To All,
Good Monday Morning August 26. Got the bells and whistles threat again this morning. Did the hard shut down and am now sending out the list to see if it will work. good thing I checked it before I sent it as it had doubled in size and duplicated itself.
Busy week this week
Warm Regards,
skip
Make it a Good Day
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
Today in Naval and Marine Corps History
August. 26
1775 The R.I. delegates press the Continental Congress for creation of a Continental Navy to protect the colonies due to the harassment of shipping by the British.
1839 The brig USS Washington seizes the Spanish slaver Amistad, near Montauk Point, N.Y. The Africans are held on murder charges due to their prior seizure of the ship in July. The case goes to the Supreme Court in Jan. 1841, and former President John Quincy Adams successfully argues the defendants' case.
1843 The day after the steam frigate, USS Missouri, becomes the first steam-powered ship to complete a Trans-Atlantic crossing, she accidently catches on fire, explodes and sinks at Gibraltar, without loss of life.
1912 A detachment of Marines from USS Rainbow lands at Camp Nicholson, near Shanghai, China, to protect American interests from local revolutionaries.
1944 Motor torpedo boats PT-511, PT-514, and PT-520 take part in a night engagement that turns back the last German attempt to reinforce the besieged garrison at La Havre. The PTs sink Germany artillery ferries AFP-98 and AFP-108.
1949 While operating in stormy seas off northern Norway, USS Cochino (SS 345) suffers a series of serious battery explosions that result in her loss. Though Cochino's crew is successfully rescued by USS Tusk (SS 426), the submarine loses seven of her own men during this difficult effort.
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This Day In World History August 25
Today in History
August 26
1071 Turks defeat the Byzantine army under Emperor Romanus IV at Manzikert, Eastern Turkey.
1429 Joan of Arc makes a triumphant entry into Paris.
1789 The Constituent Assembly in Versailles, France, approves the final version of the Declaration of Human Rights.
1862 Confederate General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson seizes Manassas Junction, Virginia, and moves to encircle Union forces under General John Pope.
1883 The Indonesian island of Krakatoa erupts in the largest explosion recorded in history, heard 2,200 miles away in Madagascar. The resulting destruction sends volcanic ash up 50 miles into the atmosphere and kills almost 36,000 people--both on the island itself and from the resulting 131-foot tidal waves that obliterate 163 villages on the shores of nearby Java and Sumatra.
1920 The 19th Amendment to the Constitution is officially ratified, giving women the right to vote.
On August 26, 1939, the first televised Major League baseball game is broadcast on station W2XBS, the station that was to become WNBC-TV. Announcer Red Barber called the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York.
At the time, television was still in its infancy. Regular programming did not yet exist, and very few people owned television sets—there were only about 400 in the New York area. Not until 1946 did regular network broadcasting catch on in the United States, and only in the mid-1950s did television sets become more common in the American household.
In 1939, the World's Fair—which was being held in New York—became the catalyst for the historic broadcast. The television was one of the fair's prize exhibits, and organizers believed that the Dodgers-Reds doubleheader on August 26 was the perfect event to showcase America's grasp on the new technology.
1943 The United States recognizes the French Committee of National Liberation.
1957 Ford Motor Company reveals the Edsel, its latest luxury car.
1966 South African Defense Force troops attack a People's Liberation Army of Nambia at Omugulugwombashe, the first battle of the 22-year Namibian War of Independence.
1970 A nationwide Women's Strike for Equality, led by Betty Friedan on the 50th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment calls attention to unequal pay and other gender inequalities in America.
1977 The National Assembly of Quebec adopts Bill 101, Charter of the French Language, making French the official language of the Canadian province.
1978 Sigmund Jähn becomes first German to fly in space, on board Soviet Soyuz 31.
1978 Albino Luciani elected to the Papacy and chooses the name Pope John Paul I ; his 33-day reign is among the shortest in Papal history.
1999 Russia begins the Second Chechen War in response to the Invasion of Dagestan by the Islamic International Peacekeeping Brigade.
