TheList 7023

The List 7023     TGB

To All,

Good Monday morning December 2, 2024. This is a Bubba Breakfast Friday here in San Diego and I hop[e that many will attend. The weather continues to be nice with some clouds today and clear the rest of the week reaching 79 by Friday.

Regards,

Skip

Make it a GREAT Day

 

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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 84 H-Grams 

 

This day in Naval and Marine Corps History

1891 New York (CA 2) launches. In 1911, it is renamed Saratoga and renamed again in 1917 to Rochester. Rochester serves as the flagship of the Asiatic Fleet from 1932-33 and is decommissioned in 1933.

1908 Rear Adm. William S. Cowles submits the report prepared by Lt. George C. Sweet recommending to the Secretary of the Navy the purchase of aircraft suitable for operating from naval ships on scouting and observation missions.

1944 USS Sea Devil (SS 400) attacks a Japanese convoy in the East China Sea and sinks merchant tanker Akigawa Maru and passenger-cargo ship Hawaii Maru, while USS Gunnel (SS 253) evacuates 11 rescued aviators from Palawan, Philippines and turns over all available stores to Filipino forces ashore.

 

1944 In order to halt resupply and reinforcement of troops on Leyte, Destroyer Division 120 leaves to attack a Japanese convoy escorted by destroyers Take and Kuwa. After midnight during the Battle of Ormoc Bay, USS Allen M. Sumner (DD 692) and USS Cooper (DD 695) sink Kuwa, but USS Cooper sinks from a torpedo.

 

1965 USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) and USS Bainbridge (DLGN 25) become the first nuclear-powered task unit used in combat operations with launch of air strikes near Bien Hoa, Vietnam.

 

1941 – Yamamoto ordered his fleet to Pearl Harbor. A special code order "Climb Mount Niitaka" is transmitted by Japanese naval headquarters to their carrier force bound for Hawaii. This order confirms that negotiations have broken down and the attack on Pearl Harbor is to proceed.

 

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Today in World History

December 2

1804 Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself Emperor of France in Notre Dame Cathedral.

1805 Napoleon Bonaparte celebrates the first anniversary of his coronation with a victory at Austerlitz over a Russian and Austrian army.

1823 President James Monroe proclaims the principles known as the Monroe Doctrine, "that the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintained, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by European powers."

1863 General Braxton Bragg turns over command of the Army of Tennessee to General William Hardee at Dalton, Ga.

1864 Major General Grenville M. Dodge is named to replace General William Rosecrans as Commander of the Department of Missouri.

1867 People wait in mile-long lines to hear Charles Dickens give his first reading in New York City.

1907 Spain and France agree to enforce Moroccan measures adopted in 1906.

1909 J.P. Morgan acquires majority holdings in Equitable Life Co. This is the largest concentration of bank power to date.

1914 Austrian troops occupy Belgrade, Serbia.

1918 Armenia proclaims independence from Turkey.

1921 The first successful helium dirigible, C-7, makes a test flight in Portsmouth, Va.

1927 The new Ford Model A is introduced to the American public.

1932 Bolivia accepts Paraguay's terms for a truce in the Chaco War.

1942 The Allies repel a strong Axis attack in Tunisia, North Africa.

1944 General George S. Patton's troops enter the Saar Valley and break through the Siegfried line.

1946 The United States and Great Britain merge their German occupation zones.

1964 Brazil sends Juan Peron back to Spain, foiling his efforts to return to his native land.

1970 The U.S. Senate votes to give 48,000 acres of New Mexico back to the Taos Indians.

1980 A death squad in El Salvador murders four US nuns and churchwomen.

1982 Dentist Barney Clark receives the first permanent artificial heart, developed by Dr. Robert K. Jarvik.

1993 NASA launches Space Shuttle Endeavor on a mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

1999 UK devolves political power in Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Executive, the administrative branch of the North Ireland legislature.

2001 Enron files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, one of the most complex bankruptcy cases in US history.

 

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Thanks to the Bear. .

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER ….

. rollingthunderremembered.com .

 

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 Monday December 2 

December 2: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=354

 

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

The site works, find anyone you knew in "search" feature.

 

  https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )

 

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Thanks to Al

Monday Morning Humor Thanksgiving Disasters

I hope your Thanksgiving celebration went off without any hitches.  Here are some stories where they didn't have such luck.

 

     I spent my first Thanksgiving with my husband in his Irish-Italian neighborhood in New York City. As a newcomer, I was placed in charge of boiling 15 pounds of potatoes.

