To All,
Good Sunday morning December 29 the last Sunday of 2024. Yesterday I enjoyed talking to a number of you and catching up with how you are doing. Yesterday we had good weather 44 to 62 and today is supposed to be better with higher temps of 45 to 67 and more sunshine. All the animals are doing ok and the humans are also. The sun is not even peeking up yet.
Warm Regards,
Skip
Make it a GREAT Day
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Go here to see the director's corner for all 85 H-Grams
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/
This Day in Navy and Marine Corps History
December 29
1798—Secretary of Navy Benjamin Stoddert sends in his first annual report to Congress, requesting naval forces be increased "to make the most powerful nation desire our friendship – the most unprincipled respect our neutrality."
1812—The frigate Constitution, commanded by William Bainbridge, captures HMS Java off Brazil, the second British frigate captured by Constitution in six months, during the War of 1812.
1942—USS Wasmuth (DMS 15) eventually sinks, 35 miles off Scotch Cape, the southwest point of Unimak Island, Aleutians, two days after a pair of her depth charges exploded during a gale. USS Ramapo (AO 12) comes alongside in the heavy seas and heroically rescues Wasmuth's crew.
1943—USS Silversides (SS 236) sinks the Japanese transport Tenposan Maru, the army cargo ship Shichisei Maru, and the freighter Ryuto Maru while also damaging the army cargo ship Bichu Maru off Palau.
1944—USS Fixity (AM 235) is commissioned. Decommissioned after the war, she is later sold for commercial service until she sinks in the Ohio River in the late 1990s. Also on this date, USS Murrelet (AM 372) is launched.
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This Day in World History December 29
1170 Thomas Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury, is murdered in Canterbury Cathedral by four knights of Henry II.
1607 Indian chief Powhatan spares John Smith's life after the pleas of his daughter Pocahontas.
1778 After attempting a new strategy to defeat the colonials in America, British troops capture Savannah, Georgia.
1808 Andrew Johnson, American vice president who succeeded Lincoln after his assassination on April 15, 1865 is born
1845 Texas (comprised of present-day Texas and part of New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming) is admitted as the 28th state of the Union, with the provision that the area (389,166 square miles) should be divided into no more than five states "of convenient size."
1862 Union General William T. Sherman's troops try to gain the north side of Vicksburg in the Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs.
1890 The last major conflict of the Indian Wars takes place at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota after Colonel James W. Forsyth of the 7th Cavalry tries to disarm Chief Big Foot and his followers.
1914 The production of Belgian newspapers is halted to protest German censorship.
1921 Sears Roebuck president Julius Rosenwald pledges $20 million of his personal fortune to help Sears through hard times.
1926 Germany and Italy sign an arbitration treaty.
1934 Japan formally denounces Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, which curbed the international arms race by limiting naval construction between the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Italy, and Japan.
1940 In a radio interview, President Roosevelt proclaims the United States to be the "arsenal of democracy."
1940 London suffers its most devastating air raid when Germans firebomb the city on the evening of December 29.
1948 Josip "Tito" Broz declares Yugoslavia will follow its own path to communism.
1956 President Dwight Eisenhower asks Congress for the authority to oppose Soviet aggression in the Middle East.
1965 A Christmas truce is observed in Vietnam, while President Johnson tries to get the North Vietnamese to the bargaining table.
1981 President Ronald Reagan curtails Soviet trade in reprisal for its harsh policies on Poland.
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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 "Sunday 29 December
29-Dec: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=1516
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.
Vietnam Air Losses
Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Listed by last name and has other info https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
MOAA - Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Servicemembers Killed in the Vietnam War
The site works, find anyone you knew in "search" feature. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )
Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
By: Kipp Hanley
AUGUST 15, 2022
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FROM: Joe C.
SUBJ: The Final Night of Operation Linebacker II
The last night of air ops was not without a loss of airframes but fortunately no loss of lives. A Marine "EA-6A crashed during a jamming mission when it suffered a hydraulic system malfunction causing the aircraft to catch fire near Cubi Point. Both crew ejected and were rescued." (Hobson, Vietnam Air Losses)
Happily, the final night of B-52 missions was conducted without loss to the attackers. Forty-two B-52Ds from U-Tapao and B-52Gs from Andersen flew coordinated attacks against SAM storage sites at Phuc Yen and Trai Ca as well as the Lang Dang rail yards yet another time! Hah!
