The List: TheList 7453

The List 7453

To All.

Good Saturday Morning February 21, 2026.

..It is clear and cool this morning and no rain is expected for at least10 days. ..

.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 the director's corner for all 94 H-Grams.

February. 21

1942—USS Triton (SS 201) sinks Japanese merchant cargo vessel Shokyu Maru in the East China Sea, 60 miles south of Quelpart Island.

1944—SBDs and TBFs bomb anti-aircraft positions at Lakunai airfield and shore installations at Rabaul and sink Japanese guard boat No.2 Yawata Maru.

1944 - Marines with support of naval bombardment and carrier aircraft secure Eniwetok atoll 1945—Japanese kamikazes sink escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea (CVE 95) while off Iwo Jima with 318 men killed or wounded. USS Saratoga (CV 3) is struck by five kamikazes but survives, although 123 men are killed.

1991—During Operation Desert Storm, AV-8B aircraft from Marine Attack Squadron 331 conduct the first of 243 sorties off the deck of USS Nassau (LHA 4).

1952—During the Korean War, USS Symbol (AM 123), is conducting a routine check sweep in the vicinity of Mayang-do in company with USS Murrelet (AM 372), when she observes four splashes from an estimated 75mm shore battery. The ships return fire, which silences the enemy guns.

Son of Quote of the Day

On this day in history (February 21):

1878: The first telephone directories issued in the U.S. were distributed to residents in New Haven, CT.

1947: Edwin H. Land first demonstrated his Polaroid Land camera, which used self-developing film that produced a black-and-white photograph in 60 seconds. Wildman Fischer sang about taking a picture of you with his camera. It became an "instant" success.

1950: The first International Pancake Race was held in Liberal, Kansas.

In the annual event, contestants wearing dresses, aprons and head scarves must run a 415-yard, "S" shaped course while flipping a pancake in a skillet three times.

National Sticky Bun Day

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This day in World History

February 21

1595 The Jesuit poet Robert Southwell is hanged for "treason," being a Catholic.

1631 Michael Romanov, son of the Patriarch of Moscow, is elected Russian Tsar.

1744 The British blockade of Toulon is broken by 27 French and Spanish warships attacking 29 British ships.

1775 As troubles with Great Britain increase, colonists in Massachusetts vote to buy military equipment for 15,000 men.

1797 Trinidad, West Indies surrenders to the British.

1828 The first issue of the Cherokee Phoenix is printed, both in English and in the newly invented Cherokee alphabet.

1849 In the Second Sikh War, Sir Hugh Gough's well placed guns win a victory over a Sikh force twice the size of his at Gujerat on the Chenab River, assuring British control of the Punjab for years to come.

1862 The Texas Rangers win a Confederate victory in the Battle of Val Verde, New Mexico.

1878 The world's first telephone book is issued by the New Haven Connecticut Telephone Company containing the names of its 50 subscribers.

1885 The Washington Monument is dedicated in Washington, D.C.

1905 The Mukden campaign of the Russo-Japanese War, begins.

1916 The Battle of Verdun begins with an unprecedented German artillery barrage of the French lines.

1940 The Germans begin construction of a concentration camp at Auschwitz.

1944 Hideki Tojo becomes chief of staff of the Japanese army.

1949 Nicaragua and Costa Rica sign a friendship treaty ending hostilities over their borders.

1951 The U. S. Eighth Army launches Operation Killer, a counterattack to push Chinese forces north of the Han River in Korea.

1956 A grand jury in Montgomery, Alabama indicts 115 in a Negro bus boycott.

1960 Havana places all Cuban industry under direct control of the government.

1965 El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcom X) is assassinated in front of 400 people.

1972 Richard Nixon arrives in Beijing, China, becoming the first U.S. president to visit a country not diplomatically recognized by the U.S.

1974 A report claims that the use of defoliants by the U.S. has scarred Vietnam for a century.

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From the archives

Thanks to Felix and Dr. Rich

The Insane Engineering of the F-16 ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhhOin2p5Qs

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Thanks to the Bear and Dan Heller. We will always have the url for you to search items in Rolling Thunder

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER …

. rollingthunderremembered.com .

Thanks to Micro

From Vietnam Air Losses site for ..February 21 . .

February 21: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=1006

Hello All,

Thanks to Dan Heller and the Bear

Links to all content can now be found right on the homepage http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com. If you scroll down from the banner and featured content you will find "Today in Rolling Thunder Remembered History" which highlights events in the Vietnam war that occurred on the date the page is visited. Below that are links to browse or search all content. You may search by keyword(s), date, or date range.

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).

