To All..
Good Friday morning April 24, 2026. A fair day today but the forecast is for rain for both Saturday and Sunday.
.By the way Toni is back in great shape and getting around great. .Thanks to those who asked and thanks to all that sent notes or calls
Regards,
skip
HAGD
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Throw another nickel on the grass
Thanks to Tom SobeckI
Here is an obit on Midnight.
Thought it is very well done:
Here’s the obit posted by Dollard’s sister in law on Facebook—
It is with great sadness that we announce that our beloved William "Midnight" Dollard (March 17, 1930 - April 15, 2026) passed away peacefully this morning. He is survived by his brother, Jim Dollard of Kansas City and his family and by many brothers and sisters in law and their offspring, best friends Susan Moriarty, Mike Collins and Mike Kane. Uncle Bill was a true American Hero, proud Kansas State alumni who served this country with honor and dedication for 50 years. His 26 year military service included multiple tours in the Vietnam War, various stations including the Pentagon. After retiring from the Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel, he helped train fighter pilots for the Navy at the now Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. A fighter pilot training facility was built and named in his honor at the Miramar Marine Corps base where the movie "TopGun" was filmed. He was really my husband's brother in law but everybody in the family lovingly referred to him as Uncle Bill.
He was a husband to beloved Diana, a brother, uncle, a fighter pilot, a teacher, a friend to all who met him, a great story teller, the life of the party and a true Officer and Gentleman.
Rest in peace, Uncle Bill. God Bless you! A private family memorial to follow.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Go here to see the director’s corner for all 97 H-Grams
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/
On This Day
24 April
1778 During the American Revolution, the Continental Navy sloop-of-war Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones, captures the British sloop HMS Drake after an hours battle off Carrickfergus, Ireland.
1805 During the First Barbary War, the frigate Congress, commanded by John Rodgers, captures a Tripolitan gunboat, along with two prizes taken earlier by pirate ships off Tripoli.
1884 USS Bear leaves New York Naval Shipyard on its way to the Arctic as part of the Greely Relief Expedition. USS Thetis and USS Alert join USS Bear on the mission. On June 22, the relief ships rescue the remaining seven members of the 27-man Greely Expedition at Cape Sabine.
1906 Reburial Commemoration Ceremony for Capt. John Paul Jones is held at the Naval Academy. At the ceremony, President Theodore Roosevelt delivers a speech in honor of the legendary Revolutionary War naval captain.
1945 USS Frederick C. Davis (DE 136) is sunk by German submarine U 546, 570 miles east of Cape Race, Newfoundland. In a combined effort, USS Pillsbury (DE 133), USS Flaherty (DE 135), USS Chatelain (DE 19), USS Neunzer (DE 150), USS Hubbard (DE 211), USS Keith (DE 241), USS Janssen (DE 396) and USS Varian (DE 798) sink U 546.
1981 USS San Francisco (SSN 711) is commissioned at Norfolk Naval Station, Va.
1999 USS Higgins (DDG 76) is commissioned at Port Everglades, Fla. A Flight I Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, she is named after Marine Col. William R. Higgins. He was part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon when he was captured in Feb. 1988 by a pro-Iranian group, held hostage and eventually killed in captivity by July 1990. USS Higgins home port is Naval Base San Diego.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This day in World History
April 24
858 St. Nicholas I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.
1519 Envoys of Montezuma II attend the first Easter mass in Central America.
1547 Charles V's troops defeat the Protestant League of Schmalkalden at the Battle of Muhlberg.
1558 Mary, Queen of Scotland, marries the French dauphin, Francis.
1792 Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle composes "La Marseillaise". It will become France's national anthem.
1800 The Library of Congress is established in Washington, D.C. with a $5,000 allocation.
1805 U.S. Marines attack and capture the town of Derna in Tripoli from the Barbary pirates.
1833 A patent is granted for the first soda fountain.
1877 Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire.
1884 Otto von Bismarck cables Cape Town, South Africa that it is now a German colony.
1898 Spain declares war on United States, rejecting an ultimatum to withdraw from Cuba.
1915 Turks of the Ottoman Empire begin massacring the Armenian minority in their country.
1916 Irish nationalists launch the Easter Uprising against British occupation.
1944 The first B-29 arrives in China, over the Hump of the Himalayas.
1948 The Berlin airlift begins to relieve the surrounded city.
1953 Winston Churchill is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
1961 President John Kennedy accepts "sole responsibility" for the failed invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs.
