To All,
Good Saturday morning March 18 2023.
I hope that you all have a great weekend. THE SUJN IS OUT AGAIN TODAY.
Regards,
Skip
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History March 18
1901
During the Philippine Insurrection, USS Vicksburg (Gunboat #11), commanded by Cmdr. E.B. Barry, begins supporting the U.S. Army's operations under Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston around Kasiguran Bay and Palanan Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
1945
Four destroyers, USS Menges (DE 320), USS Mosely (DE 321), USS Pride (DE 323) and USS Lowe (DE 325), sink the German submarine U 866 south of Nova Scotia.
1945
Planes from Task Force 58 attack airfields on southern Kyushu and shipping lanes, including a Japanese convoy escorted by Coast Defense Vessel No. 29 and submarine chaser Ch 58.
1974
As a part of the cease fire between Egypt and Israel after the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Task Force 56 is sent to sweep mines from the northern part of the Suez Canal as part of Operation Nimble Star.
1989
USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) is commissioned at Portland, Maine. Named for the naval World War II Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser.
1991
The first ship supporting Operation Desert Shield/Storm, combat store ship USS Sylvania (AFS 2), returns back to Norfolk, Va. While supporting Desert Shield/Storm, Sylvania delivered 19,000+ pallets of cargo (equaling 20,500 tons of supplies), answered 30,000+ requisitions, and delivered spare parts and food sustaining 35,000+ sailors aboard 150 ships.
2006
While conducting maritime security operations as part of Combined Task Force 150 in the Indian Ocean, USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) return fire on a group of pirates, killing one and wounding five. The incident occurs about 25 nautical miles off the central eastern coast of Somalia in international waters.
1973 – " First POWs are released from the "Hanoi Hilton" in Hanoi, North Vietnam."
Thanks to Alex for bringing this to my attention. The Shingles must be affecting my brain. I knew that.
We had a nice chat this morning when I called to thank him.
Skip,
My journal indicates that it was 12 Feb 1973 that the first POW's were released from Hanoi, not 17 March. I was on BARCAP when the first two of three C-141's flew out with 116 POW's enroute Clark AFB.
Rattler
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This day in World History
March 18
0037 The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius' will and proclaims Caligula emperor.
1692 William Penn is deprived of his governing powers.
1863 Confederate women riot in Salisbury, N.C. to protest the lack of flour and salt in the South.
1865 The Congress of the Confederate States of America adjourns for the last time.
1874 Hawaii signs a treaty giving exclusive trading rights with the islands to the United States.
1881 Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth opens in Madison Square Gardens.
1911 Theodore Roosevelt opens the Roosevelt Dam in Phoenix, Ariz., the largest dam in the United States to date.
1913 Greek King George I is killed by an assassin. Constantine I is to succeed.
1916 On the Eastern Front, the Russians counter the Verdun assault with an attack at Lake Naroch. The Russians lose 100,000 men and the Germans lose 20,000.
1917 The Germans sink the U.S. ships, City of Memphis, Vigilante and the Illinois, without any type of warning.
1922 Mahatma Gandhi is sentenced to six years in prison for civil disobedience in India.
1939 Georgia finally ratifies the Bill of Rights, 150 years after the birth of the federal government. Connecticut and Massachusetts, the only other states to hold out, also ratify the Bill of Rights in this year.
1942 The third military draft begins in the United States.
1943 American forces take Gafsa in Tunisia.
1943 Adolf Hitler calls off the offensive in the Caucasus.
1944 The Russians reach the Romanian border.
1950 Nationalist troops land on the mainland of China and capture Communist-held Sungmen.
1953 The Braves baseball team announces that they are moving from Boston to Milwaukee.
1965 Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov becomes the first man to spacewalk when he exits his Voskhod 2 space capsule while in orbit around the Earth.
1969 President Richard M. Nixon authorizes Operation Menue, the 'secret' bombing of Cambodia.
1970 The U.S. Postal Service is paralyzed by the first postal strike.
1971 U.S. helicopters airlift 1,000 South Vietnamese soldiers out of Laos.
1975 South Vietnam abandons most of the Central Highlands to North Vietnamese forces.
1977 Congo President Marien Ngouabi is killed by a suicide commando.
1981 The United States discloses biological weapons tests in Texas in 1966.
1986 Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of Prince Andrew to Sarah Ferguson.
1852
March 18
Wells and Fargo start shipping and banking company
On March 18, 1852, in New York City, Henry Wells and William G. Fargo join with several other investors to launch their namesake business, today one of the world's largest banks.
The discovery of gold in California in 1849 prompted a huge spike in the demand for cross-country shipping. Wells and Fargo decided to take advantage of these great opportunities. In July 1852, their company shipped its first loads of freight from the East Coast to mining camps scattered around northern California. The company contracted with independent stagecoach companies to provide the fastest possible transportation and delivery of gold dust, important documents and other valuable freight. It also served as a bank—buying gold dust, selling paper bank drafts and providing loans to help fuel California's growing economy.
In 1857, Wells, Fargo and Co. formed the Overland Mail Company, known as the "Butterfield Line," which provided regular mail and passenger service along an ever-growing number of routes. In the boom-and-bust economy of the 1850s, the company earned a reputation as a trustworthy and reliable business, and its logo—the classic stagecoach—became famous. For a premium price, Wells, Fargo and Co. would send an employee on horseback to deliver or pick up a message or package.