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OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT Thanks to the Bear
Skip… For The List for the week beginning Monday, 26 August 2024 continuing through Sunday, 1 September 2024… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT (1968-1972)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 25 August 1969… Includes two great stories: The saga of "Balky Company A" and the 40 year search for her missing Marine by a wife who never gave up…
(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 26August
26-Aug: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=2988
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
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Thanks to Al
Monday Morning Humor--Tailhook '24
Over the weekend, I was at Tailhook '24 where I had the chance to visit with some "old" comrades from my Naval aviation days. That was great. But also great was the opportunity to see the current men and women who are serving as today's military aviators. They are well-qualified and super Americans. It looks as if Naval Aviation is in great hands. This week's humor is dedicated to them. Keep them in your prayers.
On some air bases, the military is on one side of the field and civilian aircraft use the other side of the field, with the control tower in the middle. One day, on just such a field, the tower received a call from an aircraft asking, "What time is it?"
The tower responded, "Who is calling?"
The aircraft replied, "What difference does it make?"
The tower replied, "It makes a lot of difference. If you are a commercial airlines flight, it is 3 o'clock. If you are an Air Force aircraft, it is 1500 hours. If you are a Navy aircraft, it is 6 bells. If you are an Army aircraft, the big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is on the 3. If you are a Marine Corps aircraft, it's Thursday afternoon. If you are in the National Guard, it's still a couple of hours until quitting time."
Aviation truisms…
• When one engine fails on a twin-engine airplane you always have enough power left to get you to the scene of the crash.
• Blue sea Navy truism: There are more planes in the ocean than there are submarines in the sky.
• Never trade luck for skill.
• The three most common expressions (or famous last words) in aviation are, "Why is it doing that?", "Where are we?" and "Ohh Sh#!!"
• Weather forecasts are horoscopes with numbers.
• Airspeed, altitude or brains: two are always needed to successfully complete the flight.
• A smooth landing is mostly luck; two in a row is all luck; three in a row is prevarication.
• Mankind has a perfect record in aviation; we never left one up there!
• If the wings are traveling faster than the fuselage, it's probably a helicopter -- and therefore, unsafe.
• Flashlights are tubular metal containers kept in a flight bag for the purpose of storing dead batteries.
• Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding it or doing anything about it.
• When a flight is proceeding incredibly well, something was forgotten.
• Just remember, if you crash because of weather, your funeral will be held on a sunny day.
• A pilot who doesn't have any fear probably isn't flying his plane to its maximum.
• There is no reason to fly through a thunderstorm in peacetime.
• The three best things in life are a good landing, a good orgasm, and a good bowel movement. The night carrier landing is one of the few opportunities in life where you get to experience all three at the same time.
• Without ammunition the USAF would be just another expensive flying club.
A comparison of pilot traditions between the Navy and the Air Force…
On a carrier, the Naval Aviator looks over at the Catapult Officer ("Shooter") who gives the 'run up' engines signal by rotating his finger above his head. The pilot pushes the throttle forward, checks all gauges and gives the Cat officer a brisk salute, continuing the Navy tradition of asking permission to leave the ship. Cat officer drops to one knee while swooping his arm forward and pointing down deck, granting that permission.
We've all seen Air Force pilots look up just before taxi for takeoff and the ground crew waits until their thumb is sticking straight up. The crew chief then confirms that he sees the thumb, salutes and the Air Force pilot then takes off. This time tested tradition is the last link in the Air Force safety net to confirm that the pilot does not have both thumbs up his @$$.
Basic Flying Rules:
• Try to stay in the middle of the air.
• Do not go near the edges of it.
• The edges of the air can be recognized by the appearance of ground, buildings, sea, trees and interstellar space. It is much more difficult to fly there.
Four young Naval aviators are walking down a street in Norfolk. Then they turn a corner and see a sign that says "The Aviators' Bar " " ALL DRINKS--25 CENTS". They look at each other, then go in.
The bartender says in a voice that carries across the room, "Come on in and let me pour one for you, what'll it be, Gentlemen?"
