To All
Good Wednesday Morning March 18, 2026. Just back from an early dental appointment with my favorite dental hygentist.
Warm Regards,
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HAGD
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History March 18
1901 During the Philippine Insurrection, USS Vicksburg (Gunboat #11), commanded by Cmdr. E.B. Barry, begins supporting the U.S. Army's operations under Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston around Kasiguran Bay and Palanan Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
1945 Four destroyers, USS Menges (DE 320), USS Mosely (DE 321), USS Pride (DE 323) and USS Lowe (DE 325), sink the German submarine U 866 south of Nova Scotia.
1945 Planes from Task Force 58 attack airfields on southern Kyushu and shipping lanes, including a Japanese convoy escorted by Coast Defense Vessel No. 29 and submarine chaser Ch 58.
1974 As a part of the cease fire between Egypt and Israel after the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Task Force 56 is sent to sweep mines from the northern part of the Suez Canal as part of Operation Nimble Star.
1989 USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) is commissioned at Portland, Maine. Named for the naval World War II Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser.
1991 The first ship supporting Operation Desert Shield/Storm, combat store ship USS Sylvania (AFS 2), returns back to Norfolk, Va. While supporting Desert Shield/Storm, Sylvania delivered 19,000+ pallets of cargo (equaling 20,500 tons of supplies), answered 30,000+ requisitions, and delivered spare parts and food sustaining 35,000+ sailors aboard 150 ships.
2006 While conducting maritime security operations as part of Combined Task Force 150 in the Indian Ocean, USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) return fire on a group of pirates, killing one and wounding five. The incident occurs about 25 nautical miles off the central eastern coast of Somalia in international waters.
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This day in World History
March 18
0037 The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius' will and proclaims Caligula emperor.
1692 William Penn is deprived of his governing powers.
1863 Confederate women riot in Salisbury, N.C. to protest the lack of flour and salt in the South.
1865 The Congress of the Confederate States of America adjourns for the last time.
1874 Hawaii signs a treaty giving exclusive trading rights with the islands to the United States.
1881 Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth opens in Madison Square Gardens.
1911 Theodore Roosevelt opens the Roosevelt Dam in Phoenix, Ariz., the largest dam in the United States to date.
1913 Greek King George I is killed by an assassin. Constantine I is to succeed.
1916 On the Eastern Front, the Russians counter the Verdun assault with an attack at Lake Naroch. The Russians lose 100,000 men and the Germans lose 20,000.
1917 The Germans sink the U.S. ships, City of Memphis, Vigilante and the Illinois, without any type of warning.
1922 Mahatma Gandhi is sentenced to six years in prison for civil disobedience in India.
1939 Georgia finally ratifies the Bill of Rights, 150 years after the birth of the federal government. Connecticut and Massachusetts, the only other states to hold out, also ratify the Bill of Rights in this year.
1942 The third military draft begins in the United States.
1943 American forces take Gafsa in Tunisia.
1943 Adolf Hitler calls off the offensive in the Caucasus.
1944 The Russians reach the Romanian border.
1950 Nationalist troops land on the mainland of China and capture Communist-held Sungmen.
1953 The Braves baseball team announces that they are moving from Boston to Milwaukee.
1965 Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov becomes the first man to spacewalk when he exits his Voskhod 2 space capsule while in orbit around the Earth.
1969 President Richard M. Nixon authorizes Operation Menue, the 'secret' bombing of Cambodia.
1970 The U.S. Postal Service is paralyzed by the first postal strike.
1971 U.S. helicopters airlift 1,000 South Vietnamese soldiers out of Laos.
1975 South Vietnam abandons most of the Central Highlands to North Vietnamese forces.
1977 Congo President Marien Ngouabi is killed by a suicide commando.
1981 The United States discloses biological weapons tests in Texas in 1966.
1986 Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of Prince Andrew to Sarah Ferguson.
1852
March 18
Wells and Fargo start shipping and banking company
On March 18, 1852, in New York City, Henry Wells and William G. Fargo join with several other investors to launch their namesake business, today one of the world's largest banks.
The discovery of gold in California in 1849 prompted a huge spike in the demand for cross-country shipping. Wells and Fargo decided to take advantage of these great opportunities. In July 1852, their company shipped its first loads of freight from the East Coast to mining camps scattered around northern California. The company contracted with independent stagecoach companies to provide the fastest possible transportation and delivery of gold dust, important documents and other valuable freight. It also served as a bank—buying gold dust, selling paper bank drafts and providing loans to help fuel California's growing economy.
In 1857, Wells, Fargo and Co. formed the Overland Mail Company, known as the "Butterfield Line," which provided regular mail and passenger service along an ever-growing number of routes. In the boom-and-bust economy of the 1850s, the company earned a reputation as a trustworthy and reliable business, and its logo—the classic stagecoach—became famous. For a premium price, Wells, Fargo and Co. would send an employee on horseback to deliver or pick up a message or package.
