To All,
Good Sunday morning January 12. The winds never really showed up here yesterday. We did get threats of being without power but that has not shown up either. Still lots of tragedy up in Los Angeles and many houses and businesses have been destroyed and are still threatened. The stories coming out of what the people in charge have been doing to allow this to happen should ruin many careers.
I did get the ornaments off the tree last night and today I will pack up the tree and take it to storage. Still a lot to do. The big tree out front continues to drop leaves and spread them around. One thing about the drought is that the weeds have not started to pop up yet.
I hope you all have a great weekend.
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/
January. 12
1813—During the War of 1812, the frigate Chesapeake, commanded by Capt. Samuel Evans, captures the British merchant Volunteer in the Atlantic and sends her into Portsmouth, VA, as a prize.
1943—USS Guardfish (SS 217) sinks Japanese Patrol Boat No.1 about 10 miles southwest of the Tingwon Islands, located just southwest of the northern tip of New Hanover, Bismarck Archipelago.
1944—PB4Ys bomb Japanese ships in Kwajalein lagoon and sink the gunboat Ikuta Maru, while PBY-5s from Tarawa mine Tokowa and Torappu Channels and the south entrance to Maleolap.
1945—Task Force 38, commanded by Vice Adm. John S. McCain, continues to bomb Japanese shipping, airfields and installations in French Indochina while also attacking three Japanese convoys, sinking approximately 30 Japanese vessels with numerous other vessels damaged.
1953—Aircraft begin operational landing tests, day and night, onboard USS Antietam (CVA 36), the first angled flight deck carrier.
1991—Guided missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) is commissioned.
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This Day in World History January 12
1872 Russian Grand Duke Alexis goes on a gala buffalo hunting expedition with Gen. Phil Sheridan and Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer.
1879 The British-Zulu War begins. British troops -- under Lieutenant General Frederic Augustus -- invade Zululand from the southern African republic of Natal.
1908 A wireless message is sent long-distance for the first time from the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
1913 Kiel and Wilhelmshaven become submarine bases in Germany.
1915 The U.S. Congress establishes Rocky Mountain National Park.
1926 U.S. coal talks break down, leaving both sides bitter as the strike drags on into its fifth month.
1927 U.S. Secretary of State Kellogg claims that Mexican rebel Plutarco Calles is aiding communist plot in Nicaragua.
1932 Oliver Wendell Holmes retires from the Supreme Court at age 90.
1938 Austria recognizes the Franco government in Spain.
1940 Soviet bombers raid cities in Finland.
1943 Soviet forces raise the siege of Leningrad.
1952 The Viet Minh cut the supply lines to the French forces in Hoa Binh, Vietnam.
1962 The United States resumes aid to the Laotian regime.
1973 Yassar Arafat is re-elected as head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
1975 The Khmer Rouge launches its newest assault in its five-year war in Phnom Penh. The war in Cambodia would go on until the spring of 1975.
1982 Peking protests the sale of U.S. planes to Taiwan.
1991 The U.S. Congress gives the green light to military action against Iraq in the Persian Gulf Crisis.
1998 Nineteen European nations agree to prohibit human cloning.
2010 An earthquake in Haiti kills an estimated 316,000 people
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Thanks to the Bear and Dan Heller
The Bombing of North Vietnam(1965-1972). ROLLING THUNDER. COMMANDO HUNT. LINEBACKER. And the relentless search for the hundreds of aviation warriors we left behind in Southeast Asia as "Missing in Action." The priceless documents of TASK FORCE OMEGA, the record of five decades of the search for our missing accumulated by Patti Hopper and the families of those MIA in SEA, have been acquired and added to the RTR archives, thanks to Webmaster and owner of the RTR domain, Dan Heller.
Access: rollingthunderremembered.com
Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
rollingthunderremembered.com .
Skip,
A direct link for Task Force Omega files on Rolling Thunder Remembered is: TASK FORCE OMEGA SUMMARIES. There are about fifty posted thus far with many more on the way.
A link to Task Force Omega files can also be found on the homepage of Rolling Thunder Remembered. Also on the homepage is "Today in Rolling Thunder Remembered History" which links to RTR events on the given date the site is visited.
-Dan
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 12 January
January 12: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=2082
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/ )
By: Kipp Hanley
AUGUST 15, 2022
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From the archives
Thanks to Locust …..These are fun
Words of Wisdom (read: insanity)
1. When one door closes and another door opens, you are probably in prison.
2. To me, "drink responsibly" means don't spill it.
3. Age 60 might be the new 40, but 9:00 pm is the new midnight.
4. It's the start of a brand new day, and I'm off like a herd of turtles.
5. The older I get, the earlier it gets late.
6. When I say, "The other day," I could be referring to any time between yesterday and 15 years ago.
7. I remember being able to get up without making sound effects.
8. I had my patience tested. I'm negative.
9. Remember, if you lose a sock in the dryer, it comes back as a Tupperware lid that doesn't fit any of your containers.
10. If you're sitting in public and a stranger takes the seat next to you, just stare straight ahead and say, "Did you bring the money?"
