To All,
Good Thursday Morning May 25 2023.
I hope that you all are having a good week.
I need to dig out my parachute bag full of flight gear and lube up the zippers so I can get in and out of it for Sunday on the USS Midway. That bag of flight gear gets heavier every year. They have their Meet the Aviators Day and it is great fun to see many of the Bubbas there. Last year I got there early and the flight deck was almost empty of people and as I walked up to the bow and looked back I realized that 50 years prior I was flying from that flight deck during The ships 11 1/'2 month deployment to Vietnam and we still had over 8 months to go.
Regards,
Skip
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This day in Naval and Marine Corps History May 25
1911
USS Wyoming (BB 32) launches. She is commissioned in Sept. 25, 1912 and later participates in the Veracruz Intervention and World War I.
1943
Patrol bombers from (VP 84) sink German submarine U 467 south-southeast of Iceland.
1944
USS Flying Fish (SS 229) attacks a Japanese convoy and sinks guardboat Daito Maru and freighter Osaka Maru north of Palau.
1952
USS Iowa (BB 61) begins shelling industrial and rail centers at Chongjin, Korea. For her Korean War service, she receives two battle stars. USS Iowa is decommissioned in 1990 and is struck from the Navys list in 2006. Iowa is currently a museum ship.
1973
Skylab 2, the first U.S. manned orbiting space station, launches with all-Navy crew: Capt. Charles Conrad, Jr., Cmdr. Paul J. Weitz and Cmdr. Joseph P. Kerwin.
1985
USS Alabama (SN 731) is commissioned at Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Today in World History May 25
0585 Thales of Greece makes the first known prediction of a solar eclipse.
1085 Alfonso VI takes Toledo, Spain from the Muslims.
1787 The Constitutional convention opens at Philadelphia with George Washington presiding.
1810 Argentina declares independence from Napoleonic Spain.
1851 Jose Justo de Urquiza of Argentina leads a rebellion against Juan Manuel de Rosas, his former ally.
1911 Porfirio Diaz, President of Mexico, resigns his office.
1914 The British House of Commons passes Irish Home Rule.
1925 John Scopes is indicted for teaching Darwinian theory in school.
1935 Jesse Owens sets six world records in less than an hour in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
1946 Jordan gains independence from Britain.
1953 The first atomic cannon is fired in Nevada
1977 "Star Wars" opens in theaters
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
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 Thursday, 25 May 2023… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 25 May 1968…
Clifford: "I don't think we can win the war with military means."
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.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Thanks to Phil
Click the military.com below to see the story
Remembering these heroes. Phil
Vietnam War POWs Gather, Remember at Nixon Library Reunion
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Thanks to Jerry
Hi Skip,
Here is an excerpt from a letter from Peter Mersky's with my corrections to his original and comments for his book :
------------------------------------------------------------
"VF-24 and VF-211 were also aboard CV-19, flying F-8Js, refurbished F-8Es.
These last remaining F-8 squadrons were on escort duty as well as strike, and flak and SAM site suppression details, but always, the Crusader pilots hoped for a vector to a MIG. On May 23, 1972, Lt. Jerry Tucker got his chance. Along with LCDR. Frank Bachman, the two aviators had been flying TARCAP for an Alpha strike near the "Hourglass" an area south of Nam Dinh named for the shape of two north-south rivers. The ALPHA strike had completed their mission and were "feet wet" leaving Bachman and Tucker with time before the next recovery so they checked-in with RED CROWN and offered their services. When they arrived on the frequency they heard two "Rock River" F-4s on a vector for a MIG bogie heading south from "Bullseye", the code name for Hanoi. They both perked up when they heard two VF-161 Phantoms had lost sight of each other on the vector and set up a rendezvous circle to rejoin before continuing on the vector toward the MIG.