Wells, Fargo and Co. merged with several other "Pony Express" and stagecoach lines in 1866 to become the unrivaled leader in transportation in the West. When the transcontinental railroad was completed three years later, the company began using railroad to transport its freight. By 1910, its shipping network connected 6,000 locations, from the urban centers of the East and the farming towns of the Midwest to the ranching and mining centers of Texas and California and the lumber mills of the Pacific Northwest.
After splitting from the freight business in 1905, the banking branch of the company merged with the Nevada National Bank and established new headquarters in San Francisco. During World War I, the U.S. government nationalized the company's shipping routes and combined them with the railroads into the American Railway Express, effectively putting an end to Wells, Fargo and Co. as a transportation and delivery business. The following April, the banking headquarters was destroyed in a major earthquake, but the vaults remained intact and the bank's business continued to grow. After two later mergers, the Wells Fargo Bank American Trust Company—shortened to the Wells Fargo Bank in 1962—became, and has remained, one of the biggest banking institutions in the United States.
1937
Natural gas explosion kills nearly 300 at Texas school Nearly 300 students in Texas are killed by an explosion of natural gas at their school on this day in 1937.
The Consolidated School of New London, Texas, sat in the middle of a large oil and natural gas field. The area was dominated by 10,000 oil derricks, 11 of which stood right on school grounds. The school was newly built in the 1930s for close to $1 million and, from its inception, bought natural gas from Union Gas to supply its energy needs. The school's natural gas bill averaged about $300 a month. Eventually, officials at Consolidated School were persuaded to save money by tapping into the wet-gas lines operated by Parade Oil Company that ran near the school. Wet gas is a type of waste gas that is less stable and has more impurities than typical natural gas. At the time, it was not completely uncommon for consumers living near oil fields to use this gas.
At 3:05 p.m. on March 18, a Thursday afternoon, the 694 students and 40 teachers in attendance at the Consolidated School were looking forward to the final bell, which was to ring in 10 minutes. Instead, a huge and powerful explosion, which literally blew the roof off of the building, leveled the school. The blast was felt by people 40 miles away and killed most victims instantly. People rushed to the scene to pull out survivors; hundreds of injured students were hauled from the rubble. Miraculously, some students walked away unharmed; 10 of these were found under a large bookcase that shielded them from the falling building. First-aid stations were established in the nearby towns of Tyler, Overton, Kilgore and Henderson to tend to the wounded. Reportedly, a blackboard at the destroyed school was found that read, Oil and natural gas are East Texas' greatest natural gifts. Without them, this school would not be here and none of us would be learning our lessons.
The exact cause of the spark that ignited the gas was never found, although it is now known that the gas could have been ignited by static electricity. As a result of this incident, wet gas was required to be burned at the site rather than piped away
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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 .
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Thanks to Micro
From Vietnam Air Losses site for ..March 18 . .
March 18: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=2819
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
Vietnam Air Losses
Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Listed by last name and has other info https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
MOAA - Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
The site works, find anyone you knew in "search" feature. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )
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. Thanks to Interesting Facts
10 Times Actors Missed Out On Iconic Movie Roles
1
Will Smith as Neo in The Matrix
Did you know that Will Smith almost took the red pill and became Neo in the 1999 sci-fi blockbuster The Matrix ? Despite being the first one considered for the role, Will Smith turned down the part of Neo to star in Wild Wild West . He later recalled that, at the time, he was tired of doing action sci-fi films, and that motivated his decision to reject the role. Keanu Reeves eventually took on the iconic role, catapulting him to superstardom and solidifying the film's place in pop culture.
2
Gwyneth Paltrow as Rose in Titanic
Gwyneth Paltrow was initially offered the role of Rose in James Cameron's Titanic , in part because the director didn't want to be "too obvious" with his cast choices. But Paltrow turned the role down, as she didn't want to take on such a demanding role at the time. As we all know, ultimately Kate Winslet took on the role, and her portrayal of the spirited Rose captivated audiences worldwide.
3
Tom Selleck as Indiana Jones
The legendary Indiana Jones didn't always have the familiar face of Harrison Ford. Magnum, P.I. star Tom Selleck was originally cast for the role of Indy in Raiders of the Lost Ark , but he had to drop out due to previous contractual obligations with the popular TV show. The role then went to Ford, solidifying his status as a rugged action hero and launching the Indiana Jones franchise to great success.
4
Sean Connery as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings
Now we can't hardly think of anyone other than the lovely Sir Ian McKellen playing the mightiest wizard of Middle Earth. But initially, it was Sean Connery who was offered the role of Gandalf in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, he didn't like the script, and turned the offer down, unknowingly missing out on one of the most successful fantasy films of all time.
5
John Travolta as Forrest Gump
Did you know that John Travolta was initially considered for the titular role in Forrest Gump ?
However, he didn't take the role because he had already been offered a chance to star in Pulp Fiction . Thankfully for fans of both movies, this decision brought us dozens of unforgettable scenes in Tarantino's film and cleared the way for Tom Hanks to deliver an Oscar-winning performance of what would become one of the most beloved characters in film history.