11. When you ask me what I am doing today, and I say "nothing," it does not mean I am free. It means I am doing nothing.
12. I finally got eight hours of sleep. It took me three days, but whatever.
13. I run like the winded.
14. I hate when a couple argues in public, and I missed the beginning and don't know whose side I'm on.
15. When someone asks what I did over the weekend, I squint and ask, "Why, what did you hear?"
16. When you do squats, are your knees supposed to sound like a goat chewing on an aluminum can stuffed with celery?
17. I don't mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited.
18. When I ask for directions, please don't use words like "east."
19. Don't bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring. Spend 30 seconds in my head. That'll freak you right out.
20. Sometimes, someone unexpected comes into your life out of nowhere, makes your heart race, and changes you forever. We call those people cops.
21. My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb.
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I opened this one and kept scrolling down and there are a lot of interesting items as you keep going down including president Carter's funeral and many scenes of the current fires in Los Angeles
https://www.yahoo.com/news/footage-appears-show-ukrainian-shooting-145534636.html
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A note from YP
I think the NVA had VZ fuze for both 57 and 85 mm. The 57 mm is still a very useful ctg.
On Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 9:03 AM Jack Woodul <youthlypuresome@me.com> wrote:
Long Ago and Far, Far Away:
On our 4 July 1965 Alpha Strike against the Nam Dinh POL storage, during pull out from high angle Stuka delivery, evidently Fire Can directed 57 mm had me locked up and was putting puffs close to my post delivery pull out antics (full marks for that), and Alpha Aaron, who had bombed behind me, advised me in a voice I could probably heard without the radio to BREAK! BREAK! BREAK! THEY'RE TRACKING YOU!
I reversed right, nose down perhaps 90 degrees away from my former egress heading, still going like stink, waited til my adrenalined hemmies told me; then reversed and got my nose back up with G on the airplane and back toward the water
Suddenly, I was in the clear.
Feet wet RDZ, oily smoke was already up to 10k.
Like Winny said, shot at without effect is rather exhilarating.
Hell, I still get pumped writing about it.
We did have Jarboon DRUTS just feet wet trying to jam. Sure could have used Rick Morgan's ECM folks.
Hell, no, I ain't forgettin'!
I do remember one incident. My escort and I were covering a strike north of Hon Gay and Cam Pha and as I glanced over at him I saw big ugly puffs coming up behind him and yelled at him to break right and pull At the same time he was yelling at me to do the same thing as another set was coming up behind me. We did a cross turn and then continued. …skip
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Thanks to DR and Rich
Date: Sat, Jan 11, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Subject: Conviction?
Hi to all -
01-11-2025 Conviction?
New York
Their appeals court, being very anti-Trump, refused to stop Judge Merchan from proceeding with his flimsy case against Trump. So, this judge pronounced Trump 'guilty' of 34 felonies (for alleged bookkeeping errors - which is hard to justify even as a crime) and announced that he would have an 'unconditional discharge' of his 'crimes'. No jail time, no fines, no community service, just the one thing the judge wanted most in the whole world - a 'conviction'. There is a small problem, however. Using his position to conduct lawfare in this manner is a felony - even in NY. So, this judgement is likely to be overturned on appeal, and the judge will likely face felony charges of his own. Who knows? He could lose his job, lose his license, lose his freedom.
Atlanta
A Delta flight bound for Minneapolis had an engine fire on takeoff, and the plane had to conduct an emergency evacuation. Sliding down those chutes and all just like in the movies. No serious injuries, just a few bumps and bruises. The lawyers are already lining up three deep.
Also in Atlanta, Fani Willis, the DA in Fulton County, refused to provide documents relating to her collusion with the White House over the J-6 story and prosecution of Trump. You did hear that she appealed being thrown off that case, right? She lost her bid to dismiss, and was ordered to pay Judicial Watch more than $20,000 in legal fees and costs, all within three weeks. Anyone want to bet that she will comply?
Pardons
There is talk of a number of 'preemptive' pardons being considered by Biden for his partners in crime. So, how can there be a pardon for a crime, where no crime is claimed? Or is this just an admission that his people have been committing crime all along?
UFO
Lots of talk about UFO's of late, and people are trying to connect them to the many drones which the White House tells us do not exist and are not a threat if they do. I keep hearing that there is some major event to take place within the next week or so that will open Pandora's Box on the subject of drones. We shall see.