1968 Leftist students take over Columbia University in protest over the Vietnam War.
1980 A rescue attempt of the U.S. hostages held in Iran fails when a plane collides with a helicopter in the Iranian desert.
1981 The IBM Personal Computer is introduced.
1989 Thousands of Chinese students strike in Beijing for more democratic reforms.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
April 24
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
Thanks to Micro
To remind folks that these are from the Vietnam Air Losses site that Micro put together. You click on the url below and get what happened each day to the crew of the aircraft. ……Skip
For Friday 24 April. ..
April 23: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=1092
April 24: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=2550
This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear’s Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip
Vietnam Air Losses Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady’s work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
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
(This site was sent by a friend . The site works, find anyone you knew in “search" feature. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )
Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
By: Kipp Hanley
AUGUST 15, 2022
. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
. Thanks to American Facts
. Which Brand First Said "Just Do It"? How Many Slogans Can You Recognize?
We might forget many things, but some songs and brand slogans have been living in our brains for years, completely rent-free! From the iconic "Just Do It" to the catchy "I'm Lovin' It," today, we're celebrating these 6 slogans that definitely stood the test of time. Can you match each one to its brand?
.
Just Do it
This sportswear brand has been supporting top athletes for many, many years. It was founded in 1964 in the beautiful state of Oregon, though under a different name than the one it has today! Famous for its "Swoosh" logo, it started out making sports shoes, but today, it offers different kinds of apparel and products. We know you know which brand we're talking about!
.
Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands
For those of us with a sweet tooth, there's one candy that checks all the boxes. It has chocolate, colorful candy, a mix of textures, and a lot of flavor!
Although still one of the most popular candies among Americans today, this brand isn't new; it was actually founded back in 1941. And here's an interesting fact: When it was created, one of the brand's main goals was to make the perfect candy for WWII soldiers! Can you guess which brand it is?
.
Breakfast of Champions
A good breakfast is one thing, but a breakfast of champions? That's a new level! And we all want to start the day like a champion, don't we?
This cereal brand certainly knows that, and that's why it adopted this unforgettable slogan. It was created in 1924, and since the 1930s, it has featured iconic athletes on its boxes. Guess who was the first? Lou Gehrig, The "Iron Horse" of baseball!
.
I'm Lovin' It
When it comes to fast food, this brand is the first that comes to mind. Originally founded as a drive-in restaurant in 1940, it grew by leaps and bounds to become the famous brand it is today, present in more than 100 countries around the world! Both its slogan and logo are hugely recognized worldwide, and it's hard to find someone who hasn't tried something from its menu.
.
There are some things money can't buy. For everything else…
This company really knew how to condense their service into a great slogan! And, in fact, they have been using it for almost 3 decades. Founded in 1966 with a different name than the one it has today, this financial services company is not only here in America but you can also find it in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia! What's your guess?
.
Betcha Can't Eat Just One
This brand's slogan is absolutely true! Their snack is so delicious that it's one of the most popular salty treats, not just in America but all over the world.
Surprisingly, this brand is over 90 years old! Its success is likely due not just to its iconic advertising campaigns but also to the delicious "crunch" inside every bag. Do you already know which brand we're talking about?
.
Just Do it- Nike
Of course! Nike has been encouraging us to "Just Do It" since 1988, when it adopted this iconic slogan, now one of the most famous in the world. With its classic athletic spirit, Nike inspires us to take action with purpose, overcome obstacles, and chase our goals.
.
Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands- M&Ms
That's right! This iconic M&M's slogan has been around for more than 70 years, and its origin is quite interesting. As we mentioned, the brand aimed to create a candy suitable for WWII soldiers, so they came up with the genius idea of coating chocolate with a thin candy shell to keep it from melting inside the package. Just brilliant (and delicious)!
.
Breakfast of Champions- Wheaties
With its famous slogan, Wheaties has been associating itself with sporting excellence since 1933, reinforcing this image by featuring elite athletes on each of its orange boxes. Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, and Muhammad Ali are just some of the great competitors that have been on the cover.
