The List 6471
To All,
Good Wednesday Morning May 24 2023.
I it is raining again so the weeds are coming back.
Regards,
Skip
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History May 24
1917 The first U.S. convoy left Hampton Roads, Va. to cross the North Atlantic after entering World War I. During the 18 months of war while American vessels escort convoys through the war zone, 183 attacks are made by submarines, 24 submarines are damaged and two are destroyed.
1918 USS Olympia (C 6) is anchored at Kola Inlet, Murmansk, Russia, to protect refugees during the Russian Revolution.
1939 Vice Adm. Allan McCann's Rescue Chamber is first used to rescue 33 men from the sunken USS Squalus (SS 192). Four Navy divers receive the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions on May 24-25 to rescue the trapped men.
1945 Patrol bomber PBM aircraft sink Japanese Special Coast Defense Ship No.21 off the China coast, Task Force 58 attacks airfields on southern Kyushu. In return, the Japanese attack U.S. positions and ships at Okinawa and kamikazes strike USS William C. Cole (DE 641), USS Sims (APD 50), LCS (L) 121.
1961 USS Gurke (DD 783) notices signals from 12 men from Truk Island who are stranded for three months first at sea and then on an island. USS Southerland (DD 743) investigates the situation and notifies Truk Island, and provides provisions and supplies to repair their outrigger canoe. The men are picked up on June 7 by the motor launch Kaselehlia.
1962 Aurora 7 (Mercury 7) is launched and piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Malcolm Scott Carpenter. Aurora 7 completes three orbits in 4 hours, 56 minutes at an altitude up to 166.8 statute miles at 17,549 mph.
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Today in World History May 24
1543 Nicolaus Copernicus publishes proof of a sun-centered solar system. He dies just after publication.
1607 Captain Christopher Newport and 105 followers found the colony of Jamestown at the mouth of the James River on the coast of Virginia.
1610 Sir Thomas Gates institutes "laws divine moral and marshal, " a harsh civil code for Jamestown.
1624 After years of unprofitable operation, Virginia's charter is revoked and it becomes a royal colony.
1689 The English Parliament passes the Act of Toleration, protecting Protestants. Roman Catholics are specifically excluded from exemption.
1738 The Methodist Church is established.
1764 Boston lawyer James Otis denounces "taxation without representation," calling for the colonies to unite in opposition to Britain's new tax measures.
1798 Believing that a French invasion of Ireland is imminent, Irish nationalists rise up against the British occupation.
1844 Samuel Morse taps out the first telegraph message.
1846 General Zachary Taylor captures Monterey.
1861 General Benjamin Butler declares slaves to be the contraband of war.
1863 Bushwackers led by Captain William Marchbanks attack a Federal militia party in Nevada, Missouri.
1878 The first American bicycle race is held in Boston.
1930 Amy Johnson becomes the first woman to fly from England to Australia.
1941 The British battleship Hood is sunk by the German battleship Bismarck. There are only three survivors.
1951 Willie Mays begins playing for the New York Giants.
1961 Civil rights activists are arrested in Jackson, Mississippi.
1883 The Brooklyn Bridge opens
After 14 years, the Brooklyn Bridge over the East River opens, connecting the great cities of New York and Brooklyn for the first time in history. Thousands of residents of Brooklyn and Manhattan Island turned out to witness the dedication ceremony, which was presided over by President Chester A. Arthur
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear … Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post
Skip… For The List for Wednesday, 24 May 2023… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 24 May 1968… The bloodiest weeks of the war…
This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear's Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip
Vietnam Air Losses
Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
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Thanks to Boysie ...and Dr. Rich
Play on Words
For those of you who enjoy a play on words:
I never thought orthopedic shoes would really work for me, but I stand corrected.
Once upon a time there was a king who was only 12 inches tall. He was a terrible king, but he made a great ruler.
A Mexican magician said he will disappear on the count of 3. He says, ""Uno, dos." Poof. He disappeared without a tres.
I wrote a book on how to fall down the stairs. It's a step by step guide.
My son was chewing on electric cords, so I had to ground him. It's OK, though. He's doing better and conducting himself properly.
My friend claims that he "accidentally" glued himself to his autobiography, but I don't believe him. But that's his story and he's sticking to it.
"Doctor, my child swallowed a roll of film. What should I do?"
"Let's wait and see if anything develops."
An armed man ran into a real estate agency and shouted, "Nobody move."
Got drunk yesterday and threw up in the elevator on my way back home. It was disgusting on so many levels.
Why did the Mexican take anti-anxiety medication? For Hispanic attacks.
I asked the surgeon if I could administer my own anesthetic. He said, "Sure. Knock yourself out!"
I got into a fight today with 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. The odds were really against me.
In Britain it's called a lift but Americans call it an elevator. I guess we were just raised differently
97% of people are stupid. Glad I'm in the other 5%.
Can someone please tell me what LGBTQ+ stands for? Nobody is giving me a straight answer.
AND FINALLY …
I have 2 unwritten rules.
1.
2.
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Thanks to Tom
View the Latest Edition of "This Week @NASA" (published May 12, 2023)
Folks-
Late again, but enjoy!
OUTSIDE READING:
https://www.space.com/dwarf-star-radiation-belt-first-outside-solar-system?utm_source=notification
Just when you thought you knew EVERYTHING…
Io gives a spectacular show:
Tom
AGENCYWIDE MESSAGE TO ALL NASA EMPLOYEES
Points of Contact: Rebecca Sirmons, rebecca.h.sirmons@nasa.gov, and Andre Valentine, andre.valentine-1@nasa.gov, Office of Communications, NASA Headquarters
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
View the Latest Edition of "This Week @NASA" (published May 12, 2023)
View the latest "This Week @NASA," produced by NASA Television, for features on agency news and activities. Stories in this program include:
• Spacecraft Moves to New Docking Spot at Space Station
• Webb's Surprising Look at Fomalhaut's Asteroid Belt
• First Pair of Storm Observing CubeSats Launched
• 2023 Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
To watch this episode, click on the image below:
Watch the Video
To access this edition of "This Week @NASA," you may also visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsGQ-36-Pzc
This notice is being sent agencywide to all employees by NASA INC in the Office of Communications at NASA Headquarter
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THANKS TO BRETT
Stratfor snippets - Greece, China, Iran, South Korea, U.K., Turkey, Angola, Sudan, Russia/Ukraine, Guatemala, Ukraine,
Greece: Conservatives Win General Election, But Will Seek Another Vote
What Happened: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' center-right New Democracy party won the May 21 general election in Greece with 41% of the vote, although the party still does not have enough seats in Parliament to govern alone, eKathimerini reported on May 22. In his victory speech on May 21, Mitsotakis suggested that he will seek to hold another election to obtain an absolute majority.
