To All,
Good Friday morning September 15, 2023
Today September 15, 2023 is National POW-MIA Recognition Day.
At the recent Tailhook 2023 get together in Reno Nevada there was a forum there that brought together four former Vietnam POWs that was recorded. I have permission to provide it here on the list. I personally know three of them and flew with two of them off the USS Midway in 1972 when they were shot down. This should be required viewing for all those that .go in harm's way for their country. BZ Gentleman and welcome Home.
Thanks to Chaser our Tailhook Boss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSWN9-sTvxg
Regards
Skip
Today in Naval and Marine Corps History Thanks to NHHC
September. 15
1942
USS Wasp (CV 7) is torpedoed by a Japanese submarine while operating in the Southwestern Pacific in support of forces on Guadalcanal. USS O'Brien (DD 415) and USS North Carolina (BB 55) are also struck by torpedoes from the same submarine.
1943
USS Saufley (DD 465) and a Catalina Patrol Bomber piloted by Lt. W. J. Geritz from Patrol Squadron Twenty Three (VP 23) sinks the Japanese submarine RO-101 100 miles southeast of San Cristobal, Solomons.
1944
USS Pampanito (SS 383) and USS Sealion (SS 315) rescue 73 British and 54 Australian POWs who survive the loss of Japanese freighter, Rakuyo Maru, after she is sunk by Sealion on Sept. 12, about 300 miles west of Cape Bojeador, Luzon. There had been 1,300 men on board Rakuyo Maru when she is torpedoed.
1950
During the Korean War, after preliminary naval gunfire and air bombardment on Sept. 13, the First and Fifth Marines go ashore for the Inchon Invasion, which includes US Army and Korean forces.
2012
USNS Choctaw County (JHSV 2) is christened and launched at Mobile, Ala. The joint high-speed vessel provides rapid transport of military equipment and personnel in theater.
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Today in WorldHistory: September 15
1588 The Spanish Armada, which attempted to invade England, is destroyed by a British fleet.
1776 The British occupy Manhattan.
1788 An alliance between Britain, Prussia and the Netherlands is ratified at the Hague.
1858 The Butterfield Overland Mail Company begins delivering mail from St. Louis to San Francisco. The company's motto is: "Remember, boys, nothing on God's earth must stop the United States mail!"
1862 Confederates capture Harpers Ferry, securing the rear of Robert E. Lee's forces in Maryland.
1891 The Dalton gang holds up a train and takes $2,500 at Wagoner, Oklahoma.
1914 President Woodrow Wilson orders the Punitive Expedition out of Mexico. The Expedition, headed by General John Pershing, had been searching for Pancho Villa, a Mexican revolutionary.
1916 Armored tanks are introduced by the British during the Battle of the Somme.
1928 Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming discovers, by accident, that the mold penicillin has an antibiotic effect.
1935 In Berlin, the Reich under Adolf Hitler adopts the swastika as the national flag.
1937 Prime Minister of England Neville Chamberlain flies to Germany to discuss the future of Czechoslovakia with Adolf Hitler.
1939 The Polish submarine Orzel arrives in Tallinn, Estonia, after escaping the German invasion of Poland.
1950 U.N. Forces, lead by the U.S. Marine Corps, invade occupied Korea at the port of Inchon. Considered the greatest amphibious attack in history, it is the zenith of General Douglas MacArthur's career.
1959 Nikita Khrushchev becomes first Soviet leader to visit the US.
1961 Hurricane Carla comes ashore in Texas, the second-most powerful ever to make landfall in that state.
1963 Four young African-American girls are killed by the bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama.
1966 US President Lyndon Johnson urges Congress to adopt gun control legislation in the wake of Charles Whitman's sniper attack from the University of Texas's Texas Tower; in all, Whitman shot and killed 15 people before being shot dead himself by an Austin police officer.
1968 The USSR launches Zond 5, which becomes the first spaceship to orbit the moon and reenter Earth's atmosphere.
1971 The environmental group Greenpeace is founded.
1981 Sandra Day O'Connor is unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee to become the first female justice on the US Supreme Court.