Thirty more B-52Gs hit other targets in both North and South Vietnam. Very few SAMs were launched at the BUFFS and there was only one MiG sighting during the raids.
As a direct result of Operation Linebacker II the North Vietnamese communists were put into a more favorable frame of mind to get back to negotiating at the peace conference in Paris. Uh, huh! President Nixon had been correct against his many detractors to use the B-52s with tactical air support to bring the North Vietnamese to their knees. On January 27th, 1972 the accords were signed by all parties to end the Vietnam War. Were it not for President Nixon's courage the POWs may never have been released. He forced the communists back to the peace conference and ended the war.
The POWs were repatriated in four equal groups every two weeks beginning on February 12th, 1973 by order of shoot down but with those sick & wounded going home first. The last group boarded busses bound for Gia Lam airport on March 29th, 1973 for the flight home and FREEDOM!
Summing up LB II: (Hobson, "Vietnam Air Losses")
15,287 Tons of bombs dropped
729 sorties flown
1,600 military or industrial building destroyed or badly damaged
Northeast railway interdicted bringing train movement to a halt
Three million gallons of fuel destroyed
Between 884 and 1225 SAMs fired at B-52s
24 SA-2s scored hits for a 1.7% success rate
(Would have been much less if SAC HQ had not been in charge of tactics the first three days)
Fifteen (15) B-52s lost
Of the 92 crewmembers involved 59 survived 33 of those as POWs
Thirty three B-52 crew members lost their lives.
Hear, hear!
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Thanks to Micro
Subject: RE: [TheList]
To add more detail to Joe Crecca's account of the B-52 raid included on the 27th, here is a link to that event on 28 December 1972 that I did not include in my random list of links I sent you for December: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=3090. I didn't set out to characterize Linebacker II or any other specific Operation, so my links bounce around from year to year as I look for something that highlights a specific type of loss that might not have been commonplace or demonstrated great courage or the lack of information that families are still dealing with.
It appears that Joe's account and ours are often one day apart. We've seen that kind of thing frequently, most often due to the time zone calculation. We use only local time in Vietnam, although most reporting was done on Zulu time. We've found that Washington often either used Zulu or local Washington time to determine what day/date something occurred on. On many of our losses, particularly where the Navy is involved, we've been able to use the ship's logs, when appropriate. Many of those came from the assistance of NavSource's hard workers, Fabio and Bob (they send me about one a day on average). Those are always transcribed in local time. A few have come from folks contacting us and telling us what their Flight Log book said. It's quite interesting trying to piece together accurate information 50 years later, with official records often disagreeing and personal memories not infallible, either.
Micro
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Thanks to Mike
1910 Ford
This has only been 112- years ago...Amazing!!!
Show this to your friends, children and/or grandchildren!
The year is 1910, over one hundred years ago. What a difference a century makes!
Here are some statistics for the Year 1910:
(applies to the USA)
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The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.
Fuel for this car was sold in drug stores only.
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower !
The average US wage in 1910 was 22 cents per hour.
The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,
A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year,
And a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME.
Ninety percent of all Doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools,
Many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard.'
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
There was no such thing as under arm deodorant or tooth paste.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.
The five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2, Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars.
The population of Las Vegas Nevada was only 30!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented yet
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.
There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A. !
I am now going to forward this to someone else without typing it myself.
From there, it will be sent to others all over the WORLD...all in a matter of seconds!
Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years
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One of Shadow's round table discussions with some of the most remarkable warriors I have ever read about…skip
It all goes into shadow's file on my computer for his book he is going to write……….
Wow! What fabulous recollections of most remarkable men! I don't have much color to add other than this tidbit. On one of our yearly (it seems) deployments to Yuma from Hawaii in the 70's I distinctly remember the honor of meeting Jimmy Doolittle and his annual dove hunting crowd. We were at the bar (where else?) when Pally tells this rather impressive large guy standing next to him, "You know, with the exception of a big mustache you're the spitting image of Robin Olds!"
The guy shot back with a glare, "I AM Robin Olds!"
I think McAnnally knew that and didn't get the good humored response he thought he might have! Or not. We'll never know, will we? Now there was an ace in the making who just needed the opportunity Shadow talked about.
