To All,
Good Thursday Morning July 18. The weather continues to be about the same. Have a wonderful day today wherever you are.
Warm Regards,
skip
HAGD
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/. Go here to see the director's corner for all 83 H-Grams
This Day in Navy and Marine Corps History:
July 18
1779 In the largest prize value of the American Revolution, Commodore Abraham Whipples squadron consisting of Continental frigates Providence, Queen of France and sloop Ranger, captures 11 British prizes off the Newfoundland Banks sailing from Jamaica. The cargoes are worth more than $1 million.
1792 Continental Navy Capt. John Paul Jones dies in Paris, France. A legend during the American Revolution, Jones argues for Congress establishing a United States Navy. When it fails to do so, the unemployed captain found work as a rear admiral in the Russian navy for a couple of years, but eventually returns to France, where he dies. More than a century later, his body is discovered, exhumed, brought back to the United States under huge fanfare and reburied in a magnificent sarcophagus at the United States Naval Academy.
1813 During the War of 1812, the frigate, USS President, commanded by John Rodgers, sinks the British brig, HMS Daphne, off the Irish coast. In the next few weeks, she engages three more vessels. USS President captures the ship, HMS Eliza Swan July 24, burns the brig, HMS Alert, on July 29, and captures the bark Lion on Aug. 2.
1921 U.S. Army and U.S. Navy aircraft sink the ex-German cruiser, Frankfurt, in target practice as part of General Billy Mitchell's aerial bombing demonstration.
1943 German submarine (U 134) shoots down (K 47), the first and only U.S. airship lost during WW II, in the Fla. straits. In Aug. 1943, (U 134) is sunk by British aircraft near Vigo, Spain.
1966 Gemini 10 is launched with Lt. Cmdr. John L. Young as command pilot and Michael Collins is the pilot. The mission entails 43 orbits at an altitude of 412.2 nautical miles and lasts two days, 22 hours, and 46 minutes.
1981 USS Dallas (SSN 700) is commissioned at Groton, Conn., her first homeport. The Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine is the first to be built with an all-digital fire control and sonar system.
1992 USS Shiloh (CG 67) is commissioned at Bath, Maine. The 21st Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser is the named after the Civil War Battle of Shiloh.
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Today in World History July 18
1789 Robespierre, a deputy from Arras, France, decides to back the French Revolution.
1812 Great Britain signs the Treaty of Orebro, making peace with Russia and Sweden.
1830 Uruguay adopts a liberal constitution.
1861 Union and Confederate troops skirmish at Blackburn's Ford, Virginia, in a prelude to the Battle of Bull Run.
1877 Inventor Thomas Edison records the human voice for the first time.
1872 The Ballot Act is passed in Great Britain, providing for secret election ballots.
1935 Ethiopian King Haile Selassie urges his countrymen to fight to the last man against the invading Italian army.
1936 General Francisco Franco of Spain revolts against the Republican government, starting the Spanish Civil War.
1942 The German Me-262, the first jet-propelled aircraft to fly in combat, makes its first flight.
1971 New Zealand and Australia announce they will pull their troops out of Vietnam.
1994 In Buenos Aires, a massive car bomb kills 96 people.
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OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT Thanks to the Bear
Skip… For The List for the week beginning Monday, 15 July 2024 and ending Sunday, 21 July 2024… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT (1968-1972)
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 14 July 1969… The retreat from Vietnam began, the loss of brave hearts continued. Ten aircraft and seven aviators gone but not forgotten: Captain Jerry Coffee's brilliant poem for the ages: "One Last Roll For Me."…
OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT (1968-1972)
(Please note the eye-watering ongoing revamp of the RTR website by Webmaster/Author Dan Heller, who has inherited the site from originators RADM Bear Taylor, USN, Retired, and Angie Morse, "Mighty Thunder")…
To remind folks that these are from the Vietnam Air Losses site that Micro put together. You click on the url below and can read what happened each day to the aircraft and its crew. .Micro is the one also that goes into the archives and finds these inputs and sends them to me for incorporation in the List. It is a lot of work and our thanks goes out to him for his effort.
From Vietnam Air Losses site for "for 18 July You really need to read this one about the courage of the Men in rescue helos that rescued the pilot and tried to rescue another one.
July 18: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=1250
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 Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
(This site was sent by a friend . 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 Pence
Subject: Celebration of Life for Pete (Viper) Pettigrew
Hi Skip,
Celebration of Life for Pete will on the flight deck on the USS Midway, 1:00-3:00pm on 19 August.
Please pass the word.
Thanks,
Pence
Thanks to AdmiralCox
Subject: Passing of RADM Kenneth William Pettigrew, USNR (Ret.)