1983 Menachem Begin resigns as premier of Israel.
1990 France announces it will send 4,000 troops to join those of other nations assembling in the Persian Gulf to protect Saudi Arabia and force Iraq's dictator Saddam Hussein to withdraw troops from occupied Kuwait.
1998 MCI WorldCom begins operations after a landmark merger between World Com and MCI Communications.
2004 National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announces a lockout of the players union.
2008 The largest Chapter 11 bankruptcy in US history is filed by Lehman Brothers financial services firm.
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear … Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
Skip… For The List for Friday, 15 September 2023…Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 15 September 1968…
American Legion: "Let's go get the Pueblo!"…
Thanks to Micro
From Vietnam Air Losses site for Friday, September 15
September 15th: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=1350
This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear's Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip Vietnam Air Losses Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Listed by last name and has other info https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
MOAA - Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Servicemembers Killed in the Vietnam War
(This site was sent by a friend last week and I forgot to forward. The site works, find anyone you knew in "search" feature. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )
Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
By: Kipp Hanley
AUGUST 15, 2022
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Thanks to Kit…This does bring back some memories. Flying the F-8 from a WWII Essex class carrier now called the 27 Charlie was about half the size of the new carriers and was an entertaining life. skip
I saw this on Quora this morning and thought I would pass it along. Kit
Robert James
Former U.S. Naval Aviator, 153 combat missions. Top Gun at United States Navy (USN) (1964–1975)10mo
Does the pilot do anything after landing on an aircraft carrier?
You bet they do.
Of course it varies a little bit with each aircraft. My experience is a bit dated, but the general idea is still the same.
I flew the F-8 Crusader, a single engine, single seat supersonic fighter. Here was the routine:
At touch down I went to 100% power in case of a bolter. But normally the hook catches a wire and you come to a rather abrupt stop. As soon as the longitudinal g forces allow, you reduce the power to idle. You can do this easily during the final stages of the long roll out on a large carrier but on the 27 Charlie size carriers I operated on, the deceleration is so fierce and the roll out so short that you can't let go of the throttle; otherwise it will slam back to full power.
The airplane quickly comes to a stop and there is a bit hysteresis in the arresting gear system, so the plane will begin rolling backwards. It feels much like being stopped by a gigantic rubber band. At this moment, you touch the left brake just a little bit so that the nose pivots to your right as you are rolling backwards. The distance is only a few feet, but this part is important because if you let the nose pivot to the left, you're pointing toward the port side deck edge. Your goal is to turn the other way; to the right so you can clear the foul line before the next aircraft is on short final.
The wire should drop off the hook and if it does, the taxi director will give you the hook-up signal at which time you raise the hook. He will be standing just over the foul line at about your one o'clock position giving you the taxi ahead signal with some urgency, indicated by how quickly he is moving his hands. You add a big handful of power and that is OK at the moment because your tail pipe is pointed aft. Once you start rolling forward the Yellow Shirt will give you a right turn signal to get you across the foul line as quickly as possible. You reduce power to idle once again because sweeping the deck with your tail pipe when the engine is at high power is a good way to kill someone.
While all this is going on, as you're rolling back in the gear actually, you unlock the wing-fold safety latch and move the handle to fold the wings. If you don't do so immediately, expect the Yellow shirt to give you the wing fold signal because he wants you to be as narrow as possible as soon as possible.
Once the Fly III P.O. (Yellow Shirt) has you clear of the foul line and if the wire has been retracted, they can call for a clear-deck which is something your fellow pilot is hoping will happen very quickly because by now he's on short final. He does NOT want a foul-deck wave off because some dork "shit in the gear", a term meaning that you got hung up in the arresting gear somehow or screwed up by incorrectly performing the procedure I just outlined. Don't be that dork.
Now you get turned over to the Fly II P.O. working the midships area who directs you toward the bow. You will be turned over to a sequence of Yellow Shirts under who's direction you will taxi quickly to the bow. Normally the F-8s parked along the port side forward and if you happen to be the first aboard you can expect some 20 year old youngster to guide you forward while your port main tire is literally a few inches from the deck edge. Don't worry, this guy who is just barely old enough to shave is only a year or two younger than you are but both of you have met the challenge of the huge responsibility given to you by the Navy. This young man, like you, is performing a very dangerous job requiring the utmost precision, dedication, skill, training, and (once in a while) a little bit of bravery.
