietnam, 12 January 1968. Entered service at: Harrisburg, Pa. Born: 13 October 1941, Petersburg, Pa. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Port distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman with Company C, which was conducting combat operations against an enemy force in the Que Son Valley. As Sgt. Port's platoon was moving to cut off a reported movement of enemy soldiers, the platoon came under heavy fire from an entrenched enemy force. The platoon was forced to withdraw due to the intensity and ferocity of the fire. Although wounded in the hand as the withdrawal began, Sgt. Port, with complete disregard for his safety, ran through the heavy fire to assist a wounded comrade back to the safety of the platoon perimeter. As the enemy forces assaulted in the perimeter, Sgt. Port and 3 comrades were in position behind an embankment when an enemy grenade landed in their midst. Sgt. Port, realizing the danger to his fellow soldiers, shouted the warning, "Grenade," and unhesitatingly hurled himself towards the grenade to shield his comrades from the explosion. Through his exemplary courage and devotion he saved the lives of his fellow soldiers and gave the members of his platoon the inspiration needed to hold their position. Sgt. Port's selfless concern for his comrades, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest tradition of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for January 12, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
12 January
1909: The Wright Brothers sold their patent rights to the General Aerial Navigation Company of France, represented by Lazare Weiller, for $100,000 and an interest in the company. (24)
1910: Using a Henri Farman airplane, Louis Paulhan set a Federation Aeronautique Internationale world solo altitude record of 4,165 feet at the Los Angeles Flying Meet. (See 10 January) (9) (24)
1939: President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to expand the Army Air Corps to a force of 5,500 planes, 3,203 officers, and 45,000 men in response to world political conditions. (4)
1948: Northrop Aircraft Company announced that rocket-powered test aircraft had attained 1,019 miles per hour at Muroc AFB, Calif. (16) (24)
1951: KOREAN WAR. After Chinese Communist forces took Wonju, the 98th Bombardment Group sent 10 B-29s to attack the occupied city. For the first time, the bombers dropped 500-pound general purpose bombs fused for an air burst over the enemy troops below. The innovation slowed the enemy advance. To improve bombing precision, Far East Air Forces installed a short-range navigation system (SHORAN) on a B-26 for the first time. (28)
1952: KOREAN WAR. F-84s caught three supply trains at Sunchon as they raced for the shelter of a tunnel. They blasted the tunnel mouth shut, trapping the trains in the open and then destroyed the boxcars and at least two locomotives. Additionally, through 13 January 10 B-29s based in Okinawa dropped 396 500-pound bombs on the railroad bridge east of Sinanju across the Chongchong River, rendering the bridge unserviceable. (28)
1953: The Navy began test operations on its first angled deck carrier, the USS Antietam. (24)
1961: Major Henry J. Deutschendorf, Jr., flew a 43rd Bombardment Wing B-58 Hustler from Carswell AFB, Tex., to six international speed and payload records in a single flight. Between Edwards AFB, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., the B-58 achieved 1,200.194 miles per hour for 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) with no payload, with a 2,000-kilogram payload, and with a 4,000-kilogram payload. Over 2,000-kilometers (1,242 miles), with the same payloads, a second bomber averaged 1,061.808 miles per hour. [Note: Major Deutschendorf was singer John Denver's father] (1)
1965: At Plattsburg AFB, N.Y., the 380th Air Refueling Squadron received the Strategic Air Command's last KC-135 (Tail No. 64-14840). (1)
1969: Exercise REFORGER/CRESTED CAP. The event started as USAFE dual-based F-4Ds and Military Airlift Command transports moved troops to European bases to support a combined USAF and Army operation for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (16)
1971: The USAF contracted the Boeing Company to produce the Short-Range Attack Missile for the FB-111, B-52, and proposed B-1. (6) (12)
1979: Defense Satellite Communication System (DSCS) II satellites 9441 and 9442 completed testing and were turned over to the Defense Communications Agency. This brought the DSCS II system up to its full strength of four operational satellites for the first time. (5)
1981: Terrorists destroyed 9 A-7D Corsairs belonging to the Air National Guard's 156th Tactical Fighter Group at Muniz Air National Guard Base in Puerto Rico. (26)
1990: The Military Airlift Command announced that it would allow female aircrew members to participate in C-130 and C-141 airdrop missions. [8: Mar 90]
1999: The last three of ten C-27 Spartans flew from the 310th Airlift Squadron at Howard AFB in Panama to Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., for retirement. In Panama, the C-27s flew humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping, and counterdrug missions. The Spartan was a smaller, twin-engine version of the C-130. It gave the USAF a unique, short-take-off-and-landing capability at normally inaccessible airstrips. (22)
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World News for 12 January thanks to Military Periscope
BAE Systems To Modernize USS Lassen
Source: BAE Systems
January 12 2023
USA
BAE Systems announced it has received a Navy contract to modernize one of its Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
Under the depot maintenance availability deal, USS Lassen (DDG-82) will be dry-docked for seven months at BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair in Florida, during which time the yard will recondition engineering spaces, upgrade command-and-control equipment and refurbish living spaces.
