The List 7282
To All,
.Good Monday morning September 1. .. This morning it is clear and blue sky again. Currently at 78 and climbing to around 90 by 2.
.I hope that you all have been enjoying a great long weekend.
.
Regards
skip
.HAGD
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/. Go here to see
September 1
On This Day
1800 During the Quasi-War with France, the schooner, USS Experiment, commanded by Lt. Charles Stewart, captures the French privateer Deux Amix off Barbuda, West Indies.
1814 The sloop-of-war, USS Wasp, commanded by Johnston Blakely, sinks the British brig sloop, HMS Avon, south of Ireland.
1925 Cmdr. John Rodgers and a crew of four in a PN-9 aircraft run out of fuel on the first San Francisco to Hawaii flight. Landing at sea, they rig a sail and set sail for Hawaii. On Sept. 10, they are rescued by the submarine USS R-4, 10 miles from Kaui, then Territory of Hawaii.
1941 The United States assumed responsibility for trans-Atlantic convoys from Argentia, Newfoundland, to the meridian of Iceland.
1942 The United States Naval Air Force, Pacific Fleet is established. Vice Adm. Aubrey W. Fitch assumes duties of this administrative command that replaces the commands Carriers, Pacific Fleet and Patrol Wings, Pacific Fleet.
1942 The first Seabee unit to serve in a combat area, the Sixth Naval Construction Battalion, arrives on Guadalcanal.
1942 PBY Catalina aircraft from VP-73 bomb and sink German submarine U-756 southwest of Iceland.
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Today in World History September 1
1676 Nathaniel Bacon leads an uprising against English Governor William Berkeley at Jamestown, Virginia, resulting in the settlement being burned to the ground. Bacon's Rebellion came in response to the governor's repeated refusal to defend the colonists against the Indians.
1773 Phillis Wheatley, a slave from Boston, publishes a collection of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, in London.
1807 Aaron Burr is arrested in Mississippi for complicity in a plot to establish a Southern empire in Louisiana and Mexico.
1821 William Becknell leads a group of traders from Independence, Mo., toward Santa Fe on what would become the Santa Fe Trail.
1836 Protestant missionary Dr. Marcus Whitman leads a party to Oregon. His wife, Narcissa, is one of the first white women to travel the Oregon Trail. The Oregon Trail emigrants who chose to follow Stephen Meek thought his shortcut would save weeks of hard travel. Instead, it brought them even greater misery.
1864 Confederate forces under General John Bell Hood evacuate Atlanta in anticipation of the arrival of Union General William T. Sherman's troops.
1870 The Prussian army crushes the French at Sedan, the last battle of the Franco-Prussian War.
1876 The Ottomans inflict a decisive defeat on the Serbs at Aleksinac.
1882 The first Labor Day is observed in New York City by the Carpenters and Joiners Union.
1894 By an act of Congress, Labor Day is declared a national holiday.
1902 The Austro-Hungarian army is called into the city of Agram to restore the peace as Serbs and Croats clash.
1904 Helen Keller graduates with honors from Radcliffe College.
1905 Alberta and Saskatchewan become Canadian provinces.
1916 Bulgaria declares war on Romania as the First World War expands.
1923 An earthquake levels the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Yokohama, killing 300,000.
1939 Germany invades Poland, beginning World War II in Europe.
1942 A federal judge in Sacramento, Cal., upholds the government's detention of Japanese-Americans and Japanese nationals as a war measure.
1951 Australia, New Zealand and the United States sign the ANZUS Treaty, a mutual defense pact.
1969 Colonel Muammar Gaddafi seizes power in Libya following a coup.
1970 Dr. Hugh Scott of Washington, D.C. becomes the first African-American superintendent of schools in a major U.S. city.
1972 America's Bobby Fischer beats Russia's Boris Spassky in Reykjavik, Iceland, to become world chess champion.
1979 US spacecraft Pioneer 11 makes the first-ever flyby of Saturn.
1985 The wreck of the Titanic found by Dr. Robert Ballard and Jean Louis Michel in a joint U.S. and French expedition.
1998 On National Day, Vietnam releases 5,000 prisoners, including political dissidents.
2004 Armed terrorists take children and adults hostage in the Beslan school hostage crisis in North Ossetia, Russia.
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Thanks to Al
Monday Morning Humor--Labor Day and Jobs
. Interviewer: What's your biggest weakness?
Me: I don't know when to quit.
Interviewer: You're hired.
Me: I quit.
Employer: For this role the candidate needs to be responsible
Me: I'm your man, in my last job whenever anything bad happened the boss always said to me "you are responsible".
Boss: Why do I always have to come looking for you?
Me: Because a good worker is hard to find.
Various professions…
• I just lost my job as a psychic. I did not see that coming.
• Hard work pays off in the future, laziness pays off now.
• I'm looking for a job where I am politely ignored and left to my own devices. With unlimited Internet access, doughnuts, and coffee.
• Now I've gotten into astronomy, and my whole career is looking up.
• I quit my job working for Nike. Just couldn't do it anymore.
• I quit my job at the helium factory. I refuse to be spoken to in that tone!
• I love being a maze designer. I get completely lost in my work.
• I wanted to be a computer programmer, but I couldn't hack it.
• I wanted to be a pet groomer, but I couldn't make heads or tails of it.
• I got a job as a human cannonball. It was a high-caliber position! But I had a short fuse and got fired.
• Inspecting mirrors is a job I could really see myself doing.
• Sure I'm willing to work longer hours at work. As long as they're lunch hours.
• I think my job interview to be a bug sorter went well. I boxed all the right ticks.
• My best job was being a musician, but eventually, I found I wasn't noteworthy.
• I studied a long time to become a doctor, but I didn't have any patients.
• Thought about becoming a witch, so I tried that for a spell.
• I'm aspirin' to be a chemist.
• I wanted to be a tree doctor but I faint at the sight of sap.
• I managed to get a good job working for a pool maintenance company, but the work was just too draining.
• I wanted to get into the engineering field, but I burned too many bridges.
• I got a job at a zoo feeding giraffes but I was fired because I wasn't up to it.
• I got fired as a yoga instructor. And I bent over backwards for those people!
• I thought about being a knife-maker. I made great blades, but I just couldn't handle it.
• I found being an electrician interesting, but the work was shocking.
• I got fired from the unemployment office, and still had to show up the next day.
• After many years of trying to find steady work, I finally got a job as a historian until I realized there was no future in it.
• I applied for a job in Australia but seems I don't have the right koalifications.
• I worked at Krispy Kreme, but I quickly got fed up with the hole business.
• Being friends with co-workers is like having pet tigers…. fun in theory but you still wonder when they will turn on you.
• I had a job making stationery, but I quit because it wasn't going anywhere.