Since the nose gear of the F-8 is behind the pilot's seat, as you reach the bow, your ass will be literally hanging out over blue water passing under the carrier. At this point the Yellow Shirt gives you a hard right turn signal along with a "hold the right brake" signal so that you pivot about 60 degrees or so. You get the hold brake signal from him and a "chocks in" signal, both given above the waist so you know it's for you. Immediately, he gives the same "chocks in" signal, but this time below his waist so the deck crew tending to your aircraft know it's for them.
A moment after that he gives them the "chains on" signal which looks very much like a football cheer leader fluttering her pom-pons after a touch down. Meanwhile you're getting the "wing down" signal, and the cut engine signal. You shut down the engine, open the canopy, release your harness and leg restraint cords, and exit the airplane using the steps your plane captain, a Brown Shirt, just unfolded out of the side of your airplane. You give him a thumbs up, shout in his ear "Good Aircraft" and work your way aft to the safety of the island. The Yellow Shirt who parked you is now working the airplane which landed behind you and this is now the focus of your attention. It had better be if you want to stay alive. The next minute could be more dangerous than the combat mission from which you just returned unless you're paying particular attention.
The key to not getting killed around these airplanes moving around the deck is to get very close them, which is not the tactic you might imagine. If you can touch the airplane, you can take your eyes off of it for a moment to plan your next move and still keep track of what it's doing. Often you need to cross its path, so if it's an A-4 you duck under the tail pipe staying as close to the airplane as you can. If it's an F-8, your task is more difficult. You can't duck the tail pipe and if you duck the intake you had better do it when the engine is at idle power and the plane is stopped because that maneuver requires you to be very close and just ahead of the nose gear. Or you might be able to dash in front of it if there is enough room to stay well clear of that deadly intake. You sure don't want to be caught behind an F-8 when it is turning in a direction that will put you in the exhaust blast and be knocked down, blown into a turning propeller, or blown over the side. So you have to be careful. Don't count anyone yelling "Watch Out!". It's so noisy that you can't hear anyone so you have to keep your head on a swivel.
With a little careful dodging and maneuvering you finally arrive at the safety of the island and make your way below to your ready room.
That's pretty much it. Done correctly, you don't have to go home to Mom in a rubber bag. No Naval Aviator wants to do that. How embarrassing.
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Thanks to Johnny
Good one courtesy of Susan Knox
A man was looking for a place to sit in a crowded university library.
He asked a girl: "Do you mind if I sit beside you?"
The girl replied, in a loud voice "NO, I DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE NIGHT WITH YOU!"
All the people in the library started staring at the man, who was deeply embarrassed and moved to another table.
After a couple of minutes, the girl walked quietly to the man's table and said with a laugh:
"I study psychology, and I know what a man is thinking; I bet you felt embarrassed, right?
The man responded in a loud voice: "$500 FOR ONE NIGHT?... I`M NOTPAYING YOU THAT MUCH!"
All the people in the library looked at the girl in shock.
The man whispered to her: "I study law, and I know how to screw people".
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Thanks to Interesting Facts
Daily Fact: One of your nostrils is always working harder than the other
People breathe primarily out of one nostril at a time.
The human nose is a biological wonder. It can smell up to 1 trillion odors, trap harmful debris in the air before it enters your lungs, and affect your sex life. But arguably its most important job is to condition the air you breathe before that air enters your respiratory tract. This means warming and humidifying the air before it passes to your throat and beyond. To do this, the nose undergoes a nasal cycle in which one nostril sucks in the majority of the air while the other nostril takes in the remaining portion. A few hours later (on average), the nostrils switch roles. This cycle is regulated by the body's autonomic nervous system, which swells or deflates erectile tissue found in the nose. Although we don't notice this switch throughout the day, if you cover your nostrils with your thumb one at a time, you'll likely observe that air flow through one is significantly higher than in the other. This is also why one nostril tends to be more congested than the other when you have a cold (the nondominant one gets more filled with mucus).