     When they were ready, I picked up the pan and surveyed the crowded kitchen for a sink in which to drain them. My husband's elderly uncle Bob guided me to a small half-bathroom and grabbed the steaming pot. He started to drain the potatoes into the toilet, but he lost his grip on the lid and all the potatoes tumbled in! I screamed, "Oh no!" but Uncle Bob began fishing the potatoes out of the toilet. "No one will ever know," he whispered. "Now just go out there and mash them."

     Sometime later, during the meal, my husband's Aunt Tot leaned over and whispered, "Your potatoes are delicious. I think you are going to fit into this family quite nicely."

 

 

     I prepared my first Thanksgiving dinner ever in 1960. My husband was a ship's pilot and was not due home until around 3:00 A.M. Thanksgiving Day, so I ordered a 25-pound, fresh-killed turkey from the local butcher. It was delivered in a paper bag the day before Thanksgiving. I put it in the refrigerator to be dealt with later.

     That night I fed, bathed, and put to bed our three children. I set the table for 16 guests and made the stuffing, sweet potatoes, twice-baked potatoes, cranberry sauce, apple pie, pumpkin pie, and more. It was 2:00 A.M. before I took the turkey out of the refrigerator.

     As I opened the bag, I nearly fainted. There was the turkey—feathers and all. I tried to pull the feathers out, but it didn't work. At that hour there was no one I could call for help. I was beginning to get hysterical.

I went into the bathroom to get some tissues to dry my tears when I saw the answer to my problem right on the bathroom counter.

     You can imagine my husband's surprise an hour later, when he walked into the house and saw his very tired wife crying and shaving the turkey with his Norelco electric shaver!

     P.S. It worked fine, and my husband is still using his electric shaver.

 

 

     When the time came to serve Thanksgiving dinner, I mashed the potatoes and spooned them into a beautiful serving bowl. I turned away to get a carving knife for the turkey, and when I glanced back at the bowl of mashed potatoes, I was horrified to see Pepper the cat had decided it was the right place for a nap!

     Speechlessly I tugged on my wife's shirt and nodded toward the bowl. Her eyes widened in disbelief, but we composed ourselves, shooed Pepper out of the bowl and scraped off the top layer of potatoes.

 

 

     When Ken and Lydia were given a turkey to raise for Thanksgiving, Lydia took on the responsibility with enthusiasm. She fed it, talked to it, and, far ahead of time, invited both sets of parents to the big dinner.

     As the days drew closer to the holiday, though, Lydia became more and more quiet. Finally, on the day before the big feast, Lydia burst into tears and told Ken, "I can't do it."

     Ken calmed her and promised to take care of everything. He went outside, and after a short while, returned with a limp turkey under his arm, trailing a whiff of chloroform. Putting the bird in the refrigerator, he suggested they go to bed and deal with dinner preparations in the morning.

     The next day, Lydia woke early and went into the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator door and out flapped the turkey. Her screams brought Ken rushing down to find his wife on the floor in a dead faint and the turkey tottering unsteadily around the room.

     When Lydia revived, Ken had put the turkey out in the yard, where it lived out its life free from stress and fear of extinction. As for us, we decided to go out to eat. No one ordered turkey.

 

 

     It was a big, big crowd celebrating Thanksgiving including my daughter's father in law who had dementia and was on leave from the nursing home. Everything went perfectly. Delicious meal, annual basketball shoot love and giving of thanks for all of our blessings.

     The father-in-law had to go to the bathroom so my daughter and his daughter took him into the toilet prepared to do a diaper change. Time went by and all of a sudden there was screaming and yelling and black smoke coming from the bathroom.

     They had taken off the soiled diaper and set it down too close to the bathroom candle. What a roaring fire! No one was injured but when the door opened everyone piled out into the hallway and collapsed on the floor, laughing so hard they were unable to stand. One of the most talked about, memorable holidays ever.

 

 

Have a great week,

Al

 

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From the archives

Thanks to YP and Dr. Rich

Fwd: Key to Israel's survival as a nation  -- back in May, 1948 - More

Thanks to YP ...

 

The aircraft were NOT BF-109's.  They were the Czech built Avia-S199, which was a BF-109 airframe with a scabbed on Jumo engine (same as Heinkel 111-they had run out of Daimler Benz power plants) with a massive three bladed paddle prop up front.  It was a horrid combination that killed almost as many of the fledgling pilots as it did the enemy.  The Czech's called it "Mule" for its bad habits.  Nonetheless, their first mission was against the Egyptos about 20 miles short of Tel Aviv.  They didn't do much damage, but it scared the Egyptos into pulling back.