6
Henry Cavill as Edward Cullen in Twilight
Although Henry Cavill was never contacted by the Twilight production, he was originally considered for the role of Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga. However, the director eventually decided that Robert Pattinson would be best for the role of the centenary vampire. Later, Cavill said that though he didn't know at the time, it would have been interesting to have a chance at the role.
7
Michelle Pfeiffer as Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs
Michelle Pfeiffer was the first choice to play Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs , but she eventually declined the role due to its dark subject matter. She said she was uncomfortable with the direction the script took, and the amount of "evil" portrayed in the film. Jodie Foster ultimately took on the role, delivering an unforgettable performance that earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress.
8
Burt Reynolds as James Bond
After Sean Connery's departure from the popular spy franchise, Burt Reynolds was the first considered to take on the larger-than-life character. Although he later regretted his decision, he turned the role down because, at the time, he believed that the public would never accept an American James Bond. His decision eventually paved the way for Roger Moore to step into the iconic spy's shoes.
9
Angelina Jolie as Ryan Stone in Gravity
Angelina Jolie was initially chosen to star in 2013 sci-fi thriller Gravity , but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts with her directing work on Unbroken . Alfonso Cuaron lamented the decision, stating that she was perfectly suited to the role, and considered several names before finding a replacement. Eventually, the role went to Sandra Bullock, who delivered a captivating performance that earned her critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination.
10
Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly in Back to the Future
Eric Stoltz was originally cast as Marty McFly in Back to the Future but was replaced by Michael J. Fox a few weeks into filming due to creative differences. According to members of the production, Stoltz's method acting and lack of humor clashed with the script's lighthearted spirit.
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From the archives
. Thanks to Lurch
This is very interesting bit of history…skip
Subject: Aircraft Carriers on the Great Lakes
Launch em.
https://youtu.be/eDR8znA1kxw?si=hfsyMI7s8xhsmCeT
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From the archives.
Thanks to Billy ... and Dr. Rich
Watch the stall forming on the leading edge of the wings.
Amazing
https://biggeekdad.com/2011/10/eagle-owl-in-slow-motion/
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Thanks to 1440
Good morning. It's Wednesday, March 18, and we're covering the Illinois primary results, the attack in Kabul, and much more. .
Need To Know
Prairie State Primaries
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D) defeated Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D, IL-8) and Rep. Robin Kelly (D, IL-2) in yesterday's competitive Democratic primary to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin, who has held the seat since 1997 and is the No. 2 Senate Democrat. Stratton, Illinois' first Black lieutenant governor and a key ally of Gov. JB Pritzker (D), will face former state Republican Party chair Don Tracy in November.
Stratton ran as a progressive, backing Medicare for All, a $25 minimum wage, and expanding abortion rights, while also calling to abolish ICE. She also supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and tighter gun laws, framing the race as a fight against "Trump-style" politics. The contest likely determines who will hold the seat, since Illinois is a solidly Democratic state in federal races and has not elected a Republican statewide since 2014.
The race was one of several statewide contests that drew a record $62M in combined spending, with over $50M spent on TV ads.
Afghanistan-Pakistan War
At least 400 people were killed and more than 250 wounded after an alleged Pakistani strike on a drug rehabilitation center in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. Pakistan denied striking the civilian site; if confirmed, it would mark the deadliest incident since war broke out between the neighboring countries last month.
Pakistan launched airstrikes in Afghanistan's Kandahar and Kabul Feb. 26 after accusing Afghanistan's Taliban government of supporting militants that carried out attacks on its soil. That includes a Feb. 6 suicide bombing that killed more than 30 people. Earlier this month, Pakistan targeted Taliban operations at Bagram Air Base, formerly operated by the US.
Separately, the US' National Counterterrorism Center director, Joe Kent, said he would resign yesterday over the US' war with Iran, asserting Iran posed "no imminent threat" and blaming Israeli pressure for the conflict. Israel, meanwhile, said it has killed Iran's security chief, among other senior leaders.
A Smashing Discovery
Physicists probing the fundamental nature of matter announced the discovery of a new proton-like particle, shedding light on the forces that hold the universe's smallest objects together. The newly made proton was observed after smashing particles together at nearly the speed of light at Europe's Large Hadron Collider.
Together with neutrons and electrons, protons are the constituent parts of atoms (the number of protons determines which element an atom is). Protons (and neutrons) can be further broken down into quarks—almost infinitesimally small particles that come in a wide variety of flavors (see chart). Regular protons are made of two "up" quarks and one "down" quark, while the new proton has its "up" quarks replaced by "charm" quarks. The result is a new proton four times heavier than its standard counterpart.
Measuring its short-lived behavior is expected to help scientists refine the strong nuclear force, responsible for holding subatomic particles together.
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In partnership with Green Coffee Company
An IPO Is Brewing in $100B US Coffee Industry
In the world of high-growth commodities, there are moments that signal a shift from "regional producer" to "global powerhouse." Green Coffee Company just hit that moment.