There seems to be a fully stocked bar, so the men all ask for a stinger. In short order, the bartender serves up 4 iced stingers--and says, That'll be 25 cents each, please."
They can't believe their good luck. They pay the dollar, finish their stingers, and order another round.
Again, four excellent stingers are produced with the bartender again saying, "That's a dollar more, please."
They pay the dollar, but their curiosity is more than they can stand. They've each had two stingers and so far they've spent only two dollars.
Finally one of the men couldn't stand it any longer and asks the bartender "How can you afford to serve stingers as good as these for a quarter a piece?"
"Here's my story. I'm a retired tailor from Brooklyn, and I always wanted to own a bar down by the water. Last year I hit the lottery for $50 million and decided to open this place. Every drink costs a quarter whether it's wine, liquor, beer or whatever. They are all the same."
"Wow. That's quite a story" says one of the men.
The four of them sipped at their stingers and couldn't help but notice three other people at the end of the bar who didn't have a drink in front of them, and hadn't ordered anything the whole time they were there.
One man gestures at the three at the end of the bar without drinks and asks the bartender, "What's with them?"
The bartender says, "They're retired Navy, they're waiting for happy hour."
Because We Flew—Author unknown
Once the wings go on, they never come off whether they can be seen or not. They fuse to the soul through adversity, fear and adrenaline, and no one who has ever worn them with pride, integrity and guts can ever sleep through the 'call of the wild' that wafts through the bedroom windows in the deep of the night.
When a good flyer leaves the 'job' and retires, many are jealous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired, wonder. We wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of precious camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times.
We know in the world of flying, there is a fellowship which lasts long after the flight suits are hung up in the back of the closet. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.
Because we flew, we envy no man on earth.
On the Experience of War--Author unknown
"I now know why men who have been to war yearn to reunite. Not to tell stories or look at old pictures. Not to laugh or weep. Comrades gather because they long to be with the men who once acted at their best; men who suffered and sacrificed together, who were stripped of their humanity. I did not pick these men. They were delivered by fate and the military. But I know them in a way I know no other men.
I have never given anyone such trust. They were willing to guard something more precious than my life. They would have carried my reputation, the memory of me. It was part of the bargain we all made, the reason we were so willing to die for one another. As long as I have memory, I will think of them all, every day. I am sure that when I leave this world, my last thought will be of my family and my comrades...Such good men."
Hand salute to those fine men and women in flight suits!!!
Al
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Thanks to History Facts
When Did People Start Using Last Names?
There were around 6.3 million different surnames, also known as family names or last names, reported in the 2010 U.S. census, and there are millions more worldwide. Some, of course, are more popular than others: More than 106 million people have the last name Wang (a Mandarin term for "prince" or "king"), making it the most common surname in the world. And if you live in the U.S., there's a pretty good chance you know someone with the last name Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, or Jones — the five most common surnames in the country.
As populations grew, surnames began as a way to differentiate between people with the same first name, for both legal and social purposes. Having more than one name helped identify which John owned a specific parcel of land or which Robert had a son who was getting married. Over time, they became important to an individual's identity and heritage, particularly as people began to emigrate from their homelands. Today, etymologists and genealogists continue to research the origins of last names as a way of gaining insight into how people and societies have developed personal and collective identities. Here's what we know about how this naming convention came to be.
Surnames First Emerged in China
The concept of surnames dates back thousands of years, with the earliest examples found in China as early as the third millennium BCE. (Some of those names, such as Zhong, also written as Chung, are still used today.) Genealogists believe that matrilineal surnames were used in China until the Shang dynasty (1600-1046 BCE), when there was a shift to using patrilineal names.Other ancient societies, including Greece and Rome, had their own systems of assigning names based on family and clan associations. The ancient Romans assigned three-part personal names (tria nomina) that included a praenomen (given name), nomen (clan name), and cognomen (family name), indicating the importance of lineage and family connections even in early Western cultures.