Tucker informed Red Crown that his section was ready to go and he could see his wingman. Red Crown called off the Phantoms and sent the Crusaders toward the MIG. Heading north, Bachman and Tucker spotted the MiG-17 north of them and maneuvered for the intercept. Lt. Tucker had the lead because he had the enemy fighter in sight. It was low, heading south and really moving. As he began his turn behind the MIG Tucker's AIM-9D Sidewinder began to growl, indicating the missile's seeker head was "sniffing" its quarry. Suddenly, the MIG's canopy flew off, followed by the ejecting pilot. Tucker watched incredulously as his "kill" floated down under a white parachute. The frustrated Crusader pilot made two passes by the understandably nervous North Vietnamese pilot, whose head turned to follow the American fighter as it flashed past him.
Unfortunately, the Navy denied credit for the kill because the bogey had not been confirmed as a MIG until several weeks later, and neither pilot had fired at it. The Hancock was credited with a kill after it was identified as a MIG, leaving those concerned, as well as historians, to argue the point for posterity. One of the aspects of the "engagement" has long been whether the MIG pilot punched out when he found his opponents were F-8s instead of F-4s. Of course, Crusader drivers will say that his reaction was understandable given the potent reputation of the F-8. As Lt. Tucker points out, however, only that MIG pilot knows for sure, and he has long since faded into the security of anonymity."
I added the following in my response:
"Peter,
I changed the location and headings of the planes as well as the missile used. We had AIM-9Ds at that time. The AIM-9L didn't go into full production until 1977.
I'm sorry but I can't remember what the ALPHA strike target was that day.
We (meaning me) didn't document that. We usually flew two ALPHAs a day at this time in the war as TARCAP or MIGCAP. This day it was as TARCAP.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jerry
We lost Frank Bachman this year so any mention of him in your work might make his family feel a little better. Frank was a Great guy.
Jerry"
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This is a couple of days worth of Eye Candy from Billy via Dr. Rich
Since I can not easily get pictures through the List to you I got the URL of the site and it has many pictures and videos available See it below
this museum has over 400 aircraft on display, along with artifacts and collections of our space exploration efforts. You can see most of the displays at: https://pimaair.org/.
Thanks to Billy ...
From Dave Verret — In memory of Honorary Captain Dave DeBace.
I have three specific reasons for picking today's pictures. They are from the Pima Air & Space Museum over in Tucson.
Reason # 1, this museum has over 400 aircraft on display, along with artifacts and collections of our space exploration efforts. You can see most of the displays at: https://pimaair.org/.
Reason # 2 - this museum is only about 2 hours away from our house, and you're invited to visit/stay with us any time you should be in the Mesa, AZ area for business or fun.
Reason # 3, after a day of looking at airplanes, we just HAVE to make a stop at the VERY BEST steak house, ever. It's only 20 min from the Air & Space Museum. It's called Daisy Mae's Steakhouse:
So we can make a day of it! Feel invited.
Now, let's see some airplanes:
********************
FLIGHT FACTS:
The strength of the turbulence is directly proportional to the temperature of your coffee.--- Gunter's Second Law of Air Travel
The three worst things to hear in the cockpit:
1.. The crew chief says, "Oooops!"
2.. The co-pilot says, "I have an idea!"
3.. The A/C says, "Hey, watch this!"
Lady, you want me to answer you if this old airplane is safe to fly?
Just how in the world do you think it got to be this old?
"Both optimists and pessimists contribute to the society. The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute."--- George Bernard Shaw
When asked why he was referred to as 'Ace': "Because during World War Two, I was responsible for the destruction of six aircraft, fortunately three were enemy." - Captain Ray Lancaster, USAAF.
If helicopters are so safe, how come there is no vintage/classic helicopter fly-ins? - Anonymous
Death is just nature's way of telling you to watch your airspeed. - Anonymous
"When it comes to testing new aircraft or determining maximum performance, pilots like to talk about "pushing the envelope." They're talking about a two dimensional model: the bottom is zero altitude, the ground; the left is zero speed; the top is max altitude; and the right, maximum velocity, of course. So, the pilots are pushing that upper-right-hand corner of the envelope. What everybody tries not to dwell on is that that's where the postage gets canceled, too."--- Admiral Rick Hunter, U.S. Navy.