If you have any questions or comments about RTR/TFO, or have a question on my book, you may e-mail me directly at acrossthewing@protonmail.com. Thank you Dan

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. From the archives worth the repeat

Thanks to Bruddah .... and Dr. Rich

Thanks. And what I used to tell the lads, "You can do anything you want on your last hop."

An Old Pilot's Reflections

Pilots are people who drive airplanes for other people who can't fly.

Passengers are people who say they fly, but really just ride.

Fighter Pilots are steely eyed, weapons systems managers who kill bad people and break things. However, they can also be very charming and personable. The average fighter pilot, despite sometimes having a swaggering exterior, is very much capable of such feelings as love, affection, intimacy and caring. (However, these feelings don't involve anyone else.). This is soooooo true……...

Flying is a hard way to earn an easy living.

Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the airplane; the pessimist, the parachute.

Death is just nature's way of telling you to watch your airspeed.

As a pilot only two bad things can happen to you (and one of them will): a. One day you will walk out to the aircraft, knowing it is your last flight. b. One day you will walk out to the aircraft, not knowing it is your last flight. The first one applies to me, but it could have been very different.

There are rules and there are laws: The rules are made by men who think that they know how to fly your airplane better than you. The laws (of physics) were ordained by God. You can and sometimes should suspend the rules, but you can never suspend the laws. About Rules: a. The rules are a good place to hide if you don't have a better idea and the talent to execute it. b. If you deviate from a rule, it must be a flawless performance (e.g., if you fly under a bridge, don't hit the bridge.)

Before each flight, make sure that your bladder is empty and your fuel tanks are full.

He who demands everything that his aircraft can give him is a pilot; he who demands one iota more is a fool.

There are certain aircraft sounds that can only be heard at night and over the ocean. Most of them are scary.

The aircraft limits are only there in case there is another flight by that particular aircraft. If subsequent flights do not appear likely, there are no limits.

"If the Wright brothers were alive today, Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs." (President, DELTA Airlines.)

In the Alaskan bush, I'd rather have a two-hour bladder and three hours of gas than vice versa.

An old pilot is one who can remember when flying was dangerous and sex was safe. Airlines have really changed; now a flight attendant can get a pilot pregnant.

And my favorite; You have to make up your mind about growing up and becoming a pilot. You can't do both.

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. Thanks to Interesting Facts

I do not think that we followed these during our journeys to the Mount Signal Café in El Centro when on one of our numerous F-8 Crusader Dets there. I do remember going outside to the head and while releasing the beer that had built up had the feeling I was being watched. I looked up and the ceiling was moving. It was covered with a million flies. Then a door opened up and there was the kitchen. !!!!

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Restaurant Etiquette Tips, Explained

Whether it's a hot date or a birthday brunch, even the most seasoned among us can feel a little adrift when it comes to dining out etiquette. Where do your hands go? What do you do with your napkin when you step away from the table? How do you know what to order when it's someone else's treat? These eight tips could help your next big culinary outing go a little more smoothly.

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Put Your Phone on Silent — and Keep It Off the Table

Etiquette for dining with smartphones is threefold. First, put it on silent so it doesn't disturb your meal. But don't just turn down the volume and set it on the table; put it away in your pocket or bag, along with anything else that's not a part of the meal. Lastly, don't check your phone while you're eating. You can take a peek at your notifications when you're away from the table; while some experts say to wait until the meal is finished, you can probably discreetly check in the restroom, too. Yet rules are always flexible, and there are extenuating circumstances (like getting check-ins from a babysitter) that your dining companions may understand.

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Napkin in the Lapkin

It's pretty well-trodden etiquette territory to say that your napkin goes in your lap — but when do you put it there, and what do you do with it when you leave the table?

First: Place your napkin in your lap when everybody is seated. If you get up to use the restroom, place your napkin loosely to the left of your plate. It's less likely to soil the napkin than placing it on your plate itself, and that way you don't risk transferring food smears from your napkin to your chair (and potentially your clothes).

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Let the Person Paying Order First

If dinner's on someone else, it can be hard to know exactly what the expectations are in terms of price point. A good general rule is to follow the lead of the person treating you. Letting them order first can give you a sense of what budget they had in mind. Regardless, you probably shouldn't order the most expensive thing on the menu.

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Your Elbows Are Probably Fine Where They Are

If you struggle to keep your elbows off the table — as your grandmother scolded you to do — there's some good news. Originally, the rule existed to keep your elbows clean and prevent slouching, but most experts seem to agree that it's now outdated, particularly when there isn't any food actually on the table. The Emily Post Institute, a five-generation family powerhouse of etiquette advice, warns against putting your elbows on the table while eating, but instructs that it's always been acceptable to have your elbows on the table between courses. In general, elbows on the table is also acceptable before and after a meal, although you might want to play it on the safe side while actually eating to avoid dipping your sleeves in gravy.