As Colombia's #1 coffee producer, they're now unlocking access to the $100 billion US coffee market. How? Acquiring exclusive North American distribution rights to the legendary Juan Valdez® brand. This is a key milestone on their way to their targeted 2027 IPO.
Green Coffee Company's vertically-integrated coffee supply chain has already generated 37X revenue growth in just 3 years. Join thousands of investors before this opportunity closes for good.*
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In The Know
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Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
FIFA rejects Iran's request to move its World Cup games to Mexico amid ongoing war with the US . | Two female Iranian soccer players who claimed asylum in Australia join training session with Brisbane Roar team .
.Second set of First Four games for men's NCAA tournament begin tonight; No. 11 Miami (Ohio), which went undefeated in the regular season but was criticized for a weak schedule, takes on No. 11 SMU ..
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Thanks to Nice News
. Science
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So This May Be Why Cats (Almost) Always Land on Their Feet
Akimasa Harada—Moment/Getty Images
Among cats' many party tricks is their knack for landing on their feet after a fall. Now, researchers in Japan have new insight into how the four-legged friends execute this acrobatic ability.
In a recent study led by veterinary physiologist Yasuo Higurashi, a team analyzed different segments of cat spines and conducted experiments by (safely!) dropping a pair of cats onto cushions from about 3 feet up. After comparing their observations with the footage, they found that the upper thoracic vertebrae in the feline spine were extremely flexible while the lower lumbar vertebrae were stiffer and heavier.
"The thoracic spine of the cat can rotate like our neck," Higurashi explained to The New York Times. This anatomical structure aligns with the previous theory that cats extend then retract their hind legs when falling — a move dubbed "legs in, legs out" that allows them to spin their upper torso to face the ground and then twist the rest of the body to land gracefully.
The cats also showed a preference for the right side when landing, with one cat correcting itself by turning right 100% of the time, and the other turning right six out of eight times. All that said, cats are not invincible to injury, so we don't recommend trying this experiment at home!
Tech
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First Modern Rocket Launched 100 Years Ago, Beginning a Century of Innovations and Challenges
Esther Goddard—Hulton Archive/Getty Images
This article was written by Michael Carrafiello, a professor of history at Miami University, for The Conversation.
Apollo 11 first landed astronauts on the moon in 1969, but the journey to the lunar surface actually began 43 years before, in snowy Massachusetts.
One hundred years ago this week, on March 16, 1926, Robert H. Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket. Liquid-fueled rockets would eventually provide the power to send humans to the moon. Still, Goddard's vehicle was small, flew for only 42 seconds, reached a height of a mere 184 feet, and sustained damage that created more doubters than believers in the prospects for human space flight.
Despite this less-than-spectacular start to the space age, Goddard's rocket was the beginning of a century of innovation. Today, hundreds of rockets launch each year. Giant liquid-fueled rockets combine liquid oxidizer — a substance that releases oxygen — and liquid fuel. These create chemical reactions that produce the explosive thrust necessary to propel humans to the moon.
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This Day in U S Military History
March 18
1945 – About 1300 American bombers, with some 700 escorting fighters, drop 3000 tons of bombs on Berlin, despite heavy anti-aircraft defenses, including numerous jet fighters. The US fleet loses 25 bombers and 5 fighters.
1945 – Forces of US 3rd Army capture Bingen and Bad Kreuznach as the advance to the southwest continues. To the south, the progress of US 7th Army is beginning to accelerate, with most of its forward units having now crossed the German border.
1945 – There are American landings on Panay by 14,000 men of US 40th Infantry Division (General Brush) in the area near Iloilo. There is little initial opposition from the Japanese garrison.
1945 – US Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) conducts air raids on airfields on Kyushu. There are Japanese Kamikaze attacks by about 10 planes which hit Intrepid, Yorktown and Enterprise but fail to disable any of the aircraft carriers. Admiral Spruance, command the US 5th Fleet, is present for the operations.
1969 – U.S. B-52 bombers are diverted from their targets in South Vietnam to attack suspected communist base camps and supply areas in Cambodia for the first time in the war. President Nixon approved the mission–formally designated Operation Breakfast–at a meeting of the National Security Council on March 15. This mission and subsequent B-52 strikes inside Cambodia became known as the "Menu" bombings. A total of 3,630 flights over Cambodia dropped 110,000 tons of bombs during a 14-month period through April 1970. This bombing of Cambodia and all follow up "Menu" operations were kept secret from the American public and the U.S. Congress because Cambodia was ostensibly neutral. To keep the secret, an intricate reporting system was established at the Pentagon to prevent disclosure of the bombing. Although the New York Times broke the story of the secret bombing campaign in May 1969, there was little adverse public reaction.