Fellow Flag Officers,
It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Kenneth William "Pete" ("Viper") Pettigrew, U.S. Naval Reserve, Retired, on 23 June 2024 at age 82. RADM Pettigrew entered the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Program in 1960 at Stanford University and served as a Naval Aviator until his retirement in January 1998 as Reserve Deputy Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. His commands included Reserve Fighter Squadron THREE ZERO TWO (VF-302,) NR Naval Air Force Pacific 1094, and NR Naval Reserve Readiness Command, Region ELEVEN. He flew 325 combat missions during three deployments to the Vietnam War and was awarded a Silver Star for shooting down a North Vietnamese Mig-21 Fishbed fighter on 6 May 1972, making him the only former Top Gun instructor with a confirmed air-to-air kill. He was also awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, Thirty-three Air Medals (3 individual and 30 Strike/Flight,) and two Navy Commendation Medals with Combat "V," for service in the Vietnam War, flying the F-4 Phantom II. He was also the technical advisor to the 1986 movie "Top Gun."
Pete Pettigrew entered Stanford University in California in 1960, graduating in June 1964 with a degree in Biological Science and was commissioned an ensign on 3 June 1964 via the NROTC program. While at Stanford he was a standout swimmer, selected as a member of the 1963 national collegiate water polo team, and was twice selected as an All-American in water polo and the 400-yard medley relay.
In October 1964, Ensign Pettigrew reported to the Naval Air Basic Training Command (NABTC) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, where he flew the T-34 Mentor and T-2A Buckeye jet trainer. In December 1965, he was assigned to Training Squadron TWO FOUR (VT-24,) flying the TF-9, AF-9 jet trainers and F-11 Tiger jet fighter. He was promoted to lieutenant junior grade in December 1965. He was designated a Naval Aviator in June 1966.
In June 1966, Lieutenant (junior grade) Pettigrew reported to Fighter Squadron ONE TWO ONE (VF-121) "Pacemakers" at NAS Miramar, California for flight training in the F-4B Phantom II jet fighter-bomber. In December 1966, he was assigned to Fighter Squadron ONE FIVE ONE (VF-151) "Vigilantes" at NAS Miramar, with duty as Landing Signal Officer (LSO.) VF-151 deployed aboard attack carrier USS CORAL SEA (CVA-43) to Vietnam from April 1967 to February 1968, a period of intense carrier strike activity over Vietnam in the face of significantly improving North Vietnamese air defenses, which shot down the Squadron Commanding Officer, Commander C.R. Gillespie on 24 October 1967. Gillespie and his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO,) LTJG R.C. Clark became Prisoners of War, but Clark died in captivity. LTJG Pettigrew as promoted to lieutenant in December 1967. After a quick turn-around, VF-151 and CORAL SEA deployed again to Vietnam from July 1968 to April 1969, participating in Operation Rolling Thunder until the bombing halt in November 1968 (although strikes continued against communist targets in Laos and in South Vietnam.
In April 1969, LT Pettigrew returned to VF-212 as an Instructor Pilot and Senior LSO. Shortly thereafter he became an Instructor Pilot at the newly formed (March 1969) Top Gun school at NAS Miramar, flying the F-4 and the A-4 Skyhawk in an adversary role. In December 1971, he was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN (CVAW-11) at NAS Miramar, as the Wing LSO. CVAW-11 deployed aboard attack carrier USS KITTY HAWK (CVA-63) to Vietnam in February 1972. He was promoted to lieutenant commander in March 1972. This deployment coincided with the North Vietnamese "Easter Offensive" into South Vietnam and the responding Operation Linebacker resumption of bombing of North Vietnam. Lieutenant Commander Pettigrew was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for leading a major strike against a heavily defended North Vietnamese Petroleum, Oil, Lubricant (POL) facility near Quang Nap, North Vietnam.