The Norman Conquest Helped Popularize Surnames
While the use of last names was established in some ancient societies, surnames weren't widely used in Europe before the Middle Ages. The earliest recorded example of a European surname is the Irish Ó Cléirigh (O'Clery or O'Cleary in English), meaning "descendant of the clerk," recorded in County Galway, Ireland, in 916 CE. Before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Anglo-Saxon surnames were inconsistently used and were specific to an individual. It wasn't until the Norman barons introduced their system of fixed and hereditary surnames that the practice began to take hold and spread throughout the European continent.The use of last names was inconsistent in the beginning, as the names were often changed or dropped altogether over time. Surnames could also have a wide variety of spelling variations due to the fact that many people couldn't read or write, so names were spelled phonetically, or even abbreviated, for official records. Despite the lack of a formal naming system, the use of last names became a practical necessity for distinguishing among people as cities developed and populations expanded.Early on, surnames were primarily used by the European aristocracy and land-owning class. By the 15th century, however, hereditary surnames were widely used in England and parts of Scotland. Women traditionally took their husband's last name and, under King Henry VII, children's names were also recorded under their father's last name. The introduction of parish records in the 16th century and subsequent civil registration systems helped standardize the use and spellings of surnames. For instance, there were more than 80 different spelling variations of William Shakespeare's surname, including Shackspeare, Shagspere, and Shaxberd. Accurate and consistent documentation helped in property transactions, tax collection, and other legal matters.
Surnames Also Developed From Occupation and Geography
As the practice became popular in medieval Europe, choosing a surname took different forms. The earliest last names were typically related to a person's occupation, physical characteristics, geographic location, or paternal lineage. Occupational surnames, such as Baker or Carpenter, reflected a person's profession and helped indicate their trade skills. A surname could also be derived from a nickname that referenced a personal trait or reflected how someone was seen in their community, such as Armstrong, indicating physical strength, Brown, referring to someone with brown hair or skin, or Young, used to distinguish between a father and son.Geographic names, known as locative or toponymic surnames, were connected to the location where a person was born or lived. These place names were often chosen in relation to a nearby city, such as Warwick or York, or based on local landmarks. For instance, the name Churchill could mean a person lived near a church on a hill, while Southgate could refer to someone who lived near the southern gate of a town.Patronymic family names were derived from the name of a father or male ancestor and often used a prefix or suffix to indicate a person's lineage. For example, the suffix "-son" in the English name Johnson and the prefix "Mac-" in the Scottish name MacGregor mean "the son of John" and "the son of Gregor," respectively. Similarly, the prefix "O'-" in the Irish name O'Grady means "descendant of Grady." Smith, which is the most common surname not only in the U.S. but in the entire English-speaking world, derived from an Old English word meaning "to smite or hit," and was used by blacksmiths. There are just a few hundred professional blacksmiths in the United States today, but more than 2.3 million people still carry the last name Smith.
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Thanks to interesting Facts
Eleven U.S. states have just one area code.
As the largest and smallest states by area, Alaska and Rhode Island are in some ways diametrically opposed. But they do share one particular quirk: Each has just one area code. In fact, there are a total of 11 U.S. states whose residents use the same area code — Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming — and the reason has to do with the lower population numbers in those locations.
In 1947, AT&T introduced area codes in an effort to standardize phone numbers across the United States and parts of Canada. The company issued 86 original area codes that are still in use today; the more well populated a state was, the more likely it was to be allotted multiple area codes. Back then, it was common practice for the middle digit to be "0" if the area code covered an entire state, and "1" if it covered only a portion. Today, many states have grown large enough to be given additional area codes, but there are still 11 holdouts. For instance, every inch of Alaska's 665,384 square miles uses the same 907 area code. The same is true for the fourth largest state by area, Montana, whose residential phone numbers all start with 406. Many of these 11 states have come to embrace their singular area codes as an emblem of local pride. You'll often find those three digits emblazoned on shirts, craft beers, bumper stickers, and other souvenirs sold throughout each state.
Helena, Montana, was once home to the most millionaires per capita.
In 1864, Helena was founded as a camp for miners. Within a few years, many of the town's residents saw their wealth skyrocket. By 1888, there were around 50 millionaires living among the 12,000 locals, making Helena home to the most millionaires per capita in the world.