Robert Gandt's ANGELS IN THE SKY tells the full story of fledgling mish mash of aircraft and volunteers that did the fighting.  Highly Recommended.

YP

 

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Thanks to Brett

Geopolitical Futures:

Keeping the future in focus

Daily Memo: In Syria, Turkey Makes Its Move

 

Someone was going to fill the vacuum left by Iran in the Levant.

 

By Kamran Bokhari

Dec 2, 2024

It was only a matter of time before Turkey would try to capitalize on the hole Israel punched into Iran's sphere of influence after the Oct. 7 attack. Apparently, the time has come. After an eight-year hiatus, Syrian rebels backed by Turkey took control of Aleppo on Nov. 30 and pushed into the city of Hama, putting them roughly halfway between Aleppo and the capital of Damascus. Not even at the height of the Syrian civil war were rebels able to accomplish this. Meanwhile, Russian aircraft are for the first time in years striking rebel positions as President Bashar Assad takes an unplanned trip to Moscow in search of support.

The Syrian civil war effectively ended in December 2016, when Syrian government forces regained total control of Aleppo. Assad had survived the conflict, but when the dust settled he was little more than a warlord. His regime lost important areas in the north and east to a host of forces: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (which led the raid on Aleppo this weekend), Turkish troops, the Islamic State and Kurdish separatists. His victory, such as it was, owed to Russian air support and to Iran and Hezbollah, on which he had become entirely dependent.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, it was unable to pay as much attention to Syria as it had before. Moscow took comfort in the knowledge that Iran was still able to militarily support the Assad regime and Turkey was not in a position to revive a rebel movement. Assad, meanwhile, understood Russia's dilemma and knew that with Iran putting down roots in Syria, he needed other options – hence his reconciliation efforts in 2023 with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Though important, these relationships alone were not enough to extricate the Assad regime from Iran's orbit. He knew that the brewing conflict between Iran and Israel could – and likely would – spill over into Syria.

Such was the broader context in which the Oct. 7 attack took place. It ignited a regional conflict that has hurt Iranian interests in Syria and Lebanon and has thus left an opening for aspiring replacements. Turkey and its network of rebel forces had been tracking the situation closely and had planned accordingly. Ankara was engaged in its own efforts to normalize relations with the Assad regime. It saw how the Arab states were mending fences with Damascus, and it, too, wanted to benefit from the Syrian regime's desire to diversify its regional relations.

But Turkey will find it difficult to fill the void. For one thing, Syrian interests don't align as neatly with Turkish interests as they do with Saudi and Emirati interests, which include a shared opposition to Sunni Islamists and the need to reduce Iranian influence. Syria and Turkey agree over such issues as countering Kurdish separatism, but more broadly Turkey is far more a threat than an ally. Turkish forces are occupying extensive tracts of Syrian territory in the north. Ankara is the principal backer of the Syrian rebels. Most important, Assad does not want to distance himself from Iran only to become vulnerable to another country with regional ambitions. This explains why Assad in July rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's offer to normalize ties and placed the withdrawal of Turkish forces from his country as a precondition for any such a move. The rebel offensive over the past few days has validated his concerns.

Ankara knew that its diplomatic outreach probably wasn't going to work. Still, it pushed ahead because it didn't know that Iran and Hezbollah would be so weakened so quickly. Their devastation was a historic opportunity that Turkey simply could not pass up. The speed at which Turkish proxies were deployed suggests Ankara had prepared for the opportunity well ahead of time. And that they were able to take Aleppo so quickly likely reflects just how weak Iran now is in the Levant. Israel had been pounding Iran and Hezbollah for months, forcing them to direct resources in such a way that it created holes in Syrian defenses that the rebels exploited.

For Israel, this is an unintended consequence of its war against Iran. Put simply, it doesn't want the Assad regime to fall because it would create a strategic vacuum that Sunni jihadists of various types would fill. Iran may be the more urgent challenge, but Sunni insurgents would be a challenge nonetheless. Saudi Arabia and the UAE feel similarly. They want to see an end to Iran's monopoly of influence in the Levant; they just don't want Syria to fall in the process. The problem is that this is a difficult balance to achieve, much less maintain, given the landscape of forces in Syria. Iran and Russia may be weak and distracted, but they have no intention of allowing Syria to fall.