On 6 May 1972, LCDR Pettigrew and his RIO, LTJG Mike McCabe were flying a Fighter Squadron ONE ONE FOUR (VF-114) "Aardvarks" F-4J and were assigned a Barrier Combat Air Patrol (BARCAP) mission. Due to a quick turn from an earlier mission, the F-4 only had two AIM-7 Sparrow and two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles (half the normal load.) LCDR Pettigrew took the lead of the MiGCAP section when one of the MiGCAP jets suffered a radar malfunction. The remaining MIGCAP jet, flown by LT Robert G. Hughes and RIO LTJG Adolph J. Cruz, flew on Pettigrew's wing. The fighters were originally vectored by shipboard air controller ("Red Crown") against a group of aircraft that turned out to be the Alpha Strike they assigned to protect. However, after the initial confusion they were then given a vector to a bogey at 30 miles. McCabe gained radar contact, but then lost it before gaining visual in fading light at 12 miles. The contact proved to be four MiG-21 Fishbed fighters in a tight box "welded wing" formation at 4,000 feet, with the Phantoms at 7,000 feet. In the 90 seconds of maneuvering that followed, Hughes had the better angle and hit the number four MiG with a Sidewinder, and the MiG flew into the ground. Hughes then lined up behind the number three MiG and fired two Sidewinders in succession, one missed to the right and the other went ballistic. Seeing the two Sidewinders miss, Pettigrew fired one Sidewinder at the MiG as Hughes fired his fourth. Hughes' Sidewinder arrived a fraction of a second ahead of Pettigrew's, damaging the tail. Pettigrew's missile flew up the tailpipe and blew the MiG to pieces. By this time, the other two MiGs were out of the fight. (thanks to Thomas McKelvey Cleaver, "The Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club.") Pettigrew (and Hughes) were awarded Silver Stars for this action (Hughes would later be killed in a mid-air collision.) KITTY HAWK returned from deployment in November 1972.
In 1973, LCDR Pettigrew transitioned to reserve duty, flying with Fighter Squadron THREE ZERO TWO (VF-302.) He was promoted to commander in July 1978. In 1980, Commander Pettigrew assumed duty as Commanding Officer of VF-302 flying the F-4N and F-4S Phantom II variants. During his time in command, VF-302 was awarded the F. Trubee Davison Award in 1981 as the best Naval Reserve Tailhook Squadron. Following his command tour in 1982, he was assigned as Program Manager for F/A-18 Hornet introduction to the Naval Reserve. In October 1983, he was assigned to NR VTU-8592 at NAS Miramar as Special Projects Officer. During this period he served as technical advisor to the movie "Top Gun," including a cameo in the movie. He was promoted to captain in March 1985.
In April 1985, Captain Pettigrew was assigned to NR VTU-9494 at NAS Miramar as Mobilization Department Head. In November 1985, he reported to NR Naval Air Force Pacific 1094 as Material Officer, and in September 1986 assumed command of the unit until September 1988. His Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) assignments as a captain included Naval War College (9-20 September 1985,) Naval Air Force Pacific Headquarter, San Diego (9-20 June 1986) for Exercise Present Arms '86, Naval Air Force Pacific Headquarters, Pearl Harbor as Command Center Watchstander (18 May-14 June 1987) and Reserve Liaison Officer (6-17 June 1988.) In July 1989 he attended the Senior Naval Reserve Officer Orientation Course at Atlantic Fleet Headquarters, Norfolk.
CAPT Pettigrew was selected for rear admiral (lower half) in October 1987 (this may be a misprint) and promoted to rear admiral (lower half) on 1 January 1991. In October 1988 he assumed duty as Deputy Naval Component Commander, Maritime Defense Zone Sector Aleutians. In October 1989, he assumed duty as Deputy Chief of Staff and the Deputy Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific Headquarters, San Diego.
His ACDUTRA assignments as a Flag Officer include Commander Maritime Defense Zone Sector Aleutians (22 September – 5 October 1989,) Commander Naval Air Force Pacific Headquarters, San Diego (3-11 April- 1989,) U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, (22 April- 4 May 1990,) and Naval Reserve Readiness Command NINETEEN, San Diego, as President of Command Screening Board (6-9 June 1990.)
Additional temporary Flag Officer assignments included, Task Force Commander, Juniper Falcon: resupply of Israel exercise (March-May 1995,) Deputy Task Force Commander, Task Force Southwest Asia (September-December 1995,) and Deputy Task Force Commander: Bright Star Exercise (August-October 1997.)
In his reserve capacity he served as Deputy Commander THIRD Fleet, Commander NR Naval Reserve Readiness Command, Region ELEVEN, and Deputy Commander U.S. Atlantic Fleet.* RADM Pettigrew retired in January 1998. During his Navy career, RADM Pettigrew flew 4,500 flight hours with 529+ carrier arrested recoveries.
Rear Admiral Pettigrew's awards include the Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards,) Air Medal (3 individual, 30 strike/flight,) Navy Commendation Medal (three awards, two with Combat "V,") National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. (The medal section of his service transcript is incomplete and he has additional awards not listed, to include a Battle E (can be seen in fuzzy photo,) probably Navy Unit and Meritorious Unit Commendations, multiple campaign stars on his Vietnam Service Medal, probably a Southwest Asia Campaign Medal, and other Republic of Vietnam awards.)
Beginning from his release from active duty in 1973, Pete Pettigrew flew for Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA,) which was integrated into U.S. Airlines (USAir) in 1988. As a commercial airline pilot he amassed over 16,000 flight hours from 1973 to 2002. He then served as a contract charter pilot through 2014. While at PSA, he served six years as Master Executive Council Chairman for PSA Pilots and later served two years as Executive Vice President for the Airline Pilots Association.