Wells, Fargo and Co. merged with several other "Pony Express" and stagecoach lines in 1866 to become the unrivaled leader in transportation in the West. When the transcontinental railroad was completed three years later, the company began using railroad to transport its freight. By 1910, its shipping network connected 6,000 locations, from the urban centers of the East and the farming towns of the Midwest to the ranching and mining centers of Texas and California and the lumber mills of the Pacific Northwest.
After splitting from the freight business in 1905, the banking branch of the company merged with the Nevada National Bank and established new headquarters in San Francisco. During World War I, the U.S. government nationalized the company's shipping routes and combined them with the railroads into the American Railway Express, effectively putting an end to Wells, Fargo and Co. as a transportation and delivery business. The following April, the banking headquarters was destroyed in a major earthquake, but the vaults remained intact and the bank's business continued to grow. After two later mergers, the Wells Fargo Bank American Trust Company—shortened to the Wells Fargo Bank in 1962—became, and has remained, one of the biggest banking institutions in the United States.
1937
Natural gas explosion kills nearly 300 at Texas school Nearly 300 students in Texas are killed by an explosion of natural gas at their school on this day in 1937.
The Consolidated School of New London, Texas, sat in the middle of a large oil and natural gas field. The area was dominated by 10,000 oil derricks, 11 of which stood right on school grounds. The school was newly built in the 1930s for close to $1 million and, from its inception, bought natural gas from Union Gas to supply its energy needs. The school's natural gas bill averaged about $300 a month. Eventually, officials at Consolidated School were persuaded to save money by tapping into the wet-gas lines operated by Parade Oil Company that ran near the school. Wet gas is a type of waste gas that is less stable and has more impurities than typical natural gas. At the time, it was not completely uncommon for consumers living near oil fields to use this gas.
At 3:05 p.m. on March 18, a Thursday afternoon, the 694 students and 40 teachers in attendance at the Consolidated School were looking forward to the final bell, which was to ring in 10 minutes. Instead, a huge and powerful explosion, which literally blew the roof off of the building, leveled the school. The blast was felt by people 40 miles away and killed most victims instantly. People rushed to the scene to pull out survivors; hundreds of injured students were hauled from the rubble. Miraculously, some students walked away unharmed; 10 of these were found under a large bookcase that shielded them from the falling building. First-aid stations were established in the nearby towns of Tyler, Overton, Kilgore and Henderson to tend to the wounded. Reportedly, a blackboard at the destroyed school was found that read, Oil and natural gas are East Texas' greatest natural gifts. Without them, this school would not be here and none of us would be learning our lessons.
The exact cause of the spark that ignited the gas was never found, although it is now known that the gas could have been ignited by static electricity. As a result of this incident, wet gas was required to be burned at the site rather than piped away
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
Skip… For The List for Saturday, 18 March 2023… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 18 March 1968… NYT writer Gene Roberts reports from Saigon on the Tet Offensive…
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 Interesting Facts
Mummies can still have fingerprints.
Fingerprints are one of the few parts of the human body that generally never change — in some cases, even after thousands of years. Scientists who study ancient civilizations by way of mummified remains can attest: Mummies have fingerprints. But how?
Mummification works by drying out soft tissue such as skin, halting decomposition and preserving the body, fingerprints included. Recovering the fingertip impressions isn't easy, but it is possible; the job requires soaking or injecting mummified hands with hydrating solutions that plump the tips. From there, the fingertips are inked and copied in a fashion similar to how modern fingerprints are recorded.
Historians don't just recover fingerprints from mummies — some can be found on objects, too. In fact, one set has been discovered on a 3,000-year-old coffin. Researchers at the Cambridge Fitzwilliam Museum in England discovered the prints on the internal lid of a coffin for Nespawershefyt, an Egyptian priest, in 2005; they were likely left by a craftsman who touched the lid before its varnish was fully dry. While it's impossible to ever know the person behind the prints, historians say just seeing them helps modern people connect with people of the past.
THINK TWICE
Some mummies have tattoos.
Humans today are far more like ancient Egyptians than we may realize. Everyday people thousands of years ago went to work and school, baked bread, and shared meals… and even got tattoos. While it's unclear how widespread permanent body art was throughout ancient Egypt, researchers have found tattoos on mummified remains dating back 3,000 years. Seven female mummies unearthed from the archaeological site of Deir el-Medina in Egypt are adorned with symbols such as baboons, lotus blossoms, and human eyes (used as a symbol of protection). While it's likely the women worked as artisans or crafts workers who helped decorate nearby elaborate tombs for royalty, another theory suggests their tattoos may have been related to work as healers or religious figures. Mummification generally preserves skin, but the oils and materials used in the initial process can hide evidence of tattoos, which is why researchers are now turning to infrared imaging to catch a better glimpse of potential body art — a tool that has also revealed tattoos on two 5,000-year-old male mummies.
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Thanks to Brett
Geopolitical Futures:
Keeping the future in focus
Daily Memo: ECB Raises Interest Rates
It's the sixth rate hike in a row.
Fighting inflation. The European Central Bank on Thursday hiked interest rates by half a percentage point. The main rate increased to 3.5 percent, the marginal lending facility to 3.75 percent and the deposit rate to 3 percent. This is the bank's sixth rate hike in a row as it continues to fight inflation, which has slowed in recent months but remains high. In February, consumer prices in the eurozone increased by 8.5 percent in annual terms. There's also mounting concern over the future of the troubled Credit Suisse bank.
Russia in Africa. The Kremlin is continuing to strengthen ties with Africa. Russia's upper house speaker, Valentina Matvienko, is on an official visit to Algeria, where she discussed bilateral cooperation with Algerian diplomats. And Russia's ambassador to the Republic of Congo announced that Moscow and Brazzaville will sign an agreement on the construction of a pipeline to transport petroleum products between the African nation's two largest cities – Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville.