• I had a job at Minute Maid orange juice. I got fired because I couldn't concentrate.
• I became an archaeologist. Before long, my career was in ruins.
• I used to be a postman until I got the sack.
• I was a dentist for a while, but it was like pulling teeth.
• I worked at the bank as a teller for a while…until I starting losing interest.
• I wanted to be a baker, really kneaded the dough.
• I considered telemarketing, but it wasn't my calling.
• I was training to be a sound technician, but I couldn't handle feedback.
• I thought I did a good job as an attorney, but the jury's still out.
• I thought about fortune-telling, but I couldn't make a prophet and didn't see a future in it.
• I focused on being a photographer, but nothing ever developed.
• After that, I wanted to be a barber, but I just couldn't cut it.
• Then I worked in the woods as a lumberjack, but I just couldn't hack it, so they gave me the ax.
• After that, I tried to be a tailor, but I just wasn't suited for it. Mainly because it was a sew-sew job.
• Then I tried to be a chef – figured it would add a little spice to my life but I just didn't have the thyme.
• I attempted to be a deli worker, but any way I sliced it, I couldn't cut the mustard.
But wait, there's more…
• I am always late for work but I make up for it by always leaving early.
• I hired a handyman and gave him a list of jobs to do. Of the jobs on the list, he only completed numbers 1,3,5 and 7. Turns out he only does odd jobs.
• I took an exam last week to see if I could become an insect inspector. I think I will get the job because I boxed all the right ticks.
• Working as a lumberjack for the past 3 years I know that I have cut down 10,432 trees. How you ask? Everytime I cut one down I keep a log.
• I have created an app to help find an electrician in your area. It is called wattsapp.
• Some people think that being a waiter isn't a respectable job. But hey, it puts food on the table.
• Why did the bloke have to quit his job at Ford installing mufflers? It was just too exhausting.
• If you are in need of a job, you could always try search and rescue. They are always looking for people.
• Why couldn't the guy be a fulltime fisherman? The net income wasn't enough.
• Why did the man have to quit his job fixing baths, sinks and showers? The work was just too draining.
• People are often shocked when they find out what a bad electrician I am.
• I got a commerce degree and then tried my luck as an investment banker. It was a fun gig for a while but I eventually quit because I lost interest.
• I work as a lifeguard, it is my job is to actively fight natural selection.
• In retail, there are 2 important things to learn which are honesty and empathy, and the sooner you learn to fake these the better you will be at your job.
• I had a job selling bras for a while, but I couldn't support myself.
• I worked at a coffee cup packaging factory for a short while, it just wasn't my cup of tea I guess.
• I worked as a barber for a while there, I just couldn't cut it.
• I once worked for an elevator company, the job had its ups and downs.
• I sold glasses for a while but I couldn't really see myself making any money.
• Which job entails you asking people to pick their nose? A plastic surgeon.
• As I get older, I think of all the people I have lost along the way. Maybe a career as a tour guide wasn't for me.
• My career is completely in ruins. I just took a job as an archeologist.
• I have decided to quit my job as a personal trainer because the weights are too heavy. I am going to hand in my too weak notice.
If you have it off, enjoy your day and have a great week,
Al
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Rollingthunderremembered.com .
September 1
Thanks to Dan Heller and the Bear
.
An item of importance is the recent incorporation of Task Force Omega (TFO) MIA summaries. There is a link on the homepage and you can also visit directly via https://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/task-force-omega/. There are 60 summaries posted thus far, with about 940 to go (not a typo—TFO has over 1,000 individual case files).
Thanks to Micro
From Vietnam Air Losses site for "for 1 September . .
1-Sep: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=2329
.
Vietnam Air Losses Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
MOAA - Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
(This site was sent by a friend . The site works, find anyone you knew in "search" feature. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )
By: Kipp Hanley
.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Listed by last name and has other info https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
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. Thanks to Interesting Facts
September 1752 was only 19 days long in the U.K.
History
"Thirty Days Hath September" may be a useful mnemonic device, but there are times when that poem might have led you astray. In 1752, September was only 19 days long in the U.K., due to the Calendar (New Style) Act of 1750. That parliamentary move transferred the country from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar — the former having overestimated each year's length by about 11 minutes.
Back in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII had declared that all countries under the dominion of the Catholic Church needed to adopt the Gregorian calendar, but many Protestant nations — such as England — resisted the pope's demands. During the 18th century, as international trade and diplomacy increased, Britain and its colonies began to view the adherence to a now-antiquated Julian calendar — first implemented in Rome by Julius Caesar in the first century BCE — as more spiteful than practical. When the U.K. finally converted to the Gregorian calendar in 1752, they jumped straight from September 2 to September 14, skipping the 11 days in between to make up for the errors of the Julian calendar. Though protests against the law arose among some anti-reformers — who purportedly rallied behind the slogan "Give us back our 11 days!" — the calendar was adopted without any further delay.
New Year's Day used to occur in March.
IT'S A FACT
The Babylonians of ancient Mesopotamia celebrated the new year in March, because the holiday was tied to the vernal equinox. The concept of a January 1 new year was introduced by the Romans in 153 BCE, though that date wasn't adopted globally until Pope Gregory's reforms in 1582.
Eastern Orthodox nations, such as Russia and Greece, also initially resisted the papal decree, waiting to transition to the Gregorian calendar until 1918 and 1923, respectively. By then, so much time had passed that those two countries skipped 13 days to bring their calendars up to speed. Russia's stubbornness also affected Alaska — upon being sold to the U.S. in 1867, the former Russian territory leapt straight from October 6 to October 18.
Numbers Don't Lie
Days in the longest recorded year in history (46 BCE)
445
Fastest time (in minutes) to eat all the chocolates from an advent calendar
1:27:84
Times the Earth, Wind & Fire song "September" went platinum
6
Year Batman's nemesis Calendar Man first appeared in the comics
1958
Prior to being named for Julius Caesar, July was once known as Quintilis.
Kodak used to operate on a 13-month calendar.
The concept of a 13-month, 28-day-per-month calendar is known as the International Fixed Calendar. The idea was proposed by statistician and railway adviser Moses B. Cotsworth in 1902, and was seriously considered for adoption by the League of Nations in the 1920s. This 13-month calendar introduced a new month named Sol, which fell between June and July, and also featured an extra holiday falling on the final day of the year, known as "Year Day." Though never officially used by any country, it was highly popular with Kodak founder George Eastman — so much so that his company utilized it beginning in 1928. Eastman went on to open an office for the International Fixed Calendar League in Kodak's Rochester headquarters. Unfortunately for Kodak, the calendar failed to catch on, and the company ultimately gave up the concept in 1989.