.
I'm Lovin' It- McDonald's
Of course you knew it! "I'm Lovin' It" is the legendary and unmistakable slogan of the Golden Arches: McDonald's. Though it feels like it's been around forever, it's actually relatively young! Introduced in 2003, it debuted alongside a catchy jingle that you probably still have stuck in your head.
.
There are some things that money can't buy; for everything else, there's Mastercard
Mastercard's "Priceless" campaign is one of the most successful advertising initiatives worldwide. Focusing on customers' feelings, it highlights the emotional value of things money can't buy, like love and happiness. But it also drives home a key point: for everything that does require money, there's a Mastercard to make it possible.
Betcha Can't Eat Just One- Lay's
If you're craving a tasty snack, Lay's is probably one of the first brands that comes to mind. Known for being one of the most famous potato chip brands, they really know how to tempt us. That's why they rightly say, "Betcha Can't Eat Just One." At least, we definitely can't!
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
. There are no bridges across the Amazon River.
When it comes to the Amazon River, there’s no such thing as water under the bridge. The idiom simply doesn’t apply there, as no bridges cross the Amazon River despite it being at least 4,000 miles long. This isn’t because the idea has never occurred to anyone — it would just be extremely difficult to build any. The Amazon has both a dry season and a rainy season, and during the latter its waters rise 30 feet, causing 3-mile-wide crossings to grow by a factor of 10 as previously dry areas are submerged. The river bank itself is also in a near-constant state of erosion due to how soft the sediment it consists of is, and there’s no shortage of debris floating in the water.
Beyond all those logistical hurdles, there simply isn’t much use for bridges across the massive river. For one thing, there are few roads on either side of the Amazon that need to be connected. The river is, of course, in the middle of a dense rainforest, the vast majority of which is sparsely populated. Other long rivers have numerous crossings, however: The Nile has nine bridges in Cairo alone, for instance, and more than 100 bridges have been built across China’s Yangtze River in the last three decades. For now, boats and ferries are the preferred method of crossing the Amazon, and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.
Numbers Don’t Lie
Liters of water released into the ocean by the Amazon every second
200,000
Countries the Amazon passes through (Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela)
4
Maximum depth (in feet) of the Amazon
330
Indigenous tribes in the Amazon rainforest
400
The Amazon used to flow in the opposite direction.
These days, the river flows east and into the Atlantic. That wasn't always the case, as it used to flow west into the Pacific — and even both directions simultaneously. This was during the Cretaceous Period, between 65 million and 145 million years ago, and was the result of a highland (mountainous area) that formed along the east coast of South America when that landmass and Africa broke apart. The Andes eventually formed on the western half of the continent, which forced the river into its current eastward flow.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Some bits from The Flyover
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026
Good Morning! On this day in 1800, President John Adams approved $5,000 to purchase books for Congress, establishing the Library of Congress. The first catalog listed 964 volumes and nine maps.
A new ranking reveals the states where lightning is most likely to kill, and the top spot might not surprise anyone who's spent a summer afternoon in the Sunshine State. Details below.
We’re excited to introduce you to a new partner today: Superpower. They’re building a modern way to understand your health from the inside out, giving you real data and clear insights so you can stop guessing and start making more informed decisions.
Wildfires Destroy Homes Across Southeast
Rapidly growing wildfires have destroyed at least 87 homes in Georgia's Brantley County alone as drought and wind-fueled flames scorched the Southeast, with new evacuation orders issued Thursday afternoon.
Georgia's two biggest fires burned more than 53 square miles combined, and crews responded to 34 additional fires across the state. Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for more than half of Georgia's counties.
Southeastern Georgia has received just 11 inches of rain since September, nearly 15 inches below normal, prompting the state's forestry commission to issue a burn ban for the first time in its history.
In Florida, firefighters battled more than 130 wildfires in what officials called one of the worst fire seasons in decades. Blazes also shut down rail lines, stranding Amtrak passengers for more than 20 hours near Palatka.
Meta to Lay Off 8,000 as AI Costs Mount
Meta confirmed Thursday it will cut about 8,000 workers, or 10% of its workforce, beginning May 20 as the company redirects spending toward artificial intelligence. Another 6,000 open roles will go unfilled.