Turkey and Egypt. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will arrive in Cairo on Saturday to meet with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry. The ministers will discuss bilateral and regional issues during the visit, the first by a Turkish foreign minister to Egypt in 11 years. This is just one example of several Middle Eastern countries that have mended ties in recent months.
Help for Somalia. The U.S. signed an agreement to provide training and equipment for Somalia's special forces. The goal is to help Somali forces take back control over the whole country from militant groups, especially al-Shabab. Washington recently donated 61 tons of weapons and ammunition to the Somali army, despite shortages of ammunition for Ukraine.
Russia's navy. The commander-in-chief of Russia's navy in an interview said that all Russian submarines can be armed with Kalibr cruise missiles and that the next step is equipping submarines with hypersonic missiles. He also said Russia will test a new strategic nuclear submarine this year. President Vladimir Putin approved Russia's new maritime doctrine last summer, aimed at increasing Russia's presence in the world's oceans.
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From Defense News
"It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it." – Tony Orlando
Top 5
US releases video of Russian jet dumping fuel on its drone
(The Associated Press) The Pentagon has released footage of what it says is a Russian aircraft conducting an unsafe intercept of a U.S. Air Force surveillance drone in international airspace over the Black Sea.
US Air Force secretary wants 'another shot' at adaptive F-35 engine
(Defense News) U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall is having second thoughts about the Pentagon's decision to upgrade the F-35 fighter jet's current engines instead of developing a next-generation replacement.
VA to change its motto, dropping male-only language
(Military Times) Veterans Affairs leaders are changing the department's mission statement from the current male-only focus to be more welcoming to women veterans, officials announced Thursday. R
Navy will extend service life of destroyer Arleigh Burke
(Navy Times) After decades of service, the guided-missile destroyer Arleigh Burke — the first of its class — appeared likely ready to retire.
Pentagon starts work on secretive experiment to aid long-range fires
(C4ISRNET) With funding "finally" in hand, the Pentagon can start a series of advanced technology demonstrations for which its research and engineering team has planned during the last two years, according to the department's top technology officer.
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This Day in U S Military History
March 18
1945 – About 1300 American bombers, with some 700 escorting fighters, drop 3000 tons of bombs on Berlin, despite heavy anti-aircraft defenses, including numerous jet fighters. The US fleet loses 25 bombers and 5 fighters.
1945 – Forces of US 3rd Army capture Bingen and Bad Kreuznach as the advance to the southwest continues. To the south, the progress of US 7th Army is beginning to accelerate, with most of its forward units having now crossed the German border.
1945 – There are American landings on Panay by 14,000 men of US 40th Infantry Division (General Brush) in the area near Iloilo. There is little initial opposition from the Japanese garrison.
1945 – US Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) conducts air raids on airfields on Kyushu. There are Japanese Kamikaze attacks by about 10 planes which hit Intrepid, Yorktown and Enterprise but fail to disable any of the aircraft carriers. Admiral Spruance, command the US 5th Fleet, is present for the operations.
1969 – U.S. B-52 bombers are diverted from their targets in South Vietnam to attack suspected communist base camps and supply areas in Cambodia for the first time in the war. President Nixon approved the mission–formally designated Operation Breakfast–at a meeting of the National Security Council on March 15. This mission and subsequent B-52 strikes inside Cambodia became known as the "Menu" bombings. A total of 3,630 flights over Cambodia dropped 110,000 tons of bombs during a 14-month period through April 1970. This bombing of Cambodia and all follow up "Menu" operations were kept secret from the American public and the U.S. Congress because Cambodia was ostensibly neutral. To keep the secret, an intricate reporting system was established at the Pentagon to prevent disclosure of the bombing. Although the New York Times broke the story of the secret bombing campaign in May 1969, there was little adverse public reaction.
1980 – A congressman claims many U.S. combat planes can't fly for lack of spare parts.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
*MATHIS, JACK W. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 359th Bomber Squadron, 303d Bomber Group. Place and date: Over Vegesack, Germany, 18 March 1943. Entered service at: San Angelo, Tex. Born: 25 September 1921, San Angelo, Tex. G.O. No.: 38, 12 July 1943. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy over Vegesack, Germany, on 18 March 1943. 1st Lt. Mathis, as leading bombardier of his squadron, flying through intense and accurate antiaircraft fire, was just starting his bomb run, upon which the entire squadron depended for accurate bombing, when he was hit by the enemy antiaircraft fire. His right arm was shattered above the elbow, a large wound was torn in his side and abdomen, and he was knocked from his bomb sight to the rear of the bombardier's compartment. Realizing that the success of the mission depended upon him, 1st Lt. Mathis, by sheer determination and willpower, though mortally wounded, dragged himself back to his sights, released his bombs, then died at his post of duty. As the result of this action the airplanes of his bombardment squadron placed their bombs directly upon the assigned target for a perfect attack against the enemy. 1st Lt. Mathis' undaunted bravery has been a great inspiration to the officers and men of his unit.