BENNETT KLEINMAN
Staff Writer
Bennett Kleinman is a New York City-based staff writer for Optimism Media, and previously contributed to television programs such as "Late Show With David Letterman" and "Impractical Jokers." Bennett is also a devoted New York Yankees and New Jersey Devils fan, and thinks plain seltzer is the best drink ever invented.
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. Between the spaceship and the 777 Boeing is having a hard time right now…skip
Thanks to Hawk
I remember seeing the first 707 land in Denver in the early 50s. the one in the pictures with the yellow and brown and white on it that is now in the Smithsonian. Somewhere in my files I have a video of the time it got rolled in Washington over the hydro boat races. skip
KEY FAILURES . . Then Success! (The Boeing Story) (fwd)
Subject: KEY FAILURES . . Then Other Incredibly Successful . .
Innovations . . Bet You Weren't Entirely Aware Of @ BOEING
http://www.rbogash.com/Boeing/707-is-60.html
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. Thanks to History Facts
A Brief and Curious History of Pockets
You can never have too many pockets, but we used to not have them at all. As clothing evolved from simple to complex, pockets, some of them specialized, evolved right along with it, changing shape, size, and function through the years. When did pockets go from external pouches to sewn-in features? How big were the pockets that 18th-century women hid under their skirts — and why are women's pockets so small now? What role did jeans play in the progress of the pocket? This brief history of pockets shows just how deep they go.
Pocket Predecessors
Wearable pouches — such as fanny packs or, if you're fancy, belt bags — date back thousands of years. Even Europe's oldest known natural mummy, Otzi the Iceman, who lived in the Copper Age more than 5,000 years ago, was found wearing a belt with a small attached pouch, which contained some small tools.Belt bags were a must-have accessory in medieval Europe, too; some were crude, some more ornate, and they were worn by all genders. One found in a particularly lavish grave in England had a decorative metal purse lid that would have been attached to a leather pouch. The word "pocket" came into use in English around 1450 to describe a small sack worn on someone's person, whether sewn into clothing or not. It evolved from the Anglo-French word poket or pouchet, a diminutive variation on poke or pochete, meaning "bag."
The Rise of Men's Pockets
The Renaissance was a time of great art, innovation, and exploration throughout Europe, and it's during this era that the sewn-in pocket started to appear. The earliest true pockets were parts of men's trunk hose — the poofy short breeches that you see in old portraits of royals and nobles — which became popular during the 16th century. The pockets hid themselves well among the folds, although sometimes they're visible in paintings.The extra space left plenty of room for storing necessary objects, particularly pocket watches. These pockets could be quite luxurious; one example of voluminous trunk hose from the early 17th century had leather pockets lined with yellow and blue silk. Eventually, sewn-in pockets were also added to men's coats, jackets, waistcoats, and breeches, for both nobles and commoners. From that point forward, menswear typically included pockets. For women's clothing, however, the path was not quite as straight.
The Extreme Practicality of Tie-On Pockets
In the mid-17th century, women had their own pocket revolution. Rather than wearing sewn-in pockets that would have to be emptied when changing into new clothes, many women started using tie-on pockets, which were detachable pouches that tied around the waist underneath skirts. Dresses would come with slits in them designed for reaching these modular pockets.Tie-on pockets were typically very large — often more than 15 inches long and 10 inches wide — but they disappeared easily under the full skirts and petticoats of the era. They could be highly personalized, handmade, adorned with embroidery, made with extra interior pockets, and were often given as gifts.These pockets offered a space that women had complete control over. They could carry cash and valuables nested inside, and sleep with them under their pillows. While women from all walks of life wore tie-on pockets, they were especially useful for working women who needed to carry keys and supplies, as well as people living in cramped conditions. Upper-class women carried large quantities of precious items such as snuff boxes, telescopes, almanacs, and purses. Sentimental items such as small portraits frequently found their way into tie-on pockets, too. With the extra storage space also came a large capacity for crime; in one case, a woman made off with two live ducks stashed inside her pockets.Tie-on pockets stayed in use until the late 19th century — with a little break in the early 1800s when dresses briefly got less voluminous — even after handbags came into fashion. By the mid-19th century, some dresses even had small sewn-in pockets, although they were often impractical.
The Pocket Regression of the Victorian Era
Menswear, both formal and informal, continued to have plentiful pockets into the 19th century (after all, the pocket watches!), but England's Victorian era ushered in slimmer silhouettes for women, ushering out the massive tie-on pocket. The loss was felt acutely; as one woman wrote in the magazine The Decorator and Furnisher in 1890, "There is a touch of pathos as well as absurdity in the answer of a patient, enduring, long-suffering woman, who, in reply to her dressmaker's question as to how she would have her gown made, said tragically, 'all pockets.'"In the early 19th century, tie-on pockets were temporarily eschewed in favor of reticules, also known as "indispensables," a type of small handbag meant as a pocket replacement. These came back with a vengeance in the Victorian era, and were meant to be dainty.
Women Take Back the Pocket
The early 20th century brought many social upheavals for women, including the right to vote in the United States, increased representation in the workforce, and, yes, the return of the pocket. As women started doing jobs that had been traditionally held by men, women's fashion started to draw inspiration from menswear, including ample pockets. By the late 1920s, tomboyish looks gained popularity, and soon trousers, pockets and all, started hitting the racks in earnest. Women's jeans rose to prominence, albeit not quite in the mainstream, in the 1930s. By the 1940s, trousers and suits were staple wardrobe items for all genders. The pockets in these pants weren't always particularly deep and functional, especially compared with the cavernous tie-on pockets of yesteryear, but they were there.
The Pocket Gender Gap
Pockets are no longer unusual in women's fashion, but there are still significant differences in size between men's and women's pockets; women's jeans, for example, are still 48% shorter on average than men's. When women's jeans became mainstream in the 1950s and '60s, fashion started ruling over form, and designers favored slimmer silhouettes over practical pockets. This even led to the fake pocket, which gives the illusion of a pocket where none exists.One relatively recent social change has started encouraging more practical pockets: the ubiquity of smartphones. It's hard to cart around a tiny computer all day without ample pocket space, especially as phones get larger in size. It's made some fashion designers rethink the necessity of pockets in women's clothing, and while nothing has changed overnight, a new chapter in the history of pockets may be on the horizon.
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Thanks to Nice News
Happy Labor Day, and happy September! The federal holiday, established in the late 19th century to honor American workers, always falls on the first Monday of September — which just so happens to also be the first day of the month this year. But not to fear, summer enthusiasts, astronomical fall doesn't officially start until the equinox on Sept. 22. (Plus, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a warm autumn and mild winter.)
New York City is a concrete jungle, so you might be surprised to hear that the five boroughs are home to more than 7 million trees. Every 10 years, volunteers gather to perform a census on those trees and check in on their health (thankfully, they don't have to count all 7 million — just the street and park trees). .