1980 – A congressman claims many U.S. combat planes can't fly for lack of spare parts.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
*MATHIS, JACK W. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 359th Bomber Squadron, 303d Bomber Group. Place and date: Over Vegesack, Germany, 18 March 1943. Entered service at: San Angelo, Tex. Born: 25 September 1921, San Angelo, Tex. G.O. No.: 38, 12 July 1943. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy over Vegesack, Germany, on 18 March 1943. 1st Lt. Mathis, as leading bombardier of his squadron, flying through intense and accurate antiaircraft fire, was just starting his bomb run, upon which the entire squadron depended for accurate bombing, when he was hit by the enemy antiaircraft fire. His right arm was shattered above the elbow, a large wound was torn in his side and abdomen, and he was knocked from his bomb sight to the rear of the bombardier's compartment. Realizing that the success of the mission depended upon him, 1st Lt. Mathis, by sheer determination and willpower, though mortally wounded, dragged himself back to his sights, released his bombs, then died at his post of duty. As the result of this action the airplanes of his bombardment squadron placed their bombs directly upon the assigned target for a perfect attack against the enemy. 1st Lt. Mathis' undaunted bravery has been a great inspiration to the officers and men of his unit.
*McGEE, WILLIAM D.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 304th Infantry, 76th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Mulheim, Germany, 18 March 1945. Entered service at: Indianapolis, Ind. Birth: Indianapolis, Ind. G.O. No.: 21, 26 February 1946. Citation: A medical aid man, he made a night crossing of the Moselle River with troops endeavoring to capture the town of Mulheim. The enemy had retreated in the sector where the assault boats landed, but had left the shore heavily strewn with antipersonnel mines. Two men of the first wave attempting to work their way forward detonated mines which wounded them seriously, leaving them bleeding and in great pain beyond the reach of their comrades. Entirely on his own initiative, Pvt. McGee entered the minefield, brought out 1 of the injured to comparative safety, and had returned to rescue the second victim when he stepped on a mine and was severely wounded in the resulting explosion. Although suffering intensely and bleeding profusely, he shouted orders that none of his comrades was to risk his life by entering the death-sown field to render first aid that might have saved his life. In making the supreme sacrifice, Pvt. demonstrated a concern for the well-being of his fellow soldiers that transcended all considerations for his own safety and a gallantry in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
*MURPHY, FREDERICK C.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 259th Infantry, 65th Infantry Division. Place and date: Siegfried Line at Saarlautern, Germany, 18 March 1945. Entered service at: Weymouth, Mass. Birth: Boston, Mass. G.O. No.: 21, 26 February 1946. Citation: An aid man, he was wounded in the right shoulder soon after his comrades had jumped off in a dawn attack 18 March 1945, against the Siegfried Line at Saarlautern, Germany. He refused to withdraw for treatment and continued forward, administering first aid under heavy machinegun, mortar, and artillery fire. When the company ran into a thickly sown antipersonnel minefield and began to suffer more and more casualties, he continued to disregard his own wound and unhesitatingly braved the danger of exploding mines, moving about through heavy fire and helping the injured until he stepped on a mine which severed one of his feet. In spite of his grievous wounds, he struggled on with his work, refusing to be evacuated and crawling from man to man administering to them while in great pain and bleeding profusely. He was killed by the blast of another mine which he had dragged himself across in an effort to reach still another casualty. With indomitable courage, and unquenchable spirit of self-sacrifice and supreme devotion to duty which made it possible for him to continue performing his tasks while barely able to move, Pfc. Murphy saved many of his fellow soldiers at the cost of his own life.
TREADWELL, JACK L.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company F, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Nieder-Wurzbach, Germany, 18 March 1945. Entered service at: Snyder. Okla. Birth: Ashland, Ala. G.O. No.: 79, 14 September 1945. Citation: Capt. Treadwell (then 1st Lt.), commanding officer of Company F, near Nieder-Wurzbach, Germany, in the Siegfried line, single-handedly captured 6 pillboxes and 18 prisoners. Murderous enemy automatic and rifle fire with intermittent artillery bombardments had pinned down his company for hours at the base of a hill defended by concrete fortifications and interlocking trenches. Eight men sent to attack a single point had all become casualties on the hare slope when Capt. Treadwell, armed with a submachinegun and handgrenades, went forward alone to clear the way for his stalled company. Over the terrain devoid of cover and swept by bullets, he fearlessly advanced, firing at the aperture of the nearest pillbox and, when within range, hurling grenades at it. He reached the pillbox, thrust the muzzle of his gun through the port, and drove 4 Germans out with their hands in the air. A fifth was found dead inside. Waving these prisoners back to the American line, he continued under terrible, concentrated fire to the next pillbox and took it in the same manner. In this fort he captured the commander of the hill defenses, whom he sent to the rear with the other prisoners. Never slackening his attack, he then ran across the crest of the hill to a third pillbox, traversing this distance in full view of hostile machine gunners and snipers. He was again successful in taking the enemy position. The Germans quickly fell prey to his further rushes on 3 more pillboxes in the confusion and havoc caused by his whirlwind assaults and capture of their commander. Inspired by the electrifying performance of their leader, the men of Company F stormed after him and overwhelmed resistance on the entire hill, driving a wedge into the Siegfried line and making it possible for their battalion to take its objective. By his courageous willingness to face nearly impossible odds and by his overwhelming one-man offensive, Capt. Treadwell reduced a heavily fortified, seemingly impregnable enemy sector.