He was also an accomplished triathlete, including placing 5th in the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon in his age group. He competed in multiple local San Diego triathlons. He holds a record for the Catalina Channel Swim Relay (six members) in the "Over 70" age group, with a time of 10 hours 57 minutes. He also did the Maui Channel Swim and won a San Diego handball tournament in his age group. He also served many years as a docent at the USS MIDWAY museum in San Diego.
U.S. Navy jets downed 58 North Vietnamese Mig-17/19/21 fighters during the war from 1963 to January 1973; 25 of these were downed in 1972, after the establishment of Top Gun Navy Fighter Weapons School to correct air-to-air combat deficiencies identified earlier in the war. As one of the first Top Gun instructors, "Viper" Pettigrew had a significant hand in the improved proficiency later in the war, as Top Gun graduates in turn shared their lessons in fleet squadrons. He became the only former Top Gun instructor to achieve a confirmed air-to-air kill, earning a Silver Star. His flying skill and ample courage were demonstrated in 325 combat missions, during the peak years of both Operation Rolling Thunder and Operation Linebacker (I) intense strike operations over North Vietnam. He more than earned his transition to the Reserve in 1973, but nevertheless remained ready to answer the Navy's call and demonstrating his abilities by leading VF-302 to honors as the best Reserve Tailhook Squadron in 1981. He also served as the technical advisor to the movie "Top Gun" which may have been one of the greatest recruiting bonanzas for the U.S. Navy, and especially Naval Aviation. (It is also no coincidence that the fictional CO of Top Gun in the movie is callsign "Viper.") Even in the Reserve, his dedication to duty necessitated considerable sacrifice in personal and family time as he repeatedly accepted assignments of increasing responsibility, including deployments to the Middle East for Joint Task Force Southwest Asia and major Exercise Bright Star. He was described as an "outstanding fighter pilot, officer, and leader" who "embraced all challenges," which is probably an understatement. He served our nation and Navy exceedingly well in situations of great personal risk, for which we should all be grateful.
Rest in Peace Admiral Pettigrew
Very respectfully,
Sam
*Note; RADM Pettigrew's service transcript only covers through his selection to Flag Rank, so I do not have the date of his promotion to rear admiral (two star) or dates of his assignments as a two star. Also, transcripts for reserve officers only cover time on active duty (in his case nine years 1964-1973) and as a captain and flag officer (i.e., does not cover 1973-1985.) I have pieced together from other sources, but it may not be completely accurate.
Samuel J. Cox (SES)
RADM, USN (Ret)
Director of Naval History
Curator for the Navy
Director Naval History and Heritage Command
202-433-2210 (work) 571-213-9392 (govt cell)
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From the archives
Thanks to Dr.Rich
An hour well spent …
If you ever swam, fished, surfed, sailed, scuba dived, snorkeled, etc. take the time to watch this ...........
This is a link to a Patagonia film which I really enjoyed! I hope you will too.
Get wet!!
AirPlay it from your phone -> AppleTV to your HDTV… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vejz78dhfZk
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These are great. I have four granddaughters and the two oldest have lived with us for most of their lives. They both are outstanding students and fantastic Lacrosse players. The oldest is leaving next month to go to college on an academic scholarship and will continue to play Lacrosse and the other one will be with us a couple more years as she will be a junior this year and played on the varsity as a sophomore and will be on the team again this year. The other two live in Idaho and are both very athletic and very smart. One was the state champion in gymnastics for four years in a row and the other is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. We do not get to see them as much.
Thanks to Boysie ... and Dr. Rich
Grandparent Jokes
How grandchildren perceive their grandparents
1. I was in the bathroom, putting on my makeup, under the watchful eyes of my young granddaughter, as I'd done many times before. After I applied my lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, "But Grandma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!" I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye....
2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 72. My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"
3. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, "Who was THAT?"
4. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like. "We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods." The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"
5. My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo and I said, "No, how are we alike?'' "You're both old," he replied.
6. A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story.
"What's it about?" he asked.
"I don't know," she replied. "I can't read."
7. I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying, "Grandma, I really think you should try to figure out some of these colors yourself!"
8. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."
9. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure." "Look in your underwear, Grandpa," he advised "Mine says I'm 4 to 6." (WOW! I really like this one -- it says I'm only '38'!)
10. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, "Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today." The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. "That's interesting." she said. "How do you make babies?" "It's simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'."
11. Children's Logic: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant." The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked. "Sure," said the young boy confidently. 'It means carrying a child."
12. A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties.
"They use him to keep crowds back," said one child.
"No," said another. "He's just for good luck."