The human nose is unique among primates because of our brains.
IT'S A FACT
Our ancestors' skulls underwent a massive change some 2 million to 3 million years ago. As our brains grew, facial features shrank to make room. Unlike the flush nose of a chimpanzee, our nose likely took its current, protruding shape to give the brain some extra space.
There are a few possible reasons for this nasal back-and-forth. Some scientists theorize that the cycle actually improves our sense of smell. Because scent molecules degrade at differing rates, some smells are easier to identify through fast-moving air (in the dominant nostril), while others are more easily picked out in slower currents of the nondominant, usually more congested, nostril. Very few smells can get past our nose undetected thanks to this alternating nasal superpower.
Numbers Don't Lie
Approximate number of rhinoplasties (aka nose jobs) performed in the U.S. every year
220,000
Year Italian writer Carlo Collodi published "The Adventures of Pinocchio"
1883
Approximate amount of air (in liters) that passes through the human nose every day
20,000
Amount (in feet) of hair that a single nasal follicle will produce in a human life
6.5
The nose with the most sensitive sense of smell in the animal kingdom belongs to the _______.
The nose with the most sensitive sense of smell in the animal kingdom belongs to the African elephant.
THINK TWICE
The size of a human nostril is determined by climate.
Nostrils come in all shapes and sizes, and like most other parts of the human body, that's the result of millions of years of evolution. In 2017, scientists confirmed a long-held theory that climate plays a vital role in determining the size of our nostrils. People whose ancestors hail from warm, humid climates have little need for nostrils to humidify air before it enters the lungs. As a result, their nostrils are wider. But in cold, dry climates — where air easily irritates the lining of the nose and throat — smaller nostrils create a more "turbulent" air flow, causing the air to mix in the nose. This turbulent mixing interacts with the nose's mucus-covered lining, which warms and humidifies the air before it passes to the lungs. Over the long, grinding process of evolution, as humans traveled farther from the equator, smaller nostrils were naturally selected as better-suited for the cold and dry areas of the world.
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Thanks to Brett
Geopolitical Futures:
Keeping the future in focus
https://geopoliticalfutures.com
Daily Memo: European Interest Rates, US-Bahrain Cooperation
Inflation continues to drive monetary policy.
By: GPF Futures
Sept 14, 2023
Another hike. The European Central Bank announced on Thursday its 10th consecutive interest rate increase. The move – a bump of 0.25 percentage points – will bring the main rate on deposits to a record 4 percent in an effort to tamp down inflation, which the bank forecasts will reach 5.6 percent in 2023, 3.2 percent in 2024 and 2.1 percent in 2025.
Closer ties. The U.S. and Bahrain signed a new security and economic cooperation agreement during Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa's visit to Washington. The deal involves coordination on defense, technology, trade and investment. The crown prince called it "the foundation for a new global architecture."
Maduro in Beijing. China and Venezuela agreed to upgrade their bilateral relations to an "all-weather strategic partnership" following Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing. According to Chinese state media, they also signed bilateral cooperation documents relating to the economy, investment, trade and technology.
Footprint in Central Asia. Turkmenistan's deputy foreign minister held talks with the deputy head of China's Agency for International Development and Cooperation. They discussed projects in the oil and gas sector and cooperation on education, health care and cultural exchanges. The two countries are also constructing a fourth natural gas pipeline from Central Asia to China, the completion of which will bring Turkmenistan's annual gas exports to Beijing from 40 billion cubic meters to 65 billion cubic meters.
New base? Bulgaria is planning to construct a base to house NATO troops by 2025, the country's defense minister, Todor Tagarev, told members of the parliament's Defense Committee. The project is estimated to cost at least 50 million euros ($53 million) and accommodate about 1,500 military personnel.