*WILKIN, EDWARD G.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company C, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Siegfried Line in Germany, 18 March 1945. Entered service at: Longmeadow, Mass. Birth: Burlington, Vt. G.O. No.: 119, 17 December 1945. Citation: He spearheaded his unit's assault of the Siegfried Line in Germany. Heavy fire from enemy riflemen and camouflaged pillboxes had pinned down his comrades when he moved forward on his own initiative to reconnoiter a route of advance. He cleared the way into an area studded with pillboxes, where he repeatedly stood up and walked into vicious enemy fire, storming 1 fortification after another with automatic rifle fire and grenades, killing enemy troops, taking prisoners as the enemy defense became confused, and encouraging his comrades by his heroic example. When halted by heavy barbed wire entanglements, he secured bangalore torpedoes and blasted a path toward still more pillboxes, all the time braving bursting grenades and mortar shells and direct rifle and automatic-weapons fire. He engaged in fierce fire fights, standing in the open while his adversaries fought from the protection of concrete emplacements, and on 1 occasion pursued enemy soldiers across an open field and through interlocking trenches, disregarding the crossfire from 2 pillboxes until he had penetrated the formidable line 200 yards in advance of any American element. That night, although terribly fatigued, he refused to rest and insisted on distributing rations and supplies to his comrades. Hearing that a nearby company was suffering heavy casualties, he secured permission to guide litter bearers and assist them in evacuating the wounded. All that night he remained in the battle area on his mercy missions, and for the following 2 days he continued to remove casualties, venturing into enemy-held territory, scorning cover and braving devastating mortar and artillery bombardments. In 3 days he neutralized and captured 6 pillboxes single-handedly, killed at least 9 Germans, wounded 13, took 13 prisoners, aided in the capture of 14 others, and saved many American lives by his fearless performance as a litter bearer. Through his superb fighting skill, dauntless courage, and gallant, inspiring actions, Cpl. Wilkin contributed in large measure to his company's success in cracking the Siegfried Line. One month later he was killed in action while fighting deep in Germany.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for March 18, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE
18 March
1942: The US and Panama signed an agreement for defense sites and air bases in Panama to defend the canal. (24)
1944: Operation STRANGLE. The Mediterranean Allied Air Force initiated a seven-week bombing effort against German supply lines to support an allied offensive in Italy. By 11 May, allied aircraft had completed over 50,000 sorties to drop over 26,000 tons of bombs. (21)
1945: The AD-1 Skyraider first flew. (5) 1,250 bombers with 670 fighter escorts conducted the heaviest daylight attack of the war on Berlin. They dropped 3,000 tons of bombs on the transportation and industrial areas. (4) (24) After Germans shot down Maj Pierce W. McKennon near Berlin, his wingman, Lt George D. Green landed near him, dumped out his dingy and parachute, let McKennon get in, and then sat in the Major's lap to take off. They made it home safely, using the "two-in-one" Mustang trick. (4)
1952: Two F-84 Thunderjets landed in Neubiberg, Germany, after a 2,800-mile flight without refueling. It was believed to be the longest sustained jet fighter flight to date. The planes crossed seven nations, averaged 585 MPH, and were airborne for 4 hours 48 minutes. (5)
1954: First production model of the Boeing B-52A Stratofortress rolled out at Seattle. (8)
1958: The USN fired a Bull Goose, an intercontinental jet-propelled "decoy" missile designed to deceive enemy radar. (5)
1958: America's second satellite, Vanguard 1, is launched into orbit from Cape Canaveral. It operates on solar-powered batteries and has an extremely long life expectancy. Data returned from the satellite proves that the earth has a slight 'pear-shape.' Vanguard 1 was the first satellite to have solar electric power. Although communications with the satellite were lost in 1964, it remains the oldest human-made object still in orbit, together with the upper stage of its launch vehicle. It is not forecast to re-enter the atmosphere until 2198.
1960: First Snark ICBM placed on alert with the 702 SMW at Presque Isle AFB, Maine. (6) (12) The USN launched a Polaris on a 900-mile flight from an underground pit that simulated a ship's motion. (24)
1961: The first Northrop T-38A Talon supersonic jet trainer is delivered to Randolph AFB, Texas, where it enters operational service with Air Training Command. (USAF
1964: The USAF issued a requirement for the SRAM. (6)
1969: Vandenberg AFB launched three satellites, containing 17 experiments, in the Orbiting Vehicle Program under the direction of Office of Aerospace Research scientists. (16) (26)
1970: Through 30 June, after the fall of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, joint US and South Vietnamese conducted air and ground operations into Cambodia against North Vietnamese troop and supply sanctuaries. This operation intensified on 30 April. (17)
1971: 2nd Lieutenant Jane Leslie Holley becomes the first woman commissioned through a USAF ROTC program. She graduates from Auburn University, Alabama.