The company warned investors its 2026 expenses will reach $162 billion to $169 billion, driven by data center construction and compensation for AI engineers it has been hiring at record pay levels.
Also Thursday, Microsoft offered voluntary buyouts to roughly 8,750 U.S. employees, or 7% of its domestic workforce, as it faces similar pressure from massive AI investment.
Analysts said the twin moves reflect a broader shift across the tech industry, with companies betting that AI tools can automate tasks that once required large teams.
Where Lightning Kills the Most by State
A new analysis of lightning deaths by state over the past two decades found Florida far ahead of the pack with 97 confirmed fatalities since 2006, more than double any other state.
Texas ranked second with 42 deaths, followed by Colorado with 27, Alabama with 23, and North Carolina with 23. Florida averages 1.2 million strikes per year, fueled by the collision of Gulf and Atlantic sea breezes.
Nearly two-thirds of all deaths occurred during outdoor activities like fishing, boating, and camping, with July being the deadliest month.
Adjusted for population, Wyoming has the highest fatality rate at 5.13 deaths per million, followed by Alabama and Montana. Five states recorded zero lightning deaths: Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and Washington.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
A coupe bits Thanks to Nice News
Take Lengthy Lunches, Walk Everywhere, and Embrace Aging
Another day, another “maxxing” trend. The latest one isn’t strictly about diet or appearance, but rather involves living like a grandma — specifically, an Italian nonna with a penchant for long walks and making pasta by hand.
“Nonnamaxxing” suggests that the secret to a better life lies in channeling the habits of Italian grandmothers. Given that Italy leads the European Union in life expectancy and is home to one of the world’s five “blue zones,” it’s a fad with some solid stats behind it.
The wholesome trend is portrayed on social media as an antidote to the hustle and bustle of modern living and an invitation to enjoy leisurely lunches with friends, ditch screens, and build a collection of cozy nightgowns. But as 96-year-old Italian grandmother Licia Fertz told Self magazine, the nonna life is more about mindset than any particular meal or outfit.
“Never think of yourself as old,” she advised. “You are born young.” Learn more lessons in nonnamaxxing.
Together With Incogni
________________________________________
The Truth About Scam Calls
Scammers don’t just pick phone numbers at random — they buy your data from brokers. And once your data is out there, you’re at risk of phishing, impersonation, and identity theft. But there are ways to reduce your risk, and that’s why we recommend Incogni.
The subscription service deletes your personal info from the web, monitors and follows up automatically, and continues to erase data as new risks appear. Try Incogni today and get 55% off your subscription with code NICENEWS.
Learn More
Tech
________________________________________
LA Becomes First Major School District to Cap Classroom Screen Time
Brian van der Brug—Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
The Los Angeles Unified School District is set to become the first major district in the nation to mandate classroom screen time limits. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, the unanimously approved resolution will restrict device usage and encourage a return to paper, pencils, and physical books over laptops and tablets.
“We have responsibility as one of the largest districts to draw a line in the sand when it comes to this recalibration and start the conversation,” Nick Melvoin, the board member who drafted the resolution, told NBC News. Over the next two months, the district will craft a policy establishing maximum daily and weekly screen times tailored by grade level. Device use will also be restricted during lunch and recess, and individual student use of streamers like YouTube will be prohibited.
The shift comes after months of pressure from parents who voiced that school-issued Chromebooks and iPads often distracted their kids during class and caused their grades to drop. Anya Meksin, a mother of two and a deputy director of the nonprofit Schools Beyond Screens, praised the move: “This is [a] historic reform that we hope will trickle down to the rest of the country very, very quickly,” she said.
Environment
________________________________________
How Protecting Wilderness Could Mean Purposefully Tending It, Not Just Leaving It Alone
haveseen/iStock
This article was written by Clare E. Boerigter, a wilderness fire researcher, for The Conversation.
More than 110 million acres of land across the U.S. are protected in 806 federally designated wilderness areas — together an area slightly larger than the state of California. For the most part, these places have been left alone for decades, in keeping with the 1964 Wilderness Act’s directive that they be “untrammeled by man.”