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Raise Food Issues Quietly

If there's a hair in your salad or a smudge on your glass, there's no need to turn it into a table wide conversation topic. Flag down your server and explain your issue discreetly and politely. They should be back with a replacement momentarily, and meanwhile, the mood at the table stays light.

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Chew With Your Mouth Closed

The global COVID-19 pandemic kept a lot of people out of sit-down dining establishments, so you may have reverted back to some old habits, like talking with your mouth full. But remember: At no point should anybody you are eating with see food on the inside of your mouth. One study says that food does taste better if you chew with your mouth open — but it's not worth alienating your dining companions over.

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Yes, You Need to Tip

Unless the establishment has a specific policy against it, tip your server — at least, if you're dining in America. It's not just good etiquette: Tips can amount to more than half of the income of servers and bartenders, and that money is often shared with back-of-house workers such as cooks. Experts say that 15% to 20% of the pre-tax total is customary, but 42% of Americans always tip 20% or more. A 20% tip is easy to calculate, too: Calculate 10% by moving the decimal point on the total once to the left. Then double it.

8 of 8

Don't Overstay

Don't linger for too long after you finish your meal, especially if the restaurant is full or you have an especially large party. It's disrespectful to the establishment, which needs to serve more customers to stay in business, and to other customers who are waiting for a seat. In some cases, you may even be holding up a reservation. Some diners take offense when they feel rushed away from their table; try to be understanding if you do. If you want to stay for longer and there's not a line, order something else, like a dessert, a shared plate, or a round of cocktails, or at least check in with your server.

8 Restaurant Etiquette Tips, Explained

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Thanks to Brett

Taiwan at the Center of a Fragile US-China Rapprochement

Renewed dialogue is transforming Taiwan arms transfers from routine policy into negotiated signaling.

By: Victoria Herczegh

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was discussing the issue of arms sales to Taiwan with his Chinese counterpart, a very strategically telling development in U.S.-China relations. The statement suggests that the supply of U.S. weapons to Taiwan, long handled as routine bureaucratic transfers under the Taiwan Relations Act, may now be subject to top-level negotiations between Washington and Beijing. Emphasizing his "good relationship" with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump said a decision on arms sales would come "pretty soon."

For decades, China has attempted to make the U.S.-Taiwan security relationship part of its own bilateral negotiations with the United States. Beijing has repeatedly warned that U.S. arms transfers to Taiwan must be handled "with prudence," and in recent weeks, it has mentioned previous American approvals – such as the $11 billion package authorized in December – as justification for large-scale Chinese military drills around the self-ruled island. Amid reports that Washington is considering a new and potentially larger package for Taiwan, the message from Beijing is clear: Delay or downsize the potential arms sale, or efforts to stabilize

U.S.-China relations will suffer.

The White House is taking China's warning seriously. As the costs of unmanaged escalation continue to rise, both sides are increasingly convinced that some form of accommodation is necessary. In Washington, lawmakers from Trump's Republican Party are concerned that the combination of tariff disruptions, market volatility and supply chain fragility from trade tensions with Beijing could cost them in November midterm elections. For Beijing, slower growth, persistent distress in the real estate sector, demographic headwinds and shaky investor sentiment have restricted the government's room to maneuver. Stabilizing relations with the U.S. is therefore not just desirable but critical to sparking a much-needed economic rebound. Thus, the mutual need for predictability has begun to outweigh the (mostly symbolic) gains of continued confrontation.

The current state of play could be characterized as a fragile trade truce. Last week, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce confirmed for the first time in months that economic and trade teams from both countries were engaged in sustained dialogue at multiple levels. Around the same time, senior U.S. Treasury officials traveled to China to prepare for the next round of high-level talks, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng serving as principal negotiators. The likely outcome of these engagements is not a major reset of the relationship but rather a series of tactical agreements: agricultural purchases, limited tariff adjustments, selective regulatory concessions and reaffirmations of "mutual respect." For now, stability is the name of the game, especially with Trump planning to visit China in April.

The Taiwan Question

Still, even as economic channels reopen, the Taiwan question remains the main geopolitical obstacle to lasting rapprochement. For Beijing, Taiwan is connected to sovereignty, regime legitimacy (which is especially significant in times of economic strain) and the long-standing narrative of national rejuvenation. For Washington, the island represents credibility, deterrence and the defense of a democratic partner. Therefore, any U.S.-China accommodation needs to include some sort of understanding regarding Taiwan, even if no formal agreement is signed. Strategic ambiguity has long proved to be functional – it allowed Washington to support Taiwan without formally recognizing independence, and also let Beijing postpone forcible reunification while maintaining pressure on the island. However, the increase in Chinese military signaling – air incursions, naval patrols and exercises – suggests that ambiguity and the current fragile status quo alone may no longer provide sufficient stability. The pending arms sales decision therefore serves as a test case for how deterrence will be recalibrated within a framework of renewed dialogue.