Alaska is nicknamed the "_The Last Frontier_."
Numbers Don't Lie
Square miles serviced by the 867 area code
1.5 million+
Year Indiana received its first nonoriginal area code
1948
Area codes currently used in California (the most of any state)
40
First assigned area code (northeastern New Jersey)
201
Square miles serviced by the 867 area code
1.5 million+
Year Indiana received its first nonoriginal area code
1948
Multiple states with single area codes will soon run out of phone numbers.
Of the 11 states that still rely on a single area code, several are projected to run out of available phone numbers in the near future. Once that happens, those states will have to implement new area codes for the first time since 1947. Experts project North Dakota will run out of 701 numbers by 2026, and Montana is estimated to max out its capacity of 406 numbers the following year. Maine is also teetering on the precipice, as it's expected to supplement its 207 area code by the year 2033. This is due to growing populations and increased cellphone use, both of which require additional phone numbers. However, many local leaders in these states are attempting to delay the addition of other area codes by changing the way phone numbers are assigned, as the current system leads to many numbers being left unused.
Today's edition of Interesting Facts was written by Bennett Kleinman and edited by Brooke Robinson.
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From the archives
Thanks to Carl
Russia Releases "Tsar Bomba" Test Footage Of The Most Powerful Nuclear Bomb Blast Ever - The Drive
Russia Releases "Tsar Bomba" Test Footage Of The Most Powerful Nuclear Bomb Blast Ever
This previously classified film provides a new and fascinating glimpse into the 50-megaton Cold War nuclear test that occurred nearly six decades ago.
BY THOMAS NEWDICKAUGUST 24, 2020
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Thanks to History Facts
The oldest business in North America was founded in 1670.
Hundreds of years before Amazon, Walmart, Alphabet, and other modern megacorporations existed, King Charles II of England invested in what is now the oldest continually operating company in North America: the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), a retail giant founded in 1670 and currently headquartered in New York and Toronto. HBC's origins can be traced to fur traders and brothers-in-law Médard Chouart des Groseilliers and Pierre-Esprit Radisson, the first Europeans to extensively explore the forests of northern Canada. The French explorers launched their first expedition in 1659, spurred on by rumors of vast untouched beaver preserves north of Lake Superior.
Beaver pelts were at the center of a European fashion craze in the late 17th century that created a surge in demand for beaver-fur felt hats. However, des Groseilliers and Radisson made their journey in secret, without obtaining a trading license. Upon their return to Quebec, the French authorities confiscated their furs, levied fines against them, and briefly jailed des Groseilliers. Angered by their treatment, the explorers offered their services to other nations, eventually finding a receptive ear in England.
On May 2, 1670, King Charles II granted a royal charter to the Hudson's Bay Company, named after Canada's Hudson Bay. The company was incorporated with three goals in mind: fur trade with Indigenous tribes, mineral exploration, and finding a passage to the West. HBC possessed exclusive commercial domain over a large territory around the Hudson Bay, giving the company a virtual monopoly on the fur trade. By the mid-19th century, the company's landholdings encompassed around 1.5 million square miles, making it the largest private landowner in history. HBC operated as a monopoly until 1869, when the land was effectively transferred to the newly formed nation of Canada. Today, HBC's historic connection to fashion lives on in luxury clothing stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue.
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From the archives
Thanks to USAF Col Mugs who has over 100 Traps in an F-8 on the USS Midway in Vietnam in 1971
Send this to all those folks who claim the USAF doesn't care about CAS.