"It only takes five years to go from rumor to standard operating procedure." - Dick Markgraf
"Real planes use only a single stick to fly. This is why bulldozers & helicopters -- in that order -- need two." --- Paul Slattery
"I've flown every seat on this airplane, can someone tell me why the other one is always occupied by an idiot?" --- Don Taylor
***********************************
And some funny aviation quotes:
There are only three things the copilot should ever say:
1. Nice landing, Sir.
2. I'll buy the first round.
3. I'll take the ugly one.
As a new copilot on a bomber I was told to say these three things and to otherwise keep my mouth shut and not touch anything:
1. Clear on the right.
2. Outer (marker) on the double (indicator)
3. I'll eat the chicken. (Crew meals consisted of one steak and one chicken to avoid possible food poisoning of the cockpit crew).
As an aviator in flight you can do anything you want... As long as it's right... And we'll let you know if it's right after you get down.
You can't fly forever without getting killed.
As a pilot only two bad things can happen to you and one of them will.
a. One day you will walk out to the aircraft knowing that it is your last flight in an airplane..
b. One day you will walk out to the airplane not knowing that it is your last flight in an airplane..
Any flight over water in a single engine airplane will absolutely guarantee abnormal engine noises and vibrations.
There are Rules and there are Laws. The Rules are made by men who think that they know better how to fly your airplane than you. Laws (of Physics) were made by the Great One. You can, and sometimes should, suspend the Rules but you can never suspend the Laws.
More about Rules:
a. The rules are a good place to hide if you don't have a better idea and the talent to execute it.
b. If you deviate from a rule, it must be a flawless performance.
(e.g., If you fly under a bridge, don't hit the bridge.)
The ideal pilot is the perfect blend of discipline and aggressiveness.
About check rides:
a. The only real objective of a check ride is to complete it and get the pompous jerk out of your airplane.
b. It has never occurred to any flight examiner that the examinee couldn't care less what the examiner's opinion of his flying ability really is.
Blue Skies & Tailwinds….
Sent from the apex of a Stearman loop
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Thanks to Brett
Keeping the future in focus
Daily Memo: At G-7 Summit, Containment of China Goes Global
The advanced economies delivered their most detailed articulation yet of a shared position on Beijing.
By: Antonia, Colibasanu
May 25, 2023
The leaders of the G-7 countries met last week in Hiroshima for their annual summit. The club includes the West's most advanced economies (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as high-level representatives from the European Union). However, this year the group also invited the leaders of Australia, Brazil, Comoros (current chair of the African Union), the Cook Islands (chair of the Pacific Islands Forum), India (G-20 leader this year), Indonesia (chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), South Korea and Vietnam. The attendance of Brazilian and Indian officials was particularly important, since both countries are members of the BRICS group – which also includes Russia, China and South Africa and aspires to rival or even supplant the dominant Western powers.
The G-7 leaders announced new sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, targeting Russia's defense industry, technology, and metals and mining sectors. The EU is also preparing its own new batch of sanctions. But the significance of this summit went way beyond the expanded list of attendees or the new sanctions. In the group's joint communique, the G-7 pledged to increase coordination on economic security and delivered their most detailed articulation yet of a shared position on China. They stressed the need to cooperate with the world's second-largest economy where possible, but also to counter Beijing's "malign practices" and coercion. This underlines the long-term concern of the G-7, as well as some emerging powers like India, about China's growing influence in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.
Global Infrastructure
To reduce their overreliance on China, Western governments are encouraging firms to relocate their operations at home (reshoring), nearby (nearshoring) or to friendly countries (friendshoring). However, relocating production won't go far enough if China still controls or shapes access to key resources such as rare-earth elements.