The critical question is how effectively Tehran and Moscow can help Syrian forces counter the Sunni rebel offensive. The rebels have always been highly factional, a factor that limits their ability to take Damascus and its strongholds on the Mediterranean coast. Even if they somehow manage to topple the regime this time, the country will be thrust into a state of anarchy with different armed factions backed by different regional powers. What we know for sure is that Iran's dominance in the Levant is ending and Turkey wants to replace it. A renewed Syrian civil war will likely consume a great deal of bandwidth for President-elect Donald Trump's second administration.

 

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A couple interesting bits thanks to John

 

Criminal probe launched after US Air Force spots drones over UK bases

 

LONDON — A criminal investigation has been launched after the U.S. Air Force reported that drones were spotted flying over English military bases, a British official said Wednesday.

The U.S. Air Force reported several incursions occurred in the past week at four bases where the American forces operate. The drones were monitored and unspecified mitigation measures were underway.

Ministry of Defense Police and local authorities are investigating the activity alongside U.S. forces, Defense Minister Vernon Coaker said in Parliament.

"We take any safety issue seriously and maintain robust measures at Ministry of Defense sites," Coaker said. "This includes counter-drone capabilities."

Anyone convicted could face up to 14 years in prison under national security laws, Coaker said.

Though it is unclear whether the drones had a hostile intent, the incidents come at a time that saw the most significant escalation of hostilities in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion nearly three years ago.

Ukraine struck targets inside Russia with intermediate-range missiles supplied by the U.S. and Britain after President Joe Biden authorized use of the weapons. Soon after, President Vladimir Putin said his country had the right to strike nations that allow their weapons to be used against Russia.

The flights, which began Nov. 20 and included several incursions Tuesday, were spotted over or near RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell in eastern England, as well as RAF Fairford in southwestern England.

Lakenheath is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, which the U.S. Air Force describes as the foundation of its combat capability in Europe. Mildenhall hosts the 100th Air Refueling Wing, and Feltwell is a hub for housing, schools and other services. Fairford is home to the 501st Combat Support Wing Headquarters and the 420th Air Base Squadron.

Coaker said a drone was also sited Friday flying about 250 meters from the Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as it entered the German port of Hamburg.

 

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Another one

Russian jets intercept B-52s during Baltic training flight

By Stephen Losey

Two Russian fighters intercepted a pair of B-52H Stratofortresses near the Baltic Sea on Monday, a U.S. defense official confirmed. One of the Stratofortresses is shown here taking off from RAF Fairford on Monday. (Airman 1st Class Laiken King/U.S. Air Force)

Two Russian fighters intercepted a pair of B-52H Stratofortresses near the Baltic Sea on Monday, a U.S. defense official confirmed Wednesday.

The B-52s were conducting a training flight when the Russian Su-27 fighters intercepted them near Kaliningrad. The defense official said the interception was safe and professional, and the B-52s continued with their planned flight.

Reuters first reported the interception.

The B-52s are part of a bomber task force mission that deployed to Europe in early November. During Monday's flight, the B-52s carried out their first simulated weapons drop in Finland and integrated with Finnish F/A-18C Hornets and Swedish JAS 39 Gripens.

The bombers, which are assigned to the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, took off from RAF Fairford in England.

The Air Force said the training mission showed how Finland is playing an increasingly important role in NATO, which it joined last year. During the flight, dubbed Exercise Apex Jet, U.S. forces learned from their Finnish allies and practiced operating together as a team.

"This bomber task force mission exemplifies our unwavering commitment to our European allies and partners," Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, said in a Tuesday release. "Together, we build stronger, more strategic relationships that reinforce security and stability across the region.

The interaction between the U.S. bombers and Russian fighters comes during a pivotal and tense period in U.S. and Russia relations over the war in Ukraine. The Biden administration is working to rush military aid, including landmines, to Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January and has authorized Ukraine to use Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, on targets in Russian territory.

On Thursday, Russia launched an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Reuters later reported, citing Ukrainian government sources, that the missile contained dummy warheads without explosives.

 

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Thanks to1440

Biden Pardons Hunter

President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, last night, weeks before the younger Biden was due to be sentenced for federal gun and tax evasion charges. The announcement marked a reversal for the president, who had previously vowed not to interfere on his son's behalf.

