To All,
Good Saturday morning November 4, 2023
Regards,
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Today in Naval and Marine Corps History thanks to NHHC
November 4
1923 Lt. Alford J. Williams, flying an R2C-1 equipped with a Curtiss D-12 engine, raises the world speed record to 266.59 mph at Mitchel Field, Long Island, N.Y., beating the record set by Lt. Harold J. Brow only two days before.
1955 Gioconda R. Saraneiro becomes the first appointed female captain in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. Initially appointed a lieutenant junior grade in the WAVES during World War II in 1943, she left the Navy to teach and start a private practice. She returned to the Navy in 1949 and retired in June 1966. Capt. Saraneiro died in 1983.
1966 Eight men are killed when a flash fire erupts in a storage compartment containing paint, oil, and hydraulic fluid four decks below the hangar deck aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) while the ship launches strikes from the South China Sea over North Vietnam.
1967 Landing craft from USS Navarro (APA 215) rescues 43 men from British SS Habib Marikar, which ran aground on a reef at Lincoln Island in the Tonkin Gulf.
1971 USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN 636) launches a Poseidon C-3 Missile in the first surface launch of the weapon.
1976 - The first Marine Corps Marathon kicked off in Washington, DC.
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Today in History November 4
644 Umar of Arabia is assassinated at Medina and is succeeded as caliph by Uthman.
1493 Christopher Columbus discovers Guadeloupe during his second expedition.
1677 William III and Mary of England wed on William's birthday.
1760 Following the Russian capture of Berlin, Frederick II of Prussia defeats the Austrians at the Battle of Torgau.
1791 General Arthur St. Clair, governor of Northwest Territory, is badly defeated by a large Indian army near Fort Wayne.
1798 Congress agrees to pay a yearly tribute to Tripoli, considering it the only way to protect U.S. shipping.
1842 Abraham Lincoln marries Mary Todd in Springfield, Ill.
1854 Florence Nightingale and her nurses arrive in the Crimea.
1863 From the main Confederate Army at Chattanooga, Tennessee, Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's troops are sent northeast to besiege Knoxville.
1918 Austria signs an armistice with the Allies.
1922 The U.S. Postmaster General orders all homes to get mailboxes or relinquish delivery of mail.
1922 The entrance to King Tut's tomb is discovered.
1924 Calvin Coolidge is elected 30th president of the United States.
1924 Nellie Tayloe Ross and Miriam Ferguson are elected first and second women governors (Wyoming and Texas).
1946 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is established.
1952 General Dwight D. Eisenhower is elected 34th president of the United States.
1956 Russian troops attack Budapest, Hungary.
1979 At the American Embassy in Teheran, Iran, 90 people, including 63 Americans, are taken hostage by militant student followers of Ayatollah Khomeini. The students demand the return of Shah Mohammad Reza Pablavi, who is undergoing medical treatment in New York City.
1980 Ronald Reagan is elected the 40th president of the United States.
1992 Carol Moseley Braun becomes the first African American woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate.
1995 Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin is assassinated at a peace rally in Tel Aviv.
2008 Senator Barack Obama of Illinois elected 44th president of the United States, the first African American to hold that position.
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November 1 1968 was the last Day of rolling Thunder. The Bear will continue shortly with a history of Commando Hunt. The war has another 4 years to go.
ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear … Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
Thanks to Micro
To remind folks that these are from the Vietnam Air Losses site that Micro put together. You click on the url below and get what happened each day to the crew of the aircraft. ……Skip
From Vietnam Air Losses site for Saturday November 4
November 4: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=2375
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
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 Carl…If you want to read the entire article the url is below. I got enough from the first part. To sum them up it sucks both ways….skip
Health-Saving Tips for Transition to Standard Time
Health-Saving Tips for Transition to Standard Time
by Dr. Joseph Mercola November 04, 2023
Daylight Saving Time Explained - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84aWtseb2-4
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
• In the United States, daylight saving time (DST), which began Sunday, March 12, 2023, ends Sunday November 5, 2023. On that day, at 2 a.m. local time, clocks "fall back" one hour to 1 a.m., to what's known as standard time
• March 26, 2019, the European parliament voted to end DST as of 2021
• While the original intention was that extending daylight hours during the summer would result in energy savings, research shows it's not saving us any money, and is contributing to ill health
• Researchers have noticed a statistically significant increase in the number of car accidents, workplace injuries and heart attacks in the days after the time changes in the spring, which appear to be related to loss of sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions
• While the most adverse health effects are attributed to the springtime switch to DST, the switch back to Standard Time in the fall means your body has to get used to it getting dark earlier in the evening. Tips to help your body adjust to the time change are included
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Thanks to Interesting Facts
ANOTHER GROUP of Our Favorite Facts About Classic Celebrities11 of 25
Elizabeth Taylor Had "Violet" Eyes and a Double Set of Eyelashes In 1970, when Hollywood Reporter film critic Todd McCarthy first met Taylor, he was stopped in his tracks by "a pair of eyes unlike any I've ever beheld, before or since; deep violet eyes of a sort withheld from ordinary mortals."
However, while Taylor's eyes are typically credited as violet, they were more likely a deep blue with an uncommon amount of melanin in the irises, which made them appear violet when she wore specific colors. This inspired her to often wear black eyeliner with blue, purple, or dark brown eyeshadow to bring out her trademark color.
Framing those famous eyes were Taylor's double row of eyelashes, known as distichiasis, the result of a mutation of FOXC2, a gene responsible for embryonic tissue development. While this heavy, second set of eyelashes can cause complications for some, they quickly became a notable part of Taylor's beauty at a young age. When she was filming Lassie Come Home (1943) at the age of 9, Taylor was accused of wearing too much mascara, and when production members tried to clean it off, they realized the dark shade was her own eyelashes. As Taylor's Lassie co-star Roddy McDowall remembered, "Who has double eyelashes except a girl who was absolutely born to be on the big screen?"