There is a pyramid diagram showing how power is set up in our world. At the top are the finance people - banks and 'financial management' companies, like Blackrock and Vanguard. Below them is the level controlled by religious leaders. That would include Christian, Muslim, and several other religious groups. In the middle is government. Government is bound by both financial controls and religious restrictions on what they can or cannot do. Business comes next. Big companies do wield a lot of power. At the bottom of this stack are the people. And, you know the old saying - it all flows downhill.
Speaking of drones, Ukraine has managed to put rockets on some drones, and used these to shoot down two Russian Mi-8 helicopters, and damaged a third. Looks like the old comic book stories have come to life.
Candace Owens
This lady is sharp as a tack and well-spoken. On her show, she highlighted a threatening letter she received from the President of France - Macron. (Yes, I badly butchered several names yesterday, and I shall try to correct them - wish me luck) There has been speculation for years that his 'wife' is actually a male tranny. Seems that Macron does not like this story, and sent a very nasty letter to Candace. She was told to keep this secret - so of course, she published it on her show. There are also many allegations of other sexual misconduct issues with this man. Seems to go hand in hand with all the woke stuff.
China
They are accused of damaging the undersea communications cables between Thailand and other places. These are a primary means of communication for business and government users, and this is a serious matter.
Mexico
Their president - who is a woman, not a man as I mistakenly said earlier, says she 'has a plan' to deal with a couple of million Mexicans being deported from the US back to Mexico. She did not say what that plan was. I bet it is not just a humble 'thank you, America'. She is Claudia Sheinbaum. Reportedly Jewish. DR
UK
They want to arrest and prosecute Americans who post memes that they do not like. I mean, it is bad enough that they destroyed free speech in the land that created that concept, but to think they can go to other nations and prosecute other citizens because they disagree with their opinions is really bending the law - over backwards.
Florida
They are classifying all the mRNA vaccines as 'bioweapons' and outlawing their use. Florida seems to lead the way on so many issues.
Turns out that things like Ivermectin also are effective in curing many forms of cancer. Cancer research is big business, and lots of grant money goes into that. But, a cure, especially one that is cheap, effective and readily available, would take away the profit motive of all those big pharma companies who love the cash flow. Expect a flurry of propaganda attacking these findings.
Did you know that many such drugs are already being given to everyone, without their knowledge? Aerosol versions of these drugs are sprayed onto food crops, and livestock used for food. Some people think that this is a deliberate effort to poison all of us, as part of the Great Extinction that is part of the global agenda pushed by the WEF and others. This has been going on since 2018, with almost no publicity.
California
There is talk of little else on the news for the last few days. This is not just one fire, but many. In some cases, arson is certain. So, naturally, there is speculation that this was all part of a 'designed destruction' plan to run people out of their homes, steal their land, and destroy their power. Aerial photos show green stuff right in the middle of the destruction. Much like Maui and those fires. So, some suggest that at least some of the fires were started by directed energy weapons from above, as was also claimed for the Maui fires. The story further speculates that Newsom is all in on this, and a part of the global team trying to make the elite all powerful and destroy the rest of us. There are enough grains of truth in all that to give it credence. I do not know, but it is something worth looking into. Was Newsom boasting to the elite that he has done their bidding, or just trying to deny that it was his fault? In time, this will become clear.
Only days to go - hang tough.
Rich
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WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
What does "ketchup" really mean? Discover the odd origins of these words
Published on December 21, 2023
Credit: Robert Anasch
Etymology is the study of a word's origin and meaning. Some words are quite straightforward, like "football," a sport that involves a ball and a foot.
But other words have more obscure origins, like "nightmare," which combines the term "night" with the German word "mare," which is an evil spirit that sits on top of a sleeper's chest. Pretty grim, right?
Take a look at these words with interesting origins and find out if you already knew any of them!
1
Avocado
Credit: Thought Catalog
The centerpiece of seemingly every modern brunch, "avocado" is a word that exudes exotic flavor. The term itself comes from the ancient Aztec language Nahuatl, where it is referred to as āhuacatl.
As the fruit made its way through history, the name transformed into aguacate. Eventually, as avocados gained popularity in English-speaking regions, the term settled into its current form.
2
Cappuccino
Credit: Taylor Franz
A word so Italian that pronouncing it out loud almost makes it seem like you are talking in the language of Dante, "cappuccino" was named after the Capuchin friars and their distinctive brown robes. The drink's moniker was inspired by the color resemblance between their attire and the frothy, tan espresso concoction.
The cappuccino, as we know it today, emerged in the espresso bars of post-World War II Italy, where it gained popularity for its blend of espresso, steamed milk, and a layer of foam. Evolving from a simple coffee tradition tied to a religious order to a globally cherished beverage, the cappuccino has become a symbol of Italian coffee culture.
3
Disaster
Credit: Elisa Ventur
Keeping in line with the Italian words, "disaster" finds its linguistic roots in disastro, which emerged during the 16th century to describe an unfavorable aspect of a star or celestial event.