Oddly enough, it seems the likelihood of a Marine getting a MiG kill in modern times was predicated on him being assigned to the USAF. Think Stick Richard in Vietnam and Capt. MacGill in the preliminary Gulf War. They'd never allow a Marine to get five however! They'd've saved those vectors for their favored sons.
OBTW, the only planes I ever came close to bringing down were our own!
Thanks for your riveting memories!
SF
Bruddah
On Dec 27, 2023, at 2:51 PM, Barrett Tillman <btillman63@hotmail.com> wrote:
Taking a cue from Shadow's insights...
Bud Anderson. Wow, what a marvelous example. He took time out running an F-105 wing in combat to correspond with a teenaged 40-hr Cherokee driver. That began a continuing friendship with Bud, Ellie, and their son Jim (O-2s, F-4s, F-5s) who's my web master. Bud is 102 next month...
Tom Blackburn: see the attached. I use it on internet Corsair discussions. A lot. Somewhat of an exaggeration but it makes the requisite point.
Blackburn.jpg
I remember Jim Stockdale saying that Tom was the best small-craft handler he ever saw.
Oddly, I met Jack Broughton via Tom at an 80-something Tailhook. Got better acquainted with JB when we spoke at a warbird gathering in Tucson. Another example of the quiet ones changing brain chemistry in the cockpit.
Robin: I've posted on my relationship with him a time or three. Yup, he defined Command Presence. Maybe one incident I didn't mention: during an aces board meeting, Doug hosted the members at his home. I arrived late and walked past the hallway where my peripheral vision saw something that caused me to alter my pace.
"I do not see what I'm seeing. I do not WANT to see what I'm seeing!"
A good-looking blonde (wife of a staffer) was leaning over, feeling Robin's port thigh. I was just resuming my I-Do-Not-Belong-Here gait when Robin looked up. "Hey, Tillman! C'mere! Come feel my thigh!"
At that point I didn't know him well enough to call him Robin so I said something like, "Well, sir...I, um..."
A wave of a beefy hand. "C'mere dammit and feel my thigh!"
So I did. It was h-a-r-d. really hard.
"That's what I got from all the skiing I'm doing!"
Then I guess he went looking for other thigh feelers to impress...
Among the most charismatic aces I knew was Bob Scott, who also was a more talented writer than people realize. He used a dictaphone to write "Co-Pilot" during three days in a NY hotel room, transcribed by "a Yankee secretary with a tin ear."
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Bob Scott was Robert Scott who Wrote God is my Co-Pilot . I read every one of his books and he is probably the one who set me on the path to become a fighter pilot…..skip
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He had an exceptional memory. Seemed to recall the elevation of almost every field he'd ever landed, and the list was long. Knew some runway lengths as well. An admitted time hog who rubbed many people the wrong way but he was certainly good to me well into adulthood, and to every youngster who ever met him.
He drove from Phoenix to NE Oregon to deliver my high school graduation speech—and asked "to borrow your mama's kitchen" to bake a key lime pie. And he had some real interesting gadgets in the trunk of his El Dorado...
And for context, I'm delighted to number Roy and the CCs among my memorable and valued associates.
Warm regards to all,
Barrett
Subject: Response to Barrett and Bruddah on their latest...
While I haven't met as many "Aces" as Barrett, him being connected with the "Aces Association"… but growing up as a Navy Brat in the 50's and 60's, I've met more than my share. To be honest, I found them no different than the guys I served with. One was even honest enough to admit that "opportunity" had as much to do with it as anything else. One thing for sure… the WW II guys had a hell of a lot more opportunity… than any conflict since. Based on that… I can only assume that guys I served with like Lancer, Black, Gazelle, Denny, Eagle, Bruddah and others would have easily earned that title as well… if the opportunity presented itself. I'll also add that the personalities of "Aces" I've met, also ranged across the normal spectrum of human behavior. In fact… many were as calm as any of us could hope to be. Never forget the day that one Navy "Double Ace" visited the hangar and we arranged for him to sit in a Hellcat we had just finished restoring. We had to get a stool for him to be able to get up on the wing; him being long in tooth and gray of beard was almost frail. He finally made in into the cockpit (first time since the war)… and as he sat there in the cockpit we could see him touching things, moving the stick… I could only guess what was going through his mind Then Jim Lucas leans over next to me and quietly said, "Shadow, look up there… that's some kids great Grandpa… but in his time, he was a stone cold killer"! And then before our eyes, he stands up, puts one hand on the canopy bow, the other on the amour plate behind the headrest and vaults out of the cockpit like a 20 year old and walks back and jumps off the wing to the deck. I swear he seemed fifty years younger than he did before getting up onto the wing and sitting in the cockpit. Fond memory.