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Thanks to Mike
. Why was the SR 71 canceled?
It was not because of money -Linda Sheffield
SR-71s – the Second Iteration
August 5, 2024 by Commentary Submissions 4 Comments
By Stan Gudmuncson Peterson, MN
When the Air Force retired the SR-71s in late 1989, Congress required that there be a follow-on replacement. Sure enough, the Air Force brass said and we've even identified the first Air Force pilot to fly that aircraft. He was the pilot I was flying SR-71s with. Because the follow-on wasn't anything like the SR-71 and much more like the U-2, to prepare for that assignment, he transitioned to the U-2 program.
But the Air Force cancelled the SR-71 replacement and they didn't notify Congress. That really irritated some powerful senators. That's not something you do not do even if you are four-star general. Consequently, Congress said you are bringing the SR-71 back to operational status.
I don't know what the Air Force leadership's response was exactly but they certainly didn't like it. Actually, there is Bible passage which probably describes their reaction best. "For lo, there was great weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Initially, the plan was to field a small squadron but we ended up with two A-models. Because NASA had A-models, the pilot training B-model, and the simulator at the Dryden Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB, 9th Reconnaissance Wing's Detachment 2 stood-up there. Edwards AFB was happy to have us and provided a hangar and office space closest to Dryden.
Reconstitution began in the fall of 1994. The program ended sometime in 1999. Our final flight, however, was in October 97 when a Clinton line-item-veto ended flight operations. From then on, the rest of the effort involved getting rid of parts and components and destroying things like 30-plus perfectly serviceable engines. They ended up in a car crusher.
Lockheed was selected as the prime contractor of course. They began refurbishment of two A-models at Palmdale, not very far from Edwards. Initially, Det 2's three pilots and three RSOs weren't checked out to fly. Consequently, NASA pilots and flight engineers flew the first Functional Check Flights (FCFs).
Our first crew was mission ready in September 1995 and the second in November 1995. Because all of the crewmembers were fairly senior Lt Cols, we hired two more crews. One crew got as far as flying a solo sortie. The pilot of the second crew showed up on the day our program was terminated. The RSO candidate had his orders cancelled and never came to Edwards. Both of the new pilot hires ended up going to the U-2 program.
Between November 1994 and October 1997, what did we accomplish? Quite a lot actually. Our two A-model aircraft were significantly superior to the aircraft retired in 1989.
First, our airplanes were much more survivable. We fielded a new and far more capable Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) System. And we modified our tactics. Flying across a western test range against the latest and greatest known threat, we broke their system. It took them two weeks to repair. We were invited to not come back.
Second, instead of cameras with film that needed a lot of time to download, develop and analyze, our sensors were digital. The Advanced Synthetic Aperture (ASARs) system, previously fielded, had been significantly improved. Second, the side looking Technical Objective Cameras (TEOCs) had been digitized with an electro-optical system. Third, we added a downlink capability that provided near real-time reconnaissance that was compatible with Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force systems.
During our short operation, there were more than six requests for the SR-71 from theater commanders. The most amazing one came from the White House. They asked us to fly sorties into the Middle East. That request came after the White House had already line-item-vetoed our program. We were wanted but the Air Force did not want us.
Why was our program cancelled in 1989 and why were we terminated in 1997. It had absolutely nothing to do with our reconnaissance capability or our survivability or other platforms that could (not) do what we did. Also, it had little to do with cost. "Official" Air Force explanations are largely phony evasions. The cynic's view is that the SR-71 program was terminated twice, mostly because of fragile fighter-pilot egos.
Why do I know anything about this? I was the commander of Det 2.
Wait, there's more
Here's a story about our last airshow at Beale in Sep 97. Rather than fly in the day before, Gil Luloff and Jim Greenwood flew in the day of the airshow. They arrived about noon and started with a throttles at idle 'whisper pass' down the runway. The next pass was a 'non-whisper' pass. After a little airshow they taxied in and parked in a roped off area just to west of the old 99RS and 1RS squadron building (1086). The airshow crowd was huge and it seemed like everyone wanted to get as near as possible to the SR.
When they parked, shut down, and opened the canopies simultaneously the crowd was completely quiet. Then there began a murmur which turned into a roar. Sent shivers up my spine. Jim and Gil stayed in their pressure suits. The rest of the SR guys and Jim and Gil then walked the ropes talking to folks and signing autographs. The Thunderbirds were scheduled to start their routine at 1500 hours (3 p.m.) but the crowd had thinned considerably.
The 9RW wing commander, BGen Simpson, had been a Thunderbird pilot and was its former commander. Stan, he said, if you would have told me that another airplane would or could upstage the Thunderbirds, I wouldn't have believed you. Today, he said, I'm a believer. We always left an impression.
Again, thank-you. Stan Gudmundson
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Thanks to Interesting Facts
7 of History's Most Significant Archaeological Discoveries
History
Some of the world's biggest archaeological discoveries not only changed the way we interpret our past but also solved historical mysteries. In addition to making front-page headlines around the world, many discoveries sparked cultural fads. Not every archaeological dig will yield a cache of priceless jewels or one-of-a-kind artifacts, but the finds mentioned below stand out as exceptional.
Tutankhamun's Tomb
In November 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter and his patron Lord Carnarvon located the tomb of the young pharaoh Tutankhamun in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. Unlike other royal tombs, Tut's had remained virtually undisturbed for more than 3,000 years. Over the next few years, Carter unearthed an eye-popping collection of gold and ivory chests, statues of sacred beings, model boats, and other goods, plus Tut's mummy and his iconic gold mask inlaid with semi-precious stones. The discovery of the best-preserved Egyptian tomb and its treasures set off a worldwide obsession with Egyptian-themed fashion, jewelry, and art.
The Rosetta Stone
While digging the foundation for a new fort in July 1799, soldiers in Napoleon's army found a fragment of stone in the Nile that bore the same message in three languages: Egyptian hieroglyphics, Demotic script, and ancient Greek. By comparing the Greek text to the other two passages, scholars could finally decode the meaning of the hieroglyphics. Before the Rosetta Stone's discovery, ancient Egyptian writing had been an undecipherable mystery. Later, scholars such as Thomas Young and Jean-François Champollion showed that the hieroglyphics on the stone revealed names of important figures and other details of ancient Egyptian history. Reportedly, Champollion was so excited to have deciphered the mystery that he fainted.
The Skeleton of "Lucy"
In 1974, American anthropologist Donald Johanson and grad student Tom Gray stumbled upon "Lucy," the skeleton of a single individual hominid (Australopithecus afarensis) who lived in present-day Ethiopia a little over 3 million years ago. Lucy proved to be a previously unknown human ancestor who walked upright — demonstrating that bipedalism evolved before larger brains — and was the most complete ancient hominid skeleton that had then ever been found. Since then, anthropologists have unearthed other hominid species with the help of modern technology, including Homo naledi in South Africa, Homo floriensis in Indonesia, and the Denisovans in Siberia.