Why It Matters: Mitsotakis will probably refuse to form a coalition with a smaller party and will ask instead to hold a new general election, which will probably take place in late June or early July. Under the Greek electoral system, unlike the May 21 election (which used a proportional system), a new election will grant the winner as many as 50 bonus seats in Parliament, which means New Democracy will be able to govern with a substantial majority. A government led by the pro-business New Democracy party means Greece will experience continuity in the economic reforms that have made the country one of the fastest-growing economies in the European Union. In fact, Greece's stock markets reacted positively on May 22 to the prospect of another four years of a New Democracy-led government.
Background: The center-left Syriza coalition received 20% of the vote in the May 21 election, and New Democracy controls only 146 of the 300 seats in the Greek Parliament.
China: Beijing Announces Partial Ban on Micron's Chips
What Happened: The Cyberspace Administration of China announced on May 21 that it was partially banning U.S. company Micron Technology Inc.'s memory chips in China and that critical infrastructure operators could not use its products, Reuters reported the next day. On May 22, South Korea's first vice industry minister said the government would not prevent South Korean companies from increasing chip sales to China.
Why It Matters: The decision to ban Micron's products demonstrates Beijing's willingness to implement restrictions on the technology sector and be more aggressive in responding to U.S. moves against China. Even though Chinese companies can still use many of Micron's products outside of the critical infrastructure sector, such as in smartphones and laptops, it is possible that they will start to use more chips from Micron's competitors (such as South Korea's SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics) in order to stay in the good graces of Beijing. If South Korean companies move to fill the gap in China's chips market left by Micron, it will limit the impact of the ban on China.
Background: The announcement came just hours after the Group of Seven issued a statement criticizing China's economic coercion. Beijing announced on March 31 that it was opening an investigation into Micron's products
Iran: Tehran Appoints New Head of Supreme National Security Council
What Happened: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi appointed Ali Akbar Ahmadian as the new secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, replacing longtime secretary Ali Shamkhani, AP reported on May 22.
Why It Matters: Shamkhani was one of the last holdouts from the previous moderate reformist administration, expressing nuanced political opinions on things like relations with the West and China, as well as on the value of pursuing a nuclear deal. However, his removal is not a clear refutation of his policies, especially because Raisi or Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could appoint him to another position within the government. Regardless, the changing of the guard is part of some recalibration in political groups and alliances prior to Iran's February 2024 parliamentary election.
Background: Shamkhani had been facing accusations of corruption related to the real estate and shipping sectors, as well as allegations of being involved in the case of British-Iranian Ali Reza Akbari, whom Tehran hanged on espionage charges in January. The Supreme National Security Council is Iran's highest-level entity that handles both domestic and foreign national security issues. Shamkhani was appointed secretary of the council in 2013 after having served as defense minister under reformist President Mohammad Khatami from 1997-2005.
China: G-7 Economic Coercion Statement Will Stoke Beijing's Retaliation Push
What Happened: The Group of Seven (G-7) released a joint statement on May 20 outlining their opposition to economic coercion practices, including non-market practices, and they outlined their support for "narrow" technology restrictions to bolster supply chain resilience, as well as their willingness to collaborate on export controls and actions related to outbound investments.
Why It Matters: Such statements will further convince Beijing of the need to retaliate economically against Western firms to curb what it perceives to be a U.S.-led economic containment campaign. The G-7 statement is representative of an increased willingness by U.S. partners to consider economic restrictions against China, limited though they may be. Nonetheless, the exact implementation of any mechanisms discussed in the statement will be a matter of national policy and continue to be a subject of much debate.
Background: The statement did not mention China, but Beijing is almost certainly the primary target of its discussion on maligned practices. G-7 members include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, plus an EU representative.
South Korea, EU: Joint Statement Continues Seoul's Westward Lean
What Happened: South Korea and the European Union released a joint statement agreeing on the North Korean nuclear threat, condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and agreeing to secure supply chains in key sectors, Yonhap News Agency reported on May 22.
Why It Matters: As part of the supply chains agreement, the two sides will work on early warning systems to detect and rectify supply chain disruptions in key sectors like semiconductors, mobile networks, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and online and digital platform regulations. As South Korea continues to pivot toward Japan and the West, Western powers are increasingly supporting South Korean interests under the Yoon administration. If this trend continues, South Korea, which is one of the world's major producers of artillery shells, will grow more likely to follow the West's lead by providing lethal aid to Ukraine amid its war with Russia.
Background: The statement emerged directly after the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan. South Korea has resisted Western pushes to send lethal aid to Ukraine since ruling it out in the early months of the war, but the country has shown more signs in recent months that a policy reversal may be possible.
U.K.: Irish Nationalist Sinn Fein Solidifies Position as Northern Ireland's Largest Party at Local Elections
What Happened: Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein became Northern Ireland's largest local government party after securing six out of 11 councils at local elections and winning 31% of first preference votes, ahead of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) with 23%, Reuters reported on May 20.
Why It Matters: Sinn Fein's success in local elections strengthens the party's position as Northern Ireland's largest political force, and the party is also leading opinion polls in the Republic of Ireland ahead of national elections due no later than 2025, which strengthens the case for a future Irish unification push. The local elections' outcome also signals a further entrenchment in the region's politics, with Sinn Fein gaining ground at the expense of smaller centrist nationalist and unionist parties, while the DUP has maintained its position as the main unionist party. In fact, the vote seems to suggest that unionists are largely endorsing the DUP's obstructionist tactics while moderate parties' grassroots are being pushed toward Sinn Fein as a result of the political deadlock.
Background: Sinn Fein, a nationalist Irish party active on both sides of the Irish border and whose primary political objective is for Northern Ireland to leave the United Kingdom and reunite with the Republic of Ireland, won for the first time the most seats in the Northern Irish legislative elections in May 2022. However, the DUP, the largest pro-United Kingdom force in Northern Ireland, has been boycotting the region's power-sharing institutions to protest Northern Ireland's post-Brexit trading arrangements, preventing the region from forming a government.