12 of 25
Lucille Ball Was One of the First Women to Appear Pregnant on Network Pregnant characters are commonplace now, but in the 1950s, Lucy's television pregnancy was groundbreaking. Both CBS and the show's sponsor, Philip Morris, were so concerned about airing this seemingly suggestive idea that they had the production studio work with various religious organizations to determine how to most sensitively express this supposedly controversial plot point. Ultimately, the producers agreed to avoid the word "pregnant," going with the euphemism "expecting" (and similar terms) instead. The then-radical six-episode pregnancy arc paid off, as over 44 million people tuned in on January 19, 1953, to see Lucy welcome her son Little Ricky. The episode, titled "Lucy Goes to the Hospital," aired the same day Ball actually gave birth by planned cesarean section to Desi Arnaz Jr.
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The FBI Kept a File on Frank Sinatra for 40 Years Hollywood singer, Bobby-soxers weren't the only ones who followed Frank Sinatra's every move. The FBI kept a massive file on him, detailing his life and relationships for four decades. They were especially interested in his alleged ties to people involved with organized crime. Sinatra reportedly had a friendship with Chicago crime boss Sam Giancana, and was also said to have received gifts from Joseph and Charles Fischetti, who ran an illegal gambling operation. The file even includes an account of him making an appearance in Atlantic City during the wedding of Philadelphia mob boss Angelo Bruno's daughter.
Sinatra wasn't exactly shy about his social interactions with mafiosi — they owned many of the establishments where he performed, after all — but he steadfastly denied having any close personal or business connections to the mob, and resented the many rumors implying otherwise. He famously took issue with The Godfather because of the perception that the character Johnny Fontane, a singer with ties to organized crime families, was based on him. According to author Mario Puzo, who wrote the novel that inspired the film, he and Sinatra got into an argument over the insinuation at a restaurant near Beverly Hills.
Sinatra's FBI file wasn't just a record of his own comings and goings, of course. It also included threats made against him by would-be extortioners and blackmailers, as well as details of the bureau's investigation into the 1963 kidnapping of his son Frank Sinatra Jr. (Frank Jr. was rescued, and all three kidnappers were caught and convicted.)
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Elvis Was a Natural Blond and Used Shoe Polish as Hair Dye You'd be hard-pressed to find evidence of Elvis' natural blond hairstyle, as only one known photo exists, hanging on the wall of Graceland. From a young age, Elvis dyed his hair jet black with shoe polish — which was cheaper than hair dye — in an effort to make his blue eyes stand out. Elvis also began applying eyeliner to further accentuate his eyes around 1960, a trick he learned from actor Tony Curtis. As Elvis rose to fame, he continued to dye his hair to maintain his image, though he eventually shifted from shoe polish to a patented hair dye combination of Miss Clairol 51D and Black Velvet/Mink Brown by Paramount. Elvis later enlisted the services of Larry Geller, a beloved stylist in West Hollywood who also worked with stars such as Marlon Brando and Steve McQueen.
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MGM Made Judy Garland Wear Nose-Altering Accessories Judy Garland rose to superstardom with her doe-eyed look, but in her days at MGM, she was considered, however unfairly, a kind of ugly duckling compared to the more willowy starlets in the MGM stable. In her earlier years, when the priority was preserving her childlike look, she carried rubber discs in a small carrying case, along with caps for her teeth. She'd insert the discs in her nose to give it a more upturned look. Because the studio wanted to keep her looking as young as possible, her breasts were also often bound.
Once she was a little older and starring in less-childlike roles, such as Esther Smith in Meet Me in St. Louis, she started wearing a canvas and metal corset that required two people on either side to pull the strings tight. (It's a wonder she was still able to sing.)
16 of 25
Humphrey Bogart Loved Chess
Actor Humphrey Bogart and his wife, actress Lauren Bacall. Humphrey Bogart famously plays chess in Casablanca, and the scenes may have been written into the script to please him. In real life, as a young man, he was said to hustle players for dimes and quarters in New York parks and at Coney Island. Bogart was also a chess tournament director, and active in a Hollywood chess club. In a June 1945 interview, he said that he played chess almost daily, and described the game as one of his main interests.
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Marilyn Monroe's First Job Was Building Drones Marilyn Monroe's late teens coincided with World War II, and at age 18, she started working 10 hours a day for a company called Radioplane, which manufactured small, unmanned aircraft used to drop explosives. Her job was inspecting the aircraft parachutes and spraying them with fire retardant.
It was here at the drone factory that Monroe got her start in modeling — a career she hadn't considered before. A photographer with the United States Army was assigned to take photos of women in war production (inspired by "Rosie the Riveter"), and one of those photos — of a smiling Monroe holding a propeller — was published in an Army magazine in 1945. Soon, Monroe became a sought-after model and pin-up girl, and eventually that success led to a screen test with 20th Century Fox.
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Thanks to Brett
Stratfor snippets - Israel/Gaza, Spain, China/U.S., North Korea/Russia, Japan, Europe, Zimbabwe, Honduras, Israel/U.S., Syria, Bahrain/Israel, U.S./Russia, Colombia, Poland/Ukraine, Guatemala, Lebanon
Israel, Gaza: Israel Pushes Deeper Into Gaza Amid International Attention
What Happened: The Israel Defense Forces battled the Gaza-based Palestinian militant group Hamas in and around Gaza City on Nov. 1, The Times of Israel reported the next day. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden suggested a "pause" in fighting, and Pope Francis suggested a restoration of the two-state solution for the Palestinian Territories, with Jerusalem given an international status.
Why It Matters: The pace of Israel's advance suggests that the battle for Gaza City could take several weeks. However, once Israel takes the city, its efforts to overrun Khan Younis and Rafah — the other two major cities in the Gaza Strip — may take less time, particularly if Hamas commits the bulk of its fighters to defending Gaza City. Meanwhile, Biden's statement suggests that the White House will advocate for relocating wounded Palestinians and improving aid connections, alongside possible pauses in fighting, rather than a comprehensive cease-fire. Once the major combat operations are complete, the difficult work of finding a political solution for Gaza will continue to haunt Israel's foreign relations. The pope's suggestion is unlikely to have a significant impact on Israel's policies, but it is emblematic of renewed interest in a two-state solution, including in the United States, which runs up against the expansionist desires of the Israeli government's right-wing parties. Other potential solutions include international peacekeepers in the Palestinian Territories, a resumption of the 1948 partition plan, and a deepening of the one-state solution through the resettlement of Gaza and its eventual annexation.