But in a time when lands are experiencing the effects of climate change and people are renewing their understanding of Indigenous knowledge and stewardship practices, protecting these places may require action, not inaction.
These diverse ecosystems are the country’s most protected lands, where human activity is severely restricted. Federal regulations exclude resource extraction such as logging and mining; developments such as the building of roads and structures; low-level overflights by planes and helicopters; and mechanized equipment such as chain saws. People can walk, ride horses, canoe, fish, and camp temporarily in these areas, but that’s about it.
. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Thanks to the Smithsonian History Facts
The time humans almost went extinct
When we think of endangered animals, we generally think about elephants, tigers, and whales — but certainly not humans. Yet between 800,000 and 900,000 years ago, ancestors of Homo sapiens lost 98.7% of their population, according to a 2023 study published in the journal Science. Before the population crash, as many as 135,000 early humans roamed the Earth, but according to the team of geneticists behind the study, that number plummeted to about 1,280 breeding individuals, and the population stayed that low for more than 100,000 years. (These weren’t modern humans, but earlier hominins on the genetic timeline; one species that was alive at the time was Homo erectus, and we’re still discovering new prehistoric human species.)
The population decline could have been related to the wild environmental changes happening around that time: Extreme cooling of the Earth coincided with a drought in Africa, leading to fewer sources of food. Whatever the cause, it created a genetic “bottleneck” that researchers say nearly wiped out our prehistoric ancestors. This conclusion lines up to a period of time that left few fossils behind, but the research has yet to be replicated by other studies, and many genetic scientists remain skeptical of the claim.
By the Numbers
Estimated population of humans on Earth
8 billion
Age (in years) of the oldest human DNA ever discovered
400,000
Years since Homo sapiens first emerged
~200,000
Individual prehistoric humans identified in fossils
6,000
The time humans almost went extinct
DID YOU KNOW?
Several human species lived on Earth at the same time.
More than 20 human species — that is, species in the genus Homo — have existed in the last few million years. But evolution isn’t a straight line, and multiple early humans walked the Earth at the same time. When Homo sapiens (that’s us) first emerged around 200,000 to 300,000 years ago, we joined at least eight other living species, including Neanderthals, Denisovans, and even Homo erectus. Other, lesser-known species stayed in a pretty limited geographic area, such as Homo longi in China, Homo naledi in South Africa, and the 3-foot-tall Homo floresiensis in Indonesia. Eventually, only Homo sapiens remained, and there are a few theories about how that happened. It could have been that we had better infant survival rates, or we could have actively hunted other species. Different human species also mated with one another, so it’s possible that Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, and Denisovans interbred the latter two out of existence.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
From the Flag at Derna to Dewey at Manila Bay
by W. Thomas Smith Jr.
This Week in American Military History:
24 Apr 1805: USS Congress captured Tripolitan gunboat
On 24 April 1805, during the First Barbary War, the frigate Congress,
commanded by John Rodgers, captured a Tripolitan gunboat together with 2
prizes taken earlier by pirate ships off Tripoli.
To read more about USS Congress, please click here:
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c12/congress-iii.htm
Apr. 26, 1777: Just after 9:00 p.m., 16-year-old Sybil (also Sibbell)
Ludington – “the female Paul Revere” – begins her 40-mile, all-night ride
(much of it in the rain) across an isolated circuit of New York–Connecticut
backcountry, warning villagers of a British attack on nearby Danbury,
Connecticut.
The daughter of a militia colonel, Ludington will be recognized for her
bravery and patriotism by Gen. George Washington.
Apr. 26, 1865: Just over two weeks after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee
surrenders his Army of Northern Virginia, Confederate Gen. Joseph E.
Johnston surrenders the once-vaunted Army of Tennessee to U.S. Army Gen.
William T. Sherman near Durham Station, N.C.
Apr. 27, 1805: Following an extremely difficult march across a
500-to-700-mile stretch of North African desert; U.S. Army officer and
Naval agent to the Barbary regents William Eaton, U.S. Marine Lt. Presley
Neville O’Bannon and seven American leathernecks – leading an unlikely and
often near-mutinying Christian-Muslim army of Arabs, Western European
adventurers, and Greek mercenaries – attack and seize the fortress at Derna
commanded by the ruling pasha Yusuf Karamanli, on “the shores of Tripoli”
(Yes, that’s where the line comes from in the Marine Corps Hymn.)