Mugs
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This Day in U S Military History August 26
1804 – Following the death of Sergeant Charles Floyd, Lewis and Clark promote Patrick Gass as his replacement. Barely three months into their journey to the Pacific, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark lost the only man to die on the journey. On August 20, 1804, Sergeant Charles Floyd died from a disease Lewis diagnosed as "Biliose Chorlick," or bilious colic. Based on the symptoms described, Floyd's appendix had probably ruptured and he died of peritonitis. After burying Floyd on a high bluff above the Missouri River, the expedition moved on toward the Pacific Ocean. Two days later, the captains held an election among the men to determine Floyd's replacement. Private Patrick Gass received a majority of the votes. A native of Pennsylvania, Gass had joined the U.S. Army in 1799 at the age of 28. He proved to be a reliable soldier and soon won promotion to sergeant. When a call for volunteers to join Lewis and Clark's journey of exploration to the Pacific was released, Gass jumped at the chance. Lewis overrode the commander's objections to giving up his best noncommissioned officer, and Gass joined the Corps of Discovery as a private. Gass proved himself a capable man in the first weeks of the mission. The captains agreed with their men–Gass was the best choice to replace Floyd as one of the two sergeants on the expedition. On this day in 1804, Lewis issued an order promoting Gass to the rank of "Sergeant in the corps of volunteers for North Western Discovery." Gass proved more than equal to the task. He served faithfully during the long journey to the Pacific and kept a careful journal throughout the journey, an important historical contribution. After the expedition returned, Lewis and Clark released Gass from duty, giving him a letter testifying to his excellent service. Gass settled in Wellsburg, West Virginia, where he prepared for the publication of his journal. Appearing seven years before the official narrative of the journey was published, A Journal of the Voyages and Travels of a Corps of Discovery was a well-crafted account of the journey that continues to be useful to historians. Having already completed the adventure of a lifetime, Gass still had many decades ahead of him. He served again in the army, lost an eye during the War of 1812, married at the age of 58, and fathered seven children. For most of his later years, Gass was the sole surviving member of the Lewis and Clark expedition. He lived until 1870, dying only a few months short of his 100th birthday
1957 – The Soviet Union announces that it has successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of being fired "into any part of the world." The announcement caused great concern in the United States, and started a national debate over the "missile gap" between America and Russia. For years after World War II, both the United States and the Soviet Union had been trying to perfect a long-range missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Building on the successes of Nazi Germany in developing the V-1 and V-2 rockets that pummeled Great Britain during the last months of World War II, both American and Russian scientists raced to improve the range and accuracy of such missiles. (Both nations relied heavily on captured German scientists in their efforts.) In July 1957, the United States seemed to win the race when the Atlas, an ICBM with a speed of up to 20,000 miles an hour and an effective range of 5,000 miles, was ready for testing. The test, however, was a disaster. The missile rose only about 5,000 feet into the air, tumbled, and plunged to earth. Just a month later, the Soviets claimed success by announcing that their own ICBM had been tested, had "covered a huge distance in a brief time," and "landed in the target area." No details were given in the Russian announcement and some commentators in the United States doubted that the ICBM test had been as successful as claimed. Nevertheless, the Soviet possession of this "ultimate weapon," coupled with recent successful test by the Russians of atomic and hydrogen bombs, raised concerns in America. If the Soviets did indeed perfect their ICBM, no part of the United States would be completely safe from possible atomic attack. Less than two months later, the Soviets sent the satellite Sputnik into space. Concern quickly turned to fear in the United States, as it appeared that the Russians were gaining the upper hand in the arms and space races. The American government accelerated its own missile and space programs. The Soviet successes–and American failures–became an issue in the 1960 presidential campaign. Democratic challenger John F. Kennedy charged that the outgoing Eisenhower administration had allowed a dangerous "missile gap" to develop between the United States and the Soviet Union. Following his victory in 1960, Kennedy made missile development and the space program priorities for his presidency.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
*HANDRICH, MELVIN O.
Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 5th Infantry Regiment. Place and date: Near Sobuk San Mountain, Korea, 25 and 26 August 1950. Entered service at: Manawa, Wis. Born: 26 January 1919, Manawa, Wis. G.O. No.: 60, 2 August 1951. Citation: M/Sgt. Handrich, Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. His company was engaged in repulsing an estimated 150 enemy who were threatening to overrun its position. Near midnight on 25 August, a hostile group over 100 strong attempted to infiltrate the company perimeter. M/Sgt. Handrich, despite the heavy enemy fire, voluntarily left the comparative safety of the defensive area and moved to a forward position where he could direct mortar and artillery fire upon the advancing enemy. He remained at this post for 8 hours directing fire against the enemy who often approached to within 50 feet of his position. Again, on the morning of 26 August, another strong hostile force made an attempt to overrun the company's position. With complete disregard for his safety, M/Sgt. Handrich rose to his feet and from this exposed position fired his rifle and directed mortar and artillery fire on the attackers. At the peak of this action he observed elements of his company preparing to withdraw. He perilously made his way across fire-swept terrain to the defense area where, by example and forceful leadership, he reorganized the men to continue the fight. During the action M/Sgt. Handrich was severely wounded. Refusing to take cover or be evacuated, he returned to his forward position and continued to direct the company's fire. Later a determined enemy attack overran M/Sgt. Handrich's position and he was mortally wounded. When the position was retaken, over 70 enemy dead were counted in the area he had so intrepidly defended. M/Sgt. Handrich's sustained personal bravery, consummate courage, and gallant self-sacrifice reflect untold glory upon himself and the heroic traditions of the military service.
BACON, NICKY DANIEL
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Place and date: West of Tam Ky, Republic of Vietnam, 26 August 1968. Entered service at: Phoenix, Ariz. Born: 25 November 1945, Caraway, Ark. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Bacon distinguished himself while serving as a squad leader with the 1st Platoon, Company B, during an operation west of Tam Ky. When Company B came under fire from an enemy bunker line to the front, S/Sgt. Bacon quickly organized his men and led them forward in an assault. He advanced on a hostile bunker and destroyed it with grenades. As he did so, several fellow soldiers including the 1st Platoon leader, were struck by machine gun fire and fell wounded in an exposed position forward of the rest of the platoon. S/Sgt. Bacon immediately assumed command of the platoon and assaulted the hostile gun position, finally killing the enemy gun crew in a single-handed effort. When the 3d Platoon moved to S/Sgt. Bacon's location, its leader was also wounded. Without hesitation S/Sgt. Bacon took charge of the additional platoon and continued the fight. In the ensuing action he personally killed 4 more enemy soldiers and silenced an antitank weapon. Under his leadership and example, the members of both platoons accepted his authority without question. Continuing to ignore the intense hostile fire, he climbed up on the exposed deck of a tank and directed fire into the enemy position while several wounded men were evacuated. As a result of S/Sgt. Bacon's extraordinary efforts, his company was able to move forward, eliminate the enemy positions, and rescue the men trapped to the front. S/Sgt. Bacon's bravery at the risk of his life was in the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
DAY, GEORGE E.
Rank and organization: Colonel (then Major), U.S. Air Force, Forward Air Controller Pilot of an F-100 aircraft. Place and date: North Vietnam, 26 August 1967. Entered service at: Sioux City, Iowa. Born: 24 February 1925, Sioux City, Iowa. Citation: On 26 August 1967, Col. Day was forced to eject from his aircraft over North Vietnam when it was hit by ground fire. His right arm was broken in 3 places, and his left knee was badly sprained. He was immediately captured by hostile forces and taken to a prison camp where he was interrogated and severely tortured. After causing the guards to relax their vigilance, Col. Day escaped into the jungle and began the trek toward South Vietnam. Despite injuries inflicted by fragments of a bomb or rocket, he continued southward surviving only on a few berries and uncooked frogs. He successfully evaded enemy patrols and reached the Ben Hai River, where he encountered U.S. artillery barrages. With the aid of a bamboo log float, Col. Day swam across the river and entered the demilitarized zone. Due to delirium, he