Background: Gaza City, the largest city in the strip, is Israel's primary target in the first phase of its ground invasion and is where Hamas has numerous underground tunnels and facilities designed to withstand Israeli airstrikes and carry out hit-and-run attacks on invading Israeli forces. However, given the dense civilian population there, Israel is inflicting numerous civilian losses, which is generating outrage internationally. In the United States, the White House is under pressure from its base to impose a cease-fire, particularly from Arab Americans and peace activists. At least one poll suggested that Arab American support for Biden had cratered in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.
Spain: Acting Prime Minister Sanchez Reaches Amnesty Deal With Catalan Separatists
What Happened: Spain's acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez from the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and Catalan President Pere Aragones of the pro-independence Republican Left (ERC) party have agreed on the terms of a draft amnesty bill for all pro-independence Catalan leaders facing prosecution following the 2017 illegal secession referendum, El Pais reported Oct. 31.
Why It Matters: The agreement paves the way for Sanchez to win an investiture vote as soon as Nov. 7-8 and be confirmed as Spain's prime minister for another four-year term, serving as the head of a minority coalition government formed by his PSOE party and the left-wing Sumar coalition with support from Basque and Catalan separatist parties in Parliament. The deal also includes a number of political and economic concessions to Catalonia, including more transfers of competencies from Madrid to Barcelona, including the control of Catalonia's Rodalies commuter rail network. The controversial amnesty law has sparked vocal criticism in Spain for what is seen as a violation of the country's rule of law. Sanchez's new deal with Catalan secessionists will thus lead to further demonstrations led by right-wing opposition parties, including the People's Party (PP) and Vox.
Background: Sanchez's PSOE came second in Spain's inconclusive general election on July 23, winning 121 seats in the Congress of Deputies, and behind the center-right People's Party (PP), which obtained 137 seats. The right-wing Vox party obtained 33 seats, while the left-wing Sumar obtained 31 votes. To be re-elected as prime minister, Sanchez thus needs the backing of pro-independence Catalan and Basque parties in an investiture vote.
China, U.S.: Countries to Hold Nuclear Talks Amid Fears of New Arms Race
What Happened: U.S. and Chinese officials will hold talks on Nov. 6 about nuclear arms development, which will not include limits on nuclear arms but will seek to increase understanding about doctrine and arsenal buildups, The Wall Street Journal reported Nov. 1.
Why It Matters: The nuclear talks are one of many venues where Washington and Beijing are seeking to lower the temperature of their tense bilateral relationship. But significant strategic barriers to compromise persist and the two sides are unlikely to reach an agreement on arms control anytime soon. As Beijing bolsters deterrence of U.S. military intervention in Taiwan, China currently has little incentive to limit its nuclear expansion — especially in the wake of Russia's nuclear threats in the Ukraine war, which arguably bought Moscow time to escalate the conflict at its own pace and helped prevent strikes on the Russian homeland.
Background: In recent years, China has been expanding its nuclear arsenal, both in number of warheads and in delivery technology. The defense community in the United States, meanwhile, is increasingly advocating for upgrading the U.S. arsenal to fend off Russia and China simultaneously.
North Korea, Russia: Countries Continue to Deepen Defense, Technology Ties
What Happened: South Korean military intelligence says that around 2,000 containers of military equipment and munitions have been shipped from North Korea's northeastern Rajin Port to Vladivostok, Russia in the Far East, around double the U.S. estimate of 1,000 containers revealed on Oct. 13, Yonhap reported Nov. 2. South Korean intelligence believes North Korea may have provided Russia with short-range ballistic missiles and portable anti-aircraft missiles. Separately, South Korea also believes that Russia will be assisting North Korea with its third attempt to launch a spy satellite as leader Kim Jong Un ordered officials to ''comprehensively aid Palestine'' amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Why It Matters: Together, these developments could force the United States to turn its gaze more toward North Korea. According to South Korean analysis, such a volume of munitions could sustain Russian artillery needs at the front in Ukraine for over two months. As for the Russia-assisted satellite launch, North Korea's two previously failed spy satellite launches may have been due to it lacking specific know-how or parts, which Russia could presumably provide, increasing the next launch's chances of success. In addition, Pyongyang and Moscow's deepening ties could eventually provide the former with the know-how to further build out its industrial base and produce more arms — another development that would concern Washington. And lastly, while the report of Kim wanting to support Palestinians may just be rhetoric, it could also indicate that North Korea plans to sell weapons to Iran-backed militias retaliating against Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which would surely draw the United States' ire as well.
Background: Defense and technology ties between North Korea and Russia have significantly deepened since Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang in late July.
Japan: $113-Billion Stimulus Unlikely to Boost Support for Kishida and His Party
What Happened: The details of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's $113-billion stimulus package were revealed Nov. 2 following his Cabinet's approval of the package, Reuters reported. It will involve around $33 billion in income and residential tax cuts and cash handouts to low earners, as well as an extension of fuel and electricity subsidies through April 2024.
Why It Matters: With Japanese citizens already giving the stimulus poor reviews, the package is unlikely to recover public support for Kishida or his ruling Liberal Democratic Party, reducing the prospects that Kishida will call a snap election, while casting doubt on Kishida's continued leadership over Japan ahead of the September 2024 LDP leadership elections. A country-wide improvement in wage hikes (to offset inflation) and a recovery in exports to China and the West could bolster Japan's economic growth and Kishida's leadership prospects, but these two developments are mostly out of Kishida's hands.
Background: A Nikkei poll conducted between Oct. 27-29 showed support for Kishida at 33%, the lowest since he came into office in Oct. 2021. Tokyo aims to fund the stimulus package with an $87-billion supplementary budget that still has to pass the legislature.
Europe: EU Energy Companies Storing Gas in Ukraine as Bloc Nears Capacity
What Happened: Large EU energy companies are increasingly storing natural gas in Ukraine to hedge against supply risks ahead of peak winter demand as the bloc's inventories near full capacity, the Financial Times reported Nov. 1, citing figures from Gas Infrastructure Europe.