Turkey: Ogan Endorses Erdogan Ahead of Runoff Presidential Election
What Happened: Sinan Ogan, the third runner-up in Turkey's May 14 presidential elections for the nationalist ATA Alliance, endorsed incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the upcoming May 28 runoff between Erdogan and his opponent, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Al Jazeera reported on May 22.
Why It Matters: Ogan's endorsement will unify the nationalist vote in Turkey's runoff election, which will significantly increase Edogan's chances of winning the election, as Erdogan won 49.52% of the May 14 vote and Ogan won 5.17%.
Background: Kilidaroglu has been trying to win over Ogan's nationalist supporters by doubling down on right-wing agenda items, like expelling refugees. Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) also won a strong parliamentary majority in the May 14 general elections alongside its ultranationalist ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
Angola: White House Considers Investment in Lobito Rail Corridor
What Happened: The White House is considering a $250 million financing package for the Lobito Atlantic Railway Corridor, according to the Group of Seven's updated Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment plan, the China Global South Project reported on May 22. The Lobito rail corridor runs from Ndola in northern Zambia north through southern Democratic Republic of the Congo and central Angola to the Lobito port.
Why It Matters: The United States is likely trying to counter decades of Chinese involvement in the corridor, but since Chinese state-owned companies already hold stakes in operating the completed railway and a 20-year concession to operate the Lobito port, it is likely too late. Even so, the United States is likely to increasingly seek ways to build redundancies into supply chains for minerals essential to the green transition, such as cobalt from Congolese mines.
Background: Existing railways from Congolese mines through South Africa are becoming less reliable due to South Africa's struggles with decaying infrastructure and an electricity crisis. Chinese state-owned companies invested in the early stages of Lobito's railway development in 2004.
Sudan: Army, RSF Agree to New Seven-Day Cease-Fire
What Happened: Sudan's warring generals agreed to a new seven-day cease-fire beginning on May 22 to allow the distribution of humanitarian aid and the restoration of essential services, Bloomberg reported on May 20.
Why It Matters: Hours into the new cease-fire, it is unclear whether it will hold or even provide a temporary respite from fighting to allow for the distribution of humanitarian supplies. Mistrust between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) runs so deep that both sides are likely to attempt to use the cease-fire to improve their own military position, whether by ignoring it altogether or by taking a break from fighting in order to regroup.
Background: The SAF and RSF signed the U.S. and Saudi-brokered agreement in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on May 20. Fighting has killed about 1,000 people and injured many more thousands, while the United Nations estimates that over 800,000 people have fled their homes.
Russia, Ukraine: Anti-Putin Volunteer Groups Conduct Larger Raid Into Russia
What Happened: The Russian Volunteer Corps and Free Russia Legion conducted a raid into the Belgorod region of Russia, temporarily occupying the border checkpoint Grayvoron and the village of Kozinka, the Moscow Times reported on May 22. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed the purpose of the attack was to divert attention from and minimize the political effect of Ukraine's loss of the remnants of the city of Bakhmut.
Why It Matters: The attack is similar to raids by Russian anti-Putin groups in recent months, although many more forces participated in the May 22 offensive and used combat vehicles for the first time, including tanks and American-made Humvees. The raid is in line with Kyiv's strategy of embarrassing the Kremlin to politically destabilize Russia amid the lack of other clear avenues to winning the war outside of greater territorial gains in the south. Accordingly, Kyiv likely also hopes the attacks will prompt Russia to position more troops along their border rather than in southern Ukraine. Such raids are likely to continue and prompt retaliation from Moscow, likely in the form of increased airstrikes on Ukrainian cities.
Background: On March 2, the Russian Volunteer Corps conducted a raid in Russia's Bryansk region that Russian President Vladimir Putin called a "terrorist attack" and attributed to Ukraine rather than the Russian citizens who conducted the attack.
Guatemala: Judge Suspends Presidential Frontrunner's Candidacy
What Happened: A judge in Guatemala's Administrative Litigation Court suspended the candidacy of opposition presidential candidate Carlos Pineda, who was the frontrunner in Guatemala's June 25 presidential election, Reuters reported on May 19. The ruling, which Pineda denounced and promised to fight, stated that Pineda did not comply with the rules of the nomination process.
Why It Matters: The suspension of Pineda's candidacy follows similar disqualifications of other opposition candidates, the arrest of prominent journalists and alleged legal harassment of judges known for fighting corruption. These incidents have increased allegations that the government of President Alejandro Giammattei is using its influence to ensure an ally is elected president in June. The disqualification of major candidates risks spurring protests in the near term, in addition to decreasing the political legitimacy of the next government in the long term. In addition, potential democratic backsliding limits the likelihood that the next government will take significant action against the country's rampant corruption.
Background: The Supreme Electoral Tribunal previously disqualified two other major presidential candidates in February, Thelma Cabrera of the left-wing Movement for the Liberation of Peoples and Roberto Arzu of the conservative Podemos party. Cabrera's disqualification spurred multiple mass protests throughout the country over recent months.
Ukraine: Coalition Forms to Supply F-16s to Ukraine
What Happened: Ukraine now hopes to have U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets flying as early as the fall of 2023, following U.S. agreement to allow third countries to transfer the aircraft, The Washington Post reported on May 19. Several NATO countries have already expressed willingness to provide aircraft and participate in training Ukrainian pilots.
Why It Matters: The announcement suggests the F-16 has been selected to become Ukraine's primary aircraft for most missions in the long term, although the provision of other aircraft such as the Swedish Gripen remains a possibility. Much will depend on whether Western nations will also provide more modern or longer range air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, without which the jets will not considerably improve Ukraine's ability to conduct most missions or achieve even temporary localized air superiority over Russia. The provision of modern Western aircraft to Ukraine was inevitable primarily because Ukraine's reliance on Soviet and Russian aircraft was becoming increasingly economically and logistically challenging.
Background: On May 21 when U.S. President Joe Biden was asked at the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan, whether he agreed with Russia's statement that supplying F-16s to Ukraine is a "colossal risk," he replied, "It is, for them."
India: Central Bank to Withdraw 2,000-Rupee Notes From Circulation
What Happened: The Central Bank of India requested citizens deposit or exchange the country's highest denomination 2,000-rupee note by Sept. 30, Reuters reported on May 20. The central bank cited its Clean Note Policy — intended to remove currency notes in poor condition from circulation — as well as peoples' reportedly infrequent use of the 2,000-rupee note to justify its decision.