Hunter faced up to 25 years in prison after being convicted this year of lying on a 2018 gun application when he falsely asserted he was not addicted to illicit drugs. Hunter separately faced up to 17 years in prison and fines of up to $1.4M after pleading guilty to tax fraud charges related to counting strip club visits, rent, and children's tuition as business expenses, among other items. He was due to be sentenced Dec. 12 and Dec. 16, respectively.

The president reportedly decided to pardon his son over the weekend, two months before President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to take office. Read the president's statement here.

 

 

Rebels Hold Aleppo

Syrian rebels maintained control over the country's largest city, Aleppo, over the weekend while also advancing in the neighboring Hama province. The offensive marks the rebels' most significant gains against the Assad regime in years.

The rebels are led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadi group formed as an al-Qaida affiliate in 2011 before splintering off and forging other alliances. Based in Idlib province, the group has largely failed to capture territory amid rebel group infighting and a 2020 ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey. The latest offensive in Aleppo, which began Wednesday, came as Israel is seen to have significantly degraded the capabilities of Hezbollah, long considered a dominant force in the region and a key Assad ally.

 

The Syrian army, supported by Russian jet strikes, launched a series of airstrikes yesterday in an effort to retake the city while also setting up a defensive line in Hama province.

 

 

New Human Species

Researchers say they've identified a new ancient human relative. The species, which researchers call "Homo juluensis," made stone tools and hunted animals in eastern Asia between 300,000 and 50,000 years ago, according to the study. The findings shed light on human evolution in the region, with researchers claiming a mysterious group known as the Denisovans may have been a subset.

 

Denisovans have long intrigued scientists. Despite some modern humans sharing as much as 6% of their DNA, limited remains have been found to date. The most complete specimen is a partial jawbone with a number of teeth found on China's Tibetan Plateau, and the group does not have a formal species classification due to a lack of physical remains.

 

Researchers argue Homo juluensis' large skull and broad teeth are different enough to justify a new species, while the teeth are similar enough to Denisovans that the group should be assigned to the new species.

 

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Thanks to Interesting Facts

The first item ever sold on eBay was a broken laser pointer.

 

eBay is one of the world's largest online retailers, auctioning off nearly anything you can think of. While vehicles, jewelry, and electronics are some of the most commonly sold items today, there's one unusual purchase cemented in the digital storefront's history: a broken laser pointer.

 

Silicon Valley developer Pierre Omidyar launched eBay from his home in 1995, though originally it was called Auction Web. When it came time to test the online venture, Omidyar decided to list an inexpensive item he already owned, uploading an ad for a broken laser pointer. He had purchased the $30 device for presentations, but ended up using the laser to play with his cat. When the laser pointer broke after a few weeks, the eBay founder listed it online for $1, making sure to clearly label the device as inoperable. After a week, interest picked up, and a bidding war kicked off; the final, winning bid for the laser pointer topped out at $14.83.

 

Soon after, the online auction marketplace exploded in popularity, and within two years the company had rebranded to its current name and sold its millionth item — a Sesame Street-themed jack-in-the-box toy. However, it would take another two decades for Omidyar's broken laser pointer to resurface. Canadian Mark Fraser came forward in 2015 amid the company's 20th anniversary celebration, identifying himself as the very first eBay customer. A self-proclaimed "electronics geek," he purchased the discounted laser pointer with the hopes of repairing it himself. Although unsuccessful, Fraser held onto the tool for decades and more recently even considered re-listing the item on eBay to see what it would fetch.

 

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Thanks to Mike

This Air Force commando called in 688,000 pounds of bombs in one battle

Amazing story!

 

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/air-force-combat-controller-tora-bora-afghanistan/

 

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This Day in U S Military History

 

December 2

1775 – Congress orders first Navy officers commissions printed.

1775 – The USS Alfred becomes the first vessel to fly the Grand Union Flag (the precursor to the Stars and Stripes); the flag is hoisted by John Paul Jones. 1776 – George Washington's army began retreating across the Delaware River from New Jersey to Pennsylvania.

1942 – General Eichelberger, sent by General MacArthur to investigate the lack of progress at Buna, New Guinea, decides to relieve General Harding of command of the US forces there.