Therefore, the U.S. is building the global economic infrastructure necessary to ensure its own economic security and support its allies. The U.S. program is called the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, and together with the EU's Global Gateway initiative it is the West's answer to China's Belt and Road Initiative. The programs are intended to support and grow Western business in emerging markets, in addition to securing alternative supply chains to deprive Beijing of a stranglehold on key resources or technologies.
In the short term, the endeavor also counters Russia's economic warfare against Europe and its strategy of building new trade and investment corridors to help it circumvent Western sanctions. For example, during the Hiroshima summit, the Export-Import Bank of the United States expressed interest in a $99 million investment in Romania's RoPower Nuclear S.A. to support design studies. This would build on previous U.S. government support for the development of Romania's first-of-its-kind small modular reactor plant, which uses U.S. technology and engineering and construction services. EXIM and the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. also said they were interested in offering billions of dollars to support the project's deployment. When completed, the new plant will support European energy independence, depriving Moscow of important leverage.
In Africa, the United States is looking to invest in a rail expansion, part of the Lobito Corridor, that would connect the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia with global markets via Angola. The investment would supplement other investments and pledges from U.S. and European consortiums, in addition to support from the African Development Fund. Eventually, the Lobito Corridor could connect Angola's Lobito port on the Atlantic with Tanzania on the Indian Ocean, enabling multisector development and connecting cobalt and lithium mining sites in the region. At the same time, the U.S. announced $1.6 billion in funding for energy and digital infrastructure development in Angola, Tanzania and Sierra Leone.
These investments will not only improve U.S. and European businesses' access to Africa, but they will also make the recipient countries less likely to fall further under the influence of Russia or China. The war in Ukraine adds urgency for the West to win over the Global South, which Russia is also courting to serve as an alternative market. The long-term U.S. goal, however, is to make certain that China doesn't grow powerful enough to challenge U.S. hegemony.
The Asia-Pacific Focus
Nowhere is this more important for Washington than in the Asia-Pacific region. On the sidelines of the G-7 summit, the leaders of the Quad security grouping (Australia, India, Japan and the U.S.) were able to meet. (Though a formal Quad summit was supposed to take place this week in Sydney, it was canceled so U.S. President Joe Biden could return home and tackle the debt ceiling debate.) Also present was the U.K., which is following through on its strategic "tilt to Asia," part of its 2021 Global Britain strategy. The Quad is regarded as the most important security partnership to prevent China from achieving regional dominance. Each Quad member has its own priorities and limitations, but they share the goal of containing China's own strategic ambitions. To do so, they will need to be willing, both individually and collectively, to counter and deter Beijing in the economic realm.
Current U.S. strategy also entails democracy promotion and equipping smaller Pacific states with the means to deter unofficial coercion by Chinese maritime forces. To that end, the U.S. struck 20-year extensions of its Compact of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau. The deals come with $4.1 billion in assistance for the countries in the coming decades. The U.S. also signed a new maritime and security agreement with Papua New Guinea that will support PNG's defense capabilities and provide $45 million to help mitigate the effects of climate change, fight transnational crime and improve public health. Last but not least, the U.S. and Taiwan agreed last week on the first stage of a bilateral trade deal, less than a year after negotiations began, demonstrating their increasingly close ties.
In another sideline discussion, the U.S. and Australia agreed to ramp up cooperation on critical minerals, noting that climate and clean energy are a centerpiece of their alliance. Washington and Canberra are setting up a series of working groups, including a ministerial-level task force on critical minerals and another group aimed at crafting an action plan for stronger industrial collaboration. According to a statement, such moves are intended not only to "streamline technological and industrial base collaboration" but also to accelerate and strengthen implementation of the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (Aukus) security pact.
Australia shares the U.S. desire to keep regional countries from drifting entirely into China's orbit. Canberra sees the Quad as a rival to Beijing's efforts to reshape global governance to better suit China's interests. Australia wants to deliver regional security through initiatives focused on health, clean energy, regional connectivity and maritime domain awareness – all areas that affect governance. Therefore, Australia is setting aside $1.9 billion to strengthen relationships in the Pacific.