The $119.2 million contract includes options that , if exercised, could increase its total value to $137.9 million.
Work is scheduled to begin in January 2023 and conclude in April 2024.
Kratos Secures Mayhem Hypersonic Missile Program Contract
Source: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
January 12 2023
USA
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, in partnership with Leidos, has received a contract to support the Expendable Hypersonic Multi-Mission ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and Strike program, known as Mayhem, reports the company.
The contract, awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory, will support the development of an air-breathing hypersonic weapon system over a 51-month period.
The value of the deal was not disclosed.
Kratos will serve as a member of the system design agent for the Mayhem program along with its parent company Leidos, Calspan and Draper. The team will oversee designs, prototypes and deliver technical data.
The initial task order calls for Kratos to conduct the systems requirements review and conceptual design review for the Mayhem program in a digital engineering environment.
Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Electronic Attack System During RIMPAC Exercise
Source: Northrop Grumman
January 12 2023
USA
Northrop Grumman has successfully demonstrated components of its in-development Ultra-Lite Electronic Attack (EA) prototype system, reports the company.
The system demonstration occurred during a U.S. Navy Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in collaboration with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). The prototype was installed on an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer for the event.
The Ultra-Lite EA System is a scaled-down, onboard electronic attack system for anti-ship missile defense for smaller ships, says Northrop Grumman.
The demonstration showed the successful integration of Northrop Grumman's transceiver technology with NRL's expeditionary EA antenna.
Additional demonstrations of the system are scheduled for this month, the company said.
Security Treaty With Japan Extended Into Space
Source: Nikkei Asia
January 12 2023
USA
Japan
The U.S. and Japan have affirmed the extension of their mutual security pact to space, reports the Nikkei Asia (Tokyo).
Under the existing agreement, any attack on Japanese assets in space, such as satellites would be responded to by the U.S. with force.
This decision comes as China and Russia amp up their military activity in space, including interfering with satellites, and developing missile and laser weapons capable of downing or disabling satellite infrastructure.
Security Treaty With Japan Extended Into Space
Source: Nikkei Asia
January 12 2023
USA
Japan
The U.S. and Japan have affirmed the extension of their mutual security pact to space, reports the Nikkei Asia (Tokyo).
Under the existing agreement, any attack on Japanese assets in space, such as satellites would be responded to by the U.S. with force.
This decision comes as China and Russia amp up their military activity in space, including interfering with satellites, and developing missile and laser weapons capable of downing or disabling satellite infrastructure.
Dassault Resumes Rafale Jet Deliveries
Source: Dassault Aviation
January 12 2023
France
Dassault Aviation has resumed the delivery of Rafale jets to the French military, reports the company.
On Dec. 29, the company delivered a Rafale B in the F3R configuration to the French defense procurement agency, reported Aviation Week & Space Technology.
The delivery is part of the Tranche 4 order for 60 aircraft awarded in 2009. A further 27 aircraft from this order remain to be delivered.
Due to budget issues and the COVID-19 pandemic, Dassault had not supplied a Rafale to the French military in four years.
New General Named To Lead Ukraine War
Source: Reuters
January 12 2023
Russia
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has announced the appointment of Gen. Valery Gerasimov to command Moscow's ongoing military campaign in Ukraine, reports Reuters.
Gerasimov, the chief of the Russian General Staff, will also take command of the combined forces group for the "special military operation" in Ukraine.
He replaces Gen. Sergey Surovikin, nicknamed "General Armageddon" for his ruthless tactics, after three months in command.
The ministry said that the change is intended to increase the level of leadership with the expansion in the scale of tasks and the need to improve the organization of contact between different branches of the Russian forces involved.
The decision comes as President Vladimir Putin seeks a breakthrough in the stalled operation amid mounting casualties.
Visa Restrictions Imposed On Japan, South Korea
Source: South China Morning Post
January 12 2023
China
South Korea
Japan
The Chinese government has implemented visa restrictions on travelers from Japan and South Korea in retaliation for several restrictions imposed on Chinese travelers since December, reports the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong).
On Tuesday, China suspended regular visa applications for Japanese and South Korean citizens and announced the suspension of port visas and visa-free transit the day after.
The move is partially a response to Japan's COVID restrictions, which require travelers from China to show a negative PCR test within 72 hours before departure.
On Wednesday, Japanese officials said that China's visa restrictions lacked reciprocity and were politically motivated, calling for Beijing to withdraw the measure.
South Korea voted to suspend tourist visas for Chinese travelers until Jan. 31, a move the Chinese Foreign Ministry labeled "unacceptable" and "unscientific."
The U.S, U.K, Italy and Australia have also imposed restrictions on people traveling from China.
Defense Ministry Reveals Major Policy Tasks For 2023
Source: Yonhap News Agency
January 12 2023
South Korea
The South Korean Defense Ministry has released a report on major policy tasks for 2023, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul).
These include a joint military exercise with the U.S. simulating a North Korean nuclear strike.