*McGEE, WILLIAM D.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 304th Infantry, 76th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Mulheim, Germany, 18 March 1945. Entered service at: Indianapolis, Ind. Birth: Indianapolis, Ind. G.O. No.: 21, 26 February 1946. Citation: A medical aid man, he made a night crossing of the Moselle River with troops endeavoring to capture the town of Mulheim. The enemy had retreated in the sector where the assault boats landed, but had left the shore heavily strewn with antipersonnel mines. Two men of the first wave attempting to work their way forward detonated mines which wounded them seriously, leaving them bleeding and in great pain beyond the reach of their comrades. Entirely on his own initiative, Pvt. McGee entered the minefield, brought out 1 of the injured to comparative safety, and had returned to rescue the second victim when he stepped on a mine and was severely wounded in the resulting explosion. Although suffering intensely and bleeding profusely, he shouted orders that none of his comrades was to risk his life by entering the death-sown field to render first aid that might have saved his life. In making the supreme sacrifice, Pvt. demonstrated a concern for the well-being of his fellow soldiers that transcended all considerations for his own safety and a gallantry in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
*MURPHY, FREDERICK C.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 259th Infantry, 65th Infantry Division. Place and date: Siegfried Line at Saarlautern, Germany, 18 March 1945. Entered service at: Weymouth, Mass. Birth: Boston, Mass. G.O. No.: 21, 26 February 1946. Citation: An aid man, he was wounded in the right shoulder soon after his comrades had jumped off in a dawn attack 18 March 1945, against the Siegfried Line at Saarlautern, Germany. He refused to withdraw for treatment and continued forward, administering first aid under heavy machinegun, mortar, and artillery fire. When the company ran into a thickly sown antipersonnel minefield and began to suffer more and more casualties, he continued to disregard his own wound and unhesitatingly braved the danger of exploding mines, moving about through heavy fire and helping the injured until he stepped on a mine which severed one of his feet. In spite of his grievous wounds, he struggled on with his work, refusing to be evacuated and crawling from man to man administering to them while in great pain and bleeding profusely. He was killed by the blast of another mine which he had dragged himself across in an effort to reach still another casualty. With indomitable courage, and unquenchable spirit of self-sacrifice and supreme devotion to duty which made it possible for him to continue performing his tasks while barely able to move, Pfc. Murphy saved many of his fellow soldiers at the cost of his own life.
TREADWELL, JACK L.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company F, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Nieder-Wurzbach, Germany, 18 March 1945. Entered service at: Snyder. Okla. Birth: Ashland, Ala. G.O. No.: 79, 14 September 1945. Citation: Capt. Treadwell (then 1st Lt.), commanding officer of Company F, near Nieder-Wurzbach, Germany, in the Siegfried line, single-handedly captured 6 pillboxes and 18 prisoners. Murderous enemy automatic and rifle fire with intermittent artillery bombardments had pinned down his company for hours at the base of a hill defended by concrete fortifications and interlocking trenches. Eight men sent to attack a single point had all become casualties on the hare slope when Capt. Treadwell, armed with a submachinegun and handgrenades, went forward alone to clear the way for his stalled company. Over the terrain devoid of cover and swept by bullets, he fearlessly advanced, firing at the aperture of the nearest pillbox and, when within range, hurling grenades at it. He reached the pillbox, thrust the muzzle of his gun through the port, and drove 4 Germans out with their hands in the air. A fifth was found dead inside. Waving these prisoners back to the American line, he continued under terrible, concentrated fire to the next pillbox and took it in the same manner. In this fort he captured the commander of the hill defenses, whom he sent to the rear with the other prisoners. Never slackening his attack, he then ran across the crest of the hill to a third pillbox, traversing this distance in full view of hostile machine gunners and snipers. He was again successful in taking the enemy position. The Germans quickly fell prey to his further rushes on 3 more pillboxes in the confusion and havoc caused by his whirlwind assaults and capture of their commander. Inspired by the electrifying performance of their leader, the men of Company F stormed after him and overwhelmed resistance on the entire hill, driving a wedge into the Siegfried line and making it possible for their battalion to take its objective. By his courageous willingness to face nearly impossible odds and by his overwhelming one-man offensive, Capt. Treadwell reduced a heavily fortified, seemingly impregnable enemy sector.
*WILKIN, EDWARD G.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company C, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Siegfried Line in Germany, 18 March 1945. Entered service at: Longmeadow, Mass. Birth: Burlington, Vt. G.O. No.: 119, 17 December 1945. Citation: He spearheaded his unit's assault of the Siegfried Line in Germany. Heavy fire from enemy riflemen and camouflaged pillboxes had pinned down his comrades when he moved forward on his own initiative to reconnoiter a route of advance. He cleared the way into an area studded with pillboxes, where he repeatedly stood up and walked into vicious enemy fire, storming 1 fortification after another with automatic rifle fire and grenades, killing enemy troops, taking prisoners as the enemy defense became confused, and encouraging his comrades by his heroic example. When halted by heavy barbed wire entanglements, he secured bangalore torpedoes and blasted a path toward still more pillboxes, all the time braving bursting grenades and mortar shells and direct rifle and automatic-weapons fire. He engaged in fierce fire fights, standing in the open while his adversaries fought from the protection of concrete emplacements, and on 1 occasion pursued enemy soldiers across an open field and through interlocking trenches, disregarding the crossfire from 2 pillboxes until he had penetrated the formidable line 200 yards in advance of any American element. That night, although terribly fatigued, he refused to rest and insisted on distributing rations and supplies to his comrades. Hearing that a nearby company was suffering heavy casualties, he secured permission to guide litter bearers and assist them in evacuating the wounded. All that night he remained in the battle area on his mercy missions, and for the following 2 days he continued to remove casualties, venturing into enemy-held territory, scorning cover and braving devastating mortar and artillery bombardments. In 3 days he neutralized and captured 6 pillboxes single-handedly, killed at least 9 Germans, wounded 13, took 13 prisoners, aided in the capture of 14 others, and saved many American lives by his fearless performance as a litter bearer. Through his superb fighting skill, dauntless courage, and gallant, inspiring actions, Cpl. Wilkin contributed in large measure to his company's success in cracking the Siegfried Line. One month later he was killed in action while fighting deep in Germany.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for March 18, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE
18 March
1942: The US and Panama signed an agreement for defense sites and air bases in Panama to defend the canal. (24)
1944: Operation STRANGLE. The Mediterranean Allied Air Force initiated a seven-week bombing effort against German supply lines to support an allied offensive in Italy. By 11 May, allied aircraft had completed over 50,000 sorties to drop over 26,000 tons of bombs. (21)
1945: The AD-1 Skyraider first flew. (5) 1,250 bombers with 670 fighter escorts conducted the heaviest daylight attack of the war on Berlin. They dropped 3,000 tons of bombs on the transportation and industrial areas. (4) (24) After Germans shot down Maj Pierce W. McKennon near Berlin, his wingman, Lt George D. Green landed near him, dumped out his dingy and parachute, let McKennon get in, and then sat in the Major's lap to take off. They made it home safely, using the "two-in-one" Mustang trick. (4)
1952: Two F-84 Thunderjets landed in Neubiberg, Germany, after a 2,800-mile flight without refueling. It was believed to be the longest sustained jet fighter flight to date. The planes crossed seven nations, averaged 585 MPH, and were airborne for 4 hours 48 minutes. (5)
1954: First production model of the Boeing B-52A Stratofortress rolled out at Seattle. (8)
1958: The USN fired a Bull Goose, an intercontinental jet-propelled "decoy" missile designed to deceive enemy radar. (5)
1958: America's second satellite, Vanguard 1, is launched into orbit from Cape Canaveral. It operates on solar-powered batteries and has an extremely long life expectancy. Data returned from the satellite proves that the earth has a slight 'pear-shape.' Vanguard 1 was the first satellite to have solar electric power. Although communications with the satellite were lost in 1964, it remains the oldest human-made object still in orbit, together with the upper stage of its launch vehicle. It is not forecast to re-enter the atmosphere until 2198.
1960: First Snark ICBM placed on alert with the 702 SMW at Presque Isle AFB, Maine. (6) (12) The USN launched a Polaris on a 900-mile flight from an underground pit that simulated a ship's motion. (24)
1961: The first Northrop T-38A Talon supersonic jet trainer is delivered to Randolph AFB, Texas, where it enters operational service with Air Training Command. (USAF
1964: The USAF issued a requirement for the SRAM. (6)
1969: Vandenberg AFB launched three satellites, containing 17 experiments, in the Orbiting Vehicle Program under the direction of Office of Aerospace Research scientists. (16) (26)
1970: Through 30 June, after the fall of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, joint US and South Vietnamese conducted air and ground operations into Cambodia against North Vietnamese troop and supply sanctuaries. This operation intensified on 30 April. (17)
1971: 2nd Lieutenant Jane Leslie Holley becomes the first woman commissioned through a USAF ROTC program. She graduates from Auburn University, Alabama.
1977: All 10 members in the first group of women undergraduate pilot students completed the Phase II Training program in the T-37 Tweet. They then started Phase III with the T-38 Talon. (16)
1981: The 18 TFW received 80 F-15 Eagles. This delivery completed PACAF's conversion to the new fighter. The 18th then transferred 79 F-4 Phantoms to other commands. (16)
1987: The Navy launched its second Trident II flight test missile from a pad at Cape Canaveral into an impact area in the Eastern Missile Test Range. (5)
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Thanks to Brett
Stratfor snippets - China, Russia, Sudan, Japan, Iran, Russia, Israel, China, Senegal, Russia/Ukraine, India/U.S., UAE/Iran, Egypt/Turkey, Niger, Ukraine, Colombia
China: January and February Data Show Steady, Yet Slow, Recovery
What Happened: China's National Bureau of Statistics released economic data for January and February, which showed the added value of manufacturing rising 2.1% year-on-year, retail sales of consumer goods rising 3.5% and sales of commercial housing dropping 0.1%, Reuters reported on March 15. Urban unemployment rose slightly to 5.6% from December 2022's 5.5%, while youth unemployment (age 16-24) rose from 17.1% to 18.1% in the same period.
Why It Matters: The removal of COVID-19 restrictions from late 2022 will continue to buoy all manner of consumption and production in China, but the January-February data confirm that there is more to the country's economic slowdown than just COVID-19, with long-term problems, like the downturn in real estate and elevated unemployment, persisting. Rather than "revenge spending," in which Chinese citizens spend their excess savings from the COVID-19 era, spending will likely be distributed throughout 2023, making a sudden spike in consumption unlikely.
Background: The real estate data is one more sign that the sector's decline may be reaching its lowest point, but a bona fide recovery remains elusive and will likewise be slow-going when it occurs.
Russia: Moscow Finalizes Windfall Tax to Help Reduce Deficit
What Happened: The Russian government is finalizing plans to levy a windfall tax on large Russian businesses of between 4-5% of the difference between their profits made in 2021-2022 and 2018-2019, Interfax reported on March 15. Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Sazanov indicated that the exact rate will be determined in April, and he said oil and gas and coal extraction companies would be exempt from the tax.
Why It Matters: The government expects the measure to generate 250-300 billion rubles ($3.3-$3.9 billion) for the Russian government, helping reduce Russia's budget deficit, which forecasts indicate could be close to 5% of gross domestic product, rather than the 2% planned by the government. The tax demonstrates Moscow's concerns about the budget deficit amid the country's declining oil and gas revenues, which fell by 46% in January-February compared with the same period in 2022, following the implementation of the Group of Seven's oil price cap in December 2022. However, the tax is also an example of Moscow's numerous capabilities to delay a more acute economic crisis.