Lascaux Cave Paintings
The fabulously detailed drawings on the walls of the Lascaux cave, which depict cattle, horses, bison, deer, and other animals, stunned the world when they were discovered by four young men in southwest France in 1940. Dating back about 20,000 years to the middle of the Late Stone Age, the drawings represent some of the earliest known figurative art and are a window into humankind's cultural development. The Paleolithic painters may have used Lascaux as a ceremonial site or a place to demonstrate their artistic skills, but no one knows for sure.
The Terracotta Army
In 1974, a farmer near the city of Xi'an, China, dug up some fragments of terracotta, which led to the discovery of thousands of life-size carved terracotta soldiers buried in the mausoleum of the first Chinese emperor, Qin Shi Huang, who had died in 210 BCE. Each warrior had a unique expression, and they stood four abreast in trenches as if ready to defend their leader. Carved horses, chariots, swords, and other weapons were also found. Much remains to be discovered at the mausoleum, which includes 600 burial and architectural sites spanning almost 22 square miles.
The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of religious writings and books of the Hebrew Bible created between 2,000 and 2,300 years ago. Soon after the first seven scrolls were discovered in 1947 by a shepherd exploring a cave on the shore of the Dead Sea, the fragile manuscripts transformed historians' views of Jewish religious life and culture two millennia ago. The texts revealed a Judean society influenced by different philosophies and practices, a world that gave rise to rabbinic Judaism and Christianity.
L'Anse Aux Meadows Viking Settlement
Thirteenth-century Icelandic sagas told of a group of Vikings, led by Leif Erikson, who sailed across the ocean to a lush new world. In the 1960s, archaeologists Helge and Anne Stine Ingstad discovered exactly where the Norse people landed around 1000 CE — modern-day Canada. The Ingstads located the ruins of European-style buildings at L'Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of Newfoundland, and further excavations revealed artifacts of Norse origin. The evidence confirmed the first European settlement in North America.
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This Day in U S Military History…….1 September
1925 – Navy CDR John Rodgers and crew of 4 in PN-9 run out of fuel on first San Francisco to Hawaii flight. Landing at sea, they rigged a sail and set sail for Hawaii.
1939 – At 0445 hours German forces invade Poland without a declaration of war. The operation is code named Fall Weiss (Plan White). The Germans allot 52 divisions for the invasion (some 1.5 million men), including the 6 armored divisions and all their motorized units. Of the divisions left to defend against an Anglo-French front, only about 10 are regarded by the Germans as being fit for any kind of action. General Brauchitsch, the Commander-in-Chief of the German Army, is in command of the campaign. Bock leads Army Group North, consisting of the 4th Army (Kuchler) and 3rd Army (Kluge); Rundstedt leads Army Group South, consisting of 8th Army (Balskowitz), 10th Army (Reichenau) and 14th Army (List). Air support comes from two Air Fleets, commanded by Kesselring and Lohr, which have around 1,600 aircraft. Army Group South, advancing from Silesia, is to provide the main German attacks. The 8th Army on the left is to move toward Poznan, the principal thrust is to be delivered by 10th Army which is to advance in the center to the Vistula River between Warsaw and Sandomierz, while 14th Army on the right moves toward Krakow and the Carpathian flank. The 4th Army from East Prussia is to move south toward Warsaw and the line to the Bug River to the east; 3rd Army is to cross the Polish Corridor and join 4th Army in moving south. The Poles have 23 regular infantry divisions prepared with 7 more assembling, 1 weak armored division and an inadequate supply of artillery. They also have a considerable force of cavalry. The reserve units were only called up on August 30th and are not ready for combat. In the air, almost all the 500 Polish planes are obsolete and prove unable to blunt the impact of the German attack. During the day, the Luftwaffe launches air strikes on Warsaw, Lodz and Krakow. The Polish Commander in Chief, Marshal Rydz-Smigly, has deployed the stronger parts of his army in the northwestern half of the country, including large forces in the Poznan area and the Polish Corridor. He hopes to hold the Germans to only gradual gains. All along the front the superior training, equipment and strength of the Germans quickly brings them the advantage in the first battles. Many Polish units are overrun before their reinforcements from the reserve mobilization can arrive. At sea, as in the air, Polish technical inferiority leads to crushing early defeats. Three of the four Polish destroyers manage to leave for Britain before hostilities begin and later one submarine also escapes. On the first day the old pre-Dreadnought battleship, Schleswig-Holstein, bombards the Polish naval base at Westerplatte.
1945 – Americans received word of Japan's formal surrender that ended World War II. Because of the time difference, it was Sept. 2 in Tokyo Bay, where the ceremony took place.
1950 – U.S. Navy Lieutenant Eugene F. Clark was put ashore at Yonghung-do to command an operation to gather intelligence for the impending amphibious assault at Inchon.
1977 – The 1st TRS-80 Model I computer was sold.
1983 – Soviet jet fighters intercept a Korean Airlines passenger flight in Russian airspace and shoot the plane down, killing 269 passengers and crewmembers. The incident dramatically increased tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States. On September 1, 1983, Korean Airlines (KAL) flight 007 was on the last leg of a flight from New York City to Seoul, with a stopover in Anchorage, Alaska. As it approached its final destination, the plane began to veer far off its normal course. In just a short time, the plane flew into Russian airspace and crossed over the Kamchatka Peninsula, where some top-secret Soviet military installations were known to be located. The Soviets sent two fighters to intercept the plane. According to tapes of the conversations between the fighter pilots and Soviet ground control, the fighters quickly located the KAL flight and tried to make contact with the passenger jet. Failing to receive a response, one of the fighters fired a heat-seeking missile. KAL 007 was hit and plummeted into the Sea of Japan. All 269 people on board were killed. This was not the first time a South Korean flight had run into trouble over Russia. In 1978, the Soviets forced a passenger jet down over Murmansk; two passengers were killed during the emergency landing. In its first public statement concerning the September 1983 incident, the Soviet government merely noted that an unidentified aircraft had been shot down flying over Russian territory. The United States government reacted with horror to the disaster. The Department of State suggested that the Soviets knew the plane was an unarmed civilian passenger aircraft. President Ronald Reagan called the incident a "massacre" and issued a statement in which he declared that the Soviets had turned "against the world and the moral precepts which guide human relations among people everywhere." Five days after the incident, the Soviets admitted that the plane had indeed been a passenger jet, but that Russian pilots had no way of knowing this. A high ranking Soviet military official stated that the KAL flight had been involved in espionage activities. The Reagan administration responded by suspending all Soviet passenger air service to the United States, and dropped several agreements being negotiated with the Soviets. Despite the heated public rhetoric, many Soviets and American officials and analysts privately agreed that the incident was simply a tragic misunderstanding. The KAL flight had veered into a course that was close to one being simultaneously flown by a U.S. spy plane; perhaps Soviet radar operators mistook the two. In the Soviet Union, several of the military officials responsible for air defense in the Far East were fired or demoted. It has never been determined how the KAL flight ended up nearly 200 miles off course.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
IRWIN, PATRICK
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company H, 14th Michigan Infantry. Place and date: At Jonesboro, Ga., 1 September 1864. Entered service at: Ann Arbor, Mich. Born: 1839, Ireland. Date of issue: 28 April 1896. Citation: In a charge by the 14th Michigan Infantry against the entrenched enemy was the first man over the line of works of the enemy, and demanded and received the surrender of Confederate Gen. Daviel Govan and his command.