A third child brought the argument to a close. "They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants."
13. A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. "Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and whenever we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport."
14. Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him!
15. My Grandparents are funny, when they bend over, you hear gas leaks and they blame their dog.
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This Day in U S Military History…….July 18
1792 – American naval hero John Paul Jones died in Paris at age 45. His body was preserved in rum in case the American government wished him back. In 1905 his body was transported to the US and placed in a crypt in Annapolis.
1863 – Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and 272 of his troops are killed in an assault on Fort Wagner, near Charleston, South Carolina. Shaw was commander of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, perhaps the most famous regiment of African-American troops during the war. Fort Wagner stood on Morris Island, guarding the approach to Charleston harbor. It was a massive earthwork, 600 feet wide and made from sand piled 30 feet high. The only approach to the fort was across a narrow stretch of beach bounded by the Atlantic on one side and a swampy marshland on the other. Union General Quincy Gillmore headed an operation in July 1863 to take the island and seal the approach to Charleston. Shaw and his 54th Massachusetts were chosen to lead the attack of July 18. Shaw was the scion of an abolitionist family and a veteran of the 1862 Shenandoah Valley and Antietam campaigns. The regiment included two sons of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the grandson of author and poet Sojourner Truth. Union artillery battered Fort Wagner all day on July 18, but the barrage did little damage to the fort and its garrison. At 7:45 p.m., the attack commenced. Yankee troops had to march 1,200 yards down the beach to the stronghold, facing a hail of bullets from the Confederates. Shaw's troops and other Union regiments penetrated the walls at two points but did not have sufficient numbers to take the fort. Over 1,500 Union troops fell or were captured to the Confederates' 222. Despite the failure, the battle proved that African-American forces could not only hold their own but also excel in battle.
1942 – The German Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe, the first jet-propelled aircraft to fly in combat, made its first flight. Walter Nowotny was a rising young star in the Luftwaffe, chosen by Hitler to be the point man to lead the new jet fighter under the tutelage of General of Fighters Adolf Galland who was assigned to prove the airplane in battle. The Axis hopes were dashed when Nowotny was attacked by American pilots during landing and crashed. Col. Edward R. "Buddy" Haydon was one of those American pilots.
1943 – German submarine shoots down K-47, the first and only U.S. airship lost during WW II.
1943 – An aircraft carrying the Commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, Admiral Yamamoto, is shot down by P-38 Lighting fighters over Bougainville. Yamamoto is killed. This action is the result the interception of a coded Japanese message announcing a visit by Yamamoto. The Japanese fail to deduce that their codes are insecure.
1944 – Two Guard divisions, the 29th (DC, MD, VA) and the 35th (KS, MO, NE) both claim credit for the final capture of the vital crossroads city of St. Lo from the Nazis. According to the D-Day plan, St. Lo was supposed to be secured ten days after D-Day. But due to stubborn German resistance using each Norman hedgerow as a defensive fighting position, it took 42 days to take the city. During the 35th Division's approach, Nebraska Guardsman First Lieutenant Francis Greenlief, of Company L, 134th Infantry (NE), was awarded the Silver Star for capturing an enemy machine gun nest single-handedly. In 1971 Major General Greenlief was appointed by President Richard Nixon as the Chief, National Guard Bureau. Another Guard soldier was to gain fame on the approach to St. Lo, but in a different way. Virginian Major Thomas Howie, the popular commander of the 2nd Battalion, 116th Infantry (VA), told his officers in a meeting on the edge of the city "I'll see you in St. Lo!" and then was killed by a mortar fragment. When the division commander heard the story he instructed that Howie's body be transported with the lead elements when they moved into the city. His body was placed on a stretcher and draped with an American flag and placed on the ruins of the Ste. Croix Church in the center of the city. A passing New York Times reporter heard the story and wrote a moving tribute entitled "The Major of St. Lo" but could not identify Howie by name due to security. The story was picked up by newspapers across the nation and the "Major" came to represent all the men killed in the Normandy campaign to liberate France. To honor these men today, Nebraska has the "Major General Francis Greenlief Training Site" in Hastings and the "Major Thomas Howie Memorial Armory" is in his hometown of Staunton, VA.
1945 – Captured German mines explode accidentally, destroying an American Red Cross club in Italy and killing 36 people.
1945 – Aircraft from the American carrier Wasp attack Japanese positions on Wake Island.
1945 – The battleship Nagato, which has been reduced to service as a floating antiaircraft battery, is damaged by American planes at Yokosuka. Allied air and naval forces strike numerous other targets in the Tokyo area and encounter almost no opposition.
1947 – President Truman signed the Presidential Succession Act, which placed the Speaker of the House and the Senate President Pro Tempore next in the line of succession after the vice president.