Taiwan's domestic political situation adds another element of complexity. President Lai Ching-te's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost control of the legislature in the 2024 elections, leaving the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party with procedural leverage. The repeated blocking of Lai's $39.5 billion special defense budget has become a symbol of this divided government. Although Taiwan has the fiscal capacity to fund the package – supported by a strong credit rating, prudent fiscal management and even recent tax surpluses – the issue lies in mistrust between the two main parties and legislative maneuvering. The opposition has argued for scaling back or restructuring the plan, while the DPP considers it essential for asymmetric deterrence and alignment with U.S. security expectations. Polls indicate that a majority of citizens view the obstruction unfavorably, but public dissatisfaction has not translated into legislative compromise.

The intragovernmental discord does not end there. After Lai's Cabinet refused to sign a bill that would allocate a greater share of tax revenues to local governments, the opposition initiated impeachment proceedings against Lai despite lacking the supermajority required for success, reflecting a strategy of sustained political pressure. Constitutional obstacles make Lai's removal highly unlikely, but the process itself reinforces an image of institutional gridlock. At a time when Beijing continues military pressure and Washington is recalibrating its diplomatic approach, this paralysis can be strategically damaging. It raises questions both within the country and internationally about Taiwan's ability to reach some kind of consensus between the leadership and the opposition in the face of an external threat. Even more important, it heightens public anxiety that Taiwan's future could be influenced by great-power bargaining taking place above its head.

Simultaneously, the KMT's engagement with Beijing has intensified. The revival of the KMT-Chinese Communist Party forum after a decade and reaffirmation of the "1992 Consensus" (a framework formulated between the People's Republic of China and the then-KMT-led Taiwan to manage cross-strait relations) highlight alternative channels of cross-strait communication that bypass the DPP-led government. Beijing is likely to leverage these ties to signal that cooperation – and perhaps deescalation – is easier under KMT leadership. At the same time, KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun has been invited to visit the U.S., positioning her as a potential intermediary between both capitals. For the KMT, this approach offers the possibility of reducing miscalculation, yet it also fuels domestic fears of overly accommodating Beijing.

Accommodation between the U.S. and China is possible regardless of which party is ruling in Taiwan. The difference between a DPP- and KMT-led government lies mainly in tone and execution. A DPP administration prioritizes deterrence and sovereignty, aligning closely with traditional U.S. security logic but also risking conflict if Washington seeks trade concessions with Beijing. In contrast, a KMT administration emphasizes engagement and economic integration with China, potentially lowering immediate tensions but likely also raising some concerns about strategic vulnerability. Taiwan's electorate, which largely favors maintaining the status quo, remains wary of both extremes.

Taiwan's Immediate Future

Trump's arms sales decision will serve as an early but significant indicator of how far Washington and Beijing are willing to go in balancing deterrence with diplomatic stabilization. Any understanding on Taiwan will almost certainly remain tacit, for now demonstrated only by calibrated weapons transfers and moderated military signaling rather than formal commitments. Over the coming months, the Taiwan issue will likely be subsumed into a renewed great-power understanding.

If the two sides continue moving toward rapprochement through economic and diplomatic channels, as a major step in the Taiwan issue, they may reach a tacit agreement to avoid dramatic moves that alter the status quo. Washington would maintain arms support at a lower level sufficient for deterrence but tailored to avoid overt provocation, while Beijing would continue applying pressure but take it to a lower level to avoid escalation. That kind of balance would not eliminate tension, but it could reduce the probability of miscalculation. For now, the weight of mutual economic dependence and political calculation suggests that both Washington and Beijing are moving, cautiously but deliberately, toward stabilization.

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Thanks to 1440

One Big Headline

Trump's Tariffs Terminated

The Supreme Court yesterday struck down President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports from nearly every US trading partner. Trump responded by ordering a global 10% tariff under a statue that lets presidents impose duties for up to 150 days.

Last year, Trump was the first president to invoke the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs on imported goods from over 100 countries. While the statute empowers the president to regulate imports to address extraordinary threats, it does not explicitly mention tariffs. Previous presidents have used it to place sanctions and embargoes on other countries, such as after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Citing historical precedent and the letter of the law, the justices ruled 6-3 that Trump exceeded his authority; only Congress can impose tariffs under the 1977 act.

The majority did not address whether companies would be refunded the over $175B reportedly collected under the tariffs, leaving that question to lower courts. In dissent, Justice Brett Kavanaugh warned that issuing refunds would be complicated, particularly since many importers have passed on the costs to consumers.