Three of the more memorable Aces I met were Tommy Blackburn, Robin Olds and Bud Anderson. Tommy was a real "character"… and would have fit in with the "Hair on Fire"… Miramar/El Toro crowd back in the 60's and 70's... in a heart beat! Irreverent, full of piss and vinegar. Never forget the day he invited me over to his house to watch him being interviewed for a video being done on the VF-17, "Jolly Rogers". The squadron he commanded in WW II. At one point the interviewer asked him what it was like when he shot down his first Zero… what were your emotions? Tommy paused, got a twinkle in his eye and then said… "Well, about the only thing I could compare it to… was getting my first piece of ass"! That was followed by screams of "CUT! CUT!"... from the producer! His poor wife said, "Oh Tommy"! The crew starts laughing and I almost spit out my coffee! That was Tommy in a nutshell.
Robin was larger than life… he'd stay with us when in the local area and we'd play golf and spend the evenings, having nice meals, sharing the grape and tell stories. If ever there was a man who just reeked of "Command Presence", it was Robin Olds! A Man's man; a woman's dream! A little story on my wife. It was her nature that when a Bubba was over and we started talking about flying, etc. She'd usually find something to do or just disappear while we shared thoughts and stories. NOT WHEN ROBIN WAS THERE! She would sit there and listen to everything word he said and only got up when we did… often till 0200 in the morning. Robin Olds had more stories than any human being I've ever met… and damn… he was so good at it! He was a stud!
Bud Anderson was totally opposite to those two… the word "Gentleman" perfectly fits. Never heard Bud brag or embellish… just a rock solid human being. If you had no idea of his history… you'd never guess what he was.
BTW… one of my high school Buds from Roosey Roads father was an Ace… he shot down five but always would say he was a "Double Ace"… He shot down five Zeros, but lost five Hellcats in the process… either to ground fire or a Japanese pilot. He'd laugh and say… I liked to keep things even.
One day Jim and I had Bud Anderson, John Verdi (the ultimate warrior)… Corky Meyer, Big Jim Robinson (Marine Corsair pilot), Bob Combs (Navy Double Ace), Tom Mann (Cactus Air Force Ace) and I think Joe Engle was there too. They all sat there in our office for hours telling stories. It was awesome! At the end of the day as they were leaving, Jim looked at me and said… "We need our asses kicked… we should have recorded that… it'd be worth a million dollars"! Sad truth was, we could have done it… but that's another story. Memories.
Now I'll get to Bruddah's comments about the "Blue Max"… His comments about about the guy looking up from the trenches and watching the planes and thinking that seems a better deal than sitting in this miserable trench. Boy could I relate to that! Often when asked what it was like in my Grunt Days… I often tell them… "I have a thousand and one great and fond memories from flying in the Corps… none from being a Grunt in combat. It was a miserable existence! Humping a pack, weapon and a radio in 100 degree heat, up and down hills and mountains… in elephant grass head high, that blocked any air. Then into the canopy where we went from bright sunlight to twilight in just a few steps… and the whole time waiting to get ambushed or shot at… the nights weren't much better, when the bad guys would lob in mortars and later artillery. That really sucked… nothing you could do but sit there and gut it out… couldn't stop it, couldn't shoot back… just hoping like hell the one with your name on it wasn't there. We took over 500 rounds of incoming artillery up at Gio Linh on the DMZ one night… longest night of my life. It seemed to go on forever. I was at the bottom of a fox hole, there were two guys on top of me and I was the only one who got hit! My left arm was stuck up when they jumped on me and was hanging out in the breeze… and I get a small piece of shrapnel near my elbow. In the chaos I yelled out, "Shit, I just got hit"… one of the others said, You can't be, you're on the bottom"! I said, "When you two jumped in on me, it trapped my left arm up in the air". They then said, "Is it bad"? I yelled back, "How the hell would I know, you're on top of me, I can't see it, but I can feel the blood running down my arm". Their last comment was… "Well if this shit ever stops we'll check it out". No way in hell any of us was gonna get out of that hole until it stopped. Grunt life sucked!