Composed of dis-, meaning away or without, and astro, referring to celestial bodies, the term reflected a belief in the influence of cosmic forces on earthly events. Eventually, its meaning shifted to describe any catastrophic event, natural or human-made, leading to significant damage or distress.
4
Malaria
Credit: Wolfgang Hasselmann
Another word with an Italian birth certificate, "malaria," originated in mala aria, which translates to "bad air". This term was coined during the Renaissance, reflecting the earlier belief that the disease, which was characterized by fever and chills, was caused by inhaling poisonous fumes from swamp areas.
Later, scientists discovered the actual culprit: parasites transmitted through infected mosquitoes. Despite its historical roots, the word "malaria" persists in capturing the essence of the disease's connection to unhealthy air.
5
Quarantine
Credit: Erik Mclean
Let us close the suite of Italian words with this term. It came into existence in Venice during the bubonic plague. To prevent the spread of infectious diseases, arriving ships were required to anchor in isolation for 40 days, a period called quarantena in Italian. Derived from quaranta meaning forty, this practice aimed to safeguard public health. Over time, the term was used to describe the isolation of individuals, animals, or goods to prevent disease transmission.
6
Trivial
Credit: Nick Fewing
The word "trivial" comes from the Latin term trivium, which represented the three subjects taught in medieval education: grammar, rhetoric, and logic. These subjects were considered elementary and suitable for beginners.
Over time, the meaning of "trivial" was used to describe things of little significance or importance, reflecting the perception that the trivium subjects were commonplace and known by everybody.
7
Hazard
Credit: Troy Bridges
The term "hazard" comes from the Arabic word al zahr which means dice. In medieval Europe, games involving dice were associated with risk and chance. Eventually, the term evolved to signify any source of danger or peril. Today, "hazard" is used to illustrate a broad spectrum of risks, including dangerous phenomena, situations, and places that might pose a threat.
8
Clue
Credit: Mediamodifier
One of those words whose origin is not given away easily, "clue" comes from the Middle English word clew, which means a ball of thread or yarn, of all things. In Greek mythology, Ariadne provided Theseus with a ball of thread to find his way through the labyrinth and defeat the Minotaur.
Over time, "clew" evolved to reference any kind of hint or key to solving a mystery. Today, when we seek a "clue," we are acknowledging the connection between solving a mystery and following the thread that leads us to the end of the quest.
9
Ketchup
Credit: Dennis Klein
A word so strange to describe something so familiar, "ketchup" has a flavorful history rooted in Southeast Asia. Supposedly, the term came from the Malay word kecap or kicap, referring to a fermented soy sauce.
By the 18th century, "ketchup" in England referred to a sauce made from mushrooms, anchovies, and walnuts. But when tomatoes gained popularity in the 19th century, tomato ketchup emerged.
10
Whiskey
Credit: Thomas Park
Much like cappuccino, "whiskey" is a drink with strong links to its land of origin. The term has deep Celtic roots, coming from the Gaelic language. Derived from uisce beatha, which means "water of life," this spirit emerged in Ireland and Scotland as a distilled beverage, celebrated for both its intoxicating qualities and medicinal virtues.
Over time, uisce beatha evolved into usquebaugh in Scotland and Ireland, and eventually into "whiskey" in English. The term traveled across the Atlantic with Irish and Scottish immigrants, becoming synonymous with the distilled grain spirit enjoyed globally today.
11
Salary
Credit: Jason Tuinstra
Imagine being paid in salt, rather than money. Well, turns out, that was a real thing in ancient Rome, where soldiers were paid in salt, known as salarium argentum.
Salt held great value, vital for preserving food and symbolizing wealth. Over time, the word evolved into salarium, meaning the payment given for services. Today, "salary" is, quite simply, the payment received for work.
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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/.
Jan. 8, 1944: The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star made its first flight. The Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the U.S. Army Air Forces. Designed and built by Lockheed in 1943 and delivered just 143 days from the start of the design process, production models were flying, and two pre-production models did see very limited service in Italy just before the end of World War II. Designed with straight wings, the type saw extensive combat in Korea with the U.S. Air Force as the F-80. America's first successful turbojet-powered combat aircraft, it helped usher in the "jet age" in the Air Force, but was outclassed with the appearance of the swept-wing transonic MiG-15 and was quickly replaced in the air superiority role by the transonic F-86 Sabre.
Jan. 9, 1923: The first flight of a practical gyroplane or rotorcraft is made by Juan de la Cierva's C-3 "Autogiro," which is flown by Spenser Gomes in Madrid, Spain.