The United Kingdom, meanwhile, aspires to grow its trade in the Asia-Pacific, especially now that its departure from the EU has erected new trade barriers with Europe. The U.K. also has an interest in developing its diplomatic partnerships in the region, not only for its own benefit but also to strengthen its strategic alliance with a China-focused Washington. London's strategic policy documents describe Chinese strategic investments in the Indo-Pacific, as well as in Africa, the Middle East and Europe, as a security risk.
This is the framework within which to consider last week's signing of the Hiroshima Accord between the U.K. and Japan. The agreement, which includes collaboration on security and innovation, was preceded by several public and private bilateral investment pledges. Japanese corporations have committed to invest 17.7 billion pounds ($21.9 billion) in British energy and real estate projects. Octopus Energy's 1.5 billion-pound expansion across the Asia-Pacific region was the standout statement from the British business sector. The governments also agreed to cooperate in the semiconductor sector and to collaborate on research and development and skills exchange. While meant to ensure the resilience of British supply chains, the Hiroshima Accord fits with the broader Western framework to counter Russia and China.
Meanwhile, this year's G-7 host, Japan, has steadily increased its defense spending in recent years as part of a new focus on security. Last December, the government released three new security documents, including the Defense Buildup Plan, a five-year strategy to substantially boost the country's defense capabilities. The plan, which will cost some $316 billion to implement, signaled growing worries regarding China and global security. In March, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida paid an unexpected visit to Ukraine that coincided with Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow.
Key to Japan's efforts to revamp its security strategy is strengthening ties with its allies, including of course its Quad partners. The government said $75 billion will be invested in infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region by 2030, using public and private funding, loans and other mechanisms. Tokyo also announced it would launch a new framework to attract investments and support young entrepreneurs in the region, as part of changes to the country's Official Development Assistance charter.
On a recent visit to India, Kishida expressed his hope that the Quad would serve as a bridge to the Global South and a tool to forge relations with like-minded countries. Relatedly, Japan said last year that it was preparing to enter preliminary consultations with the Philippines on a "reciprocal access agreement" – similar to the Philippines' Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States – that will boost defense cooperation. Japan also has an RAA with Australia.
India is a key part of the Global South with which Japan hopes to collaborate on infrastructure development, marine security and disaster relief. New Delhi, which took over the G-20 presidency late last year, likely has the most complicated relationship with the Quad of the four members. The grouping's resurgence in 2017 and subsequent progress were directly tied to escalating border tensions between India and China. They also coincided with shifts in relations between the U.S. and China. This resulted in the first strategic alignment between New Delhi and Washington on China, and Asia more broadly, since World War II.
However, some see India as the "weak link" in the Quad because of its unwillingness to join the West in denouncing Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its opposition to elevating the grouping to a formal security alliance. It should be kept in mind, however, that the Quad is not a formal partnership. Unlike Australia and Japan, India is not a treaty ally of the United States. Washington has essentially acknowledged as much by not criticizing India too harshly for continuing to do business with Russia. While Moscow poses the most immediate threat to the West, the U.S. recognizes that China presents a bigger and longer-term challenge, which India's support is crucial to addressing.
Considering China's efforts to mobilize anti-Western sentiments, India's membership in the Quad gives the grouping considerable political weight among other members of the Global South. Relatedly, India pledged last week to expand trade and investment relations with Fiji and Papua New Guinea. To be sure, New Delhi has been wary of getting too cozy with its Quad partners due to its long-standing nonalignment policy. Still, since the alliance has resumed its activities, India has grown closer to the U.S. and its Asian allies than ever before. Though it's opposed to the Quad becoming a military alliance, it has considerably strengthened bilateral defense cooperation with each of the forum's other members. This ultimately gets India closer to the multinational network the U.S. is building to counter Russian influence and, in the longer term, to contain China.