And there was a distinct attitude difference between the Grunts and Aviators. It was brought home to me one day sitting on a hilltop just north of the Rockpile on an OP… Myself, my C.O. and a fire team were helo lifted to this observation point while two of our companies were being ambushed by the NVA. It was hot as hell and once in a while the bad guys would drop in a mortar round or a sniper shot. Nothing accurate, I think they were just guessing where we were. After a while they quit trying. We're sitting in elephant grass, its gotta be 100 degrees, humidity was off the page and everyone was miserable… the heat just sapped the life out of you. My Skipper well knew my intention to going back to school so I could go to flight training. All of a sudden he speaks up and says… "Sergeant Jones… what would you rather have right now, a piece of ass or an ice cold beer"? Jones yells back… "I'd give anything for a beer Sir"! Skipper then sez… "How about you Stafford"? I replied, "I'll take sex over a beer any day. Besides if we live through this shit I'll get a beer when we get back to the rear". My Boss then says… "Gents, there's a lesson for you… if Stafford has to come back to this war on another tour; he'll be in an air-conditioned cockpit and your asses will still be sitting in this fucking heat in another miserable place! He's going to flight training"!
So, I can relate to Bruddah's observations… flying beat the shit out of walking! As a note… I still have contact with dozens of my fellow aviators… I can count on one hand those I served with in the Grunts. Some memories you love to remember and share… others you just want to forget.
Shadow
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Thanks to Ed ... and Dr.Rich
The Secret Invention That Changed World War 2
Fascinating history … During the bombing of Britain it took 1,800 shells (or more!) to bring down one German plane … how America helped solve that problem …
WWII technology -- how we beat Japan and Germany...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtocpvv88gQ
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Thanks to Dr. Rich
When all the shit hits the fan on Air India flight 101 - 777 ...
Boeing 777 Gets Trapped above the Clouds with no Fuel Left
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mz9Vkb7w74
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Thanks to Barrel
Got this from Stormin
Thanks, Stormin' — this meshes with other pieces I've seen re this massive SNAFU…
Dash 2 FA-18
Here's the 'rest of the story' from the guy in marshal behind the unlucky tanker and who about got the short straw as well:
"Launched on a DCA for a strike. One ways all over the place. Lead shoots one down. We RTB for fuel because they were far and didnt wanna get SAMbushed. Land on the ship and launch again. End up flying for a few hours. I shot one of them. 0230 now and we are the last ones to be called back from CAP to the ship. It's us, 143 wingman, and Fig in the tanker. We sequence ourselves in 5 mile spacing and check in on 16. Fig in front, then me, then 143 wingman. Vectors for recovery. At 20 miles from Mom I see the Gettysburg (who is 10 miles aft of final bearing) shoot an SM-2. Holy shit, they're shooting at drones. After a few seconds I'm like holy fuck, it's pulling lead on FIG. I hear ELTs going off. 3 seconds later I see an explosion 5 miles off my nose. I scream over ICS that they just shot down fig. We scream a mayday call over voice alpha. 5 seconds later I see another SM-2 launch from the Gettysburg. I am now freaking out. We dive for the deck, accelerate, and try to beam the missile. I'm now trying to figure out how to defend to an SM-2. Try to put out items. No items, I fenced out. Great. Missile is lighting up the sky like it's daytime. It starts to apex. I start screaming over ICS dude it's time for us to fucking go. We gotta pull. The missile apexes and the rocket motor burns out. In my mind I'm like wtf happened are we ok now??? I hesitate and 3 seconds later it passes within 100 feet of our jet and shakes the jet. It explodes off our left on the surface of the water. CAG paddles called up to the captain of HST who got on the red phone and told all destroyers to abort their missiles."
What a way to get welcomed to the theater...inchopped all of a week+ and dealing with this buffoonery.