Why It Matters: Given people's reportedly infrequent use of the 2,000-rupee note, adequate supply of lower-denomination notes, and the more prevalent use of electronic payment methods, the central bank's decision is not expected to significantly disrupt the Indian economy. The Sept. 30 deadline will also likely give Indian banks more time to prepare for the expected increase in bank deposits and other transactions, further reducing the potential for economic disruptions or panic. Nevertheless, cash-reliant sectors and businesses may face some near-term challenges as the notes are withdrawn.
Background: The move comes ahead of various state elections in 2023 and general elections in 2024, when cash usage is expected to increase; political candidates often use cash to bypass the Election Commission of India's spending limits. The government introduced 2,000-rupee notes in 2016 after 500- and 1,000-rupee notes were demonetized in November of that year in an effort to fight corruption. The 2016 demonetization — particularly its unexpected and sudden nature — prompted disruptions to the Indian economy, currency shortages, panic and long lines reportedly linked to dozens of deaths.
Israel, Palestinian Territories: Israeli Authorities Approve Settlement Construction in West Bank, Jerusalem
What Happened: Israeli military authorities on May 18 approved the rebuilding of the Jewish settlement Homesh in the West Bank, which the Israeli government unilaterally evacuated in 2005 as part of efforts to end the second Intifada (Palestinian uprising), The Times of Israel reported May 22. The same week, Israeli civil authorities in Jerusalem approved the construction of 400 settlement homes in the Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis, which Israeli officials previously suggested could be the capital of a future Palestinian state.
Why It Matters: The construction of settlements in these controversial sites will likely trigger Palestinian militant attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem, as well as Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. The settlement construction may also embolden elements of the Israeli far-right who argue that the Israeli military should renew its occupation of Gaza, which ended in 2005.
Background: On May 21, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited Jerusalem's Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary, a sensitive site for Palestinians and Israelis alike, and the U.S. State Department condemned the move the same day. Israeli far-right politicians have been increasingly emboldened following the May 9-15 conflict between Israel and the Gaza-based militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which they view as a victory for their preferred policy of a harsh crackdown on militancy and expansion of settlements into the West Bank.
U.S.: Lower Colorado River States Agree to Voluntary Water Cuts, Staving off Federal Intervention
What Happened: The White House announced that California, Arizona and Nevada, the three states on the lower Colorado River, agreed to voluntarily share a 13% water reduction from the Colorado River for the next three years in order to avert a catastrophic collapse in reservoir water levels there, The Washington Post reported on May 23. The Biden administration will send $1.2 billion in funds from the Inflation Reduction Act to offset the economic impact of the cuts.
Why It Matters: The voluntary cuts are most likely to fall on farmers and Native American tribes, with some impacts on cities that could affect plans for urban development. The deal enables the federal government to avoid imposing cuts and gives the seven states on the Colorado River until 2026, when the Colorado River Compact (CRC) is due to update its guidelines, to negotiate much deeper cuts. However, if the El Nino season in 2023 brings heavier rains to the upper Colorado River, it will diminish the urgency for cuts and compromises ahead of 2026.
Background: A full-scale agreement between the seven states of the CRC fell short of White House mediation efforts, as California dug in and refused to agree to the deep cuts that might have been needed to save the dwindling reservoirs of Lake Mead and Lake Powell. Heavy snowfall in the winter of 2022-23 helped mitigate the declining lake levels, and Lake Powell has recently started sending more water to Lake Mead to ensure that the Hoover Dam remains functional through 2026.
Bulgaria: Largest Parties Agree to Form Coalition Government, Ending Two Years of Political Deadlock
What Happened: Bulgaria's center-right GERB party and the pro-Western anti-corruption alliance led by We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria agreed to form a grand coalition government led by two rotating prime ministers for the next 18 months, Reuters reported on May 22. Former Education Minister Nikolay Denkov from We Continue the Change will lead the government for the first nine months, and former European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel from GERB will take over for the second half of the mandate.
Why It Matters: The move is meant to end recent political instability in Bulgaria that led to five elections in two years, forced the country to delay the approval of a budget bill for 2023, and pushed back Bulgaria's target date for joining the eurozone, causing economic uncertainty and preventing it from effectively absorbing EU post-pandemic recovery funds. Besides breaking the political deadlock, the government coalition's primary objective will be to implement key constitutional and judicial reforms over the next few months and tackle endemic corruption. Given significant political differences within the coalition, political crises and yet another snap election cannot be ruled out in the near future.
Background: GERB won 69 out of 240 seats in Bulgaria's National Assembly during the country's most recent elections on April 2, while the bloc led by We Continue the Change won 64 seats, meaning neither group secured a definitive parliamentary majority.
Mozambique: TotalEnergies May Resume LNG Project Following Publication of Humanitarian Report
What Happened: French energy company TotalEnergies announced that an independent humanitarian report found improvements in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province, where the company's stalled liquified natural gas (LNG) project is located, Bloomberg reported on May 23. TotalEnergies said the report also recommended a review of the framework between the LNG project and Mozambique's military, which the company said it had begun discussing with Mozambican officials.
Why It Matters: The announcement indicates that the French supermajor may soon resume development of the $20 billion LNG project, as TotalEnergies previously said the humanitarian report must find regional improvements before the project moved forward. However, questions about costs remain, as TotalEnergies has said the costs for the project must be in line with initial costs when dealing with suppliers and contractors.
Background: In its announcement, TotalEnergies also said it was setting up a $200 million foundation in Mozambique for economic growth. The new foundation would aim to increase socioeconomic development in Cabo Delgado and accelerate and reexamine compensation and payments for families relocated from the development site. The LNG project has been stalled since early 2021 over security concerns in the region.
Indonesia: Deadline for Critical Minerals Export Bans Nears
What Happened: Indonesian export bans on unprocessed tin, copper and bauxite are set to go into effect on June 10, Nikkei Asia reported on May 23. Indonesia is also mulling expanding bans to around 20 other commodities by 2040, including coal, gold, silver, crude oil, natural gas and palm oil.