The democracies in the region, as well as major developed countries, have made significant strides in forging greater cooperation, especially on economic matters. The platforms through which they intersect are less important than the degree to which these countries have cemented their ties in recent years. While the U.S. is a common denominator in all these alliances, it's the willingness of the other nations to participate, based on their own self-interests, that keeps them going.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This Day In American Military History May 25
1864 – Boat crew from U.S.S. Mattabesett, Captain M. Smith, made an unsuccessful attempt to destroy C.S.S. Albemarle in the Roanoke River near Plymouth, North Carolina. After ascending the Middle River with two 100-pound torpedoes, Charles Baldwin, coal heaver, and John W. Lloyd, coxswain, swam across the Roanoke carrying a towline with which they hauled the torpedoes to the Plymouth shore. Baldwin planned to swim down to the ram and position a torpedo on either side of her bow. Across the river, Alexander Crawford, fireman, would then explode the weapons. However, Baldwin was discovered by a sentry when within a few yards of Albemarle and the daring mission had to be abandoned. John Lloyd cut the guidelines and swam back across the river to join John Laverty, fireman, who was guarding the far shore. They made their way to the dinghy in which they had rowed upriver and, with Benjamin Lloyd, coal heaver, who had acted as boatkeeper, made their way back to the Mattabesett. On 29 May Baldwin and Crawford, exhausted, returned to the ship.
1945 – On Okinawa, the US 4th Marine Regiment eliminates the Japanese casemates and underground positions on Machishi Hill. The US 29th Regiment secures Naha.
1961 – President Kennedy asked the nation to work toward putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
1973 – Launch of Skylab 2 mission, which was first U.S. manned orbiting space station. It had an all Navy crew of CAPT Charles Conrad, Jr., USN. (commanding), CDR Joseph P. Kerwin, USN and CDR Paul J. Weitz, USN. During the 28 day mission of 404 orbits, the craft rendezvoused with Skylab to make repairs and conduct science experiments. Recovery by USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14)
1999 – The US government released a bipartisan congressional report that said China stole design secrets for nuclear warheads that included every weapon in the current US nuclear arsenal. The systematic espionage campaign was dated back to the 1970s. Stolen technology included data on an Army antitank weapon, fighter airplanes and all the elements needed to launch a major nuclear attack. President Clinton responded that his administration was already "moving aggressively to tighten security."
2005 – Voyager 1, the most distant man-made object, has entered the heliosheath and is on the cusp of leaving the Solar System and entering the interstellar medium.
2012 – The Dragon spacecraft became the first commercial spacecraft to successfully rendezvous with the International Space Station.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
Every day when I read all these I am continually amazed at what these men did for their/our country and many at the cost of their own lives. We honor them by remembering them and what they did so it will not be forgotten…..skip
BALDWIN, CHARLES
Rank and organization: Coal Heaver, U.S. Navy. Born: 30 June 1839, Delaware. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864. Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Wyalusing and participating in a plan to destroy the rebel ram Albermarle in Roanoke River, 25 May 1864. Volunteering for the hazardous mission, C.H. Baldwin participated in the transfer of 2 torpedoes across an island swamp. Weighted by a line which was used to transfer the torpedoes, he swam the river and, when challenged by a sentry, was forced to abandon the plan after erasing its detection and before it could be carried to completion. Escaping the fire of the muskets, C.H. Baldwin spent 2 days and nights of hazardous travel without food, and finally arrived, fatigued, at the mother ship.
CRAWFORD, ALEXANDER
Rank and organization: Fireman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1842, Pennsylvania. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864 Citation: On board the U.S.S. Wyalusing, Crawford volunteered 25 May 1864, in a night attempt to destroy the rebel ram Albemarle in the Roanoke River. Taking part in a plan to explode the rebel ram Albemarle, Crawford executed his part in the plan with perfection, but upon being discovered, was forced to abandon the plan and retire leaving no trace of the evidence. After spending two hazardous days and nights without food, he gained the safety of a friendly ship and was then transferred back to the Wyalusing. Though the plan failed his skill and courage in preventing detection were an example of unfailing devotion to duty.