Background: Large businesses in Russia are defined as those having over 250 employees and over 2 billion rubles ($26 million) in annual income. On March 15, an International Energy Agency analysis concluded that Russia's oil export revenue sank by over 40% in February year-on-year.
Sudan: Transitional Civilian Government May Form by Ramadan
What Happened: The Central Council of Sudan's Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change-Central (FFC-CC), one of the country's main pro-civilian governance groups, says that the formation of a new transitional civilian government will conclude before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on March 23, Radio Dabanga reported March 13.
Why It Matters: Even if a long-awaited deal between the FFC-CC and the military is imminent, long-standing disputes and lack of coordination on the civilian side mean that any agreement will be tenuous at best and is unlikely to usher in a period of sustained civilian rule. Points of contention — including the absorption of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into the Sudanese military, immunity for security forces, protections against further abuses of power, and the military's continued role in politics and/or internal rivalries — will likely trigger continued fractures in the possible agreement.
Background: The FFC-CC signed the first part of a two-part agreement with the military on Dec. 5, 2022, postponing many of the most contentious issues related to the transitional process and angering some civilian groups.
Japan: Full Wage Hikes Could Spur Inflation, Economic Dip
What Happened: Several major Japanese companies have agreed to the full wage demands of relevant labor unions in recent weeks, including Honda Motor Co.'s 12,500 yen ($94) per month wage hike, its largest since 1990; Kawasaki Heavy Industries' 14,000 yen ($105) hike, the first time it has fully accepted union demands since 1974; and Toyota Motor Corp.'s and Nissan Motor Co.'s "unusually large" pay hikes, Asahi Shimbun reported on March 15.
Why It Matters: The wage hikes will put further upward pressure on inflation and incentivize Japan's incoming central bank chief to adjust the country's decades-long ultra-loose monetary policy, which could risk an economic downturn with knock-on effects for investment in and imports from Southeast Asia. Even slow changes to Japan's monetary policy could threaten an economic dip, which could coincide with projected downturns in the U.S. and European economies in late 2023.
Background: Japan is experiencing unusually high inflation, which hit 4.3% year-on-year in January, amid elevated global energy and food prices over the last couple of years.
Iran: Tehran Pledges to Halt Arms Shipments to Yemen's Houthi Rebels
What Happened: Iran will halt covert arms shipments to Houthi rebels in Yemen as a part of the deal signed between Iran and Saudi Arabia on March 10 to reestablish diplomatic relations, The Wall Street Journal reported on March 16. Iranian and Saudi diplomats are reportedly trying to reach a new agreement before the March 22-23 start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Why It Matters: If Iran follows through on the deal, the subsequent decrease in arms supplies to Yemen will put more pressure on the Houthis to reach a cease-fire with the Yemeni federal government. Additionally, Saudi Arabia would likely move forward with re-opening its embassy in Tehran, which would facilitate warmer relations between the two countries. However, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has not publicly endorsed the Iran-Saudi Arabia agreement, opening up questions about whether or not the group will follow through with it. If IRGC resistance or other hurdles prevent Iran from reducing support to the Houthis, the deal with Saudi Arabia would likely fall apart.
Background: Gulf Cooperation Council countries have been quietly probing the possibility of easing ties with Iran throughout the years, but U.S.-Iran tensions and Iran's support for Yemen's Houthis have largely prevented such reconciliation.
Russia: G-7 Rejects Lowering Price Cap for Russian Oil
What Happened: The Group of Seven plans to keep its price cap on Russian oil exports at $60 per barrel, despite the recent slide in oil prices and calls by some European states to reduce the cap, The Wall Street Journal reported on March 15. On March 14, Bloomberg reported that Estonia, Lithuania and Poland were proposing cutting the cap to $51.45, which they argue would be 5% below market prices for Russian oil.
Why It Matters: With European light crude benchmark Brent falling below $75 per barrel and U.S. light crude benchmark WTI falling to as low as $67 per barrel, the $60 price cap is becoming irrelevant. Even so, the United States is highly unlikely to support reducing the cap unless international prices fall below it, at which point the cap's sliding mechanism to keep it 5% below international prices would kick in, as the United States does not want to push Russian oil out of the market. But even if the price cap stays at $60 per barrel following its March review, the price cap and other market forces have already led to a significant decline in Russia's oil revenue.
Background: In its monthly oil market report, the International Energy Agency estimated that Russia's oil revenue in February fell to $11.6 billion, which is 40% lower than in February 2022, and that Russia's average export price for crude oil was $52.48 per barrel on a "free on board" basis.
Israel: Government Rejects President's Judicial Reform Compromise
What Happened: Israeli President Isaac Herzog unveiled his compromise to ease tensions over the country's ongoing judicial reforms, but the government almost immediately rejected it, The Times of Israel reported on March 15. The next day, a Reuters analysis found that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has waited an unusually long time to visit the United States since taking office.
Why It Matters: The government's rejection of Herzog's compromise signals that the most substantial version of the judicial reforms will likely pass, leaving in place one of the most controversial proposals to allow the Knesset to override the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the fact that Netanyahu has yet to visit the United States signals that the Biden administration is refusing to meet with him as the unrest surrounding the judicial reforms continues. Following the likely passage of the reforms, this international pressure on Israel (as well as domestic pressure) may increase in an effort to destabilize the Netanyahu government, cause elections and bring to power a government that would reverse or weaken the reforms.