Jan. 10, 1956: Three pilots – 1st Lieutenant Barty Ray Brooks, Capt. Rusty Wilson and Lt. Crawford Shockley — picked up three brand new F-100C Super Sabre fighters at the North American Aviation Inc. assembly plant at Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, Calif. This was to be a short ferry flight to nearby George Air Force Base, only 42.5 miles to the east. Initially, the flight was uneventful until the pilots lowered the landing gear to land. One of the other pilots saw that the scissors link joining the upper and lower sections of the nose gear strut on Brooks' Super Sabre was loose. Concerned that he would not be able to steer the fighter after touching down, Brooks diverted to Edward Air Force Base, 36 miles to the northwest, where a larger runway and more emergency equipment was available. Wilson escorted Brooks to Edwards. During his final approach to the runway Brooks allowed the fighter to slow too much and the outer portion of the wings stalled and lost lift. This shifted the wings' center of lift forward, which caused the airplane to pitch up, causing even more of the outer wing to stall. Brooks fought to regain control of the airplane, but he was unable to. At 4:27 p.m., PST, the F-100 crashed on the runway and exploded. Brooks was killed. In preparation for a test later that afternoon, the Edwards' film crews had their equipment set up along the runway and captured the last seconds of Brook's flight on film. This is the most widely seen crash footage, and is still in use in pilot training. It is named "The Sabre Dance."
Jan. 11, 1944: While escorting a group of B-17s and B-24s near Oschersleben, Germany, Lt. Col. James H. Howard engages a group of German Bf-109s and Bf-110s climbing to attack the bombers. Howard shoots down one of the fighters and his squadron mates shoot down eight more. Realizing the "Big Friends' are now unprotected, he climbs and single-handedly takes on 30 fighters attacking the bombers without waiting for his wingman or the rest of his squadron. He shoots down at least four of the attackers and then three of his six .50 cal. machine guns jam. Even though his fuel is low, he continues to press the fight and damages two more aircraft. He survives the engagement and is later awarded the Medal of Honor. He is the only pilot flying a North American P-51 Mustang to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II.
Jan. 12, 1973: Pilot Lt. Victor T. Kovaleski and radar intercept officer Lt. James A. Wise of VF-161, embarked on board Midway (CVA 41), shot down a North Vietnamese MiG-17 Fresco with an AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile from their F-4B Phantom II. Theirs was the last victory of the war, making a total of 62 enemy aircraft shot down by Navy and Marine Corps pilots during the Vietnam War.
A note from Skip. His regular RIO had the duty that day of the shoot down and missed the event. A couple days later He was my escort on the last major Alpha strike over NVN to a large radar site just south of Hanoi. After letting the smoke clear to get pictures of the strike we got a lot of attention all the way to the water and a few miles from feet wet south of Than Hua and north of Vinh I turned east to get to the water .In the turn we got a lot of attention with a large bunch of flak and as he crossed underneath to my starboard side he was hit and smoking. I had to put my speed brake out to stay with him and came in close. He had no radios to talk to me or his RIO.The flack was in front of us by then from slowing down. The beach was under our noses and finally we crossed the beach.
I saw Vic give the ejection signal to his RIO and out they went. As soon as he got hit I had called Red Crown and gave them our position and kept updating it. I was watching both chutes. Vic later told me that he saw his RIO hit the water and almost immediately there was a helo to pick him up and the same thing happened with Vic with another helo. Both safe and sound. …Skip
Jan. 13, 1942: The Sikorsky XR-4, the U.S. Army Air Force's first helicopter, made its initial flight with its creator, Igor Sikorsky at the controls. The R-4 was a two-seat helicopter designed by Igor Sikorsky with a single, three-bladed main rotor and powered by a radial engine. The R-4 was the world's first large-scale mass-produced helicopter and the first helicopter used by the United States Army Air Forces, the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. In U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard service, the helicopter was known as the Sikorsky HNS-1. In British service it was known as the Hoverfly.
Jan. 14, 1961: Lt. Col. Harold E. Confer, Lt. Col. Richard Weir and Major Howard Bialas, flying Convair B-58A-10-CF Hustler 59-2441, Roadrunner, obliterated the FAI closed-course speed records established only two days earlier by another B-58 crew flying 59-2442. They averaged 2,067.58 kilometers per hour (1,284.73 miles per hour) over a 1,000-kilometer closed circuit, more than 200 miles per hour faster, and set three Fédération Aéronautique Internationale records. They were awarded the Thompson Trophy.
Jan. 15, 1915: At San Diego, California, Lieutenant Byron Quinby Jones, Aviation Section, Signal Corps, United States Army, set a flight endurance record of 8 hours, 53 minutes, flying a Glenn L. Martin Company Martin T Army Tractor. The flight consumed 30 gallons (114 liters) of gasoline. Lieutenant Jones estimated that he had sufficient fuel remaining for another two hours in the air, but approaching darkness forced him to land. For this and other flights at San Diego, Lieutenant Jones was awarded the Mackay Trophy.