LAFFERTY, JOHN
Rank and organization: Fireman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1842, New York, N.Y. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864. Citation: Served on board the U.S.S. Wyalusing and participated in a plan to destroy the rebel ram Albemarle in Roanoke River, 25 May 1864. Volunteering for the hazardous mission, Lafferty participated in the transfer of two torpedoes across an island swamp and then served as sentry to keep guard of clothes and arms left by other members of the party. After being rejoined by others of the party who had been discovered before the plan could be completed, Lafferty succeeded in returning to the mother ship after spending 24 hours of discomfort in the rain and swamp.
LLOYD, BENJAMIN
Rank and organization: Coal Heaver, U.S. Navy. Born: 1839. England. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864. Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Wyalusing and participating in a plan to destroy the rebel ram Albemarle in Roanoke River, 25 May 1864. Volunteering for the hazardous mission, Lloyd participated in the transfer of two torpedoes across an island swamp. Serving as boatkeeper, he aided in rescuing others of the party who had been detected before the plan could be completed, but who escaped, leaving detection of the plan impossible. By his skill and courage, Lloyd succeeded in returning to the mother ship after spending 24 hours of discomfort in the rain and swamp.
LLOYD, JOHN W.
Rank and organization: Coxswain, U.S. Navy. Born. 1831, New York, N.Y. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864. Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Wyalusing during an attempt to destroy the rebel ram Albemarle in Roanoke River, 25 May 1864, Lloyd participated in this daring plan by swimming the Roanoke River heavily weighted with a line which was used for hauling torpedoes across. Thwarted by discovery just before the completion of the plan, Lloyd cut the torpedo guiding line to prevent detection of the plan by the enemy and again swam the river, narrowly escaping enemy musket fire and regaining the ship in safety.
*ADAMS, WILLIAM E.
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army, A/227th Assault Helicopter Company, 52d Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. Place and Date: Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, 25 May 1971. Entered Service at: Kansas City, Mo. Born: 16 June 1939, Casper, Wyo. Citation: Maj. Adams distinguished himself on 25 May 1971 while serving as a helicopter pilot in Kontum Province in the Republic of Vietnam. On that date, Maj. Adams volunteered to fly a lightly armed helicopter in an attempt to evacuate 3 seriously wounded soldiers from a small fire base which was under attack by a large enemy force. He made the decision with full knowledge that numerous antiaircraft weapons were positioned around the base and that the clear weather would afford the enemy gunners unobstructed view of all routes into the base. As he approached the base, the enemy gunners opened fire with heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms. Undaunted by the fusillade, he continued his approach determined to accomplish the mission. Displaying tremendous courage under fire, he calmly directed the attacks of supporting gunships while maintaining absolute control of the helicopter he was flying. He landed the aircraft at the fire base despite the ever-increasing enemy fire and calmly waited until the wounded soldiers were placed on board. As his aircraft departed from the fire base, it was struck and seriously damaged by enemy anti-aircraft fire and began descending. Flying with exceptional skill, he immediately regained control of the crippled aircraft and attempted a controlled landing. Despite his valiant efforts, the helicopter exploded, overturned, and plummeted to earth amid the hail of enemy fire. Maj. Adams' conspicuous gallantry, intrepidity, and humanitarian regard for his fellow man were in keeping with the most cherished traditions of the military service and reflected utmost credit on him and the U S. Army.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for May 25, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
25 May
1910: Orville and Wilbur Wright flew together for the first time at Dayton. (24)
1927: Lt James H. Doolittle performed the first known successful outside loop. Flying a Curtiss P-1B Hawk pursuit, he began the maneuver in level flight at 10,000 feet (3,048 meters), then pushed the nose down into a dive. When he reached 280 miles per hour (450 kilometers per hour), Doolittle continued to pitch the nose "down" and the airplane flew through a complete vertical circle, with the pilot's head to the outside of the loop.