Why It Matters: These protectionist efforts represent Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's industrial policy, which is intended to draw investment in downstream, value-added sectors, as well as drive economic growth and development in Indonesia's lagging outlying islands. However, Indonesia's shares of global bauxite, tin and copper supplies, while sizable, are not dominant, which may mean the bans will not bring about their intended effects. Additionally, the country's domestic copper and tin smelting and processing capacities are suboptimal, and the bans could face legal challenges, further limiting their impact. Moreover, even if the bans do work as intended, there is no clear frontrunner for a presidential candidate who would continue the export ban initiatives once Jokowi leaves office in 2024, putting the policies' future in question.
Background: Jokowi's government announced the bans in December 2022. Indonesia banned exports of nickel in 2020, an initiative that has largely proven successful in attracting investment but has stalled in terms of driving development in outlying islands.
Sudan: Fighting Rages on Despite Truce, U.S. Sanctions Warning
What Happened: Residents of Sudan's capital Khartoum reported some artillery fire and warplanes flying above the city one day after the warring Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to a cease-fire, Reuters reported on May 23. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned both sides that failure to abide by the cease-fire could result in individual sanctions on May 23.
Why It Matters: The cease-fire does not appear to be holding, even amid threats of U.S. sanctions. This suggests that international mediation efforts are likely to continue to fall short until either the SAF or the RSF wins a military victory.
Background: While the SAF and the RSF previously attempted cease-fires, this is the first one that includes a monitoring mechanism including the army, the RSF and representatives from Saudi Arabia and the United States, which brokered the negotiations.
Ukraine, U.S.: Washington Seeks 'Israel-Style' Security Agreement for Ukraine in Lieu of NATO Membership
What Happened: NATO leaders are preparing a plan based on U.S. and other countries' agreements with Israel that is intended to help guarantee Ukrainian security, and they expect to sign an agreement on the matter following a July NATO summit, The Wall Street Journal reported on May 22. The alliance expects to set up a new body known as the Ukraine NATO Council that would serve as Kyiv's "gateway to future membership," while the United States would serve as the primary guarantor of such arrangements.
Why It Matters: An "Israel-style" security agreement for Ukraine would prioritize transfers of arms and advanced technology, which could help Ukraine lock in security support on a long-term and bipartisan basis, rather than in annual increments. These long-term arms agreements would undermine Russia's strategy of waiting out the West in hopes that its support for Ukraine will decline in a year or two, which could increase pressure on Moscow to consider negotiations. However, an Israel-style deal would take the place of progress on Ukraine's NATO bid, possibly signaling that NATO will not allow Ukraine to join the alliance as long as it experiences conflict on its territory. If Russia believes this is the case, it will likely decide to continue the war on a low level indefinitely.
Background: On April 20, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that Kyiv expects NATO states to adopt a package of security guarantees for Ukraine during the July NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. On Sept. 13, 2022, Kyiv unveiled the Kyiv Security Compact outlining its desires for security guarantees, including through bilateral "legally and politically binding commitments" to support Ukraine militarily in case of a renewed Russian invasion.
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Thanks to Wigs….This was in the list a long while back but deserves a repeat.
The grammar lesson!
GRAMMAR LESSON: Is it "complete", "finished", or "completely finished"?
No English dictionary has been able to adequately explain the difference between these two words - "Complete" or "Finished". In a recent linguistic competition held in London and attended by, supposedly, the best in the world, Samdar Balgobin, a Guyanese man, was the clear winner with a standing ovation which lasted over 5 minutes.
The final question was: 'How do you explain the difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED in a way that is easy to understand? Some people say there is no difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED.'
Here is his astute answer:
"When you marry the right woman, you are COMPLETE. When you marry the wrong woman, you are FINISHED. And when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are COMPLETELY FINISHED!"
He won a trip around the world and a case of 25 year old Scotch
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1972 Fifty one years ago yesterday Lt. Jerry "Turkey"Tucker "downed" a Mig near Haiphong without firing a shot from his F-8 Crusader. He maneuvered and settled in behind the Mig with a good tone on his sidewinder and the pilot ejected. Of course all the F-8 pilots knew that the Migs did not like the F-8 because prior to this they had bad luck against them.
This Day In American Military History May 24
1844 – In a demonstration witnessed by members of Congress, American inventor Samuel F.B. Morse dispatches a telegraph message from the U.S. Capitol to Alfred Vail at a railroad station in Baltimore, Maryland. The message–"What Hath God Wrought?"–was telegraphed back to the Capitol a moment later by Vail. The question, taken from the Bible (Numbers 23:23), had been suggested to Morse by Annie Ellworth, the daughter of the commissioner of patents. Morse, an accomplished painter, learned of a French inventor's idea of an electric telegraph in 1832 and then spent the next 12 years attempting to perfect a working telegraph instrument. During this period, he composed the Morse code, a set of signals that could represent language in telegraph messages, and convinced Congress to finance a Washington-to-Baltimore telegraph line. On May 24, 1844, he inaugurated the world's first commercial telegraph line with a message that was fitting given the invention's future effects on American life. Just a decade after the first line opened, more than 20,000 miles of telegraph cable crisscrossed the country. The rapid communication it enabled greatly aided American expansion, making railroad travel safer as it provided a boost to business conducted across the great distances of a growing United States.
1941 – The German battleship Bismarck sank the British dreadnought HMS Hood in the North Atlantic. 1416 died with only three survivors. CGC Modoc sighted the German battleship SMS Bismarck while the cutter searched for survivors of a convoy southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland. British Swordfish torpedo planes from the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Victorious circled Modoc as they flew towards the German battleship's position. The Modoc's crew then spotted the flashes caused by anti-aircraft fire from the Bismarck and then sighted British warships on the opposite horizon. The cutter then maneuvered to avoid contact with any of the warships and managed to steam out of the area unscathed.
1945 – On Kyushu, aircraft from US Task Force 58 raid several airfields used by the Kamikaze forces attacking American naval forces around Okinawa. Meanwhile about 520 US bombers strike Tokyo, dropping some 3646 tons of bombs.
1945 – On Okinawa, during the night, Japanese paratroopers on a suicide mission are landed on American held Yontan airfield and destroy a significant number of aircraft before being wiped out. Meanwhile, Japanese troops conduct vigorous counterattacks in the direction of Yonabaru and make a small penetration into the lines of the US 32nd Division.