RYAN, THOMAS JOHN
Rank and organization: Ensign, U.S. Navy. Place and date: Yokohama, Japan, 1 September 1923. Entered service at: Louisiana. Born: 5 August 1901, New Orleans, La. Citation: For heroism in effecting the rescue of a woman from the burning Grand Hotel, Yokohama, Japan, on 1 September 1923. Following the earthquake and fire which occurred in Yokohama on 1 September, Ens. Ryan, with complete disregard for his own life, extricated a woman from the Grand Hotel, thus saving her life. His heroic conduct upon this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and on the U.S. Navy, of which he is a part. (Medal presented by President Coolidge at the White House on 15 March 1924.)
*HENRY, FREDERICK F.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company F, 38th Infantry Regiment. Place and date: Vicinity of Am-Dong, Korea, 1 September 1950. Entered service at: Clinton, Okla. Birth: Vian, Okla. G.O. No.: 8, 16 February 1951. Citation: 1st Lt. Henry, Company F, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. His platoon was holding a strategic ridge near the town when they were attacked by a superior enemy force, supported by heavy mortar and artillery fire. Seeing his platoon disorganized by this fanatical assault, he left his foxhole and moving along the line ordered his men to stay in place and keep firing. Encouraged by this heroic action the platoon reformed a defensive line and rained devastating fire on the enemy, checking its advance. Enemy fire had knocked out all communications and 1st Lt. Henry was unable to determine whether or not the main line of resistance was altered to this heavy attack. On his own initiative, although severely wounded, he decided to hold his position as long as possible and ordered the wounded evacuated and their weapons and ammunition brought to him. Establishing a l-man defensive position, he ordered the platoon's withdrawal and despite his wound and with complete disregard for himself remained behind to cover the movement. When last seen he was single-handedly firing all available weapons so effectively that he caused an estimated 50 enemy casualties. His ammunition was soon expended and his position overrun, but this intrepid action saved the platoon and halted the enemy's advance until the main line of resistance was prepared to throw back the attack. 1st Lt. Henry's outstanding gallantry and noble self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty reflect the highest honor on him and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the U.S. Army.
KOUMA, ERNEST R.
Rank and organization: Master Sergeant (then Sfc.) U.S. Army, Company A, 72d Tank Battalion. Place and date: Vicinity of Agok, Korea, 31 August and 1 September 1950. Entered service at: Dwight, Nebr. Born: 23 November 1919, Dwight, Nebr. G.O. No.: 38, 4 June 1951. Citation: M/Sgt. Kouma, a tank commander in Company A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. His unit was engaged in supporting infantry elements on the Naktong River front. Near midnight on 31 August, a hostile force estimated at 500 crossed the river and launched a fierce attack against the infantry positions, inflicting heavy casualties. A withdrawal was ordered and his armored unit was given the mission of covering the movement until a secondary position could be established. The enemy assault overran 2 tanks, destroyed 1 and forced another to withdraw. Suddenly M/Sgt. Kouma discovered that his tank was the only obstacle in the path of the hostile onslaught. Holding his ground, he gave fire orders to his crew and remained in position throughout the night, fighting off repeated enemy attacks. During 1 fierce assault, the enemy surrounded his tank and he leaped from the armored turret, exposing himself to a hail of hostile fire, manned the .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the rear deck, and delivered pointblank fire into the fanatical foe. His machine gun emptied, he fired his pistol and threw grenades to keep the enemy from his tank. After more than 9 hours of constant combat and close-in fighting, he withdrew his vehicle to friendly lines. During the withdrawal through 8 miles of hostile territory, M/Sgt. Kouma continued to inflict casualties upon the enemy and exhausted his ammunition in destroying 3 hostile machine gun positions. During this action, M/Sgt. Kouma killed an estimated 250 enemy soldiers. His magnificent stand allowed the infantry sufficient time to reestablish defensive positions. Rejoining his company, although suffering intensely from his wounds, he attempted to resupply his tank and return to the battle area. While being evacuated for medical treatment, his courage was again displayed when he requested to return to the front. M/Sgt. Kouma's superb leadership, heroism, and intense devotion to duty reflect the highest credit on himself and uphold the esteemed traditions of the U.S. Army.
*SMITH, DAVID M.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company E, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Yongsan, Korea, 1 September 1950. Entered service at: Livingston, Ky. Born: 10 November 1926, Livingston, Ky. G.O. No.: 78, 21 August 1952. Citation: Pfc. Smith, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action. Pfc. Smith was a gunner in the mortar section of Company E, emplaced in rugged mountainous terrain and under attack by a numerically superior hostile force. Bitter fighting ensued and the enemy overran forward elements, infiltrated the perimeter, and rendered friendly positions untenable. The mortar section was ordered to withdraw, but the enemy had encircled and closed in on the position. Observing a grenade lobbed at his emplacement, Pfc. Smith shouted a warning to his comrades and, fully aware of the odds against him, flung himself upon it and smothered the explosion with his body. Although mortally wounded in this display of valor, his intrepid act saved 5 men from death or serious injury. Pfc. Smith's inspirational conduct and supreme sacrifice reflect lasting glory on himself and are in keeping with the noble traditions of the infantry of the U.S. Army.
*STORY, LUTHER H.