1977: All 10 members in the first group of women undergraduate pilot students completed the Phase II Training program in the T-37 Tweet. They then started Phase III with the T-38 Talon. (16)
1981: The 18 TFW received 80 F-15 Eagles. This delivery completed PACAF's conversion to the new fighter. The 18th then transferred 79 F-4 Phantoms to other commands. (16)
1987: The Navy launched its second Trident II flight test missile from a pad at Cape Canaveral into an impact area in the Eastern Missile Test Range. (5)
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Thanks to Dog…..this guy and Hoser would be a great pair
Another great hero from WW2
Mad Major Carpenter Attached 6 Bazookas To His Artillery Spotter Plane And Went Tank Hunting
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Carpenter joined the Army in 1942 and was commissioned a second lieutenant.After completing flight training and receiving his artillery liaison wings, Carpenter flew light observation aircraft such as the L-4 Grasshopper (Piper Cub) and the Stinson L-5 Sentinel. He accumulated considerable flight time while flying training missions in artillery spotting and enemy reconnaissance and observation.
Promoted to the rank of major in 1944, Carpenter was assigned to combat duty in France with the 1st Bombardment Division.Upon arrival he was assigned an L-4H and assigned to fly artillery support and reconnaissance missions in support of the U.S. 4th Armored Division, part of General George S. Patton's U.S. Third Army. The Piper L-4H was a military version of the Piper J-3 Cub, a small fabric-covered, unarmored two-seat aircraft with a fixed-pitch propeller and a 65 hp (48 kW) Continental O-170-3 engine. One of the few distinguishing differences to the Piper L-4 re-design was the addition of additional plexiglass windows above the wing center section, and behind the wing's trailing edge to increase visibility for the pilot and observer. With a 150-pound pilot and no radio aboard, the L-4H had a combined cargo and passenger weight capacity of approximately 232 pounds according to Wiki.
How the Bazooka's were mounted on the L-4 Spotter Plane
By the time of the Allied siege of Lorient and the encirclement of German forces around that city, Carpenter had grown increasingly frustrated at his inability to attack German armor on those occasions when Allied artillery or tactical aircraft were either out of range or were engaged in other combat missions. Inspired by other L-4 pilots who had installed bazookas as anti-tank armament on their planes, and with the assistance of an Ordnance technician as well as support from the Ninth Air Force Service Command, Carpenter first attached two M1 rocket launchers (bazookas) to the underwing struts of his L-4H, which he named Rosie the Rocketer. After some experimenting, Carpenter would later add two more rocket launchers, then two more for a total of six bazookas, three mounted just above each set of lift struts per side, just outboard of the L-4's jury struts.
The M1 bazooka or rocket launcher itself was a solid, one-piece metal tube 54 inches (137 cm) long, and with an unloaded weight of slightly more than 13 pounds (5.9 kilograms) apiece. Carpenter's original armament of six M1 bazookas each fired a single M6 anti-tank rocket by means of a battery igniter and a toggle-lanyard control operated from the cockpit. The M6 rocket's HEAT warhead could penetrate approximately three inches (76 mm) of armor at a 30° impact angle. While the M1/M1A1 rocket launcher was initially less than successful when employed by infantry against the frontal armor of German tanks,
Carpenter found that using the weapon as an airborne armament scheme (in the manner of plunging fire from any elevated position) was fairly effective at immobilizing a German tank with any solid hit against the thinner armor protecting the top of the turret or the hull superstructure, even against such heavy tanks as the Tiger I. Although the M6 rocket had a theoretical range of 500 yards, Carpenter preferred to fire his rockets at a range of 100 yards or less,adjusting the angle and bore-sighting of the launcher tubes so that when his L-4H was aligned with an enemy vehicle in a shallow dive, the rockets would strike the target.Thus armed, Carpenter began attacking German armored forces..
Lt. Col. Charles "Bazooka Charlie" Carpenter and his L-4 Grasshopper, mounting a trio of bazookas just outboard of the jury struts
Major Carpenter flew most of his ground attack missions alone, as the additional weight of an extra passenger greatly limited his L-4 Cub's speed and maneuverability when fitted with bazookas. On those occasions when he took along an extra passenger, Carpenter found that he was forced to fire his rockets from a considerably higher altitude to avoid enemy counterfire, which resulted in fewer hits owing to the effects of wind and range estimation. When attacking, Carpenter's usual routine was to spot his target at altitude, then spiral down before diving suddenly towards the enemy tank or other objective.
Complete destruction of the enemy tank was not necessary; if the tank was set ablaze, or simply immobilized due to engine, track, or turret damage, the panzer crew generally abandoned the vehicle. Within a few weeks, Carpenter was credited with knocking out a German armored car and four tanks, including two Tiger Is.Known as "Bazooka Charlie" or "The Mad Major" by those in his unit, Carpenter's exploits were soon featured in numerous press accounts, including Stars and Stripes, the Associated Press, Popular Science, the New York Sun, and Liberty Magazine.
In addition to flying ground attack and observation missions, Major Carpenter served as the personal pilot for U.S. Army General John S. Wood, the commanding general of the U.S. 4th Armored Division.His duties as personal pilot, along with his comparatively elevated service rank (for an artillery liaison pilot) of major, allowed Carpenter to evade most artillery-spotting missions, thus giving him more time to devote to his own private war with German armored units.