1942 – Enrico Fermi, the Italian-born Nobel Prize-winning physicist, directs and controls the first nuclear chain reaction in his laboratory beneath the bleachers of Stagg Field at the University of Chicago, ushering in the nuclear age. Upon successful completion of the experiment, a coded message was transmitted to President Roosevelt: "The Italian navigator has landed in the new world." Following on England's Sir James Chadwick's discovery of the neutron and the Curies' production of artificial radioactivity, Fermi, a full-time professor of physics at the University of Florence, focused his work on producing radioactivity by manipulating the speed of neutrons derived from radioactive beryllium. Further similar experimentation with other elements, including uranium 92, produced new radioactive substances; Fermi's colleagues believed he had created a new "transuranic" element with an atomic number of 93, the result of uranium 92 capturing a neuron while under bombardment, thus increasing its atomic weight. Fermi remained skeptical about his discovery, despite the enthusiasm of his fellow physicists. He became a believer in 1938, when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for "his identification of new radioactive elements." Although travel was restricted for men whose work was deemed vital to national security, Fermi was given permission to leave Italy and go to Sweden to receive his prize. He and his wife, Laura, who was Jewish, never returned; both feared and despised Mussolini's fascist regime. Fermi immigrated to New York City–Columbia University, specifically, where he recreated many of his experiments with Niels Bohr, the Danish-born physicist, who suggested the possibility of a nuclear chain reaction. Fermi and others saw the possible military applications of such an explosive power, and quickly composed a letter warning President Roosevelt of the perils of a German atomic bomb. The letter was signed and delivered to the president by Albert Einstein on October 11, 1939. The Manhattan Project, the American program to create its own atomic bomb, was the result. It fell to Fermi to produce the first nuclear chain reaction, without which such a bomb was impossible. He created a jury-rigged laboratory with the necessary equipment, which he called an "atomic pile," in a squash court in the basement of Stagg Field at the University of Chicago. With colleagues and other physicists looking on, Fermi produced the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction and the "new world" of nuclear power was born.

1944 – Elements of the US 3rd Army reach Saarlautern. To the south, the US 7th Army advances to the Rhine river after the Germans have withdrawn across it at Kehl. The three available bridges are all demolished in the retreat.

1944 – Two-day destroyer Battle of Ormoc Bay begins. Vice Admiral James L. Kauffman had just reported as Commander, Philippine Sea Frontier and was under heavy pressure from General MacArthur to do something – anything – to interdict incoming Japanese reinforcements. On 27 November 1944, he did the obvious, ordering first that the Canigao Channel be swept of mines by minesweepers USS Pursuit (AM-108) and USS Revenge (AM-110). That night, the Fletcher-class destroyers USS Waller (DD-466), USS Pringle (DD-477), USS Renshaw (DD-499) and USS Saufley (DD-465) under Captain Robert H. Smith, with a Black Cat PBY Catalina doing the spotting, steamed into the bay at flank speed. The Destroyers raked the Ormoc dock area with main battery fire for about an hour when suddenly the PBY reported a surfaced sub entering the bay. USS Waller opened fire and the spunky sub returned the fire while at the same time fishtailing furiously. As the WALLER got into position to ram, the sub suddenly submerged, but for the last time – stern first. The next night, Kauffman ordered four PT boats (PTs 127, 128, 191 and 331) into Ormoc Bay. Visibility was excellent, and in the light of a full moon they sunk a freighter and a patrol craft. They had caught the enemy by surprise and the mission was "a piece of cake," in the words of PT skipper J.R. Chassee. The following day Captain Smith again took four cans into Ormoc Bay – USS Waller (DD-466), USS Cony (DD-508), USS Renshaw (DD-499) and USS Conner (DD-582). There was no sign of enemy shipping in the harbor, and curiously enough, no enemy fire, so he withdrew. Two days later, on the night of 1 December, DDs USS Conway (DD-507), USS Cony (DD-508), USS Eaton (DD-510) and USS Sigourney (DD-643) also found no shipping in the bay so they continued northwest around the San Isidro peninsula. At 0224 they made radar contact with an incoming transport, brought it under a withering barrage of shellfire and quickly dispatched it to the bottom. Many days action will follow but will involve no capital ships

 

1950 – In the Chosin/Changjin Reservoir Area, 1st Marine Division elements began the fighting withdrawal from Yudam-ni to Hagaru-ri. The subzero weather earned the area the title "Frozen Chosin" from the Marines and soldiers who fought there.