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I had a good talk with Micro yesterday afternoon catching up. There is some good news on the Vietnam Air losses front as they are getting more inputs to fold into the database. That means the daily will continue for quite a long while with a new one each day for the next maybe 12 months. If you are not reading them they are worth your couple minutes to pause and hit the url to see what really happened. Even better if you have an update send it in. Micro said they get quite a few inputs a week that provide first hand accounts to update them or add a new one…..skip
He provided this story that he told me at my request.:
A friend of mine (submariner and black shoe; USNA '59; star fullback at Navy), who died about four years ago, told me this story about a dark spot in his career. He had lots of great stories of good things, as well.
When he was a Captain, he was assigned to the Congressional Liaison office in the Pentagon. One day they got a question from Barbara Boxer (not sure of the timing, but I suspect it was when she was in Congress as a member of the Armed Services Committee). She wanted to know why the Navy referred to ships as "she." Obviously, she was looking for trouble, but my friend was sent to the to testify to the Committee. Under oath.
He went through a flowery statement that sought to convince the members that sailors have always, since the days of sail, looked upon the ships like they would look upon a mother. It was a safe place where they felt nurtured. He went into some detail under the scowl of Boxer; however, the male members of the Committee were delighted since they, too, had thought that the question was BS. Of course, the trouble she was looking for didn't surface, and the men looked down on her even more (she is 4'11"). When the hearing was over, some of the male members congratulated my friend for his tactful and proper testimony, but Boxer came up to him and said, "I'll have the last word" and left.
Sure enough, when his name appeared on the Flag list, she had it removed.
That is what is known as a very small person, in more ways than one. Of course, he had served in Vietnam (on a clandestine mission) just before the Tonkin Gulf Incident, and Boxer (from Marin County, CA, perhaps the most liberal bastion in the world) actually started a protest group in Marin County against the Vietnam War. Of course, people like her do not distinguish between U.S. policy and the military personnel that carry out that policy. She's simply not smart enough nor does that distinction help her agenda. Such people should be ineligible to serve on the Armed Services Committee, of course.
And, as you well know, Skip, you now have Shifty Schiff to represent you in the Senate. Good luck and God help us all
Then he provided me with the February Vietnam air losses to go with the January list…skip
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This Day in U S Military History
December 29
1812 – USS Constitution (Captain William Bainbridge) captures HMS Java off Brazil after a three hour battle. Shortly, after Christmas, 1812, Constitution was sailing in the Atlantic just off the coast of Brazil. In the morning sails were sighted on the horizon, and Constitution's new captain, William Bainbridge, altered course to investigate. The ship proved to be HMS Java, a frigate similar to Guerriere. Both frigates stood for each other and cleared their decks for action. The defeat of Java, the second frigate lost to Constitution in six months, motivated a change in the tactics of the Royal Navy. No longer would their frigates be allowed to engage American frigates like Constitution alone. Only British ships-of-the-line or squadrons were permitted to come close enough to these ships to attack.
1939 – First flight of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber. The B-24 was used in World War II by several Allied air forces and navies, and by every branch of the American armed forces during the war, attaining a distinguished war record with its operations in the Western European, Pacific, Mediterranean, and China-Burma-India Theaters. Often compared with the better-known Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-24 was a more modern design with a higher top speed, greater range, and a heavier bomb load; it was also more difficult to fly, with heavy control forces and poor formation-flying characteristics. Popular opinion among aircrews and general staffs tended to favor the B-17's rugged qualities above all other considerations in the European Theater. The placement of the B-24's fuel tanks throughout the upper fuselage and its lightweight construction, designed to increase range and optimize assembly line production, made the aircraft vulnerable to battle damage. The B-24 was notorious among American aircrews for its tendency to catch fire. Its high fuselage-mounted "Davis wing" also meant it was dangerous to ditch or belly land, since the fuselage tended to break apart. Nevertheless, the B-24 provided excellent service in a variety of roles thanks to its large payload and long range and was the only bomber to operationally deploy the United States' first forerunner to precision-guided munitions during the war, the 1,000 lb. Azon guided bomb. The B-24's most costly mission was the low-level strike against the Ploești oil fields, in Romania on 1 August 1943, which turned into a disaster because the defense was underestimated and fully alerted while the attackers were disorganized. The B-24 ended World War II as the most produced heavy bomber in history. At over 18,400 units, half by Ford Motor Company, it still holds the distinction as the most-produced American military aircraft, with one B-24A and one B-24J restored to airworthiness as of 2014.
1940 – In one of his famous "fireside chat" broadcasts President Roosevelt describes how he wishes the United States to become the "arsenal of democracy" and to give full aid to Britain regardless of threats from other countries.'