1966 – Launch of Gemini 10 with LCDR John W. Young, USN as Command Pilot. Mission involved 43 orbits at an altitude of 412.2 nautical miles and lasted 2 days, 22 hours, and 46 minutes. Recovery was by HS-3 helicopter from USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7).
1973 – Task Force 78, Mine Countermeasures Force, departs waters of North Vietnam after completing their minesweeping operations of 1,992 tow hours for the cost of $20,394,000.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
CARNEY, WILLIAM H.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company C, 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry. Place and date: At Fort Wagner, S.C., 18 July 1863. Entered service at: New Bedford, Mass. Birth: Norfolk, Va. Date of issue: 23 May 1900. Citation: When the color sergeant was shot down, this soldier grasped the flag, led the way to the parapet, and planted the colors thereon. When the troops fell back he brought off the flag, under a fierce fire in which he was twice severely wounded.
CROSS, JAMES E.
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company K, 12th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Blackburns Ford, Va., 18 July 1861. Entered service at: ——. Birth: Darien, N.Y. Date of issue: 5 April 1898. Citation: With a companion, refused to retreat when the part of the regiment to which he was attached was driven back in disorder, but remained upon the skirmish line for some time thereafter, firing upon the enemy.
HIBSON, JOSEPH C.
Rank and organization: Private, Company C, 48th New York Infantry. Place and date: Near Fort Wagner, S.C., 13 July 1863, Near Fort Wagner, S.C., 14 July 1863; Near Fort Wagner, S.C., 18 July 1863. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: England. Date of issue: 23 October 1897. Citation: While voluntarily performing picket duty under fire on 13 July 1863, was attacked and his surrender demanded, but he killed his assailant. The day following responded to a call for a volunteer to reconnoiter the enemy's position, and went within the enemy's lines under fire and was exposed to great danger. On 18 July voluntarily exposed himself with great gallantry during an assault, and received 3 wounds that permanently disabled him for active service.
RAND, CHARLES F.
Rank and organization: Private, Company K, 12th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Blackburns Ford, Va., 18 July 1861. Entered service at: Batavia, N.Y. Birth: Batavia, N.Y. Date of issue: 23 October 1897. Citation: Remained in action when a part of his regiment broke in disorder, joined another company, and fought with it through the remainder of the engagement.
CUKELA, LOUIS (Army Medal)
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 66th Company, 5th Regiment. Place and date: Near Villers-Cotterets, France, 18 July 1918. Entered service at: Minneapolis, Minn. Born: 1 May 1888, Sebenes, Austria. G.O. No.: 34, W.D., 1919. (Also received Navy Medal of Honor.) Citation: When his company, advancing through a wood, met with strong resistance from an enemy strong point, Sgt. Cukela crawled out from the flank and made his way toward the German lines in the face of heavy fire, disregarding the warnings of his comrades. He succeeded in getting behind the enemy position and rushed a machinegun emplacement, killing or driving off the crew with his bayonet. With German handgrenades he then bombed out the remaining portion of the strong point, capturing 4 men and 2 damaged machineguns.
CUKELA, LOUIS (Navy Medal)
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 66th Company, 5th Regiment. Born: 1 May 1888, Sebenes, Austria. Accredited to: Minnesota. (Also received Army Medal of Honor.) Citation: For extraordinary heroism while serving with the 66th Company, 5th Regiment, during action in the Forest de Retz, near Viller-Cottertes, France, 18 July 1918. Sgt. Cukela advanced alone against an enemy strong point that was holding up his line. Disregarding the warnings of his comrades, he crawled out from the flank in the face of heavy fire and worked his way to the rear of the enemy position. Rushing a machinegun emplacement, he killed or drove off the crew with his bayonet, bombed out the remaining part of the strong point with German handgrenades and captured 2 machineguns and 4 men.
*DILBOY, GEORGE
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company H, 103d Infantry, 26th Division. Place and date: Near Belleau, France, 18 July 1918. Entered service at: Keene, N.H. Birth: Greece. G.O. No.: 13, W.D., 1919. Citation: After his platoon had gained its objective along a railroad embankment, Pfc. Dilboy, accompanying his platoon leader to reconnoiter the ground beyond, was suddenly fired upon by an enemy machinegun from 100 yards. From a standing position on the railroad track, fully exposed to view, he opened fire at once, but failing to silence the gun, rushed forward with his bayonet fixed, through a wheat field toward the gun emplacement, falling within 25 yards of the gun with his right leg nearly severed above the knee and with several bullet holes in his body. With undaunted courage he continued to fire into the emplacement from a prone position, killing 2 of the enemy and dispersing the rest of the crew.