Why It Matters: Despite the risks posed by Russia's ongoing invasion, Ukraine has emerged as an increasingly attractive alternative storage option for European companies thanks to its cost-competitive storage fees and a three-year exemption from customs duties facilitating gas reimports into the European Union. Moreover, storage facilities in Ukraine — which are among the largest in Europe and are well-connected to the Continent's pipeline network — are predominantly located deep underground in the western part of the country far from the conflict zone, significantly reducing the risks of physical damage.Still, while additional capacity from Ukraine will make the European Union less vulnerable to an eventual new energy crunch in the winter, it does not guarantee the bloc will not suffer from shortage in case of severe demand or supply shocks.
Background: EU reserves now stand at almost 99% full, well above Brussels' target of 90% by this time of the year thanks to continued imports of liquefied natural gas and reduced demand amid still higher than average prices and slowing economic activity on the Continent. The trend reflects a much better than hoped-for situation compared to projections from 2022, when the International Energy Agency warned that storage facilities in Europe risked being only two-thirds full by November.
Zimbabwe: China to Invest $2.8 Billion in Lithium, Energy Projects
What Happened: The Zimbabwean government awarded Chinese companies licenses in the third quarter of 2023 that come with planned investments of $2.79 billion, mostly in the mining and energy sectors, Bloomberg reported Nov. 1. Chinese firms accounted for more than two-thirds of the 180 applications for the quarter.
Why It Matters: While Zimbabwe has some of the largest lithium deposits in the world, even billions in Chinese investment are unlikely to catapult the small African country into competition with major lithium exporters like Australia, Chile and China. Even so, Zimbabwe's ongoing status as a country under Western sanctions may be creating opportunities for Chinese firms in the form of reduced competition for Zimbabwe's resources. As such, government earnings from mining exports, particularly lithium, are increasing, which will continue to buoy the Zimbabwean government in the face of its outsized debt burden. But increased lithium and broader mining royalties are very unlikely to result in increased national development amid rampant corruption and self-enrichment by elites.
Background: Zimbabwe's lithium export earnings reached $209 million in the first nine months of 2023, about three times the earnings reported during the same period last year.
Honduras: Permanent Commission Elects Interim Prosecutor, Angering the Opposition
What Happened: A committee of ruling party lawmakers in Colombia unanimously appointed Johel Zelaya as interim attorney general on Nov. 1 at a time when the country's legislature is in recess, sparking an outcry from the political opposition, Reuters reported the same day. Police barred opposition lawmakers from entering the National Congress as the Permanent Commission — a group of legislators composed of nine allies of the ruling party — held the vote; a crowd of pro-government Libre supporters also injured three politicians in clashes outside the building.
Why It Matters: Zelaya's interim appointment, even if temporary, will likely increase tensions between the ruling party and the opposition, stifling effective policy-making and complicating President Xiomara Castro's political agenda. Furthermore, as frustration boils over from the halls of Congress into the public as seen on Nov. 1, the potential for large protests that would interrupt commerce in Tegucigalpa and personal security risks for lawmakers will be heightened. The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs said that the commission's move would undermine public trust in Honduran institutions and stated ''violence has no place in democracy,'' potentially signaling a strain in U.S.-Honduran relations as well, should the situation escalate.
Background: The Permanent Commission argues that it had the constitutional authority to appoint an interim attorney general, while opposition lawmakers in the right-wing National Party have equated its actions to ''treason.'' The five-year terms of the former Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General had lapsed, and neither the pro-government parties nor the opposition had the 86 votes needed to elect their candidates.
Israel, U.S.: Blinken Advocates for Humanitarian Pauses as Israel Pushes Deeper Into Gaza City
What Happened: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel to discuss what the United States is calling "humanitarian pauses" in the Israel-Hamas war, The New York Times reported on Nov. 3. Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues to fight on the outskirts of Gaza City after encircling it.
Why It Matters: Israel is unlikely to pause fighting for more than a few hours until after it clears the Palestinian militant group Hamas from Gaza City, at which point Israel may decide to hold off on an assault on the southern strip until refugees from the north can return. Regardless, Israel may have to accelerate its ground invasion to get ahead of U.S. political pressure to pause fighting, as the United States may not have the tolerance for a months-long ground campaign with high civilian casualties ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Background: The United States is under domestic political pressure to limit the humanitarian impact of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza amid polls that suggest swing-state voters may be softening their support for President Joe Biden ahead of the election in 2024. Israel's first phase of the war in Gaza has focused on clearing Hamas from Gaza City, the northernmost and most heavily populated city in the strip, while depriving Hamas of possible supplies needed to resist an Israeli military assault through an extensive blockade.
Syria: Israel Reduces Warnings to Russia Before Striking Targets in Syria
What Happened: Israel is no longer warning Russia before it carries out airstrikes in Syria, especially on targets near Israel's Golan Heights, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 3. In at least two recent attacks on Syrian and Iranian-affiliated positions in southwestern Syria, Israel did not notify the Russians of the attacks, even though Russian military police are sometimes present near these locations.
Why It Matters: Fewer warnings raise the likelihood of an accidental clash between Israeli and Russian forces in Syria, like an Israeli airstrike wounding Russian troops or Russian air defenses targeting Israeli fighters. Such an incident would create a diplomatic crisis between the two and potentially draw the United States into a major confrontation with Russia in Syria with uncertain outcomes.
Background: Since Russia's intervention in Syria in 2015, Russia and Israel have coordinated Israel's airstrikes on Iranian-affiliated locations throughout the country in an attempt to degrade Iran's ability to use Syria as a strike position against Israel. However, Russo-Israeli relations have grown strained, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Bahrain, Israel: Bahrain and Israel's Ambassadors Return to Their Respective Countries
What Happened: Bahrain's ambassador to Israel, Khalid Yusuf Ahmed Aljalahma, returned to Manama after his Israeli counterpart had returned to Israel earlier, Bahrain News Agency reported Nov. 2. In the same announcement, the National Communication Centre reiterated Bahrain's position to encourage peace in the region through a two-state solution for Palestine and the protection of civilians.