1943 – USS Silversides (SS-236) sinks three Japanese ships and damages a fourth off Palau.
1944 – There is a lull in the fighting in the Ardennes as Allied forces buildup their forces for further counterattacks.
2004 – Insurgents tried to ram a truck with half a ton of explosives into a U.S. military post in the northern city of Mosul then ambushed reinforcements in a huge gun battle in which 25 rebels and one American soldier were killed.
2006 – The United Kingdom pays off the last of its debts from World War II by paying the last $100 million to the United States and Canada. The country still has debts outstanding from the Napoleonic Wars, which are cheaper to pay interest on than to redeem.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
RUSSELL, MILTON
Rank and organization: Captain, Company A, 51st Indiana Infantry. Place and date: At Stone River, Tenn., 29 December 1862. Entered service at: North Salem, Ind. Birth: Hendricks County, Ind. Date of issue: 28 September 1897. Citation: Was the first man to cross Stone River and, in the face of a galling fire from the concealed skirmishers of the enemy, led his men up the hillside, driving the opposing skirmishers before them.
WILLIAMSON, JAMES A.
Rank and organization: Colonel, 4th lowa Infantry. Place and date: At Chickasaw Bayou, Miss., 29 December 1862. Entered service at: Des Moines, lowa. Born: 8 February 1829, Columbia, Adair County, Ky. Date of issue: 17 January 1895. Citation: Led his regiment against a superior force, strongly entrenched, and held his ground when all support had been withdrawn.
WARD, JAMES
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company B, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wounded Knee Creek, S. Dak., 29 December 1890. Entered service at: Boston, Mass. Birth: Quincy, Mass. Date of issue: 16 April 1891. Citation: Continued to fight after being severely wounded.
WEINERT, PAUL H.
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company E, 1st U.S. Artillery. Place and date: At Wounded Knee Creek, S. Dak., 29 December 1890. Entered service at: Baltimore, Md. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 24 March 1891. Citation: Taking the place of his commanding officer who had fallen severely wounded, he gallantly served his piece, after each fire advancing it to a better position.
*NASH, DAVID P.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 2d Battalion, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Place and date: Giao Duc District, Dinh Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 29 December 1968. Entered service at: Louisville, Ky. Born: 3 November 1947, Whitesville, Ky. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Nash distinguished himself while serving as a grenadier with Company B, in Giao Duc District. When an ambush patrol of which he was a member suddenly came under intense attack before reaching its destination, he was the first to return the enemy fire. Taking an exposed location, Pfc. Nash suppressed the hostile fusillade with a rapid series of rounds from his grenade launcher, enabling artillery fire to be adjusted on the enemy. After the foe had been routed, his small element continued to the ambush site where he established a position with 3 fellow soldiers on a narrow dike. Shortly past midnight, while Pfc. Nash and a comrade kept watch and the 2 other men took their turn sleeping, an enemy grenade wounded 2 soldiers in the adjacent position. Seconds later, Pfc. Nash saw another grenade land only a few feet from his own position. Although he could have escaped harm by rolling down the other side of the dike, he shouted a warning to his comrades and leaped upon the lethal explosive. Absorbing the blast with his body, he saved the lives of the 3 men in the area at the sacrifice of his life. By his gallantry at the cost of his life are in the highest traditions of the military service, Pfc. Nash has reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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This Day in Aviation History" brought to you by the Daedalians Airpower Blog Update. To subscribe to this weekly email, go to https://daedalians.org/airpower-blog/.
Dec. 27, 1935
When an eruption of Mauna Loa, a volcano on the Island of Hawaii, threatened the town of Hilo on the island's northeastern coast, a decision was made to try to divert the flow of lava by aerial bombing. (The population of Hilo in 1935 was 15,633; it was 41,615 in 2019.) The U.S. Army Air Corps' 23d Bombardment Squadron, 5th Composite Group, based at Luke Field on Ford Island, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, sent three Keystone B-3A and two Keystone B-6A bombers. The five airplanes dropped twenty 600-pound Mark I demolition bombs, each containing 355 pounds of TNT, with 0.1-second delay fuses. The effort was deemed a success. The bombing operation was planned by then Lt. Col. George S. Patton.