Congressional Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
*ANTOLAK, SYLVESTER
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, 24 May 1944. Entered service at: St. Clairsville, Ohio. Birth: St. Clairsville, Ohio. G.O. No.: 89, 19 October 1945. Citation: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, he charged 200 yards over flat, coverless terrain to destroy an enemy machinegun nest during the second day of the offensive which broke through the German cordon of steel around the Anzio beachhead. Fully 30 yards in advance of his squad, he ran into withering enemy machinegun, machine-pistol and rifle fire. Three times he was struck by bullets and knocked to the ground, but each time he struggled to his feet to continue his relentless advance. With one shoulder deeply gashed and his right arm shattered, he continued to rush directly into the enemy fire concentration with his submachinegun wedged under his uninjured arm until within 15 yards of the enemy strong point, where he opened fire at deadly close range, killing 2 Germans and forcing the remaining 10 to surrender. He reorganized his men and, refusing to seek medical attention so badly needed, chose to lead the way toward another strong point 100 yards distant. Utterly disregarding the hail of bullets concentrated upon him, he had stormed ahead nearly three-fourths of the space between strong points when he was instantly killed by hostile enemy fire. Inspired by his example, his squad went on to overwhelm the enemy troops. By his supreme sacrifice, superb fighting courage, and heroic devotion to the attack, Sgt. Antolak was directly responsible for eliminating 20 Germans, capturing an enemy machinegun, and clearing the path for his company to advance.
MILLS, JAMES H.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company F, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, 24 May 1944. Entered service at: Fort Meade, Fla. Birth: Fort Meade, Fla. G.O. No.: 87, 14 November 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Pvt. Mills, undergoing his baptism of fire, preceded his platoon down a draw to reach a position from which an attack could be launched against a heavily fortified strongpoint. After advancing about 300 yards, Pvt. Mills was fired on by a machinegun only S yards distant. He killed the gunner with 1 shot and forced the surrender of the assistant gunner. Continuing his advance, he saw a German soldier in a camouflaged position behind a large bush pulling the pin of a potato-masher grenade. Covering the German with his rifle, Pvt. Mills forced him to drop the grenade and captured him. When another enemy soldier attempted to throw a hand grenade into the draw, Pvt. Mills killed him with 1 shot. Brought under fire by a machinegun, 2 machine pistols, and 3 rifles at a range of only 50 feet, he charged headlong into the furious chain of automatic fire shooting his M 1 from the hip. The enemy was completely demoralized by Pvt. Mills' daring charge, and when he reached a point within 10 feet of their position, all 6 surrendered. As he neared the end of the draw, Pvt. Mills was brought under fire by a machinegunner 20 yards distant. Despite the fact that he had absolutely no cover, Pvt. Mills killed the gunner with 1 shot. Two enemy soldiers near the machinegunner fired wildly at Pvt. Mills and then fled. Pvt. Mills fired twice, killing 1 of the enemy. Continuing on to the position, he captured a fourth soldier. When it became apparent that an assault on the strongpoint would in all probability cause heavy casualties on the platoon, Pvt. Mills volunteered to cover the advance down a shallow ditch to a point within 50 yards of the objective. Standing on the bank in full view of the enemy less than 100 yards away, he shouted and fired his rifle directly into the position. His ruse worked exactly as planned. The enemy centered his fire on Pvt. Mills. Tracers passed within inches of his body, rifle and machine pistol bullets ricocheted off the rocks at his feet. Yet he stood there firing until his rifle was empty. Intent on covering the movement of his platoon, Pvt. Mills jumped into the draw, reloaded his weapon, climbed out again, and continued to lay down a base of fire. Repeating this action 4 times, he enabled his platoon to reach the designated spot undiscovered, from which position it assaulted and overwhelmed the enemy, capturing 22 Germans and taking the objective without casualties.
SCHAUER, HENRY
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, 23-24 May 1944. Entered service at: Scobey, Mont. Born: 9 October 1918, Clinton, Okla. G.O. No.: 83, 27 October 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On 23 May 1944, at 12 noon, Pfc. (now T/Sgt.) Schauer left the cover of a ditch to engage 4 German snipers who opened fire on the patrol from its rear. Standing erect he walked deliberately 30 yards toward the enemy, stopped amid the fire from 4 rifles centered on him, and with 4 bursts from his BAR, each at a different range, killed all of the snipers. Catching sight of a fifth sniper waiting for the patrol behind a house chimney, Pfc. Schauer brought him down with another burst. Shortly after, when a heavy enemy artillery concentration and 2 machineguns temporarily halted the patrol, Pfc. Schauer again left cover to engage the enemy weapons single-handed. While shells exploded within 15 yards, showering dirt over him, and strings of grazing German tracer bullets whipped past him at chest level, Pfc. Schauer knelt, killed the 2 gunners of the machinegun only 60 yards from him with a single burst from his BAR, and crumpled 2 other enemy soldiers who ran to man the gun. Inserting a fresh magazine in his BAR, Pfc. Schauer shifted his body to fire at the other weapon 500 yards distant and emptied his weapon into the enemy crew, killing all 4 Germans. Next morning, when shells from a German Mark VI tank and a machinegun only 100 yards distant again forced the patrol to seek cover, Pfc. Schauer crawled toward the enemy machinegun. stood upright only 80 yards from the weapon as its bullets cut the surrounding ground, and 4 tank shells fired directly at him burst within 20 yards. Raising his BAR to his shoulder, Pfc. Schauer killed the 4 members of the German machinegun crew with 1 burst of fire.
BONDSTEEL, JAMES LEROY
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 2d Battalion, 2d Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and date: An Loc Province, Republic of Vietnam, 24 May 1969. Entered service at: Detroit, Mich. Born: 18 July 1947, Jackson, Mich. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Bondsteel distinguished himself while serving as a platoon sergeant with Company A, near the village of Lang Sau. Company A was directed to assist a friendly unit which was endangered by intense fire from a North Vietnamese Battalion located in a heavily fortified base camp. S/Sgt. Bondsteel quickly organized the men of his platoon into effective combat teams and spearheaded the attack by destroying 4 enemy occupied bunkers. He then raced some 200 meters under heavy enemy fire to reach an adjoining platoon which had begun to falter. After rallying this unit and assisting their wounded, S/Sgt. Bondsteel returned to his own sector with critically needed munitions. Without pausing he moved to the forefront and destroyed 4 enemy occupied bunkers and a machine gun which had threatened his advancing platoon. Although painfully wounded by an enemy grenade, S/Sgt. Bondsteel refused medical attention and continued his assault by neutralizing 2 more enemy bunkers nearby. While searching one of these emplacements S/Sgt. Bondsteel narrowly escaped death when an enemy soldier detonated a grenade at close range. Shortly thereafter, he ran to the aid of a severely wounded officer and struck down an enemy soldier who was threatening the officer's life. S/Sgt. Bondsteel then continued to rally his men and led them through the entrenched enemy until his company was relieved. His exemplary leadership and great personal courage throughout the 4-hour battle ensured the success of his own and nearby units, and resulted in the saving of numerous lives of his fellow soldiers. By individual acts of bravery he destroyed 10 enemy bunkers and accounted for a large toll of the enemy, including 2 key enemy commanders. His extraordinary heroism at the risk of his life was in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
ROCCO, LOUIS R.