EDWARDS, DANIEL R.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 3d Machine Gun Battalion, 1st Division. Place and date: Near Soissons, France, 18 July 1918. Entered service at: Bruceville, Tex. Born: 9 April 1897, Moorville, Tex. G.O. No.: 14, W.D., 1923. Citation: Reporting for duty from hospital where he had been for several weeks under treatment for numerous and serious wounds and although suffering intense pain from a shattered arm, he crawled alone into an enemy trench for the purpose of capturing or killing enemy soldiers known to be concealed therein. He killed 4 of the men and took the remaining 4 men prisoners; while conducting them to the rear one of the enemy was killed by a high explosive enemy shell which also completely shattered 1 of Pfc. Edwards' legs, causing him to be immediately evacuated to the hospital. The bravery of Pfc. Edwards, now a tradition in his battalion because of his previous gallant acts, again caused the morale of his comrades to be raised to high pitch.
*KOCAK, MATEJ (Army Medal)
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 66th Company, 5th Regiment, 2d Division. Place and date: Near Soissons, France, 18 July 1918. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Born: 31 December 1882, Gbely (Slovakia), Austria. G.O. No.: 34, W.D., 1919. (Also received Navy Medal of Honor.) Citation: When the advance of his battalion was checked by a hidden machinegun nest, he went forward alone, unprotected by covering fire from his own men, and worked in between the German positions in the face of fire from enemy covering detachments. Locating the machinegun nest, he rushed it and with his bayonet drove off the crew. Shortly after this he organized 25 French colonial soldiers who had become separated from their company and led them in attacking another machinegun nest, which was also put out of action.
*KOCAK, MATEJ (Navy Medal)
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 31 December 1882, Gbely (Slovakia), Austria. Accredited to: New York. ( Also received Army Medal of Honor. ) Citation: For extraordinary heroism while serving with the 66th Company, 5th Regiment, 2d Division, in action in the Viller-Cottertes section, south of Soissons, France, 18 July 1918. When a hidden machinegun nest halted the advance of his battalion, Sgt. Kocak went forward alone unprotected by covering fire and worked his way in between the German positions in the face of heavy enemy fire. Rushing the enemy position with his bayonet, he drove off the crew. Later the same day, Sgt. Kocak organized French colonial soldiers who had become separated from their company and led them in an attack on another machinegun nest which was also put out of action.
*EVANS, RODNEY J.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company D, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. Place and date: Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, 18 July 1969. Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala. Born: 17 July 1948, Chelsea, Mass. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Evans distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism while serving as a squad leader in a reconnaissance sweep through heavy vegetation to reconnoiter a strong enemy position. As the force approached a well-defined trail, the platoon scout warned that the trail was booby-trapped. Sgt. Evans led his squad on a route parallel to the trail. The force had started to move forward when a nearby squad was hit by the blast of a concealed mine. Looking to his right Sgt. Evans saw a second enemy device. With complete disregard for his safety he shouted a warning to his men, dived to the ground and crawled toward the mine. Just as he reached it an enemy soldier detonated the explosive and Sgt. Evans absorbed the full impact with his body. His gallant and selfless action saved his comrades from probable death or injury and served as an inspiration to his entire unit. Sgt. Evans' gallantry in action at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
McGINTY, JOHN J. III
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant (then S/Sgt.), U.S. Marine Corps, Company K, 3d Battalion, 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 18 July 1966. Entered service at: Laurel Bay, S.C. Born: 2 1 January 1940, Boston, Mass. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 2d Lt. McGinty's platoon, which was providing rear security to protect the withdrawal of the battalion from a position which had been under attack for 3 days, came under heavy small arms, automatic weapons and mortar fire from an estimated enemy regiment. With each successive human wave which assaulted his 32-man platoon during the 4-hour battle, 2d Lt. McGinty rallied his men to beat off the enemy. In 1 bitter assault, 2 of the squads became separated from the remainder of the platoon. With complete disregard for his safety, 2d Lt. McGinty charged through intense automatic weapons and mortar fire to their position. Finding 20 men wounded and the medical corpsman killed, he quickly reloaded ammunition magazines and weapons for the wounded men and directed their fire upon the enemy. Although he was painfully wounded as he moved to care for the disabled men, he continued to shout encouragement to his troops and to direct their fire so effectively that the attacking hordes were beaten off. When the enemy tried to out-flank his position, he killed 5 of them at point-blank range with his pistol. When they again seemed on the verge of overrunning the small force, he skillfully adjusted artillery and air strikes within 50 yards of his position. This destructive firepower routed the enemy, who left an estimated 500 bodies on the battlefield. 2d Lt. McGinty's personal heroism, indomitable leadership, selfless devotion to duty, and bold fighting spirit inspired his men to resist the repeated attacks by a fanatical enemy, reflected great credit upon himself, and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.