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This Day in U S Military History January 12
1918 – The Distinguished Service Medal, authorized by Presidential Order January 2, 1918, and confirmed by Congress July 9, 1918, was announced by War Department General Order No. 6, January 12, 1918, with the following information concerning the medal: "A bronze medal of appropriate design and a ribbon to be worn in lieu thereof, to be awarded by the President to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Army shall hereafter distinguish himself or herself, or who, since April 6, 1917, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility in time of war or in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States." The Act of Congress on July 9, 1918, recognized the need for different types and degrees of heroism and meritorious service and included such provisions for award criteria. The current statutory authorization for the Distinguished Service Medal is Title 10, United States Code, Section 3743. Among the first awards of the Distinguished Service Medal for service in World War I, were those to the Commanding Officers of the Allied Armies: Marshals Foch and Joffre, General Petain of France, Field Marshal Haig of Great Britain, General Diaz of Italy, General Gillain of Belgium, and General Pershing.
1945 – There are air attacks from the planes of the carriers of Task Force 38 against Japanese installations at the naval base at Camranh Bay and others areas in Indochina. TG 38.5 continues the attacks from its specially trained carriers. Japanese losses to the attacks amount to 29 ships of 116,000 tons. Eleven small warships are also sunk.
1953 – Landings tested on board USS Antietam, first angled deck carrier USS Antietam, a 27,100 ton Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, was commissioned in January 1945. She transited the Panama Canal to the Pacific in June and was en route to the Western Pacific war zone when Japan capitulated in August 1945. Antietam operated in Far Eastern waters during the first years of the post-war era, returning to the UnitedStates in 1949, when she was decommissioned and placed in the Reserve Fleet. Recommissioned in January 1951, in response to Korean War requirements, the carrier made one combat deployment, between September 1951 and March 1952. In September-December 1952, after joining the Atlantic Fleet, Antietam was modified to receive the U.S. Navy's first angled flight deck. During the next few years, she served as the test platform for this feature, which was to revolutionize carrier flight operations. After being rated as an attack aircraft carrier (CVA-36) from October 1952 to August 1953, she was thereafter classified as an antisubmarine support aircraft carrier, with the hull number CVS-36. In that role, Antietam made Sixth Fleet cruises in the Mediterranean Sea in 1955 and in 1956-57. She was then assigned to carrier flight training duty, generally operating in waters near Pensacola, Florida. Relieved as training carrier in October 1962, she was decommissioned for the last time in May 1963. Following a decade in the Reserve Fleet, USS Antietam was sold for scrapping in February 1974.
1962 – Operation Chopper, the first American combat mission in the Vietnam War, takes place. In December 1961, the USNS Core (T-AKV-41) docked in Saigon with 82 US Army Piasecki H-21 helicopters. A little more than 12 days later, Operation Chopper commenced. The helicopters transported over 1,000 South Vietnamese paratroopers for an assault on a suspected Viet Cong stronghold 10 miles west of Saigon. The Viet Cong were surprised and soundly defeated, but they gained valuable combat experience they would later use with great effect against US troops. The paratroopers also captured a sought-after underground radio transmitter. This operation heralded a new era of air mobility for the U.S. Army, which had been slowly growing as a concept since the Army formed twelve helicopter battalions in 1952 as a result of the Korean War. These new battalions eventually formed a sort of modern day cavalry for the Army.
1962 – The United States Air Force launches Operation Ranch Hand, a "modern technological area-denial technique" designed to expose the roads and trails used by the Viet Cong. Flying C-123 Providers, U.S. personnel dumped an estimated 19 million gallons of defoliating herbicides over 10-20 percent of Vietnam and parts of Laos between 1962-1971. Agent Orange – named for the color of its metal containers – was the most frequently used defoliating herbicide. The operation succeeded in killing vegetation, but not in stopping the Viet Cong. The use of these agents was controversial, both during and after the war, because of the questions about long-term ecological impacts and the effect on humans who either handled or were sprayed by the chemicals. Beginning in the late 1970s, Vietnam veterans began to cite the herbicides, especially Agent Orange, as the cause of health problems ranging from skin rashes to cancer to birth defects in their children. Similar problems, including an abnormally high incidence of miscarriages and congenital malformations, have been reported among the Vietnamese people who lived in the areas where the defoliating agents were used.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
DAVIS, CHARLES W.
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Guadalcanal Island, 12 January 1943. Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala. Birth: Gordo, Ala. G.O. No.: 40, 17 July 1943. Citation: For d1stinguishing himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy on Guadalcanal Island. On 12 January 1943, Maj. Davis (then Capt.), executive officer of an infantry battalion, volunteered to carry instructions to the leading companies of his battalion which had been caught in crossfire from Japanese machineguns. With complete disregard for his own safety, he made his way to the trapped units, delivered the instructions, supervised their execution, and remained overnight in this exposed position. On the following day, Maj. Davis again volunteered to lead an assault on the Japanese position which was holding up the advance. When his rifle jammed at its first shot, he drew his pistol and, waving his men on, led the assault over the top of the hill. Electrified by this action, another body of soldiers followed and seized the hill. The capture of this position broke Japanese resistance and the battalion was then able to proceed and secure the corps objective. The courage and leadership displayed by Maj. Davis inspired the entire battalion and unquestionably led to the success of its attack.