Why It Matters: The return of the Bahraini and Israeli ambassadors to their respective countries marks a cooling in relations for the first time since both signed the Abraham Accords in 2020. However, despite the departure of the two ambassadors, Israel's foreign ministry stated that the relations were "stable" between the two countries. Bahrain will maintain its pro-Palestinian stance to appease its citizens but is unlikely to sever relations with Israel due to the prospective economic growth and investment opportunities following the normalization of relations after 2020. The Bahraini government has not announced that economic ties would be discontinued, although flights between Bahrain and Israel have been suspended for weeks due in part to security concerns.
Background: Jordan recalled its ambassador to Israel on Nov. 1 in protest of Israel's actions in the Israel-Hamas War and the number of Palestinian civilian casualties. Bahrain and Israel had previously normalized relations through the 2020 Abraham Accords at the behest of U.S. diplomatic efforts to normalize relations in the region. Through the Abraham Accords, Bahrain formally recognized Israel's sovereignty and established full diplomatic ties.
U.S., Russia: U.S. Issues Sweeping Sanctions Against Russia, Including Arctic LNG 2
What Happened: The United States placed sanctions on over 200 Russian individuals and entities, including LLC Arctic LNG 2 — the operating company for Russia's 19 million ton per annum Arctic LNG 2 project that plans to ramp up production over the next few years, S&P Global reported on Nov. 2.
Why It Matters: This is the first time the United States has targeted a specific liquified natural gas project in Russia. The sanctions could block LNG cargoes from the project from being sent to France's TotalEnergies and a Japanese consortium between Mitsui and Jogmec, though there may also be a wind-down period. Regardless, the announcement will raise natural gas prices, particularly as Russian LNG is still flowing to Europe in high volumes from other terminals. Still, with European natural gas storage nearly at full capacity, the sanctions are unlikely to cause a major challenge to the Russian market. For Japan, the impact could be slightly more significant due to the country's limited domestic storage. However, given the ramp-up period, the biggest impact would come in the 2023-24 winter, and Japanese companies will have time to procure other supplies.
Background: LLC Arctic LNG 2 plans to start production from the first LNG train later in 2023 and ramp up capacity in 2024, with the second and third LNG trains slated to come online in 2024 and 2026, respectively. While Russia's Novatek is the largest stakeholder in the project, TotalEnergies and the Japanese consortium each have a 10% stake, and two Chinese national oil companies each have a 10% stake.
Colombia: ELN Captures Parents of Famous Soccer Player, Raising Doubts of 'Total Peace'
What Happened: Colombia's government said armed members of the guerilla group National Liberation Army, or ELN, kidnapped the parents of international soccer player Luis Diaz in the La Guajira department on Oct. 28, AP reported on Nov. 2. The ELN released Diaz's mother shortly after the kidnapping, and following significant government pressure, a representative from the ELN said it would free Diaz's father "as soon as possible" late on Nov. 2.
Why It Matters: The ELN will likely follow through on its commitment to release Diaz's father, but this high-profile kidnapping will reignite security concerns over armed groups in the country. It may also erode the Colombian public's already shaky confidence in President Gustavo Petro's "total peace" strategy of negotiating cease-fires and eventual disarmament with multiple volatile criminal groups simultaneously. As a result, the government will need to reevaluate its cease-fire agreement to incorporate more stringent mechanisms to ensure compliance, especially among splinter groups. It is also possible the Colombian public will stage localized demonstrations to protest Petro's strategy. Meanwhile, if the ELN decides not to release Diaz's father, the group could transport him to Venezuela, which would raise tensions between the Colombian and Venezuelan governments.
Background: Fearing the guerilla group may soon take Diaz's father across the border to Venezuela, the Colombian police mobilized a specialized force in a "gigantic operation" to find him. In an apparent win for Petro, the government signed an agreement with the ELN for a six-month cease-fire beginning in August, but the decentralized nature of the group makes negotiations tenuous. In an October public opinion poll, only 28.5% of Colombians believed "total peace" is working well.
Poland, Ukraine: Polish Truckers' Protest to Block Border Crossings With Ukraine
What Happened: Polish truckers announced that they will stage a protest starting Nov. 6 against concessions given to Ukrainian competitors to operate in the EU single market since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, Reuters reported on Nov. 3. During the protests, the truckers will block several border crossings between Poland and Ukraine.
Why It Matters: The protest threatens to affect traffic in both directions at all of Poland's crossing points with Ukraine. While demonstrators said the action will exempt vehicles transporting livestock, military equipment and humanitarian goods into Ukraine, the blockade will likely significantly disrupt transport by creating congestions and increasing the wait times to cross between the two countries. This may substantially hurt the Ukrainian economy and potentially slow deliveries to the Ukrainian army, thus affecting the war effort against Russia. Moreover, the protest adds to recent disputes between Poland and Ukraine, complicating the incoming Polish government's ability to de-escalate tensions with Kyiv.
Background: Ukrainian freight transport companies' unregulated activities are lowering labor costs and hurting Polish truckers' business. Demonstrators' demands thus include reimposing a limit on the number of Ukrainian trucks entering Poland and a ban on freight transport companies registered outside the European Union.
Guatemala: President-Elect's Seed Movement Party Suspended
What Happened: The Citizen Registry of Guatemala's Supreme Electoral Tribunal, which regulates the country's political parties, executed a months-old request from the Attorney General's office to suspend President-elect Bernardo Arevalo's Seed Movement party, El Pais reported on Nov. 2. A Citizen Registry spokesperson said the suspension does not invalidate the results of the general elections but does prohibit the Seed Movement from carrying out political party activities.
Why It Matters: Although the suspension was expected following the end of the election period on Oct. 31, Arevalo's supporters will protest the move over the coming days. There will be demonstrations in Guatemala City on Nov. 3-4, and additional protests are likely throughout the country, creating the risk of supply chain disruptions and violent clashes. The protests could also spark new legal actions against Arevalo and his supporters if Guatemalan authorities construe the demonstrations as political party activities in contravention of the Citizen Registry's prohibition. Ahead of the official suspension, the Seed Movement party's opponents in Congress declared members of the party "independent," meaning they cannot chair committees or hold other leadership positions, which could further constrain Arevalo's ability to effectively govern after his inauguration in January. If the government is unable to pass legislation, it will limit needed reforms on government corruption and slow efforts to combat high crime and food insecurity.