Want to understand how the Supreme Court became powerful enough to override the president? Our editor-in-chief takes you inside the high court in our latest "1440 Explores" episode. Listen here or watch here.

In partnership with Superhuman

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If you're planning to finally start mastering AI in 2026, this is the easiest way. It's called Superhuman AI, and it delivers the AI news that actually matters, plus tools, tutorials, and prompts you can use immediately at work.

Quick Hits

Team USA and Canada to compete for Olympic men's hockey gold tomorrow.

The puck is set to drop at 8:10 am ET tomorrow, marking the US men's hockey team's first gold medal game since 2010. Canada beat the US in that game to win its eighth of nine gold medals in men's hockey. The US beat Slovakia 6-2 yesterday to reach tomorrow's game, while Canada beat Finland 3-2. Slovakia and Finland will face off today at 2:40 pm ET for the bronze medal.

Separately, Norway broke its own record for the most gold medals won in a single Winter Games when biathlete Johannes Dale-Skjevdal earned the nation's 17th gold in the men's 15-kilometer mass start race. As of this writing, Norway has 37 total medals.

Trump administration revokes Biden-era limits on toxic power plant pollution.

The White House yesterday reverted standards regulating mercury, arsenic, and other toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants back to those set in 2012. The move comes after industry groups said the Biden-era rules were prohibitively expensive. Meanwhile, environmental groups supported the stricter limits, citing that pollutants can harm brain development and contribute to health problems. As of 2022, burning coal also accounted for roughly 19% of US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.

NASA targets March moon launch after latest rocket fueling test.

The successful test comes after a first fueling test earlier this month was plagued by liquid hydrogen leaks. Now, NASA says it could launch four astronauts to the moon as soon as March 6. The three Americans and one Canadian slated for the trip were put into a two-week health quarantine last night in preparation. They're poised to be the first astronauts to fly to the moon since 1972.

Barcelona's Sagrada Familia reaches its maximum height.

Over 140 years after the first stone was laid, the Catholic church designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí reached its peak height of roughly 556 feet. After a crane installed the upper arm of a cross atop the Tower of Jesus Christ, the Sagrada Familia surpassed its own record as the world's tallest church. While no additional height is expected, the project remains years from completion.

Paleontologists discover a new dinosaur species as large as T. rex.

The new dinosaur species' fossils were discovered among 55 tons of specimens in a remote part of the Sahara Desert. Scientists believe the species, named Spinosaurus mirabilis, was a brightly colored carnivore that waded in the water to catch fish and lived about 95 million years ago. Mirabilis is Latin for astonishing.

Humankind

Brothers of US women's hockey star post goofy videos to cheer her and her teammates on in the Milan Cortina Winter Games.

Florida man jumps in pond to save a pregnant woman; hours later, her baby is born. .

... and another Florida man rescues a mother and her three children after their car flips into a canal. .

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Thanks to Nice News

Did you know that more than 43 million people around the world are blind? And that the grand majority — 80% — of those cases are treatable or preventable? Nice News' latest Cause of the Season, the Cure Blindness Project, is addressing this issue head on. Last year, the organization completed more than 300,000 sight-restoring surgeries, and that's just a slice of what they do. Click here to donate, and read on for more information on the important work Cure Blindness is facilitating across the globe.

Must Reads.

Most Global Blindness Is Preventable or Treatable — This Org Is on the Ground Tackling It

Cure Blindness Project

It's impossible not to smile when watching someone get their bandages removed after cataract surgery. It's a moment of pure human joy — "magic," as Dr. Matt Oliva describes it.

"When I take the patches off, there's this sort of amazing moment that you can share with another human being when they start to realize, 'Oh my gosh, I can see again,'" Oliva, an ophthalmologist and board chair of the Cure Blindness Project, tells Nice News.

K-T Overbey, the CEO of the nonprofit, echoes that sentiment, recalling the story of a woman who hadn't been able to see her grandchildren until her sight was restored. "It's one of these situations where you realize that humans are humans, no matter where they happened to be born," she says.

As mentioned above, blindness affects an estimated 43 million people around the world, but 80% of those cases are treatable or preventable. Cure Blindness is on the ground doing the treating and prevention .

Sports

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The Secret to Norway's Winter Olympics Success? Prioritizing Enjoyment, Official Says

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Norway has been raking in the medals at this year's Games — and is the most successful country overall in Winter Olympics' history. So what's the secret to its success? According to Tore Oevreboe, the nation's head of delegation, it stems from a longstanding tradition that prioritizes children's happiness.

Rather than centering youth rankings and performance, Norwegian society takes a more wholesome approach to sports, giving children space to enjoy the game first. "We try not to focus on winning too early," Oevreboe told Reuters, adding, "The winning part is to be part of the sport and have joy. The point of doing sport in Norway is to lead a good life. So you start young and learn motor skills, social skills, and then you learn how to use your body in a physical setting."