Rank and organization Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Agok, Korea, 1 September 1950. Entered service at: Georgia. Born: 20 July 1931, Buena Vista, Ga. G.O. No.: 70, 2 August 1951. Citation: Pfc. Story, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. A savage daylight attack by elements of 3 enemy divisions penetrated the thinly held lines of the 9th Infantry. Company A beat off several banzai attacks but was bypassed and in danger of being cut off and surrounded. Pfc. Story, a weapons squad leader, was heavily engaged in stopping the early attacks and had just moved his squad to a position overlooking the Naktong River when he observed a large group of the enemy crossing the river to attack Company A. Seizing a machine gun from his wounded gunner he placed deadly fire on the hostile column killing or wounding an estimated 100 enemy soldiers. Facing certain encirclement the company commander ordered a withdrawal. During the move Pfc. Story noticed the approach of an enemy truck loaded with troops and towing an ammunition trailer. Alerting his comrades to take cover he fearlessly stood in the middle of the road, throwing grenades into the truck. Out of grenades he crawled to his squad, gathered up additional grenades and again attacked the vehicle. During the withdrawal the company was attacked by such superior numbers that it was forced to deploy in a rice field. Pfc. Story was wounded in this action, but, disregarding his wounds, rallied the men about him and repelled the attack. Realizing that his wounds would hamper his comrades he refused to retire to the next position but remained to cover the company's withdrawal. When last seen he was firing every weapon available and fighting off another hostile assault. Private Story's extraordinary heroism, aggressive leadership, and supreme devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and were in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the military service.
*TURNER, CHARLES W.
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, 2d Reconnaissance Company, 2d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Yongsan, Korea, 1 September 1950. Entered service at: Massachusetts. Birth: Boston, Mass. G.O. No.: 10, 16 February 1951. Citation: Sfc. Turner distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. A large enemy force launched a mortar and automatic weapon supported assault against his platoon. Sfc. Turner, a section leader, quickly organized his unit for defense and then observed that the attack was directed at the tank section 100 yards away. Leaving his secured section he dashed through a hail of fire to the threatened position and, mounting a tank, manned the exposed turret machine gun. Disregarding the intense enemy fire he calmly held this position delivering deadly accurate fire and pointing out targets for the tank's 75mm. gun. His action resulted in the destruction of 7 enemy machine gun nests. Although severely wounded he remained at the gun shouting encouragement to his comrades. During the action the tank received over 50 direct hits; the periscopes and antenna were shot away and 3 rounds hit the machine gun mount. Despite this fire he remained at his post until a burst of enemy fire cost him his life. This intrepid and heroic performance enabled the platoon to withdraw and later launch an attack which routed the enemy. Sfc. Turner's valor and example reflect the highest credit upon himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the U.S. Army.
*KAHO'OHANOHANO, ANTHONY T.
Rank: Private First Class, Organization: U.S. Army, Company: Company H, Division: 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, Born: 1930, Departed: Yes, Entered Service At: Hawaii, G.O. Number: , Date of Issue: 05/02/2011, Accredited To: Hawaii, Place / Date: Chupa-ri, Korea, 1 September, 1951. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty Private First Class Anthony T. Kaho'ohanohano, Company H, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Chupa-ri, Korea, on 1 September 1951. On that date, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano was in charge of a machine-gun squad supporting the defensive positioning of Company F when a numerically superior enemy force launched a fierce attack. Because of the enemy's overwhelming numbers, friendly troops were forced to execute a limited withdrawal. As the men fell back, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano ordered his squad to take up more defensible positions and provide covering fire for the withdrawing friendly force. Although having been wounded in the shoulder during the initial enemy assault, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano gathered a supply of grenades and ammunition and returned to his original position to face the enemy alone. As the hostile troops concentrated their strength against his emplacement in an effort to overrun it, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano fought fiercely and courageously, delivering deadly accurate fire into the ranks of the onrushing enemy. When his ammunition was depleted, he engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano's heroic stand so inspired his comrades that they launched a counterattack that completely repulsed the enemy. Upon reaching Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano's emplacement, friendly troops discovered 11 enemy soldiers lying dead in front of the emplacement and two inside it, killed in hand-to-hand combat. Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano's extraordinary heroism and selfless devotion to duty are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 7th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
*JONES, WILLIAM A., III
Rank and organization: Colonel, U.S. Air Force, 602d Special Operations Squadron, Nakon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. Place and date: Near Dong Hoi, North Vietnam, 1 September 1968. Entered service at: Charlottesville, Va. Born: 31 May 1922, Norfolk, Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Col. Jones distinguished himself as the pilot of an A-1H Skyraider aircraft near Dong Hoi, North Vietnam. On that day, as the on-scene commander in the attempted rescue of a downed U.S. pilot, Col. Jones' aircraft was repeatedly hit by heavy and accurate antiaircraft fire. On one of his low passes, Col. Jones felt an explosion beneath his aircraft and his cockpit rapidly filled with smoke. With complete disregard of the possibility that his aircraft might still be burning, he unhesitatingly continued his search for the downed pilot. On this pass, he sighted the survivor and a multiple-barrel gun position firing at him from near the top of a karst formation. He could not attack the gun position on that pass for fear he would endanger the downed pilot. Leaving himself exposed to the gun position, Col. Jones attacked the position with cannon and rocket fire on 2 successive passes. On his second pass, the aircraft was hit with multiple rounds of automatic weapons fire. One round impacted the Yankee Extraction System rocket mounted directly behind the headrest, igniting the rocket. His aircraft was observed to burst into flames in the center fuselage section, with flames engulfing the cockpit area. He pulled the extraction handle, jettisoning the canopy. The influx of fresh air made the fire burn with greater intensity for a few moments, but since the rocket motor had already burned, the extraction system did not pull Col. Jones from the aircraft. Despite searing pains from severe burns sustained on his arms, hands, neck, shoulders, and face, Col. Jones pulled his aircraft into a climb and attempted to transmit the location of the downed pilot and the enemy gun position to the other aircraft in the area. His calls were blocked by other aircraft transmissions repeatedly directing him to bail out and within seconds his transmitters were disabled and he could receive only on 1 channel. Completely disregarding his injuries, he elected to fly his crippled aircraft back to his base and pass on essential information for the rescue rather than bail out. Col. Jones successfully landed his heavily damaged aircraft and passed the information to a debriefing officer while on the operating table. As a result of his heroic actions and complete disregard for his personal safety, the downed pilot was rescued later in the day. Col. Jones' profound concern for his fellow man at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
*RODELA, JOSE
Rank and Organization: Sergeant First Class. U.S. Army. Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3312. Place and Date: September 1, 1969. Born: June 15, 1937, Corpus Christi, TX . Departed: No. Entered Service At: Corpus Christi, TX. G.O. Number: . Date of Issue: 03/18/2014. Accredited To: . Citation: Rodela is being recognized for his valorous actions on Sept. 1, 1969, while serving as the company commander in Phuoc Long Province, Vietnam. Rodela commanded his company throughout 18 hours of continuous contact when his battalion was attacked and taking heavy casualties. Throughout the battle, in spite of his wounds, Rodela repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to attend to the fallen and eliminate an enemy rocket position.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for September 1, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
1 September
1914: 1st Aero Squadron organized at San Diego, Calif., with 16 officers, 77 enlisted men, and eight planes.