The tabletop exercise will be led by the allies' Deterrence Strategy Committee (DSC) and is set to take place in the U.S. in the latter half of February.
It will include discussions on coordinated responses to a potential North Korean nuclear attack, including cooperation procedures with the international community, said a ministry official.
The ministry also announced plans to hold an 11-day springtime joint exercise, known as Freedom Shield. The drill will feature a final test of a homegrown solid-propellant space rocket, and the launch of South Korea's first military surveillance satellite.
Efforts to build a real-time target intelligence-sharing system are also underway.
Elbit To Build New F-16 Training Center
Source: Elbit Systems
January 12 2023
Israel
The Israeli Ministry of Defense has awarded Elbit Systems a contract to provide, operate and maintain a new mission training center for its F-16 fighter fleet, reports the defense firm.
The US$180 million contract will be delivered over a three-year period, with an additional 15-year period for operations and maintenance services.
The new training center will join an existing one, with upgrades to improve the quality of crew training, doubling the number of training sorties for the air force's F-16 and F-15 crews, Elbit said.
The center will include 10 simulators with advanced high-resolution displays, accurate weapon simulation and Elbit's arena generator.
14 Soldiers Killed In IED Attacks
Source: Al Jazeera
January 12 2023
Mali
Fourteen Malian soldiers have been killed and 11 wounded in two separate improvised explosive device (IED) attacks, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar).
The attacks took place in central Mali on Tuesday, a region that regularly sees attacks from Al-Qaida- and Islamic State-affiliated groups.
On Wednesday, the army released a statement saying reinforcements sent to the area had killed 31 militants.
Cairo Accepts IMF Bailout Terms, Plans To Reduce Role Of Military In Economy
Source: Financial Times
January 12 2023
Egypt
Egypt has agreed to reduce the role of the military in its economy after accepting a US$3 billion bail out package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), reports the Financial Times (U.K.).
The IMF noted that the package was conditional on Cairo's commitment to "leveling the playing field between the public and private sector," including reducing the role of military-owned companies.
The agreement also requires state-owned entities to submit financial accounts to the finance ministry twice a year to ensure greater transparency.
The IMF projects that Egypt will face a US$17 billion financing gap over the next four years as a result of economic turmoil caused by Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Cairo's decision to seek IMF assistance also coincided with the withdrawal of US$20 billion in foreign investment last year.
Defense Minister Hosts Latvian Counterpart To Discuss Air Defense Acquisition
Source: Latvian Public Media
January 12 2023
Estonia
Latvia
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur has hosted his Latvian counterpart, Inara Murniece, to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional security, reports Latvian Public Media.
The ministers met in Tallinn on Tuesday and agreed to work together to acquire a medium-range air defense system.
They also discussed the letter of intent signed at the NATO Madrid Summit in 2022, detailing the purchase of these defense systems and their next steps.
On Wednesday, the defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were scheduled to meet to discuss the war in Ukraine, including their support for Kyiv, and regional security.
Military Cooperation With Iran To Be Increased
Source: Jerusalem Post
January 12 2023
Iran
Pakistan
Pakistan and Iran have announced a plan to increase military cooperation, reports the Jerusalem Post.
During a phone call on Sunday, the military chiefs of staff from the two countries agreed upon mutual goals and shared interests.
Both nations are seeking to increase cooperation to ensure border security, counter terrorism and expand economic opportunities on their shared 565-mile (910-km) border.
The move follows a new campaign by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group that began in November after the breakdown of a cease-fire with the Pakistani government.
Military Exercises With CSTO Canceled
Source: Eurasianet
January 12 2023
Armenia
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia will not host Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) drills this year, reports Eurasianet.
Pashinyan said that Yerevan had informed the CSTO in writing that it did not consider it appropriate to hold the Unbreakable Brotherhood drills on Armenian soil this year.
The cancellation reflects frustration with a "threatening" Russian presence in Armenia and lackluster CSTO support for Armenia in its conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan, analysts said.
The Russian-led CSTO includes Armenia, Belarus Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
President Appoints New Defense Secretary
Source: Benar News
January 12 2023
Philippines
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed a new defense secretary, reports the Benar News (Washington, D.C.).
On Monday, Marcos named Presidential Adviser on Peace and Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez, a former chief of staff of the armed forces under President Rodrigo Duterte, as defense secretary, reported the official Philippine News Agency.
Galvez was appointed to the post after the president accepted the resignation of Jose Faustino Jr. No reason for Faustino's resignation has been made public.
Security Heightened At Somali Border
Source: The Star
January 12 2023
Somalia
Kenya
Kenya has deployed additional security forces to its border with Somalia, reports the Star (Nairobi).
The decision follows the Somali government's announcement of an "all-out" war and major mobilization against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group.
Mogadishu has already frozen 250 bank accounts and shut down 70 mobile money accounts used by individuals affiliated with the terrorist group.
Kenyan authorities are concerned that fleeing Al-Shabaab fighters will attempt to cross the border from Somalia.
The group has been responsible for numerous attacks in Kenya, including the Westgate shopping mall attack that killed 67 people in 2013.
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