The country also promotes an inclusive attitude toward sports, with a large used equipment market that lowers the barrier to entry for kids and a collegial system in which coaches share knowledge. And overall, Norwegians try to stay "very relaxed and humble," Oevreboe noted, adding that while the Olympic team set a goal of 35 medals this year, "we want to communicate that we believe in our athletes … but the athlete should not be too worried about this."

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

This weekend marks the final stretch of the Winter Olympics, but there's still plenty to see. A highlight of today's schedule, which includes cross-country skiing, bobsleigh, and curling, is the women's freeski halfpipe final — and our eyes are on Team China's Eileen Gu, the most decorated woman in Olympic freestyle skiing history, who'll be going for her second gold in the event. "I'm doing this because I've seen the world and the best that it has to offer," Gu told Time in January, "and I think that this is the best thing in the world."

You can also catch a handful of events tomorrow, including the men's ice hockey and women's curling finals, before the closing ceremony kicks off at 2:30 p.m. ET. .

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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/

Feb. 14, 1990: Voyager 1 took the first "family portrait" of the Solar System as seen from outside, which includes the image of planet Earth known as Pale Blue Dot. Soon afterward, its cameras were deactivated to conserve energy and computer resources for other equipment.

Feb. 15, 1951: H-5 pilots of the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron fly through a blinding snowstorm and 40-knot winds to deliver blood plasma and medical supplies to the U.S. Army's 2d Division at Chipyong, Korea. They also evacuate 52 wounded men.

Feb. 16, 1975: Brig Gen Eugene D. Scott becomes the first navigator in USAF history to command an opera¬tional flying unit, the 47th Air Division at Fairchild AFB, Washington.

Feb. 17, 1956: With test pilot Herman Richard "Fish" Salmon at the controls, the Lockheed YF-104A service test prototype made its first flight. The aircraft, the first of 17 pre-production YF-104As, incorporated many improvements over the XF-104 prototype, the most visible being a longer fuselage. On Feb. 28, 1956, YF-104A 55-2955 became the first aircraft to reach Mach 2 in level flight. The YF-104A was later converted to the production standard and redesignated F-104A. The Lockheed F-104A Starfighter was a single-place, single-engine, Mach 2 interceptor, and was designed by a team lead by the legendary Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson. Lockheed built 153 of the F-104A Starfighter initial production version. A total of 2,578 F-104s of all variants were produced by Lockheed and its licensees, Canadair, Fiat, Fokker, MBB, Messerschmitt, Mitsubishi and SABCA. By 1969, the F-104A had been retired from service. The last Starfighter, an Aeritalia-built F-104S ASA/M of the Aeronautica Militare Italiana, was retired in October 2004.

Feb. 18, 1918: The first American fighter unit proper, the 95th Aero Squadron, arrives in France.

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This Day in U S Military History

February 21

1920 – Robert S. Johnson, American World War II fighter ace who shot down 27 German planes. Robert S. Johnson was the first fighter pilot of the USAAF – United State Army Air Force – to supplant the 26 victories that Eddie Rickenbacker got in World War I. To the end of the war, he knocked down a German total of 27 airplanes (initially they were 28, but a victory was twenty years after finished the war) He was a member of the 56th Pursuit Group also known as "The Wolf Pack". He wrote a book called "Thunderbolt", chronicles of his life during World War II, where he tells that the American fighter pilots, in the beginning of the war, were very bad, and had to learn or die before being able to fight the pilots of the Luftwaffe. Robert Johnson died 27 of December 1998.

1945 – The Bismarck Sea was the last U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to be sunk in combat during World War II. The escort carrier Bismarck Sea was supporting the invasion of Iwo Jima, when about 50 kamikazes attacked the U.S. Navy Task Groups 58.2 and 58.3. Fleet carrier Saratoga was struck by three suicide planes and so badly damaged that the war ended before she returned to service. At 6:45 p.m., two Mitsubishi A6M5 Zeros approached Bismarck Sea, which opened fire with her anti-aircraft guns. One Zero was set on fire, but its suicidal pilot pressed home his attack and crashed into the carrier abreast of the aft elevator, which fell into the hangar deck below. Two minutes later, an internal explosion devastated the ship, and at 7:05 p.m., Captain J.L. Pratt ordered Abandon Ship. Ravaged by further explosions over the next three hours, Bismarck Sea sank at 10 p.m., the last U.S. Navy carrier to go down as a result of enemy action during World War II. Of her crew of 943, 218 officers and men lost their lives.