1931: COLLIER TROPHY. Walter E. Lees and Frederick A. Brossy started a flight that set a non-refueled world endurance record of 85 hours 32 minutes 28 seconds. They used a Packardowned Bellanca "Pacemaker," with a 225 HP diesel engine, at Jacksonville, Fla. For this event, Lees and Brossy earned the 1931 Collier Trophy. (24)
1938: Frank W. Fuller, Jr., in a Seversky, flew from San Francisco to Seattle in a record time of 2 hours 31 minutes 41 seconds. (24)
1948: Using a modified B-29 as the tanker aircraft, the Air Force completed its first in-flight refueling. Prior to this event, Boeing conducted the refueling demonstration program. (See 5 May 1948) (12)
1953: North American test pilot, George "Wheaties" Welsh, flies the YF-100 Super Sabre for the first time and easily breaks Mach 1 during the one-hour sortie. The flight occurs at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB, California. Nearly 2,300 F-100s will be built during its service life.
1954: DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS/HARMON INTERNATIONAL TROPHY. Cmdr M.H. Eppes landed his ZPG-2 airship at NAS Key West after staying aloft for 200.1 hours. Eppes received the DFC and the 1955 Harmon International Trophy for Aeronauts. (24)
1959: The ADC received its first F-106 Delta Dart. It was designed to replace the F-102 Delta Dagger. (21)
1960: Through 21 June, after a series of earthquakes and a tidal wave hit Chile, the MATS sent C-118 and C-124 aircraft to transport 851 tons of cargo and 1,020 passengers for relief operations there. (2) (18)
1962: SAC turned over the last Jupiter IRBM squadron to Turkey. (6)
1964: First conventional flight of the Army's XV-5A, a Ryan-built STOL research aircraft, (formerly the VZ-11) occurred at Edwards AFB. (3)
1973: Skylab 2 (also SL-2 and SLM-1[4]) launched this date. It was the first crewed mission to Skylab, the first American orbital space station. The mission was launched on an Apollo command and service module by a Saturn IB rocket with Astronauts Charles Conrad, Jr., Paul Weitz, and Dr. Joseph Kerwin aboard. On 26 May, the astronauts met with Skylab 1 during the fifth orbit, where they worked in space to repair the space station through 21 June. On 18 June, the astronauts surpassed the endurance record in space set by the Soyuz 11 crew. They returned on 22 June, after 404 orbits of the Earth.
1984: A MAC C-141 flew the body of the Unknown Soldier of the Vietnam War from Travis AFB to Andrews AFB prior to its interment at Arlington National Cemetery. (18)
1993: Through 3 August, NASA demonstrated aerobraking, which used atmospheric drag to slow a spacecraft, to place the Magellan Venus probe into a lower orbit. (20)
1995: Through 26 May, USAF aircraft joined in on NATO attacks against Serbian military bunkers to halt Serb artillery attacks on Sarajevo. (16) (26)
1996: Through 26 May, during Air Fete '96, an annual air show at RAF Station Mildenhall, the first joint MiG-29, F-15C and F-15E formation flyby in aviation history occurred as a featured display. The F-15s came from nearby RAF Lakenheath, while the MiG-29 came from the Slovak Republic for the airshow. (AFNEWS Article 960522, May 96)
1999: The F-117 test force at Edwards AFB completed the Single Configuration Fleet program, which provided a uniform radar absorbing material (RAM) coating for the entire F-117 fleet to significantly reduce costs and maintenance hours. (3)
2007: C-17 Globemaster III crews of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron delivered bullets to Beirut as part of a short notice ammunition re-supply tasking in support of the Lebanese military. (AFNEWS, "Airmen Deliver Strategic Aid to Lebanese Military, 28 May 2007.)
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SkipsList" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to skipslist+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/skipslist/CACTjsm0D_SowxPEr46tkmWiKbZ7p4xscc7jmRMCoxd1TPfBBcg%40mail.gmail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.