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This Day in U S Military History…….15 September
1944 – Elements of the US 1st Marine Division (Rupertus), part of 3rd Amphibious Corps (Geiger), land on the southwest coast of Peleliu. The naval force commanded by Admiral Oldendorf remains in support. The Japanese garrison is consists of a regiment of 14th Division under the command of Colonel Nakagawa. There is limited resistance on the beaches. American attempts to advance inland, however, meet strong resistance. By the end of the day, the beachhead is only a few hundred yards wide.
1972 – ARVN forces recapture Quang Tri City after four days of heavy fighting, with the claim that over 8,135 NVA had been killed in the battle. The North Vietnamese forces had launched a massive offensive, called the Nguyen Hue or "Easter Offensive," on March 31, with three main attacks aimed at Quang Tri south of the Demilitarized Zone, Kontum in the Central Highlands, and An Loc just 60 miles north of Saigon. This invasion included 14 divisions and 26 separate regiments, a total force numbering over 120,000 troops, and was designed to knock South Vietnam out of the war and inflict a defeat on the remaining U.S. forces (which numbered less than 70,000 by this date due to President Nixon's Vietnamization policy and the American troop withdrawal schedule). The North Vietnamese attack was characterized by conventional combined arms attacks by tank and infantry forces supported by massive artillery barrages, resulting in some of the heaviest fighting of the war. The South Vietnamese forces and their American advisors supported by U.S. tactical airpower and B-52 bombers were able to hold at An Loc and Kontum despite being vastly outnumbered, but the South Vietnamese forces at Quang Tri faltered under the communist assault and were quickly overwhelmed. It was only after President Thieu fired the I Corps commander and replaced him with Major General Ngo Quang Truong, arguably one of the best officers in the South Vietnamese army, that the ARVN were able to stop the North Vietnamese. Truong took measures to stabilize the situation and the South Vietnamese began to fight back. After a tremendously bloody four-and-a-half-month battle in which 977 South Vietnamese soldiers perished, Truong and his troops retook Quang Tri from the North Vietnamese, winning a major victory. President Nixon used this as proof positive that his Vietnamization policy had worked and that the South Vietnamese were prepared to take over responsibility for the war.
2010 – Operation Dragon Strike, to reclaim the strategic southern province of Kandahar, which was the birthplace of the Taliban movement. The area where the operation took place has been dubbed "The Heart of Darkness" by Coalition troops.The main force leading the operation were units from the 101st Airborne Division. Some of the heaviest of the fighting during the operation had been in the Zhari District, which is on the main highway to Kandahar and a major insurgent supply route into the city, the Arghandab District and the Panjwaye District. By the end of December 2010, the operation's main objectives had been accomplished. The majority of Taliban forces in Kandahar had withdrawn from the province, and much of their leadership was said to have been fractured.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
FOUT, FREDERICK W.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, 15th Battery, Indiana Light Artillery. Place and date: Near Harpers Ferry, W. Va., 15 September 1862. Entered service at: Indianapolis, Ind. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 2 November 1896. Citation: Voluntarily gathered the men of the battery together, remanned the guns, which had been ordered abandoned by an officer, opened fire, and kept up the same on the enemy until after the surrender.
HALLING, LUOVI
Rank and organization: Boatswain's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 7 August 1867, Stockholm, Sweden. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 172, 4 October 1904. Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Missouri, for heroism in attempting to rescue from drowning Cecil C. Young, ordinary seaman, 15 September 1904.
PETERS, ALEXANDER
Rank and organization: Boatswain's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 16 November 1869, Russia. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 172, 4 October 1904. Citation: For heroism in attempting to rescue from drowning Cecil C. Young, ordinary seaman, 15 September 1904, while serving on board the U.S.S. Missouri.
HAYDEN, DAVID E.
Rank and organization: Hospital Apprentice First Class, U.S. Navy, serving with the 2d Battalion, 6th Regiment, U.S. Marines. Place and date: Thiaucourt, France, 15 September 1918. Entered service at: Texas. Born: 2 October 1897 Florence, Tex. Citation: For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. During the advance, when Cpl. Creed was mortally wounded while crossing an open field swept by machinegun fire, Hayden unhesitatingly ran to his assistance and, finding him so severely wounded as to require immediate attention, disregarded his own personal safety to dress the wound under intense machinegun fire, and then carried the wounded man back to a place of safety.