 

1992 – The space shuttle Discovery blasted off with five astronauts and a spy satellite aboard. Classified United States Department of Defense primary payload (possibly a Satellite Data System relay), plus two unclassified secondary payloads and nine unclassified middeck experiments. Some later reports say the primary payload was a U.S. Navy ELINT / Sigint satellite in the Advanced Jumpseat series. Secondary payloads contained in or attached to Get Away Special (GAS) hardware in the cargo bay included the Orbital Debris Radar Calibration Spheres (ODERACS) the combined Shuttle Glow Experiment/Cryogenic Heat Pipe Experiment (GCP).

 

1993 – The space shuttle Endeavour blasted off on a mission to fix the Hubble Space Telescope. With its very heavy workload, the STS-61 mission was one of the most sophisticated in the Shuttle's history. It lasted almost 11 days, and crew members made five EVA sorties, an all-time record. Even the spectacular Intelsat IV retrieval of STS-49 in May 1992 required only four. To be on the safe side, the flight plan allowed for two additional sorties which could have raised the total number to seven EVA's but the final two contingency EVA's turned out not be  necessary. In order to bring off this exploit without too much fatigue, the five extravehicular working sessions were shared between two alternating shifts of two astronauts.

 

Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day

 

BARBER, WILLIAM E.

Rank and organization: Captain U.S. Marine Corps, commanding officer, Company F, 2d Battalion 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Chosin Reservoir area, Korea, 28 November to 2 December 1950. Entered service at: West Liberty, Ky. Born: 30 November 1919, Dehart, Ky. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of Company F in action against enemy aggressor forces. Assigned to defend a 3-mile mountain pass along the division's main supply line and commanding the only route of approach in the march from Yudam-ni to Hagaru-ri, Capt. Barber took position with his battle-weary troops and, before nightfall, had dug in and set up a defense along the frozen, snow-covered hillside. When a force of estimated regimental strength savagely attacked during the night, inflicting heavy casualties and finally surrounding his position following a bitterly fought 7-hour conflict, Capt. Barber, after repulsing the enemy gave assurance that he could hold if supplied by airdrops and requested permission to stand fast when orders were received by radio to fight his way back to a relieving force after 2 reinforcing units had been driven back under fierce resistance in their attempts to reach the isolated troops. Aware that leaving the position would sever contact with the 8,000 marines trapped at Yudam-ni and jeopardize their chances of joining the 3,000 more awaiting their arrival in Hagaru-ri for the continued drive to the sea, he chose to risk loss of his command rather than sacrifice more men if the enemy seized control and forced a renewed battle to regain the position, or abandon his many wounded who were unable to walk. Although severely wounded in the leg in the early morning of the 29th, Capt. Barber continued to maintain personal control, often moving up and down the lines on a stretcher to direct the defense and consistently encouraging and inspiring his men to supreme efforts despite the staggering opposition. Waging desperate battle throughout 5 days and 6 nights of repeated onslaughts launched by the fanatical aggressors, he and his heroic command accounted for approximately 1,000 enemy dead in this epic stand in bitter subzero weather, and when the company was relieved only 82 of his original 220 men were able to walk away from the position so valiantly defended against insuperable odds. His profound faith and courage, great personal valor, and unwavering fortitude were decisive factors in the successful withdrawal of the division from the deathtrap in the Chosin Reservoir sector and reflect the highest credit upon Capt. Barber, his intrepid officers and men, and the U.S. Naval Service.

*JOHNSON, JAMES E.

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company J, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Yudam-ni, Korea, 2 December 1950 (declared missing in action on 2 December 1950, and killed in action as of 2 November 1953). Entered service at: Washington, D.C. Born: 1 January 1926, Pocatello, Idaho. 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 provisional rifle platoon composed of artillerymen and attached to Company J, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Vastly outnumbered by a well-entrenched and cleverly concealed enemy force wearing the uniforms of friendly troops and attacking his platoon's open and unconcealed positions, Sgt. Johnson unhesitatingly took charge of his platoon in the absence of the leader and, exhibiting great personal valor in the face of a heavy barrage of hostile fire, coolly proceeded to move about among his men, shouting words of encouragement and inspiration and skillfully directing their fire. Ordered to displace his platoon during the fire fight, he immediately placed himself in an extremely hazardous position from which he could provide covering fire for his men. Fully aware that his voluntary action meant either certain death or capture to himself, he courageously continued to provide effective cover for his men and was last observed in a wounded condition single-handedly engaging enemy troops in close hand grenade and hand-to-hand fighting. By his valiant and inspiring leadership, Sgt. Johnson was directly responsible for the successful completion of the platoon's displacement and the saving of many lives. His dauntless fighting spirit and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of terrific odds reflect the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service.