2008 – The United States Navy shoots down USA 193, a spy satellite in a decaying orbit, over the Pacific Ocean. USA-193, also known as NRO launch 21 (NROL-21 or simply L-21), was an U.S. military spy satellite launched on December 14, 2006. It was the first launch conducted by the United Launch Alliance. Owned by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the craft's precise function and purpose were classified. The satellite malfunctioned shortly after deployment, and was intentionally destroyed 14 months later by a modified, SM-3 missile fired from the warship USS Lake Erie, stationed west of Hawaii. The event highlighted growing distrust between the U.S. and China, and was viewed by some to be part of a wider "space race" involving the U.S., China, and Russia.

Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day

DUNLAP, ROBERT. HUGO

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division. Place and date: On Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 20 and 21 February 1945. Entered service at: Illinois. Born: 19 October 1920, Abingdon, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 20 and 21 February, 1945. Defying uninterrupted blasts of Japanese artillery, mortar, rifle and machinegun fire, Capt. Dunlap led his troops in a determined advance from low ground uphill toward the steep cliffs from which the enemy poured a devastating rain of shrapnel and bullets, steadily inching forward until the tremendous volume of enemy fire from the caves located high to his front temporarily halted his progress. Determined not to yield, he crawled alone approximately 200 yards forward of his front lines, took observation at the base of the cliff 50 yards from Japanese lines, located the enemy gun positions and returned to his own lines where he relayed the vital information to supporting artillery and naval gunfire units. Persistently disregarding his own personal safety, he then placed himself in an exposed vantage point to direct more accurately the supporting fire and, working without respite for 2 days and 2 nights under constant enemy fire, skillfully directed a smashing bombardment against the almost impregnable Japanese positions despite numerous obstacles and heavy marine casualties. A brilliant leader, Capt. Dunlap inspired his men to heroic efforts during this critical phase of the battle and by his cool decision, indomitable fighting spirit, and daring tactics in the face of fanatic opposition greatly accelerated the final decisive defeat of Japanese countermeasures in his sector and materially furthered the continued advance of his company. His great personal valor and gallant spirit of self-sacrifice throughout the bitter hostilities reflect the highest credit upon Capt. Dunlap and the U.S. Naval Service.

*GRAY, ROSS FRANKLIN

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: August 1920, Marvel Valley, Ala. Accredited to: Alabama. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a Platoon Sergeant attached to Company A, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 21 February 1945. Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation when his platoon was held up by a sudden barrage of hostile grenades while advancing toward the high ground northeast of Airfield No. 1, Sgt. Gray promptly organized the withdrawal of his men from enemy grenade range, quickly moved forward alone to reconnoiter and discovered a heavily mined area extending along the front of a strong network of emplacements joined by covered trenches. Although assailed by furious gunfire, he cleared a path leading through the minefield to one of the fortifications, then returned to the platoon position and, informing his leader of the serious situation, volunteered to initiate an attack under cover of 3 fellow marines. Alone and unarmed but carrying a huge satchel charge, he crept up on the Japanese emplacement, boldly hurled the short-fused explosive and sealed the entrance. Instantly taken under machinegun fire from a second entrance to the same position, he unhesitatingly braved the increasingly vicious fusillades to crawl back for another charge, returned to his objective and blasted the second opening, thereby demolishing the position. Repeatedly covering the ground between the savagely defended enemy fortifications and his platoon area, he systematically approached, attacked and withdrew under blanketing fire to destroy a total of 6 Japanese positions, more than 25 troops and a quantity of vital ordnance gear and ammunition. Stouthearted and indomitable, Sgt. Gray had single-handedly overcome a strong enemy garrison and had completely disarmed a large minefield before finally rejoining his unit. By his great personal valor, daring tactics and tenacious perseverance in the face of extreme peril, he had contributed materially to the fulfillment of his company mission. His gallant conduct throughout enhanced and sustained the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

McCARTHY, JOSEPH JEREMIAH

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 2d Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division. Place and date: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 21 February 1945. Entered service at: Illinois. Born: 10 August 1911, Chicago, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of a rifle company attached to the 2d Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 21 February 1945. Determined to break through the enemy's cross-island defenses, Capt. McCarthy acted on his own initiative when his company advance was held up by uninterrupted Japanese rifle, machinegun, and high-velocity 47mm. fire during the approach to Motoyama Airfield No. 2. Quickly organizing a demolitions and flamethrower team to accompany his picked rifle squad, he fearlessly led the way across 75 yards of fire-swept ground, charged a heavily fortified pillbox on the ridge of the front and, personally hurling hand grenades into the emplacement as he directed the combined operations of his small assault group, completely destroyed the hostile installation. Spotting 2 Japanese soldiers attempting an escape from the shattered pillbox, he boldly stood upright in full view of the enemy and dispatched both troops before advancing to a second emplacement under greatly intensified fire and then blasted the strong fortifications with a well-planned demolitions attack. Subsequently entering the ruins, he found a Japanese taking aim at 1 of our men and, with alert presence of mind, jumped the enemy, disarmed and shot him with his own weapon. Then, intent on smashing through the narrow breach, he rallied the remainder of his company and pressed a full attack with furious aggressiveness until he had neutralized all resistance and captured the ridge. An inspiring leader and indomitable fighter, Capt. McCarthy consistently disregarded all personal danger during the fierce conflict and, by his brilliant professional skill, daring tactics, and tenacious perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds, contributed materially to the success of his division's operations against this savagely defended outpost of the Japanese Empire. His cool decision and outstanding valor reflect the highest credit upon Capt. McCarthy and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