*PIKE, EMORY J.
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Division Machinegun Officer, 82d Division. Place and date: Near Vandieres, France, 15 September 1918. Entered service at: Des Moines, lowa. Birth: Columbia City, lowa. G.O. No.: 16, W.D., 1919. Citation: Having gone forward to reconnoiter new machinegun positions, Lt. Col. Pike offered his assistance in reorganizing advance infantry units which had become disorganized during a heavy artillery shelling. He succeeded in locating only about 20 men, but with these he advanced and when later joined by several infantry platoons rendered inestimable service in establishing outposts, encouraging all by his cheeriness, in spite of the extreme danger of the situation. When a shell had wounded one of the men in the outpost, Lt. Col. Pike immediately went to his aid and was severely wounded himself when another shell burst in the same place. While waiting to be brought to the rear, Lt. Col. Pike continued in command, still retaining his jovial manner of encouragement, directing the reorganization until the position could be held. The entire operation was carried on under terrific bombardment, and the example of courage and devotion to duty, as set by Lt. Col. Pike, established the highest standard of morale and confidence to all under his charge. The wounds he received were the cause of his death.
*BAUSELL, LEWIS KENNETH
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 17 April 1924, Pulaski, Va. Accredited to: District of Columbia. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu Island, Palau Group, 15 September 1944. Valiantly placing himself at the head of his squad, Cpl. Bausell led the charge forward against a hostile pillbox which was covering a vital sector of the beach and, as the first to reach the emplacement, immediately started firing his automatic into the aperture while the remainder of his men closed in on the enemy. Swift to act, as a Japanese grenade was hurled into their midst, Cpl. Bausell threw himself on the deadly weapon, taking the full blast of the explosion and sacrificing his own life to save his men. His unwavering loyalty and inspiring courage reflect the highest credit upon Cpl. Bausell and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
ROUH, CARLTON ROBERT
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and date: Peleliu Island, Palau group, 15 September 1944. Entered service at: New Jersey. Born: 11 May 1919, Lindenwold, N.J. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while attached to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu Island, Palau group, 15 September 1944. Before permitting his men to use an enemy dugout as a position for an 81-mm. mortar observation post, 1st Lt. Rouh made a personal reconnaissance of the pillbox and, upon entering, was severely wounded by Japanese rifle fire from within. Emerging from the dugout, he was immediately assisted by 2 marines to a less exposed area but, while receiving first aid, was further endangered by an enemy grenade which was thrown into their midst. Quick to act in spite of his weakened condition, he lurched to a crouching position and thrust both men aside, placing his own body between them and the grenade and taking the full blast of the explosion himself. His exceptional spirit of loyalty and self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death reflects the highest credit upon 1st Lt. Rouh and the U.S. Naval Service.
SMITH, JOHN LUCIAN
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Marine Corps, Marine Fighter Squadron 223, Place and date: In the Solomon Islands area, August-September 1942. Entered service at: Oklahoma. Born: 26 December 1914, Lexington, Okla. Other Navy award: Legion of Merit. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and heroic achievement in aerial combat above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of Marine Fighting Squadron 223 during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area, August-September 1942. Repeatedly risking his life in aggressive and daring attacks, Maj. Smith led his squadron against a determined force, greatly superior in numbers, personally shooting down 16 Japanese planes between 21 August and 15 September 1942. In spite of the limited combat experience of many of the pilots of this squadron, they achieved the notable record of a total of 83 enemy aircraft destroyed in this period, mainly attributable to the thorough training under Maj. Smith and to his intrepid and inspiring leadership. His bold tactics and indomitable fighting spirit, and the valiant and zealous fortitude of the men of his command not only rendered the enemy's attacks ineffective and costly to Japan, but contributed to the security of our advance base. His loyal and courageous devotion to duty sustains and enhances the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
*LOPEZ, BALDOMERO
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: During Inchon invasion in Korea, 15 September 1950. Entered service at: Tampa, Fla. Born: 23 August 1925, Tampa, Fla. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a marine platoon commander of Company A, in action against enemy aggressor forces. With his platoon 1st Lt. Lopez was engaged in the reduction of immediate enemy beach defenses after landing with the assault waves. Exposing himself to hostile fire, he moved forward alongside a bunker and prepared to throw a hand grenade into the next pillbox whose fire was pinning down that sector of the beach. Taken under fire by an enemy automatic weapon and hit in the right shoulder and chest as he lifted his arm to throw, he fell backward and dropped the deadly missile. After a moment, he turned and dragged his body forward in an effort to retrieve the grenade and throw it. In critical condition from pain and loss of blood, and unable to grasp the hand grenade firmly enough to hurl it, he chose to sacrifice himself rather than endanger the lives of his men and, with a sweeping motion of his wounded right arm, cradled the grenade under him and absorbed the full impact of the explosion. His exceptional courage, fortitude, and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon 1st Lt. Lopez and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for September 15, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
15 September
1924: With radio controls rather than a pilot, an N-9 seaplane flew for 40 minutes at the Naval Proving Grounds at Dahlgren, Va. Although the N-9 sank upon landing, the test proved the practicality of radio control.