Background: Judge Fredy Orellana initially issued the suspension request in July following the first round of the presidential election on June 25. The suspension has been on hold since July because the Attorney General's office does not have the power to suspend political parties during the official election cycle, but with the end of the election period, the Citizen Registry executed the request.
Read More:
• U.S. Threats of Increased Sanctions Unlikely to Sway Guatemala's Political Elite (Oct. 27, 2023)
• The Appeal (and Perils) of Crime Crackdowns in Latin America, Part 1 (Sept. 27, 2023)
• More Raids Threaten to Undermine Guatemala's Democracy (Sept. 14, 2023)
Guatemala: President-Elect's Seed Movement Party Suspended
What Happened: The Citizen Registry of Guatemala's Supreme Electoral Tribunal, which regulates the country's political parties, executed a months-old request from the Attorney General's office to suspend President-elect Bernardo Arevalo's Seed Movement party, El Pais reported on Nov. 2. A Citizen Registry spokesperson said the suspension does not invalidate the results of the general elections but does prohibit the Seed Movement from carrying out political party activities.
Why It Matters: Although the suspension was expected following the end of the election period on Oct. 31, Arevalo's supporters will protest the move over the coming days. There will be demonstrations in Guatemala City on Nov. 3-4, and additional protests are likely throughout the country, creating the risk of supply chain disruptions and violent clashes. The protests could also spark new legal actions against Arevalo and his supporters if Guatemalan authorities construe the demonstrations as political party activities in contravention of the Citizen Registry's prohibition. Ahead of the official suspension, the Seed Movement party's opponents in Congress declared members of the party "independent," meaning they cannot chair committees or hold other leadership positions, which could further constrain Arevalo's ability to effectively govern after his inauguration in January. If the government is unable to pass legislation, it will limit needed reforms on government corruption and slow efforts to combat high crime and food insecurity.
Background: Judge Fredy Orellana initially issued the suspension request in July following the first round of the presidential election on June 25. The suspension has been on hold since July because the Attorney General's office does not have the power to suspend political parties during the official election cycle, but with the end of the election period, the Citizen Registry executed the request.
Japan: Yen Depreciation, Inflation Hamper Defense Buildout, Leadership Prospects
What Happened: The Japanese government scaled back purchases of U.S. arms and delayed purchases of Japanese weapons in response to the sinking value of the yen versus the dollar, as well as general price inflation, Reuters reported on Nov. 3. Japan has prioritized purchasing U.S. missiles, downsized purchases of Chinook transport helicopters, and delayed a purchase of Japanese search and rescue seaplanes.
Why It Matters: Japan's currency issues will impact its ability to build out the military as a whole, though Tokyo seems to be allocating its reduced purchasing power effectively to still meet its top military priorities, namely its national defense in a Taiwan war scenario with China. Additional supplementary budgets and tax hikes to fund defense spending are unpopular in Japan and could further sink Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's low approval rating, exacerbating the risks of a change in Japanese leadership in 2024.
Background: Global inflation has been on the rise since 2021, and the value of the Japanese yen has fallen precipitously as U.S. and European central banks have significantly hiked interest rates and Japan has maintained negative interest rates.
Lebanon: Hezbollah Says It Will Not Escalate the Israel-Hamas War Without Provocation
What Happened: Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanon's political and militant group Hezbollah, said in a nationwide speech that Hezbollah would not escalate the Israel-Hamas war immediately but would respond to future provocations, The Times of Israel reported on Nov. 3. Nasrallah also said Hezbollah did not have prior knowledge of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Why It Matters: Nasrallah's speech lays out Hezbollah's political strategy for the Israel-Hamas war and suggests that Hezbollah will not escalate against Israel without sufficient provocation that goes beyond Israel's ground invasion of Gaza. This keeps the prospect of deliberate escalation low, though continued fighting on the Israel-Lebanon border could result in significant casualties for either side that reshape their political imperatives and cause increased fighting. Nasrallah's position also likely reflects Hezbollah's patron, Iran, which has so far threatened escalation but largely carried out a campaign of harassment of Israel and its ally, the United States, through proxies and regional allies.
Background: Hezbollah is Iran's most effective proxy and deters Israeli attacks on Iran itself. As a result, Iran and Hezbollah are strategically disincentivized from attacking Israel since that would exhaust Hezbollah's deterrent capabilities against Israel and could trigger a wider regional war that brings in the United States. Some media reporting has suggested that Iran and Hezbollah had prior knowledge of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, but both Israeli and American intelligence agencies have yet to declare they have proof of such coordination.
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Thanks to Bill
These are very funny and true!! LOL
________________________________________
Subject: Later in life...
I used to be able to do cartwheels. Now I tip over putting on my underwear.
I told my husband he should embrace his mistakes...so he hugged me.
My husband says I only have 2 faults. I don't listen and something else....
At my funeral, take the bouquet off my coffin and throw it into the crowd to see who is next.
I thought growing old would take longer.
I came, I saw, I forgot what I was doing. Retraced my steps, got lost on the way back. Now I have no idea what's going on.
The officer said, "You drinking?" I said, "You buying?" We just laughed and laughed....I need bail money.
I think the reason we are born with two hands is so we can pet two dogs at once.
Day 12 without chocolate. Lost hearing in my left eye.
Scientists say the universe is made up of protons, neutrons and electrons. They forgot to mention morons.
The adult version of "head, shoulders, knees and toes" is "wallet, glasses, keys and phone."
A dog accepts you as the boss... a cat wants to see your resume.
Oops.... did I roll my eyes out loud?
Life is too short to waste time matching socks.
Wi-fi went down for five minutes, so I had to talk to my family. They seem like nice people.
If you see me talking to myself, just move along. I'm self-employed; we're having a staff meeting.
I won't be impressed with technology until I can download food.
Some people call me crazy. I prefer happy with a twist.
My doctor asked if anyone in my family suffers from mental illness. I said, "No, we all seem to enjoy it."
I really don't mind getting old, but my body is having a major fit.
Camping: where you spend a small fortune to live like a homeless person.