Background: Leaders from the various parties in Israel's ruling coalition called the compromise "one-sided, biased, and unacceptable," even as the opposition tentatively offered support for the proposal as the basis for talks that might end weeks of protests and unrest. The Knesset has passed it's first of three votes for the judicial reform package.
China: Reform Plan Strengthens Party Oversight of Finance, Tech, Hong Kong
What Happened: China's latest institutional reform plan established a handful of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) commissions to oversee the development and stability of the financial sector, national research priorities and affairs in Hong Kong, Xinhua News Agency reported on March 16. The plan also put the preexisting Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) in charge of planning China's digital economy.
Why It Matters: These Party commissions indicate Beijing's top policy priorities and entail greater oversight by the CCP in these areas of the economy and finance. Such commissions can improve policy coordination, but they are unlikely to give clarity on vague laws related to data management or financial practices, as their main goals are comprehensive oversight and big-picture planning.
Background: Under Chinese President Xi Jinping, these party and state reform plans have been released once every five years. The CAC has led the Party's efforts to expand regulation of China's data-heavy industries.
Senegal: Police Barricade Opposition Leader's Home Ahead of Trial
What Happened: Senegalese police barricaded opposition leader Ousmane Sonko in his house in Dakar the day before he is expected to stand trial for defamation, Jeune Afrique reported on March 15.
Why It Matters: The outcome of the defamation trial — and the ongoing rape trial against Sonko — are very likely to trigger unrest and political volatility in the coming weeks, particularly as many Senegalese view the trials as an attempt by the ruling party to prevent Sonko from running for president in the 2024 elections. Security forces are likely to crack down on protesters, which may cause demonstrations to escalate into widespread clashes across the country.
Background: Sonko will appear before the Dakar criminal court on March 16 for "defamation, insults, forgery and use of forgery" due to a complaint by Mame Mbaye Niang, the minister of tourism and a member of the ruling party. Sonko and the opposition say the case is politically motivated.
Russia, Ukraine: Russia Starts Recruitment Efforts Toward 400,000 New Contract Soldiers
What Happened: Military registration and enlistment offices in more than half of Russia's regions have resumed issuing summons to local residents, Meduza reported on March 15. The majority of the summonses are not mobilization or conscription notices, but to "update military records" or participate in military training.
Why It Matters: The resumption of summons notices likely reflects the start of a renewed drive to coerce Russian citizens into voluntarily joining the army as Moscow pursues its plan to increase its military strength by 400,000 military personnel by 2025. However, since this recruitment strategy failed in the summer of 2022 to produce sufficient manpower and led to Russia's September 2022 mobilization, the recent summonses are likely preparatory measures for another formal mobilization later in 2023. Formal mobilization could begin as soon as May, once Russia's annual spring conscription season, which commences on April 1, is already well underway.
Background: On Dec. 21, 2022, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu unveiled a plan for Russia to hire 400,000 additional contract personnel and bring Russia's on-paper military strength to 1.5 million from 1.1 million by the end of 2025.
India, U.S.: Eric Garcetti Appointed as New U.S. Ambassador to India
What Happened: Eric Garcetti, the former mayor of Los Angeles, California, was appointed as U.S. ambassador to India on March 15 after the post had been vacant for over two years, BBC reported the next day.
Why It Matters: Garcetti's appointment will reassure observers that the United States is nurturing its relationship with India, as some critics had pointed to the ambassadorial post's prolonged vacancy as evidence that Washington was not prioritizing its ties with new Delhi highly enough. The appointment will also facilitate continued momentum in developing U.S.-India ties, although it will not necessarily drastically change the relationship.
Background: U.S. President Joe Biden nominated Garcetti for the post in July 2021, but the appointment process stalled due to allegations that he mishandled sexual harassment complaints during his tenure as mayor of Los Angeles. He passed the vote by a close 52-42.
UAE, Iran: High-Level Meeting Shows Continued Iranian Outreach to Gulf Arabs
What Happened: The head of Iran's National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, met with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Agence France-Presse reported on March 16. The two discussed "opportunities for enhancing cooperation," and Shamkhani commented that the countries should "try to increase security, peace, and well-being of the people of the region…while preventing foreigners from playing a non-constructive role."
Why It Matters: Warming bilateral relations reduce the risk of attacks on the United Arab Emirates by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, and if these ties result in decreased Iranian support for the Houthis overall, Yemen would be somewhat more likely to experience a cease-fire in its civil war. However, the Houthis could still attack Emirati-backed forces in Yemen, especially if they take territory from the Houthis or engage in offensives, so security risks will remain. Additionally, if Israel and the United States coordinate a strike on Iran, the United Arab Emirates would still likely be a target for Iranian retaliation due to its alignment with Israel.
Background: The United Arab Emirates returned its ambassador to Iran in August 2022 as ties began to warm, even though the United Arab Emirates endured a series of attacks by Houthi forces in 2022 that alarmed the country's security establishment and business community. Iran also recently announced a sudden rapprochement with Saudi Arabia, as Tehran shifts its diplomatic focus away from confrontation with the Gulf Arab states toward more cooperation.
Egypt, Turkey: Upcoming Meeting Signals Movement Toward Normalization
What Happened: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will visit Cairo, Egypt, on March 18, where he will meet with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues, Hurriyet Daily News reported on March 17. There was no immediate confirmation of the topics to be discussed, though a recent meeting between the two in Turkey focused on the devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey in early February.