1925: RS-1, the first great semi-rigid helium airship built in America, was completed at Scott Field. (24)
1938: The Army Air Corps earned the Collier Trophy for developing the XC-35 with a pressurized cabin. (24)
1939: Jacqueline Cochran flew a Seversky Monoplane at 305.9 MPH to set an international record for 1,000 kilometers.
1942: Using Fifth Air Force transports, the 126th Infantry Regiment became the first US infantry unit to reach Seven Mile Airdrome, near Ports Moresby, New Guinea. (21)
1944: OPERATION INTERLUDE. Southwest Pacific Area forces invaded the island of Morotai in the Moluccas Islands, Netherlands East Indies. FEAF units supported the operation with attacks against Japanese bases on nearby islands. The landings on Morotai were unopposed and construction of two airdromes began at once. The island was within fighter range of the southern Philippines. The 310th Bombardment Wing (Medium) disembarked on 18 September, and the ground echelons of several FEAF flying units followed. Wama Drome, the first to be finished, became operational on 4 October. The second, Pitoe Drome, had one runway done on 17 October and was ready for aircraft on 24 November with two 8,000-foot paved runways. (17)
1945: The production contract for the Republic-Ford JB-2 rocket ended after 1,391 rockets were delivered to the USAAF. Though production was halted in mid-September 1945 testing was continued at Eglin Field with JB-2s already constructed.
1948: Maj Richard L. Johnson set a 679-MPH world speed record over a 3-kilometer course in a North American F-86A Sabre at Muroc. (9)
1950: Operation FOX ABLE THREE/MACKAY TROPHY. The 27th Fighter-Escort Wing (FEW) flew 180 F-84E Thunderjets from Bergstrom AFB, Tex., to Furstenfeldbruck, Germany, in this two-phased ferry mission to earn the Mackay Trophy. In Phase I, 90 F-84s left Texas, but due to mechanical problems only 84 landed in Germany on 18 September after flying 5,858 miles in 16 hours 3 minutes of actual flying time (see 15 October for Phase II). (1) KOREAN WAR. The USMC invaded Wolmi-do Island in Inchon Harbor at dawn. Later that afternoon, after a 45-minute naval and air bombardment, the main U.S. X Corps used the high tide to land at Inchon. USN and USMC aircraft from carriers covered the amphibious assault. At the same time, FEAF air raids in South Korea prepared the way for the Eighth Army to advance from the Pusan perimeter. (28)
1951: The DoD opened the Joint Parachute Test Facility with USN and USAF units under the Bureau of Aeronautics at NAS El Centro.