Project Manager...because Miracle Worker isn't an official job title.
I told my husband I wanted to be cremated. He made me an appointment for Tuesday.
Measure once, cuss twice..
My dream job would be driving the karma bus.
THINK! (It's not illegal.... YET)
I don't care who dies in a movie, as long as the dog lives.
The world's best antidepressant has 4 legs, a wagging tail and comes with unconditional love.
Love is how excited your dog gets when you come home.
I've reached the age where my train of thought often leaves the station without me.
If you're happy and you know it, it's your meds.
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This Day in U S Military History
November 4
1942 – On Guadalcanal, American forces land in regimental strength at Aola, 25 miles east of the main American position. They bring engineers to attempt to build a second airstrip on the island. This idea has been dismissed as futile by local commanders because of the difficult terrain. They are correct. Raiders from this landing move out in an attempt to connect with the main position.
1942 – 19 German and 21 Italian submarines begin to patrol around Gibraltar due to the increase of Allied shipping traffic in preparation for Operation Torch. They will achieve some success, but 6 submarines will be sunk and the destination of the transports will not be discovered.
1943 – A new Japanese squadron led by Admiral Kurita arrives in Rabaul, New Britain Island. The Japanese force consists of 10 cruisers and 10 destroyers. American reconnaissance sights the squadron en route and Task Force 38 prepares to attack with its carrier aircraft.
1943 – Advance of the US 5th Army continues. The British 10th Corps holds Monte Massico and Monte Croce and moves against Monte Camino with 78th Division. The US 6th Corps captures Venafro and Rocavirondola as it advances to the German defenses of the Reinhard Line. The British 8th Army has the Germans withdrawing to the Sangro River. The Allied armies now have full lateral communications through Isernia.
1956 – Following nearly two weeks of protest and political instability in Hungary, Soviet tanks and troops viciously crush the protests. Thousands were killed and wounded, and nearly a quarter-million Hungarians fled the country. The problems in Hungary had begun in October, when thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding a more democratic political system and freedom from Soviet oppression. In response, Communist Party officials appointed Imre Nagy, (a former premier who had been dismissed from the party for his criticisms of Stalinist policies), as the new premier. Nagy tried to restore peace and asked the Soviets to withdraw their troops. The Soviets did so, but Nagy then tried to push the Hungarian revolt forward by abolishing one-party rule. He also announced that Hungary was withdrawing from the Warsaw Pact (the Soviet bloc's equivalent of NATO). On November 4, Soviet tanks rolled into Budapest to stop Hungary's movement away from the communist bloc. Vicious street fighting broke out, but the Soviets' greater power insured the doom of the rebels. After the deaths and injuries of thousands of Hungarians, the protests were finally put down. Nagy was captured shortly thereafter and was executed two years later. The Soviet action stunned many people in the West. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev had pledged a retreat from the Stalinist policies and repression of the past, but the violent actions in Budapest suggested otherwise. Inaction on the part of the United States angered and frustrated many Hungarians. Voice of America radio broadcasts and speeches by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Secretary of State John Foster Dulles had recently suggested that the United States supported the "liberation" of "captive peoples" in communist nations. Yet, as Soviet tanks bore down on the protesters, the United States did nothing beyond issuing public statements of sympathy for their plight.
1979 – Student followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini send shock waves across America when they storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran. The radical Islamic fundamentalists took 90 hostages. The students were enraged that the deposed Shah had been allowed to enter the United States for medical treatment and they threatened to murder hostages if any rescue was attempted. Days later, Iran's provincial leader resigned, and the Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of Iran's fundamentalist revolutionaries, took full control of the country–and the fate of the hostages. Two weeks after the storming of the embassy, the Ayatollah began to release all non-U.S. captives, and all female and minority Americans, citing these groups as among the people oppressed by the United States government. The remaining 52 captives were left at the mercy of the Ayatollah for the next 14 months. President Jimmy Carter was unable to diplomatically resolve the crisis, and on April 24, 1980, he ordered a disastrous rescue mission in which eight U.S. military personnel were killed and no hostages rescued. Three months later, the former shah died of cancer in Egypt, but the crisis continued. In November 1980, Carter lost the presidential election to Republican Ronald Reagan. Soon after, with the assistance of Algerian intermediaries, successful negotiations finally began between the United States and Iran. On January 20, 1981–the day of Reagan's inauguration–the United States freed almost $3 billion in frozen Iranian assets and promised $5 billion more in financial aid. Minutes after Reagan was sworn in, the hostages flew out of Iran on an Algerian airliner, ending their 444-day ordeal. The next day, Jimmy Carter flew to West Germany to greet them on their way home.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
*OKUBO, JAMES K.
Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 28 and 29 October and 4 November 1944, in the Foret Domaniale de Champ, near Biffontaine, eastern France. On 28 October, under strong enemy fire coming from behind mine fields and roadblocks, Technician Fifth Grade Okubo, a medic, crawled 150 yards to within 40 yards of the enemy lines. Two grenades were thrown at him while he left his last covered position to carry back wounded comrades. Under constant barrages of enemy small arms and machine gun fire, he treated 17 men on 28 October and 8 more men on 29 October. On 4 November, Technician Fifth Grade Okubo ran 75 yards under grazing machine gun fire and, while exposed to hostile fire directed at him, evacuated and treated a seriously wounded crewman from a burning tank, who otherwise would have died. Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
*PHILLIPS, LEE H.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Company E, 2d Battalion, 7 Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Korea, 4 November 1950. Entered service at: Ben Hill, Ga. Born: 3 February 1930, Stockbridge, Ga. Cpl. Phillips was killed in action 27 November 1950. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader of Company E, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Assuming the point position in the attack against a strongly defended and well-entrenched numerically superior enemy force occupying a vital hill position which had been unsuccessfully assaulted on 5 separate occasions by units of the Marine Corps and other friendly forces, Cpl. Phillips fearlessly led his men in a bayonet charge up the precipitous slope under a deadly hail of hostile mortar, small-arms, and machine gun fire. Quickly rallying his squad when it was pinned down by a heavy and accurate mortar barrage, he continued to lead his men through the bombarded area and, although only 5 members were left in the casualty ridden unit, gained the military crest of the hill where he was immediately subjected to an enemy counterattack. Although greatly outnumbered by an estimated enemy squad, Cpl. Phillips boldly engaged the hostile force with handgrenades and rifle fire and, exhorting his gallant group of marines to follow him, stormed forward to completely overwhelm the enemy. With only 3 men now left in his squad, he proceeded to spearhead an assault on the last remaining strongpoint which was defended by 4 of the enemy on a rocky and almost inaccessible portion of the hill position. Using 1 hand to climb up the extremely hazardous precipice, he hurled grenades with the other and, with 2 remaining comrades, succeeded in annihilating the pocket of resistance and in consolidating the position. Immediately subjected to a sharp counterattack by an estimated enemy squad, he skillfully directed the fire of his men and employed his own weapon with deadly effectiveness to repulse the numerically superior hostile force. By his valiant leadership, indomitable fighting spirit and resolute determination in the face of heavy odds, Cpl. Phillips served to inspire all who observed him and was directly responsible for the destruction of the enemy stronghold. His great personal valor reflects the highest credit upon himself and enhances and sustains the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
*POYNTER, JAMES I.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Near Sudong, Korea, 4 November 1950. Entered service at: Downey, Calif. Born: 1 December 1916, Bloomington, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader in a rifle platoon of Company A, in action against enemy aggressor forces during the defense of Hill 532, south of Sudong, Korea. When a vastly outnumbering, well-concealed hostile force launched a sudden, vicious counterattack against his platoon's hasty defensive position, Sgt. Poynter displayed superb skill and courage in leading his squad and directing its fire against the onrushing enemy. With his ranks critically depleted by casualties and he himself critically wounded as the onslaught gained momentum and the hostile force surrounded his position, he seized his bayonet and engaged in bitter hand-to-hand combat as the breakthrough continued. Observing 3 machineguns closing in at a distance of 25 yards, he dashed from his position and, grasping handgrenades from fallen marines as he ran, charged the emplacements in rapid succession, killing the crews of 2 and putting the other out of action before he fell, mortally wounded. By his self-sacrificing and valiant conduct, Sgt. Poynter inspired the remaining members of his squad to heroic endeavor in bearing down upon and repelling the disorganized enemy, thereby enabling the platoon to move out of the trap to a more favorable tactical position. His indomitable fighting spirit, fortitude, and great personal valor maintained in the face of overwhelming odds sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for November 4, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
4 November
1909: The first sportsman airplane owner in the U. S., Arthur P. Warner of Warner Instrument Company, began teaching himself to fly a Curtiss airplane. (24)
1911: The transatlantic airship Akron, designed by Melvin Vanniman, made its first flight at Atlantic City, N. J. (24)
1920: Using the old battleship USS Indiana, the Army completed the third in a series of tests to determine the effectiveness of aerial bombs against ships. The tests began on 14 October at Tangier Sound in Chesapeake Bay.
1923: Lt Al J. Williams (USN) flew a Curtis 500 R2C-1 to a Federation Aeronautique Internationale record of 266.59 MPH at Mitchel Field in Minneola, N. Y. (9) (24)
1927: Capt Hawthorne C. Gray, an early stratospheric explorer, died in his third attempt to break the balloon record of 40,820 feet. While descending from 42,470 feet, he died from oxygen starvation. This tragedy showed a need to use pressure suits and oxygen systems above 40,000 feet.
1936: The Hawaiian Clipper arrived at Alameda, after its first passenger trip to Manila, Philippines, and back. (21)
1944: Over 1,100 American B-17s and B-24s attacked Germany during the day, hitting targets near Hamburg, Hannover, and Saarbruecken. (4)
1950: KOREAN WAR. B-26s provided close support for the Eighth Army near Chongju, killing an estimated 500 enemy soldiers to relieve the hard-pressed U.S. troops. (28)
1951: KOREAN WAR. 34 F-86s met nearly 60 MiG-15s in the Sinamju area. The F-86 pilots destroyed two and damaged three others. (28)
1954: The Strategic Air Command retired its last B-29 bomber (number 42-94032) to the aircraft storage facility at Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz. (1)
1959: Construction of the first Atlas F silo-lift launcher began at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. (6)
1960: The USAF revealed the use of a converted C-97 tanker as an airborne tactical command post and communications center. (24)
1966: The US and Soviet Union signed an agreement permitting direct commercial flights between New York and Moscow.
1970: Nine Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units units received A-37s, F-100s, F-105s, and C-130s to begin a modernization program. (16)
1972: Operation COMMANDO DOMINO. Through 8 November, after the US transferred 48 F-5s to the Vietnamese Air Force from the Republic of China Air Force, Pacific Air Forces moved two F-4C squadrons from the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kadena AB, Japan, to Ching Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan, to supply air defense for the Republic of China. The Vietnamese Air Force received another 36 F-5s from other sources. To provide the Republic of Korea Air Force with an air defense capability, Pacific Air Forces released 18 F-4Ds from the 3d Tactical Fighter Wing at Kunsan AB, S. Korea, to the Republic of Korea. The 405th Fighter Wing at Clark AB, Philippines, then transferred 18 F-4Ds to the 3d Tactical Fighter Wing in return for 7 F-4Ds from other Pacific Air Forces resources. (17)
1983: URGENT FURY. As part of the Grenada operation, the Military Airlift Command transported 755 Cubans on 20 C-130 missions from Grenada to Cuban authorities in Barbados. (2)
1985: The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center saved 47 people during flood relief operations in the Shenandoah Valley, Va. (16)
1987: The Air Force awarded a $1.2 million contract to McDonnell Douglas Corporation to become a second-source for the Advanced Cruise Missile, the AGM-129.
1992: Through 11 November, four C-5s and one C-141 moved 236 tons of flour to Armenia to relieve food shortages after the Soviet Union's collapse. (16) (26)
2003: Travis AFB, Calif., sent the first C-5A Galaxy (No. 70-0458) to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. (22) NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB began Block 2 testing on two Boeing X-45A Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles. This program added communications links for flight coordination from other locations, and the ability to release inert small "smart" bombs. (3)
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