LAWS, ROBERT E.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company G, 169th Infantry, 43d Infantry Division. Place and date: Pangasinan Province, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 12 January 1945. Entered service at: Altoona, Pa. Birth: Altoona, Pa. G.O. No.: 77, 10 September 1945. Citation: He led the assault squad when Company G attacked enemy hill positions. The enemy force, estimated to be a reinforced infantry company, was well supplied with machineguns, ammunition, grenades, and blocks of TNT and could be attacked only across a narrow ridge 70 yards long. At the end of this ridge an enemy pillbox and rifle positions were set in rising ground. Covered by his squad, S/Sgt Laws traversed the hogback through vicious enemy fire until close to the pillbox, where he hurled grenades at the fortification. Enemy grenades wounded him, but he persisted in his assault until 1 of his missiles found its mark and knocked out the pillbox. With more grenades, passed to him by members of his squad who had joined him, he led the attack on the entrenched riflemen. In the advance up the hill, he suffered additional wounds in both arms and legs, about the body and in the head, as grenades and TNT charges exploded near him. Three Japs rushed him with fixed bayonets, and he emptied the magazine of his machine pistol at them, killing 2. He closed in hand-to-hand combat with the third, seizing the Jap's rifle as he met the onslaught. The 2 fell to the ground and rolled some 50 or 60 feet down a bank. When the dust cleared the Jap lay dead and the valiant American was climbing up the hill with a large gash across the head. He was given first aid and evacuated from the area while his squad completed the destruction of the enemy position. S/Sgt. Laws' heroic actions provided great inspiration to his comrades, and his courageous determination, in the face of formidable odds and while suffering from multiple wounds, enabled them to secure an important objective with minimum casualties.
*NININGER, ALEXANDER R., JR.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 57th Infantry, Philippine Scouts. Place and date: Near Abucay, Bataan, Philippine Islands, 12 January 1942. Entered service at: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Birth: Gainesville, Ga. G.O. No.: 9, 5 February 1942. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Abucay, Bataan, Philippine Islands, on 12 January 1942. This officer, though assigned to another company not then engaged in combat, voluntarily attached himself to Company K, same regiment, while that unit was being attacked by enemy force superior in firepower. Enemy snipers in trees and foxholes had stopped a counterattack to regain part of position. In hand-to-hand fighting which followed, 2d Lt. Nininger repeatedly forced his way to and into the hostile position. Though exposed to heavy enemy fire, he continued to attack with rifle and handgrenades and succeeded in destroying several enemy groups in foxholes and enemy snipers. Although wounded 3 times, he continued his attacks until he was killed after pushing alone far within the enemy position. When his body was found after recapture of the position, 1 enemy officer and 2 enemy soldiers lay dead around him.
ROSSER, RONALD E.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Heavy Mortar Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Place and date: Vicinity of Ponggilli, Korea, 12 January 1952. Entered service at: Crooksville, Ohio. Born: 24 October 1929, Columbus, Ohio. G.O. No.: 67, 7 July 1952. Citation: Cpl. Rosser, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. While assaulting heavily fortified enemy hill positions, Company L, 38th Infantry Regiment, was stopped by fierce automatic-weapons, small-arms, artillery, and mortar fire. Cpl. Rosser, a forward observer was with the lead platoon of Company L, when it came under fire from 2 directions. Cpl. Rosser turned his radio over to his assistant and, disregarding the enemy fire, charged the enemy positions armed with only carbine and a grenade. At the first bunker, he silenced its occupants with a burst from his weapon. Gaining the top of the hill, he killed 2 enemy soldiers, and then went down the trench, killing 5 more as he advanced. He then hurled his grenade into a bunker and shot 2 other soldiers as they emerged. Having exhausted his ammunition, he returned through the enemy fire to obtain more ammunition and grenades and charged the hill once more. Calling on others to follow him, he assaulted 2 more enemy bunkers. Although those who attempted to join him became casualties, Cpl. Rosser once again exhausted his ammunition obtained a new supply, and returning to the hilltop a third time hurled grenades into the enemy positions. During this heroic action Cpl. Rosser single-handedly killed at least 13 of the enemy. After exhausting his ammunition he accompanied the withdrawing platoon, and though himself wounded, made several trips across open terrain still under enemy fire to help remove other men injured more seriously than himself. This outstanding soldier's courageous and selfless devotion to duty is worthy of emulation by all men. He has contributed magnificently to the high traditions of the military service.