Rank and organization: Warrant Officer (then Sergeant First Class), U.S. Army, Advisory Team 162, U.S. Military Assistance Command. Place and date: Northeast of Katum, Republic of Vietnam, 24 May 1970. Entered service at: Los Angeles, Calif. Born: 19 November 1938, Albuquerque, N. Mex. Citation: WO Rocco distinguished himself when he volunteered to accompany a medical evacuation team on an urgent mission to evacuate 8 critically wounded Army of the Republic of Vietnam personnel. As the helicopter approached the landing zone, it became the target for intense enemy automatic weapons fire. Disregarding his own safety, WO Rocco identified and placed accurate suppressive fire on the enemy positions as the aircraft descended toward the landing zone. Sustaining major damage from the enemy fire, the aircraft was forced to crash land, causing WO Rocco to sustain a fractured wrist and hip and a severely bruised back. Ignoring his injuries, he extracted the survivors from the burning wreckage, sustaining burns to his own body. Despite intense enemy fire, WO Rocco carried each unconscious man across approximately 20 meters of exposed terrain to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam perimeter. On each trip, his severely burned hands and broken wrist caused excruciating pain, but the lives of the unconscious crash survivors were more important than his personal discomfort, and he continued his rescue efforts. Once inside the friendly position, WO Rocco helped administer first aid to his wounded comrades until his wounds and burns caused him to collapse and lose consciousness. His bravery under fire and intense devotion to duty were directly responsible for saving 3 of his fellow soldiers from certain death. His unparalleled bravery in the face of enemy fire, his complete disregard for his own pain and injuries, and his performance were far above and beyond the call of duty and were in keeping with the highest traditions of self-sacrifice and courage of the military service.
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FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR MAY 24 THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
1912: Paul Peck set a new unofficial American duration record of 4 hours 23 minutes 15 seconds in his airplane, Miss Columbia, at Mineola. (24) 1917: French Premier Ribot asked the US to furnish 5,000 pilots, 50,000 mechanics, and 4,500 planes for active service by mid-1918. (24)
1922: Routine operation of catapults aboard ship started when Lt Andrew C. McFall, with Lt D.C. Ramsey as passenger, successfully launched a VE-7 from the USS Maryland, off Yorktown, Va. They used a compressed air catapult. With the installation of catapults on other battleships and then cruisers, the Navy gained the ability to operate aircraft from existing capital ships. Techniques were thus developed to support conventional surface forces, particularly in spotting for ships guns. The Navy also experimented with aerial tactics that would be later developed by carrier aviation. Perhaps more importantly, aircraft capabilities and limitations were demonstrated to the officers and men throughout the Navy.
1927. Because of an attempted prison break at Folsom Prison, two aircraft from the California National Guard's 115th Observation Squadron, armed with machine guns, were sent to Sacramento to stand by for possible use. But, no prisoners escaped and the aircraft returned to their home station at Griffith Park in Los Angeles. (32)
1948: Jacqueline Cochran set a world speed record of 432 MPH for propeller-driven planes over a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) closed circuit course. (24)
1951: KOREAN WAR. Flying F-84Es belonging to the 27 FEW, pilots of the Air National Guard's 136 FBW saw their first combat action. (28) (32)
1954: Martin Viking XI, a single-stage rocket, set a 158-mile altitude record (834,240 feet) and attained 4,300 MPH at White Sands Proving Ground. (24)
1960: Midas II, an infrared scanning satellite for early warning of missile launches, launched on an Atlas-Agena A rocket into an orbit expected to last 40 months. On 26 May, its telemetry system failed.
1961: Lt Richard F. Gordon Jr. and Lt Bobbie R. Young (USN) flew an F4H-1 from Los Angeles to New York. They covered the 2,421.4 miles in 2 hours 47 minutes 19.75 seconds by flying 869.73 MPH. They won the Bendix Trophy Race. (9) (24)
1962: Lt Cmdr Scott Carpenter (USN) became the second American to orbit the earth in his Mercury spacecraft, Aurora 7. He made three successful orbits and landed in the Atlantic 300 miles east of the planned landing zone. (16) (24)
1963: A Titan II launched from Cape Canaveral made a 6,500-mile flight down the Atlantic Missile Range and dropped the largest nose cone ever carried within one mile of the target. The Air Force decided to phaseout Atlas D, Atlas E, and Titan I missiles between 1965 and 1968. (6) From Vandenberg AFB, the first successful Minuteman I (Model B) launch occurred. (6)
1968: First satellite telephone link between the US and Australia began with the opening of earth station at Moree, Australia. 1972: President Nixon and USSR Premier Aleksei N. Kosygin in Moscow signed an Agreement Concerning Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes.
1994: The C-17 Globemaster flew across the Atlantic for the first time. (16)
1996: The Air Force decided to upgrade the original B-2 flight test vehicle (AV-1) to operational status and thus bring the operational B-2 fleet to 21 aircraft. The upgrade included new landing gear, a new avionics suite and modifications to the aircraft structure, fuel system and weapons bay doors. (AFNEWS Article 960500, May 96)
2007: A C-17 Globemaster III deployed to Southwest Asia made the first combat airdrop using the Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) with a screamer steerable GPS-guided container delivery system. The C-17 conducted airdrops in two locations, using two different delivery systems, to deliver food, water and ammunition to U.S. forces in two remote locations in Afghanistan. The aircraft first delivered 21,000 pounds of supplies using 14 of the JPADS steerable screamer chutes, and then it resupplied a different group of ground forces with 8,000 pounds of supplies using six Improved Container Delivery System bundles. (AFNEWS, "C-17 Employs Screamer in Combat Air Drop,".)