Supported by the offshore guns of USS Argus (the first of two so-named U.S.
Navy vessels), USS Hornet (the third of eight so-named U.S. Navy vessels),
and USS Nautilus (the first of six so-named U.S. Navy vessels), O’Bannon’s
men storm the enemy’s works in fierce hand-to-hand fighting, turn the
enemy’s guns on the pasha’s palace, and ultimately raise the stars and
stripes over the “Old World” for the first time.
So-impressed with O’Bannon’s leadership and heroics, newly installed pasha
Hamet Karamanli (Yusuf’s pro-American brother), will present O’Bannon with
a Mameluke sword. U.S. Marine officers today still carry the Mameluke
sword, whereas Marine NCOs carry the traditional Naval infantry saber.
Apr. 28, 1965: Almost 160 years to the day after the storming of Derna,
U.S. Marines land in the Dominican Republic.
Apr. 30, 1798: The U.S. Navy Department – parent company of the U.S. Navy
and Marine Corps – is established.
Apr. 30, 1945: German leader Adolf Hitler and his new bride, Eva Braun,
commit suicide in Hitler’s Berlin Bunker. German Army forces will surrender
to the Allies within days.
Apr. 30, 1970: Pres. Richard M. Nixon announces, “In cooperation with the
armed forces of South Vietnam, attacks are being launched this week to
clean out major enemy sanctuaries on the Cambodian-Vietnam border. … This
is not an invasion of Cambodia. The areas in which these attacks will be
launched are completely occupied and controlled by North Vietnamese forces.
Our purpose is not to occupy the areas. Once enemy forces are driven out of
these sanctuaries and once their military supplies are destroyed, we will
withdraw.”
May. 1, 1898: The Battle of Manila Bay opens when U.S. Navy Commodore
George Dewey utters his now-famous words, “You may fire when ready, Mr.
Gridley [speaking to Capt. Charles Vernon Gridley, commanding Dewey’s
flagship USS Olympia].”
Within a few hours, Dewey's Asiatic Squadron – several cruisers including
Olympia (the first of two so-named U.S. Navy vessels), gunboats, and
supporting vessels – will destroy the Spanish fleet in the Philippines.
May. 1, 1960: Francis Gary Powers, a former U.S. Air Force officer now
flying high-altitude U-2 reconnaissance aircraft for the CIA, is shot down
over the Soviet Union and captured.
.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This Day in U S Military History…….April 24
1862 – Flag Officer Farragut’s fleet ran past Forts Jackson and St. Philip and engaged the defending Confederate flotilla. At 2:00 a.m., U.S.S. Hartford had shown Farragut’s signal for the fleet to get underway in three divisions to steam through the breach in the obstructions which had been opened by U.S.S. Pinola and Itasca. A withering fire from the forts was answered by roaring broadsides from the ships. Hartford, grounded in the swift current near Fort St. Philip, was set afire by a Confederate fireraft. Farragut’s leadership and the disciplined training of the crew saved the flagship. U.S.S. Varuna was rammed by two Confederate ships and sunk In( 7 MOH were awarded to crewmen) the ensuing melee, C.S.S. Warrior, Stonewall Jackson, General Lovell, and Breckinridge, tender Phoenix, steamers Star and Belle Algerine, and Louisiana gunboat General Quitman were destroyed. The armored ram C.S.S. Manassas was driven ashore by U.S.S. Mississippi and sunk. Steam tenders C.S.S. Landis and W. Burton surrendered; Resolute and Governor Moore were destroyed to prevent capture. ”The destruction of the Navy at New Orleans,” wrote Confederate Secretary of the Navy Mallory, “was a sad, sad blow . . . When the Union Navy passed the forts and disposed of the Confederate forces afloat, the fate of New Orleans was decided. Farragut had achieved a brilliant victory, one which gave true meaning to the Flag Officer’s own words: “The great man in our country must not only plan but execute.