1919: Using a DH-4B, Lt Lester B. Sweely (Air Service Reserve) demonstrated a diving attack at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. He dropped a 300-pound demolition bomb from under the fuselage. (20)
1927: American Railway Express and major airlines started air express operations. (24)
1940: Pan American Airways began a new 3-day route from the US to Rio de Janiero, using a 1,500-mile shortcut across the Amazon jungles. (24)
1944: Fifth Air Force sent 55 B-24s to bomb dispersal areas at three airfields near Davao, Mindanao Island, in the Philippines. Two of the Liberators were shot down by antiaircraft fire, and antiaircraft fire or interceptors damaged several others. Strike photographs revealed the destruction of 22 Japanese aircraft on the ground. (17)
1948: The second XR-12 lifted off from the Air Force Flight Test Center at Muroc, Calif., and climbed westward to gain altitude over the Pacific Ocean. Upon reaching its 40,000-foot cruising altitude, the XR-12 headed eastward and began photographing its entire route over the entire US. The crew shot a continuous 325-foot long strip of film composed of 390 individual photos covering a 490-mile-wide field of vision. The aircraft landed at Mitchel Field in Long Island, N.Y., completing a flight lasting six hours and 55 minutes. The record shattering flight was featured in the 29 November 1948 issue of Life magazine, and the filmstrip went on display at the
1948 Air Force Association Convention in New York.
1950: KOREAN WAR. Fifth Air Force strafed and dropped napalm and bombs on N. Korean troops and armored columns attacking along the Naktong River front, while USN Task Force 77 aircraft provided close air support to the perimeter defenders. General MacArthur directed General Stratemeyer to use all available FEAF airpower, including B-29s, to help the Eighth Army hold the "Pusan Perimeter." (28) The 97th Air Refueling Squadron at Biggs AFB, Tex., received the first KB-29P tanker (Tail No. 44-86427), equipped with a flying boom. Earlier "M" models used Britain's trailing-hose refueling equipment. (1)
1953: In the first jet-to-jet air refueling, a KB-47B refueled a B-47 Stratojet in the air. (12) (24)
1959: At Vandenberg AFB, Calif., the USAF formally transferred the operational Atlas missile to the Strategic Air Command. (16)
1962: Last Titan II squadron, the 374th Strategic Missile Squadron, activated at Little Rock AFB, Ark. (6) (12) Following a 7.3 earthquake, which killed over 10,000 people, the Military Air Transport Service sent C-118s, C-124s and C-133s to airlift nearly 480 tons of relief supplies from Ramstein AB, Germany, to Teheran, Iran. (18)
1964: First Titan III-A launched within one day of target month. Test results were 95 percent achieved, although it failed to attain the planned orbit. Capts Albert R. Crews and Richard B. Lawler completed a two-week stay in a simulated space cabin at the General Electric Space Center in Valley Forge, Pa. This test showed that man could perform more tasks in extended space flight than supposed. (16) (26) The Strategic Air Command inactivated its first Atlas D unit, the 564th Strategic Missile Squadron, at Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyo. (6)
1965: The first of 13 computer-controlled radar system sites for detecting enemy aircraft became operational at North Truro, Mass. Engineers designed the system, called Back Up Interceptor Control (BUIC), to take over America's air defense if the Semi-Automated Ground Environment System (SAGE) failed or was destroyed.
1966: The Tactical Air Command activated the Tactical Fighter Weapons Center at Nellis AFB, Nev., to conduct special fighter training in F-100s, F-105s, and F-4s. (11) The USAF Tactical Airlift Center activated at Pope AFB to provide airlift support to Army units and test new airlift equipment. (16)
1968: MEDAL OF HONOR. During a rescue attempt of a downed American pilot, Lt Col William A. Jones III served as the on-scene commander. He repeatedly flew his A-1H Skyraider over enemy guns and sustained heavy damage and severe burns. Discovering his radios to be broken, Jones refused to abandon his crippled aircraft and flew back to base in extreme pain, where he reported the downed pilot's location. On 15 November 1969, Colonel Jones died in a private plane crash near Woodbridge, Va. At the time, he commanded the 1st Flying Training Squadron at Andrews AFB, Md. Jones received the Medal of Honor posthumously at White House ceremonies for heroic actions in 1968. (16) (21)
1970: Air Rescue and Recovery Service helicopters began participating in the Military Assistance for Safety in Traffic (MAST) project to provide medical assistance to automobile accident victims and other people needing medical care in civilian communities. (16)
1971: First USAF Geodetic Receiver (Geoceiver) deployed. It used Navy satellites to pinpoint geographic locations.
1974: Maj James B. Sullivan, pilot, and Maj Noel F. Widdifield, reconnaissance systems officer (RSO), flew an SR-71 from New York to London in a record 1 hour 55 minutes 42 seconds for trans-Atlantic flight. They averaged 1,806.96 MPH for 3,490 miles to break the British Royal Navy's 1969 record of 4 hours 46 minutes and 723 MPH in an F-4K. (1)
1980: Air Force Space Command was established under the command of General James Hartinger. The new major command was initially given responsibility for missile warning and space surveillance assets transferred from Air Defense Command
1983: A Soviet SU-15 interceptor shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007, a Boeing 747 with 269 passengers, near Sakhalin Island. Through 12 September, three HC-130s from the 33 ARRS at Kadena AB conducted subsequent search operations over the Sea of Japan, but found no survivors. SAC KC-135s also provided air refueling support. (16) (26)
1986: The Tactical Air Command's last Cessna O-2 left Shaw AFB, S. C., for storage at DavisMonthan AFB, Ariz. (11)
1987: The USAF reactivated the first Ryan AQM-34M Firebee Drone to test the over-the-horizon backscatter (OTH-B) radar system. It flew for one hour over the Utah Test and Training Range.
1992: TYPHOON OMAR. The storm hit Guam on 28 August with 150-MPH winds and 16 inches of rain. On 1 September, C-5 carried 62 tons of cargo from Yokota AB, Japan, for the first relief mission to Guam. Through 25 September, airlift aircraft flew in 750 relief workers and 2,000 tons of supplies to the island in 59 missions. (16) (18)
1995: The SR-71 returned to active service. It was retired in 1990 when strategists prematurely suggested that satellites were able to assume its mission. (16)
1999: Operation ALLIED FORCE/SHINING HOPE. Air National Guard KC-135s flew 1,640 sorties and 10,300 flying hours to offload over 50 million pounds of fuel to 5,100 aircraft in ALLIED FORCE. During SHINING HOPE, Air National Guard C-130s flew 512 sorties in 1,413 flight hours. (32)
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