Why It Matters: The visit will build on slow-moving momentum to normalize ties between the two countries, and it will most likely include more pledges for economic cooperation and Egyptian aid for Turkey after the earthquakes. The countries could also restore their ambassadors, although this is less likely than economic cooperation.
Background: A sudden meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the World Cup in Qatar appears to have helped accelerate diplomatic normalization, which began in 2021 but has made little progress so far. Turkey's foreign ministers have not visited Egypt since Egypt's military overthrew Turkey's ally, former President Mohammed Morsi, in 2013.
Niger: U.S. Grants Humanitarian Aid, Lauds 'Defense of Democratic Values'
What Happened: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged $150 million in humanitarian aid for the Sahel region and lauded Niger's "defense of democratic values" amid growing jihadist insurgencies during his visit to the Nigerien capital Niamey on March 16, Jeune Afrique reported the next day.
Why It Matters: Western humanitarian and counterterrorism resources will likely continue to focus on Niger as a "bastion of stability" in a volatile region, but Western assistance will not insulate Niger from political volatility and regional insecurity. In particular, the United States and France are likely attempting to strengthen ties with Niger to prevent a Russian paramilitary incursion, especially as the Russian Wagner Group's paramilitary forces remain active in Mali and jihadist insurgencies are continuing to gain territory throughout the region.
Background: A senior official traveling with Blinken said this trip is intended to support the efforts of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, who remains an ally of France and is opposed to the regional incursion of Russian paramilitary forces. The official also said that Washington wants to help Niamey "professionalize" its armed forces.
China: Shipments of Rifles, Body Armor, Drone Parts Test Waters on Chinese Aid to Russia
What Happened: Chinese companies, including one major defense contractor, shipped military rifles (tagged as "hunting rifles"), body armor and drone parts to Russia through intermediaries like Turkey and the United Arab Emirates from June-December 2022, Politico reported on March 16.
Why It Matters: The shipments suggest that Beijing has attempted to scout what kinds of light support it could offer to Russia without Western detection, but the small and clandestine nature of these shipments may mean that Beijing is unwilling to take the risks required to send significant amounts of lethal support to Russia. The weapons provided by Chinese companies thus far are not the kind that Russia truly needs — i.e., artillery and long-range missiles — to wage its war in Ukraine.
Background: U.S. intelligence recently claimed that China was considering sending lethal weapons aid to Ukraine. The volumes of the shipments discovered by Politico were small, amounting to around 1,000 rifles, 12 tons of body armor and 12 shipments of drone parts, including some from the world's top commercial drone maker, China's DJI Technology Co.
Niger: U.S. Grants Humanitarian Aid, Lauds 'Defense of Democratic Values'
What Happened: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged $150 million in humanitarian aid for the Sahel region and lauded Niger's "defense of democratic values" amid growing jihadist insurgencies during his visit to the Nigerien capital Niamey on March 16, Jeune Afrique reported the next day.
Why It Matters: Western humanitarian and counterterrorism resources will likely continue to focus on Niger as a "bastion of stability" in a volatile region, but Western assistance will not insulate Niger from political volatility and regional insecurity. In particular, the United States and France are likely attempting to strengthen ties with Niger to prevent a Russian paramilitary incursion, especially as the Russian Wagner Group's paramilitary forces remain active in Mali and jihadist insurgencies are continuing to gain territory throughout the region.
Background: A senior official traveling with Blinken said this trip is intended to support the efforts of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, who remains an ally of France and is opposed to the regional incursion of Russian paramilitary forces. The official also said that Washington wants to help Niamey "professionalize" its armed forces.
Ukraine: Slovakia and Poland Pledge Soviet-Era Jets for Ukraine
What Happened: Slovakia will send its entire fleet of Soviet-era fighter jets, consisting of 13 MiG-29s, to Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on March 17. The announcement came just a day after Polish President Andrzej Duda said Warsaw will send Ukraine an initial batch of four MiG-29 fighter jets in a matter of days.
Why It Matters: The transfers will mark the first time Ukraine has received advanced fighter aircraft from the West, although Ukraine already possesses MiG-29 jets and these provisions on their own will not significantly enhance Ukraine's defensive or offensive capabilities against Russia. However, the deliveries are a step toward the exhaustion of readily-available Soviet-era jets from NATO stocks and will therefore serve as a key step toward Kyiv eventually receiving advanced Western jets.
Background: Ukrainian pilots are in the United States for what U.S. officials are calling an assessment of their skills in flying fighter jets. On Feb. 8, the United Kingdom announced that it will train Ukrainian pilots on NATO-standard aircraft. Western concerns about escalating tensions with Russia, as well as Slovakia's and Poland's desire to have replacements for the jets lined up, had obstructed a final decision on the jet transfers since the opening weeks of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Colombia: Labor Reform Will Likely Pass, Raising Employers' Costs
What Happened: Colombian President Gustavo Petro presented a labor reform bill to Congress that would strengthen labor rights in the country, El Tiempo reported on March 16.
Why It Matters: Congress will likely approve the labor reform, though it will likely be watered down due to ideological differences within Petro's coalition. Such major reforms represent part of Petro's broader effort to reduce poverty and expand the role of the state. Increased employee protections will almost certainly add pressure on companies and start-ups in Colombia, though the extent of the broader economic impact will, of course, depend upon the final version of the reform bill.
Background: The initiative seeks to reduce the normal work week to 42 hours, down from 48, and to guarantee one day off every seven days, increasing the chance that workers will receive overtime pay. It also aims to reduce companies' ability to hire short-term contractors, opting instead to prioritize indefinite contracts in an effort to increase job security.
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