HOOPER, JOE R.

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company D, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date: Near Hue, Republic of Vietnam, 21 February 1968. Entered service at: Los Angeles, Calif. Born: 8 August 1938, Piedmont, S.C. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Staff Sergeant (then Sgt.) Hooper, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving as squad leader with Company D. Company D was assaulting a heavily defended enemy position along a river bank when it encountered a withering hail of fire from rockets, machine guns and automatic weapons. S/Sgt. Hooper rallied several men and stormed across the river, overrunning several bunkers on the opposite shore. Thus inspired, the rest of the company moved to the attack. With utter disregard for his own safety, he moved out under the intense fire again and pulled back the wounded, moving them to safety. During this act S/Sgt. Hooper was seriously wounded, but he refused medical aid and returned to his men. With the relentless enemy fire disrupting the attack, he single-handedly stormed 3 enemy bunkers, destroying them with hand grenade and rifle fire, and shot 2 enemy soldiers who had attacked and wounded the Chaplain. Leading his men forward in a sweep of the area, S/Sgt. Hooper destroyed 3 buildings housing enemy riflemen. At this point he was attacked by a North Vietnamese officer whom he fatally wounded with his bayonet. Finding his men under heavy fire from a house to the front, he proceeded alone to the building, killing its occupants with rifle fire and grenades. By now his initial body wound had been compounded by grenade fragments, yet despite the multiple wounds and loss of blood, he continued to lead his men against the intense enemy fire. As his squad reached the final line of enemy resistance, it received devastating fire from 4 bunkers in line on its left flank. S/Sgt. Hooper gathered several hand grenades and raced down a small trench which ran the length of the bunker line, tossing grenades into each bunker as he passed by, killing all but 2 of the occupants. With these positions destroyed, he concentrated on the last bunkers facing his men, destroying the first with an incendiary grenade and neutralizing 2 more by rifle fire. He then raced across an open field, still under enemy fire, to rescue a wounded man who was trapped in a trench. Upon reaching the man, he was faced by an armed enemy soldier whom he killed with a pistol. Moving his comrade to safety and returning to his men, he neutralized the final pocket of enemy resistance by fatally wounding 3 North Vietnamese officers with rifle fire. S/Sgt. Hooper then established a final line and reorganized his men, not accepting treatment until this was accomplished and not consenting to evacuation until the following morning. His supreme valor, inspiring leadership and heroic self-sacrifice were directly responsible for the company's success and provided a lasting example in personal courage for every man on the field. S/Sgt. Hooper's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army .

*SIMS, CLIFFORD CHESTER

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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for February 21 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY

21 February

1918: The Navy commissioned NAS Bolsena, the first of two US Naval air stations to be in Italy during World War I. (24)

1921: Lt William D. Coney, Air Service, completed a solo flight from Rockwell Field, San Diego, Calif., to Jacksonville, Fla. He covered 2,180 miles in 22 hours 27 minutes flying time. (9) (24)

1924: Carl B. Eielson flew the first airmail from Fairbanks to McGrath, Alaska. (24)

1945: P-47 Thunderbolts attacked the Berchtesgarden railway station for the first time; however, the fighters did not attack Hitler's nearby retreat. (25)

1961: Final training for the first Mercury flights began with the naming of Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, and John H. Glenn, Jr., as candidates for an early ballistic flight. (24)

1971: Through 25 February, 1,200 Air National Guard members assisted in disaster relief operations in six states hit by tornados, snowstorms, and earthquakes. In Oklahoma, the Air National Guard's C-124s dropped 300 tons of hay to snowbound cattle. (16) (26)

1973: A 30-year civil war in Laos ended and a ceasefire prevailed. The US halted air strikes. (16) (17)

1991: A 438th Military Airlift Wing C-141 Starlifter flew 55 tons of supplies to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to provide humanitarian assistance. (16)

2001: An RQ-1 Predator fired a Hellfire missile at a tank at Nellis AFB. It became the first unmanned aerial vehicle to destroy a ground target in the test. (21)

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