MODRZEJEWSKI, ROBERT J.
Rank and organization: Major (then Capt.), U.S. Marine Corps, Company K, 3d Battalion, 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division, FMF. place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 15 to 18 July 1966. Entered service at: Milwaukee, Wis. Born: 3 July 1934, Milwaukee, Wis. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On 15 July, during Operation HASTINGS, Company K was landed in an enemy-infested jungle area to establish a blocking position at a major enemy trail network. Shortly after landing, the company encountered a reinforced enemy platoon in a well-organized, defensive position. Maj. Modrzejewski led his men in the successful seizure of the enemy redoubt, which contained large quantities of ammunition and supplies. That evening, a numerically superior enemy force counterattacked in an effort to retake the vital supply area, thus setting the pattern of activity for the next 2 1/2 days. In the first series of attacks, the enemy assaulted repeatedly in overwhelming numbers but each time was repulsed by the gallant marines. The second night, the enemy struck in battalion strength, and Maj. Modrzejewski was wounded in this intensive action which was fought at close quarters. Although exposed to enemy fire, and despite his painful wounds, he crawled 200 meters to provide critically needed ammunition to an exposed element of his command and was constantly present wherever the fighting was heaviest, despite numerous casualties, a dwindling supply of ammunition and the knowledge that they were surrounded, he skillfully directed artillery fire to within a few meter* of his position and courageously inspired the efforts of his company in repelling the aggressive enemy attack. On 18 July, Company K was attacked by a regimental-size enemy force. Although his unit was vastly outnumbered and weakened by the previous fighting, Maj. Modrzejewski reorganized his men and calmly moved among them to encourage and direct their efforts to heroic limits as they fought to overcome the vicious enemy onslaught. Again he called in air and artillery strikes at close range with devastating effect on the enemy, which together with the bold and determined fighting of the men of Company K, repulsed the fanatical attack of the larger North Vietnamese force. His unparalleled personal heroism and indomitable leadership inspired his men to a significant victory over the enemy force and reflected great credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for July 18, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
18 July
1909: American Louis Paulhan set an FAI altitude record of 492 feet in a Voisin airplane at Dounais, France. (9)
1916: The Secretary of the Navy created allowances for flight clothes. (24)
1943: A German sub shot down the Navy's K-74 Airship off the coast of Florida. It was the only airship lost to enemy action in the war. (24)
1946: Formal jet transition training course established at Williams Field with P-80 Shooting Stars.
1950: KOREAN WAR. The 19 BG began modifying a few B-29s to use radio-guided (Razon) bombs to bomb bridges accurately. (28)
1958: The USAF awarded a contract to North American's Autonetics Division to develop an allinertial guidance system for the Minuteman. (6)
1961: The largest polyethylene balloon manufactured to date, holding 13.5 million cubic feet of helium at peak altitude, launched from Bemidji, Minn.
1962: NASA achieved a record for man-made objects in space when it launched "Big Shot." This rigidized Echo-type balloon left Cape Canaveral aboard a Thor missile. When it inflated at 922 miles in altitude, the balloon stood 13-stories tall. (16) (24)
1966: The Air Force's Cambridge Research Laboratory sent up a balloon twice as large as any previously launched from Holloman AFB. The 456-foot-diameter, 26-million-cubic-foot balloon lifted 1,700 pounds to 130,000 feet to test its equipment in rarified air similar to that of Mars for the Voyager program. (5) (16) GEMINI X: Through 21 July, a Titan booster sent Astronauts Cmdr John W. Young (USN) and Maj Michael Collins (USAF) into space to practice docking with targets. In the first hookup, the astronauts achieved the longest docking yet, while in the second they retrieved an object from a passive satellite. Young and Collins splashed down 594 miles east of Cape Kennedy after 70 hours 47 minutes in space and 43 orbits. They also set an FAI altitude record of 476 miles. (9) (26)
1967: For the first time, an HH-3E Jolly Green Giant helicopter was refueled during a rescue mission. The helicopter was refueled by an HC–130 Hercules. (18)
1969: NASA and the Air Force decided to conduct a cooperative YF-12 flight research program. (3)
2002: At McConnell AFB, the Airborne Laser (ABL), a highly-modified Boeing 747-400F, made its first flight. The world's first directed-energy combat aircraft had a rotating nose turret with a 5- foot diameter telescope to focus and direct a laser to destroy ballistic missiles in flight. (3)
2006: The eighth and final C-17 (tail no. 05-5153), named the Spirit of Kamehameha-Imua in honor of Kamehameha the Great, arrived at Hickam AFB to complete the 15 AW's conversion to an operational strategic airlift wing. (22)
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