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Thanks to Brett
On This Day in Air Force History, May 24th
May 24
We published this last November but today you will have an opportunity to bid on a very special "Book in the Box." See details following today's post.
KNOW THE PAST…
The Brief History of the Air Force Song
Listen to a rousing pre-2020 rendition here!
The effort to create the Army Air Corps song dates to the end of World War I. But it was not until 1937, thanks largely to the efforts of Major General Oscar "Tubby" Westover (encouraged by his Deputy, BG Hap Arnold), the idea of holding a service song contest gained traction. After a few failed efforts. Westover convinced the editors at Liberty Magazine to call for submissions for a tune and words to be submitted to an official "Song Committee" for evaluation. By April 1939, the Army Air Corps Song Committee, headed by Mildred A. Yount, had received roughly 500 entries—more than 700 by the end of the contest. But none of them "caught the spirit of the Air Corps." By May 1939, the Army Air Corps Song Committee's search for a winning entry was growing bleak.
On June 28, 1939, two days before the Army Air Corps Song Committee's competition deadline, Robert M. Crawford arrived at the committee's door in Washington, DC, in the hopes of singing his entry, which was then titled "What Do You Think of the Air Corps Now?" Crawford –a Julliard-trained musician—sat at the piano and performed his song. And left a recording for members of the committee to review. Yount knew that Crawford really had something. As the committee went through each entry, not one song caught their attention until Crawford's song was played. According to Yount, the committee's reaction was "electric," causing them to immediately sit up and stare at each other. Everyone on the committee agreed that Crawford's song needed to be included as a finalist. Rudolph Ganz, who was serving as a guest conductor in the National Symphony Orchestra, could not get Crawford's song out of his head and suggested to Yount that she not even "bother having the others recorded." Crawford, according to Ganz, was the winner.
On August 19th, recently promoted Major General Arnold "confidentially" informed Crawford he was the contest winner. The formal announcement of the adoption of Crawford's song appeared in the 1 September 1939 edition of the Army Air Corps Newsletter. The next day publicly performed the song for the first time at the Aviation Ball held in Cleveland, Ohio. The day after, he sang the song at the Cleveland Air Races with 20,000 in attendance. The song committee flew Crawford from Army Airfield to Army Airfield, assemble the service members stationed there, and instruct them in singing the song. Crawford was only able to make a handful of stops before being grounded. As it turns out, assembling service members and requiring them to sing a song, all in the name of Army Air Corps' publicity, was not as popular as some thought it might be.
But the song's popularity grew and by the summer of 1942, the Army Air Corps Song was ranked 8th in the New York edition of Variety's 15 best sheet music sellers' list. From August 1942 through January 1943, the Army Air Corps Song was a top 10 radio network song, resulting in more than 515,000 copies of the song's sheet music being sold by June 1943. The lyrics remained unchanged until 2020, when USAF Chief of Staff General David L. Goldfein, directed that the lyrics be updated to reflect the central role that women have played in the service's long history.
Robert Crawford at the Piano
Edited from an article by Patrick J. Charles (USAF/HRA); The History of the Air Force Song (af.mil)
…SHAPE THE FUTURE
The Origins of the U.S. Space Force Song
Listen to the song here:
The U.S. Space Force, the newest military branch established in 2019, has officially adopted its own song. The Space Force song, titled "Semper Supra" was unveiled during the 2022 Air & Space Forces Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Sept. 20, 2022.
"Semper Supra" is translated from Latin as "Always Above." It was created to capture the esprit de corps of both current and future Guardians and intends to bring together service members by giving them a sense of pride. A former service member and current member of the Coast Guard collaborated to create the Space Force song, a process that took extensive research and dozens of revisions.
"The song was a long work in progress because I wanted it to encompass all the capabilities that the Space Force offers and its vision," said James Teachenor, visionary Nashville composer and driving force behind the song's creation. Teachenor, a prior member of the U.S. Air Force band at the Air Force Academy, worked with Chief of Space Operations, Gen. Jay Raymond, to begin the songwriting process in 2019. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to establish a Space Force song that will be part of our culture and heritage for years to come," Raymond said. "Our traditions are part of the fabric that weave us all together as we execute our missions side-by-side; I will be proud to sing 'Semper Supra' alongside my fellow Guardians."
Teachenor's composition was circulated to various military bands to offer finishing touches and complete the song's signature sound. Teachenor then collaborated with chief musician Sean Nelson, U.S. Coast Guard Band trombonist and staff arranger. "I received the melody and words from James, and he wanted me to help add the harmony and to orchestrate it," said Nelson. "At first, it started with singing and the piano. I became familiar with the other branches' songs, but I wanted this one to have its own modern spin to reflect what the Space Force is—modern, new and very advanced." Once Nelson completed the instrumentation, the arrangement was recorded by the USCG band, then submitted to the Space Force for review. After months of development, revisions and variations the Space Force selected the final version of "Semper Supra" to capture what it means to be a Guardian. Teachenor and Nelson gifted the Space Force song "Semper Supra" to the Department of the Air Force, along with the copyright in its lyrics and music. The Department of the Air Force is the exclusive owner of the copyright for "Semper Supra."
Teachenor is a multi-platinum singer/songwriter and producer who has had songs recorded by many mainstream country music artists. As an artist, he has contributed to several top 10 albums, and in 2010, Jamie released the single, "Never Gonna Stand for This," as Teachenor Clark. In the summer of 2015, Jamie held the position as lead vocalist for the United States Air Force Academy Band's Wild Blue Country.
Nelson plays trombone in the U.S. Coast Guard Band and the U.S. Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band. In addition, he is staff arranger for the concert band and music director and lead trombonist for the Guardians Big Band.
[EDITOR's NOTE: This was written with information gathered from Space Force and Air Force press releases, and the Coast Guard website.]
BOOK IN THE BOX AUCTION begins now and ends at 2 PM tomorrow.
WILD BLUE YONDER: Songs of the Air Force (first edition)
With an introduction by James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle
This volume is autographed by the Editor, C.W. "Bill" Getz, and Gen. Jimmy Doolittle.
(This donation opportunity is made possible by the generosity of our Foundation President)
Email your bid to afhfdonorauction@afhistory.org.
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