1865 – C.S.S. Webb, Lieutenant Read, dashed from the Red River under forced draft and entered the Mississippi at 8:30 at night in a heroic last-ditch effort to escape to sea. Before departing Alexandria, Louisiana, for his bold attempt, Read wrote Secretary Mallory: “I will have to stake everything upon speed and time.” The sudden appearance of the white-painted Webb in the Mississippi caught the Union blockaders (a monitor and two ironclads) at the mouth of the Red River by surprise. She was initially identified as a Federal ship; this mistake in identification gave Read a lead in the dash downstream. A running battle ensued in which Webb shook off the three Union pursuers. As Read proceeded down the Mississippi, other blockading ships took up the chase but were outdistanced by the fast moving Webb, which some observers claimed was making 25 knots. While churning with the current toward New Orleans, Read paused at one point to cut the telegraph wires along the bank. This proved futile as word of his escape and approach passed southward where it generated considerable excitement and a flurry of messages between the Army and Navy commanders who alerted shore batteries and ships to intercept him. About 10 miles above New Orleans Read hoisted the United States flag at half mast in mourning for Lincoln’s death and brought Webb’s steam pressure up to maximum. He passed the city at about midnight, 24 April, going full speed. Federal gunboats opened on him, whereupon Read broke the Confederate flag. Three hits were scored, the spar torpedo rigged at the steamer’s bow was damaged and had to be jettisoned, but the Webb continued on course toward the sea. Twenty-five miles below New Orleans Read’s luck ran out, for here Webb encountered U.S.S. Richmond. Thus trapped between Richmond and pursuing gunboats, Read’s audacious and well-executed plan came to an end. Webb was run aground and set on fire before her officers and men took to the swamps in an effort to escape. Read and his crew were apprehended within a few hours and taken under guard to New Orleans. They there suffered the indignity of being placed on public display but were subsequently paroled and ordered to their respective homes. Following the restoration of peace, Read became a pilot of the Southwest Pass, one of the mouths of the Mississippi River, and pursued that occupation until his death.
1945 – On Okinawa, Japanese forces defending the Shuri Line, in the south, begin tactical withdrawals. (24 of 82 days in the battle the worst is yet to come. Skip)
1948 – The Berlin airlift began to relieve the surrounded city.
1951 – U.S. Air Force Captain Joseph C. McConnell, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, qualified as the sixth “double ace” (10 kills) of the war.
1971 – North Vietnamese troops hit Allied installations throughout South Vietnam. In the most devastating attack, the ammunition depot at Qui Nhon was blown up. On April 27, the aviation fuel tanks at Da Nang air base were attacked by communist gunners, resulting in explosions and a fire that destroyed a large proportion of the fuel stored there. In the following three days, 54 South Vietnamese soldiers and civilians were reported killed, and 185 wounded. The United States reported seven dead and 60 wounded.
1974 – Naval forces begin minesweeping operations in the Suez Canal Zone.
1980 – An ill-fated military operation to rescue the 52 American hostages held in Tehran ends with eight U.S. servicemen dead and no hostages rescued. With the Iran Hostage Crisis stretching into its sixth month and all diplomatic appeals to the Iranian government ending in failure, President Jimmy Carter ordered the military mission as a last ditch attempt to save the hostages. During the operation, three of eight helicopters failed, crippling the crucial airborne plans. The mission was then canceled at the staging area in Iran, but during the withdrawal one of the retreating helicopters collided with one of six C-130 transport planes, killing eight soldiers and injuring five. The next day, a somber Jimmy Carter gave a press conference in which he took full responsibility for the tragedy. The hostages were not released for another 270 days. On November 4, 1979, the crisis began when militant Iranian students, outraged that the U.S. government had allowed the ousted shah of Iran to travel to the U.S. for medical treatment, seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran. The Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran’s political and religious leader, took over the hostage situation and agreed to release non-U.S. captives and female and minority Americans, citing these groups as among the people oppressed by the U.S. government. The remaining 52 captives remained at the mercy of the Ayatollah for the next 14 months. President Carter was unable to diplomatically resolve the crisis, and the April 1980 hostage attempt ended in disaster. Three months later, the former shah died of cancer in Egypt, but the crisis continued. In November, Carter lost the presidential election to Republican Ronald Reagan, and soon after, with the assistance of Algerian intermediaries, successful negotiations began between the United States and Iran. On the day of Reagan’s inauguration, January 20, 1981, the United States freed almost $8 billion in frozen Iranian assets, and the 52 hostages were released after 444 days. The next day, Jimmy Carter flew to West Germany to greet the Americans on their way home.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