*PORT, WILLIAM D.
Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Pfc.), U.S. Army, Company C, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division. Place and date: Que Son Valley, Heip Duc Province, Republic of Vietnam, 12 January 1968. Entered service at: Harrisburg, Pa. Born: 13 October 1941, Petersburg, Pa. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Port distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman with Company C, which was conducting combat operations against an enemy force in the Que Son Valley. As Sgt. Port's platoon was moving to cut off a reported movement of enemy soldiers, the platoon came under heavy fire from an entrenched enemy force. The platoon was forced to withdraw due to the intensity and ferocity of the fire. Although wounded in the hand as the withdrawal began, Sgt. Port, with complete disregard for his safety, ran through the heavy fire to assist a wounded comrade back to the safety of the platoon perimeter. As the enemy forces assaulted in the perimeter, Sgt. Port and 3 comrades were in position behind an embankment when an enemy grenade landed in their midst. Sgt. Port, realizing the danger to his fellow soldiers, shouted the warning, "Grenade," and unhesitatingly hurled himself towards the grenade to shield his comrades from the explosion. Through his exemplary courage and devotion he saved the lives of his fellow soldiers and gave the members of his platoon the inspiration needed to hold their position. Sgt. Port's selfless concern for his comrades, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest tradition of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for January 12, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
12 January
1909: The Wright Brothers sold their patent rights to the General Aerial Navigation Company of France, represented by Lazare Weiller, for $100,000 and an interest in the company. (24)
1910: Using a Henri Farman airplane, Louis Paulhan set a Federation Aeronautique Internationale world solo altitude record of 4,165 feet at the Los Angeles Flying Meet. (See 10 January) (9) (24)
1939: President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to expand the Army Air Corps to a force of 5,500 planes, 3,203 officers, and 45,000 men in response to world political conditions. (4)
1948: Northrop Aircraft Company announced that rocket-powered test aircraft had attained 1,019 miles per hour at Muroc AFB, Calif. (16) (24)
1951: KOREAN WAR. After Chinese Communist forces took Wonju, the 98th Bombardment Group sent 10 B-29s to attack the occupied city. For the first time, the bombers dropped 500-pound general purpose bombs fused for an air burst over the enemy troops below. The innovation slowed the enemy advance. To improve bombing precision, Far East Air Forces installed a short-range navigation system (SHORAN) on a B-26 for the first time. (28)
1952: KOREAN WAR. F-84s caught three supply trains at Sunchon as they raced for the shelter of a tunnel. They blasted the tunnel mouth shut, trapping the trains in the open and then destroyed the boxcars and at least two locomotives. Additionally, through 13 January 10 B-29s based in Okinawa dropped 396 500-pound bombs on the railroad bridge east of Sinanju across the Chongchong River, rendering the bridge unserviceable. (28)
1953: The Navy began test operations on its first angled deck carrier, the USS Antietam. (24)
1961: Major Henry J. Deutschendorf, Jr., flew a 43rd Bombardment Wing B-58 Hustler from Carswell AFB, Tex., to six international speed and payload records in a single flight. Between Edwards AFB, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., the B-58 achieved 1,200.194 miles per hour for 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) with no payload, with a 2,000-kilogram payload, and with a 4,000-kilogram payload. Over 2,000-kilometers (1,242 miles), with the same payloads, a second bomber averaged 1,061.808 miles per hour. [Note: Major Deutschendorf was singer John Denver's father] (1)
1965: At Plattsburg AFB, N.Y., the 380th Air Refueling Squadron received the Strategic Air Command's last KC-135 (Tail No. 64-14840). (1)
1969: Exercise REFORGER/CRESTED CAP. The event started as USAFE dual-based F-4Ds and Military Airlift Command transports moved troops to European bases to support a combined USAF and Army operation for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (16)
1971: The USAF contracted the Boeing Company to produce the Short-Range Attack Missile for the FB-111, B-52, and proposed B-1. (6) (12)
1979: Defense Satellite Communication System (DSCS) II satellites 9441 and 9442 completed testing and were turned over to the Defense Communications Agency. This brought the DSCS II system up to its full strength of four operational satellites for the first time. (5)
1981: Terrorists destroyed 9 A-7D Corsairs belonging to the Air National Guard's 156th Tactical Fighter Group at Muniz Air National Guard Base in Puerto Rico. (26)
1990: The Military Airlift Command announced that it would allow female aircrew members to participate in C-130 and C-141 airdrop missions. [8: Mar 90]
1999: The last three of ten C-27 Spartans flew from the 310th Airlift Squadron at Howard AFB in Panama to Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., for retirement. In Panama, the C-27s flew humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping, and counterdrug missions. The Spartan was a smaller, twin-engine version of the C-130. It gave the USAF a unique, short-take-off-and-landing capability at normally inaccessible airstrips. (22)
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