1952: The USAF added weather reconnaissance over areas of joint air-ground operations to TAC's mission. (11)
1954: A MATS four-engine plane averaged 341 MPH to set a transatlantic speed record of 11 hours 48 minutes for propeller-driven aircraft in a flight from Westover AFB to Germany. (24)
1956: The activation of the 701st Missile Wing made it the first missile wing in the USAF and USAFE. It would be equipped with Matador missiles. (4) (26)
1958: Through 15 December, SAC's 42 BMW at Loring AFB, conducted a B-52 airborne alert test, named Head Start I. (1)
1959: In a tethered test, a full-size model Minuteman missile completed its first attempted launch from an underground launching pad at Edwards AFB. (6)
1960: Capt William Habluetzel and Lt John Hargreaves completed a 30-day, 8-hour simulated moon journey in a 12-foot by 8-foot long box at Brooks AFB. (24)
1961: CHECKMATE II. Through 22 September, NATO's largest and most complex training exercise in Southern Europe involved thousands of American, Turkish, and Greek armed forces personnel in a maneuver in Turkish Thrace. (24)
1962: HARMON INTERNATIONAL TROPHY. Maj Fitzhugh Fulton flew a B-58 Hustler to a new altitude record with payload, 11,023 pounds to 85,360 feet, near Edwards AFB. For this flight, Fulton later received the Harmon International Trophy as the World's most outstanding aviator in 1962. (24)
1970: TROPIC MOON. The 13 BS deployed to Ubon RTAFB to use B-57Gs on night interdiction bombing missions. As part of the Tropic Moon III program, Martin modified 16 B-57B Night Intruders withdrawn from Vietnam service. Westinghouse Electric, Martin and AFSC combined to give the -G model a true night bombing capability by designing the bomber to independently detect, track, and bomb ground targets at night. (17)
1972: The 42 BMW at Loring AFB became the first B-52 unit with SRAMs to achieve operational status. (6)
1979: Through 22 September, 8 C-130s from AFRES and ANG units in California and Wyoming flew 254 sorties to drop 732,000 gallons of fire retardant on fires in southern California. This operation was one of the largest fire-fighting operations on record. (21)
1981: At Griffiss AFB, a 416 BMW B-52G crew conducted the first ALCM training flight. (1) The 9 SRW at Beale AFB received Lockheed's first TR-1A reconnaissance plane (No. 80-1066). It was an improved, bigger version of the U-2 that could fly at day and night in all weather above 70,000 feet. (1)
1982: MACKAY TROPHY. From the 19 BMW at Robins AFB Capt. Ronald L. Cavendish and his crew successfully landed their B-52 Stratofortress after the aircraft lost both of its rudder-elevator hydraulic systems. The crew earns the Mackay Trophy for this feat, which had never been accomplished without significant damage to or complete destruction of the aircraft. (The crew of E-21 from the 19th Bombardment Wing at Robins AFB, Ga.: Cavendish, 2nd Lt. Frank A. Boyle, 1st Lt. Michael J. Connor, 1st Lt. James D. Gray, Capt. Ronald D. Nass, 1st Lt Gerald E. Valentini, and TSgt. Ronald B. Wright.)
1987: The USAF redefined a base as "any installation that is a self-supporting center of operations." As a result, Arnold Air Force Station (AFS), Tenn., Los Angeles AFS and Onizuka AFB, Calif., became Air Force bases.
1989: McDonnell Douglas delivered the 500th AH-64 Apache helicopter to the Army. (20)
1991: The C-17A Globemaster III first flew in a trip from Long Beach to the AFFTC at Edwards AFB. (16) (26) The T-1 Jayhawk prototype specialized undergraduate pilot trainer flew at Edwards AFB. It resembled the Beechjet 400A corporate transport. (16) (26)
1993: Boeing converted the first B-52H for conventional warfare missions at Wichita. (20)
1995: HURRICANE MARILYN. Through 21 August USAF, Reserve, and ANG aircraft flew 996 tons of relief cargo to the Virgin Islands after the storm blasted the eastern Caribbean area. The C-17 made its first appearance in a disaster relief operation. (16)
1996: Operation PACIFIC HAVEN. USAF airlifters carried thousands of Kurdish refugees from Northern Iraq to Andersen AFB, where they were processed for resettlement in the U.S. (21)
2001: Operation NOBLE EAGLE. In the first five days after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, 35 ANG fighter units supplied 603 sorties, while the 18 ANG tanker wings flew 72 sorties to offload 3.2 million pounds of fuel. (32) 16
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