lost his sense of direction and wandered aimlessly for several days. After several unsuccessful attempts to signal U.S. aircraft, he was ambushed and recaptured by the Viet Cong, sustaining gunshot wounds to his left hand and thigh. He was returned to the prison from which he had escaped and later was moved to Hanoi after giving his captors false information to questions put before him. Physically, Col. Day was totally debilitated and unable to perform even the simplest task for himself. Despite his many injuries, he continued to offer maximum resistance. His personal bravery in the face of deadly enemy pressure was significant in saving the lives of fellow aviators who were still flying against the enemy. Col. Day's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Armed Forces.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for August 26, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
26 August
1939: Majs Charles M. Cummings and Stanley Umstead, pilot and copilot, flew a B-17A from Miami to the Panama Canal Zone in 6 hours 45 minutes. The 1,200-mile flight indicated how fast reinforcements could be rushed to protect the canal. (24)
1943: The US AAF used a new type of perspective maps with targets drawn as seen from the air to improve high altitude precision bombing abilities. (24)
1944: Eighth Air Force sent 997 heavy bombers and 897 fighters against targets in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany; 13 bombers and 13 fighters were lost, while 148 bombers and 15 fighters sustained damage. (4)
1950: The 91 SRW at Barksdale AFB received the first RB-45, a "C" model, four-engine jet reconnaissance aircraft. (1) KOREAN WAR. Fifth Air Force organized the 47 TCS and 48 TCS (Provisional) at Tachikawa with C-46s from the Far East to augment FEAF airlift resources for UN offensives in September. At Ashiya, Japan, FEAF organized the 1st Troop Carrier Task Force (Provisional) as the nucleus of the new Combat Cargo Command (Provisional) with Maj Gen William H. Tunner, architect of the "Hump" airlift of World War II and the Berlin airlift, 1948-1949, commanding the Combat Cargo Command. (28)
1954: After being launched by a B-29 Superfortress above Edwards AFB, Maj Arthur "Kit" Murray flew the Bell X-1A to 90,443 feet and set a new FAI altitude record. (9) (20)
1959: The first F-104 Starfighter landed in Europe as part of George AFB's rotation program.
1967: MEDAL OF HONOR. After shooting down his F-100 Super Sabre, the North Vietnamese captured Maj George E. Day. They took him to a prison camp for interrogation and torture. Despite crippling injuries, Day escaped and evaded the enemy for two weeks. He eventually crossed the demilitarized zone and came within two miles of a Marine Corps base before he was shot and captured again. He continued to resist his captors until released in 1973. For that action, he earned the Medal of Honor. (21)
1974: McDonnell Douglas test pilot Irving L. Burrows and Col Wendell ("Windy") Shawler, Vice Commander, 4950th Test Wing, flew the TF-15 prototype from Loring AFB to RAF Bentwaters, UK. They completed the 3,007-mile flight with no refuelings or escort in 4 hours 59 minutes. Through 27 August, 2 C-141s airlifted more than 34 tons of medical relief supplies into Burma, India, after flooding devastated that country. (18)
1975: The YC-15 medium short takeoff and landing transport completed its first flight from the McDonnell Douglas facility at Long Beach to Edwards AFB. (3)
1976: SAC launched its 500th missile, a Minuteman II, from Vandenberg AFB. (6) Two groups of women pilot candidates began flight screening at Hondo Municipal Airport, prior to entering undergradute pilot training at Williams AFB on 29 September. The 77-08 class included Capts Connie Engle, Mary Donahue, Kathy La Sauce, Susan Rogers, and Christine Schott; 1st Lts Sandra Scott and Victoria Crawford; and 2nd Lts. Mary Livingston, Carol Scherer and Kathleen Rambo. They graduated on 2 September 1977. (16) (21)
1980: PACIFIC COMFORT. An F-15/E-3A team deployed for the first time to Australia to participate in this air defense exercise. The exercise continued through 11 September. (16)
1987: The A-6F completed its first flight from the Grumman facility at Calverton, N.Y. The Navy launched a Tomahawk Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM) with a live conventional warhead in a pop-up terminal maneuver from a submarine off the California coast for the first time.
2005: From Vandenberg AFB, the 576th Flight Test Squadron launched an unarmed Minuteman III as part of a test to demonstrate the ability to integrate a safety enhanced reentry vehicle into the existing Minuteman III weapons system. (AFNEWS Article, "Vandenberg Launches Minuteman III," 29 August 2005)
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