*LEISY, ROBERT RONALD

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Infantry, Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. place and date: Phuoc Long province, Republic of Vietnam, 2 December 1969. Entered service at: Seattle, Wash. Born: 1 March 1945, Stockton, Calif. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 2d Lt. Leisy, Infantry, Company B, distinguished himself while serving as platoon leader during a reconnaissance mission. One of his patrols became heavily engaged by fire from a numerically superior enemy force located in a well-entrenched bunker complex. As 2d Lt. Leisy deployed the remainder of his platoon to rescue the beleaguered patrol, the platoon also came under intense enemy fire from the front and both flanks. In complete disregard for his safety, 2d Lt. Leisy moved from position to position deploying his men to effectively engage the enemy. Accompanied by his radio operator he moved to the front and spotted an enemy sniper in a tree in the act of firing a rocket-propelled grenade at them. Realizing there was neither time to escape the grenade nor shout a warning, 2d Lt. Leisy unhesitatingly, and with full knowledge of the consequences, shielded the radio operator with his body and absorbed the full impact of the explosion. This valorous act saved the life of the radio operator and protected other men of his platoon who were nearby from serious injury. Despite his mortal wounds, 2d Lt. Leisy calmly and confidently continued to direct the platoon's fire. When medical aid arrived, 2d Lt. Leisy valiantly refused attention until the other seriously wounded were treated. His display of extraordinary courage and exemplary devotion to duty provided the inspiration and leadership that enabled his platoon to successfully withdraw without further casualties. 2d Lt. Leisy's gallantry at the cost of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

 

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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for December 2,  FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY

 

2 December

1908: Rear Admiral William S. Cowles, Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Equipment, submitted Lt George C. Sweet's report on aviation to the Secretary of the Navy with its recommendations for airplanes capable of operating from naval vessels on scouting and observation missions. Sweet also asked the Navy to buy aircraft to develop aviation for naval uses. (29)

1930: Ruth Nichols flew from Los Angeles, Calif., to New York, N. Y., to set a new women's cross county speed record of 13 hours 22 minutes. She made only one stop during the flight. (24)

1936: Boeing's YB-17 Flying Fortress made its maiden flight. (12)

1941: The Pacific Clipper of Pan American Airways made the first commercial world flight. It left San Francisco, Calif., and landed in New York City on 6 January 1942, after covering 31,500 miles in 209 hours 30 minutes flying time. (24)

1943: The Combined Chiefs of Staff asked the Allied Expeditionary Air Force to attack "Ski Sites" in the Pas de Calais and Cherbourg Peninsula areas. These areas were identified as V-1 missile launching sites. (4) The Navy accepted the world's largest flying boat, the 70-ton Martin JRM Mars. (24)

1949: First USAF Aerobee missile launched at Holloman AFB, N. Mex. Through 7 December, Thomas G. Lanphier set an around-the-world commercial transport record of 119 hours 47 minutes by flying 22,180 miles from La Guardia Field, N. Y., eastward.

(9) 1952: KOREAN WAR. Through 7 December, the Far East Air Forces Bomber Command increased from one to three the number of B-29s allocated for radar-directed bombing in front of IX Corps during the battle for Sniper Ridge north of Kumhwa. (28)

1954: The Air Force issued a requirement for the Thor intermediate range ballistic missile. (6)

1965: Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, the first Deputy Administrator of the National Air and Space Administration, died at the age of 67. He was an internationally renowned scientist-engineer, whose career began with the airplane. He was regarded as the man who guided the US into the space age.

1976: Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfield authorized the USAF to begin B-1 production. Congress had restricted funding for the program to $87 million a month earlier in September. (1)

1979: TYPHOON ABBEY. The storm hit Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands, causing extensive damage. Over the next three weeks through 21 December, the Military Airlift Command flew 35 C-141 and 5 C-130 missions to airlift 250 relief workers and 650 tons of supplies, communications, and power systems to Majuro Atoll. The flights took off from Hickam AFB, Hawaii, Andersen AFB, Guam, and several bases in the US. (2)

1983: The 571st Strategic Missile Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., became the first Titan II unit to inactivate under a deactivation program. (1)

1993: Through 13 December, the Space Shuttle Endeavour flew a mission to repair the $2 billion Hubble Space Telescope. Colonel Richard O. Covey (USAF) piloted the shuttle. (16) (26)

 

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