Dec. 28, 1948
Twelve U.S. Air Force pilots were rescued from a Greenland icecap by a C-47 Skytrain using rocket boosters. Every branch of the U.S. military and all the major allied powers flew this versatile aircraft. The U.S. Navy version was the R4D. The British and the Australians designated it the Dakota. The aircraft operated from every continent in the world and participated in every major battle. By the end of World War II, more than 10,000 had been built. For all of its official and unofficial names, it came to be known universally as the "Gooney Bird;" Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, termed it one of the most vital pieces of military equipment used in winning the war.
Dec. 29, 1939
The first flight of the Consolidated XB-24 Liberator heavy bomber took place at San Diego, California. During the next 5½ years, over 18,100 B-24 Liberators were produced, making it the largest military production run in U.S. history.
Dec. 30, 1916
The Army established a new aviation school north of Hampton, Virginia, on Dec. 30, 1916. It later became known as Langley AFB, and is now Joint Base Langley-Eustis. It is the Air Force's oldest active base.
Dec. 31, 1908
Wilbur Wright flew a 1907 Wright Flyer a distance of 124.7 kilometers over a triangular course in 2 hours, 20 minutes, 23 seconds, at Camp d'Auvours, France, setting a record for duration and distance. He won the first Michelin Trophy and a ₣20,000 prize.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for December 29, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
29 December
1913: MACKAY TROPHY. At San Diego, Calif., Lts Joseph E. Carberry and Fred Seydel won the second trophy for reconnaissance. As in 1912, only one aircraft competed effectively following an accident involving Lts Walter R. Taliaferro and H. LeR. Muller. (24)
1921: Edward Stinson and Lloyd Bertaud set a new world endurance record of 26 hours 18 minutes 35 seconds at Roosevelt Field, N. Y., in a Larsen Junker-BMW 185. (24)
1939: Consolidated's XB-24 Liberator made its first flight, a 17-minute trip from Lindbergh Field, San Diego, Calif., with Consolidated pilot Bill Wheatley at the controls. (12) (20)
1942: COLLIER TROPHY. The US Army Air Forces and America's private airlines jointly received this award. (24)
1948: Secretary of Defense Forrestal announced work on an "Earth satellite vehicle program" to study the operation of guided rockets beyond the earth's pull of gravity. (16)
1949: Jacqueline Cochran set a 436.995 mile per hour international speed record for 500 kilometers (310.685 miles) in an F-51 without payload at the Mount Wilson Course in California. (24)
1950: KOREAN WAR. From Taegu, RF-51 aircraft began flying tactical reconnaissance missions in Korea for the first time. They had longer ranges than their RF-80 predecessors. (28)
1952: KOREAN WAR. Eleven B-29s of the 307th Bombardment Wing attacked the Teagam-ni headquarters area destroying 146 buildings. (28)
1966: The National Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio, inducted (all deceased): aircraft designers Glenn L. Martin and William F. Boeing; Adm John H. Towers (first attempt for a trans-atlantic flight); Lincoln Beachey, famous stunt flyer; Brig Gen William "Billy" Mitchell, advocate of bombing; and Robert H. Goddard, the world's first rocket scientist. The USAF selected Cessna Aircraft Company to produce the O-2 for forward air controller, liaison, and observation functions. (16)
1967: The last B-47 aircraft, an RB-47H, left the active inventory for storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. (1)
1970: The 741st Strategic Missile Squadron at Minot AFB, N. Dak., achieved operational status as the Strategic Air Command's first unit equipped with Minuteman III ICBMs. (6)
1988: The Air Force received its first operational McDonnell-Douglas F-15E dual role (air superiority and deep interdiction) fighter. (20)
1989: Through 31 December, the 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 435th Tactical Airlift Wing, sent two C-130 Hercules with 31 tons of medical supplies to Bucharest, Rumania, to treat civilians wounded in a violent anti-communist revolution that executed President Nicolas Ceaucescu. (16) (26)
1990: Operation DESERT SHIELD. The 169th Fighter Group was the first Air National Guard unit to deploy to the Persian Gulf region. (Swamp Foxes in Operation Desert Storm, Air National Guard Art, 1992)
1994: Two 56th Rescue Squadron helicopter crews from Keflavik AB saved eight Dutch mariners from a sinking vessel near the coast of Iceland. (16)
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