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Carpenter took part in ground combat as well. On one occasion near Avranches, Carpenter was scouting advance landing fields in a jeep when German forces attacked his position. Climbing aboard a Sherman tank, Carpenter took charge of a .50-caliber machine gun, while calling for troops around him to attack. Led by tank fire from Carpenter's Sherman, the American forces drove attacking German forces back. Carpenter's Sherman eventually ran into friendly forces, and accidentally fired on a Sherman bulldozer tank, blowing off the dozer blade. As a result of this friendly fire incident, Carpenter was placed under arrest and threatened with a firing squad until his commanding general came to his assistance. Told to expect a court-martial for his actions at Avranches, the decision to discipline Carpenter was reversed by General Patton himself, who not only stopped the court-martial proceedings but awarded the major the Silver Star for bravery. Carpenter, Patton said, was the "kind of fighting man he wanted in his army."
During the 1944 Allied offensive in France, Major Carpenter continually improved the armament on Rosie the Rocketer, eventually installing six improved type M9 bazookas using the new M6A3 HEAT rocket, which could penetrate 3.9 inches (99 mm) of armor plate at a 30° impact angle. Each trio of M9 launch tubes was mounted side-by-side atop a plate in the same general locations as the earlier M1 bazookas' launch tubes had been mounted. Even the heaviest German tanks such as the Pzkpf Tiger Ausf. B or King Tiger, the Nazis' most dangerous tank, used thinner 40 mm or 45 mm armor on the tops of their turrets and hull superstructure, which the M6A3 bazooka rocket warhead could easily penetrate..
As before, a battery of three M9 launchers was installed side-by-side on each pair of underwing lift struts of his L-4, with an overall weight (when loaded with rockets) of some 106 pounds, not counting the weight of the mounting brackets and firing controls. By using an electrical firing mechanism connected to push button controls on a cockpit-mounted panel, Carpenter could fire his six rockets either individually or salvo all six at one time. He once told a reporter that his idea of fighting a war was to "attack, attack and then attack again."
Initially, Carpenter faced little return ground fire on his missions. German forces were normally reluctant to fire on the L-4 and similar light planes without offensive armament, as doing so would give away their position and cause the plane's occupants to call in artillery fire or fighter-bomber support. Moreover, as long as the pilot, gas tank or engine was not hit, most small arms fire would not bring down an L-4, since the plane had such a light wing loading (an excess of wing and control surface area for its weight) of 7.5 pounds per square foot.
However, as Carpenter's bazooka attacks became more well known, German ground fire increased in intensity. Even German infantry would join in, attempting to down Carpenter's L-4 with rifles and machine pistols. On one mission, as Carpenter banked steeply around a tall tree in order to get a bazooka shot at a German tank, German infantrymen opened up on him with machine pistols, forcing him to turn for cover behind another tree before escaping with several 9mm bullet holes in one wing. Carpenter told a Stars and Stripes correspondent that the "word must be getting around to watch out for Cubs with bazookas on them. Every time I show up now they shoot with everything they have. They never used to bother Cubs. Bazookas must be bothering them a bit.".
One of Carpenter's longest missions occurred on September 20, 1944 during the Battle of Arracourt near Nancy, France, when German armored forces launched a sudden tank attack on the headquarters component of the 4th Armored Division's Combat Command A, in the process trapping or pinning down several 4th AD support units. Major Carpenter took to the air with his armed L-4, but owing to a heavy fog which obscured the ground below him, was unable to locate the enemy. Around noon, the fog began to lift, and Carpenter spotted a company of German Panther tanks and armored cars advancing towards Arracourt.
Diving through a barrage of German ground fire in a continuing series of attacks against the German formation, Carpenter fired all of his bazooka rockets. Returning to base to reload, Carpenter flew two more sorties that afternoon, firing no fewer than sixteen bazooka rockets at the advancing enemy. Rosie the Rocketer was later credited with immobilizing two German tanks and several armored cars, while killing or wounding a dozen or more enemy soldiers. Carpenter's attacks also forced the remaining Panther tanks in the formation to retreat, in the process enabling a trapped 4th Armored water point support crew, who had witnessed Carpenter's actions that day, to escape capture and destruction. "Some people around here think I'm nuts," Major Carpenter was quoted as saying, "but I just believe that if we're going to fight a war we have to get on with it sixty minutes an hour and twenty-four hours a day."
The Associated Press reporter Wes Gallagher, in a 1945 article in Liberty Magazine, concluded that the major was "a legend in an outfit where reckless bravery is commonplace."By war's end, Major Carpenter had destroyed several German armored cars and knocked out 14 German tanks (he would be officially credited with six tanks destroyed, including two Tiger I tanks), and had also participated in several ground combat actions. Never having received as much as a scratch from enemy fire, he acquired still another nickname, "The Lucky Major". In recognition of his achievements, Carpenter was promoted to lieutenant colonel and awarded the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star, and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster..
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