TRUESDELL, DONALD LEROY (Name officially changed to Truesdale ) Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps. Place and date: Vicinity Constancia, near Coco River, northern Nicaragua, 24 April 1932. Entered service at: South Carolina. Born: 8 August 1906, Lugoff, S.C. Citation: Cpl. Truesdale was second in command of a Guardia Nacional Patrol in active operations against armed bandit forces in the vicinity of Constancia, near Coco River, northern Nicaragua, on 24 April 1932. While the patrol was in formation on the trail searching for a bandit group with which contact had just previously been made, a rifle grenade fell from its carrier and struck a rock, igniting the detonator. Several men close to the grenade at the time were in danger. Cpl. Truesdale, who was several yards away, could easily have sought cover and safety for himself. Knowing full well the grenade would explode within 2 or 3 seconds, he rushed for the grenade, grasped it in his right hand, and attempted to throw it away from the patrol. The grenade exploded in his hand, blowing it off and inflicting serious multiple wounds about his body. Cpl. Truesdale, in taking the full shock of the explosion himself, saved the members of the patrol from loss of life or serious injury.
*NELSON, WILLIAM L .
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Place and date: At Djebel Dardys, Northwest of Sedjenane, Tunisia, 24 April 1943. Entered service at: Middletown, Del. Birth: Dover, Del. G.O. No.: 85, 17 December 1943. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty in action involving actual conflict. On the morning of 24 April 1943, Sgt. Nelson led his section of heavy mortars to a forward position where he placed his guns and men. Under intense enemy artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire, he advanced alone to a chosen observation position from which he directed the laying of a concentrated mortar barrage which successfully halted an initial enemy counterattack. Although mortally wounded in the accomplishment of his mission, and with his duty clearly completed, Sgt. Nelson crawled to a still more advanced observation point and continued to direct the fire of his section. Dying of handgrenade wounds and only 50 yards from the enemy, Sgt. Nelson encouraged his section to continue their fire and by doing so they took a heavy toll of enemy lives. The skill which Sgt. Nelson displayed in this engagement, his courage, and self-sacrificing devotion to duty and heroism resulting in the loss of his life, was a priceless inspiration to our Armed Forces and were in keeping with the highest tradition of the U.S. Army.
*SQUIRES, JOHN C .
Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Private First Class), U.S. Army, Company A, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Padiglione, Italy, 23-24 April 1944. Entered service at: Louisville, Ky. Birth: Louisville, Ky. G.O. No.: 78, 2 October 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. At the start of his company’s attack on strongly held enemy positions in and around Spaccasassi Creek, near Padiglione, Italy, on the night of 23-24 April 1944, Pfc. Squires, platoon messenger, participating in his first offensive action, braved intense artillery, mortar, and antitank gun fire in order to investigate the effects of an antitank mine explosion on the leading platoon. Despite shells which burst close to him, Pfc. Squires made his way 50 yards forward to the advance element, noted the situation, reconnoitered a new route of advance and informed his platoon leader of the casualties sustained and the alternate route. Acting without orders, he rounded up stragglers, organized a group of lost men into a squad and led them forward. When the platoon reached Spaccasassi Creek and established an outpost, Pfc. Squires, knowing that almost all of the noncommissioned officers were casualties, placed 8 men in position of his own volition, disregarding enemy machinegun, machine-pistol, and grenade fire which covered the creek draw. When his platoon had been reduced to 14 men, he brought up reinforcements twice. On each trip he went through barbed wire and across an enemy minefield, under intense artillery and mortar fire. Three times in the early morning the outpost was counterattacked. Each time Pfc. Squires ignored withering enemy automatic fire and grenades which struck all around him, and fired hundreds of rounds of rifle, Browning automatic rifle, and captured German Spandau machinegun ammunition at the enemy, inflicting numerous casualties and materially aiding in repulsing the attacks. Following these fights, he moved 50 yards to the south end of the outpost and engaged 21 German soldiers in individual machinegun duels at point-blank range, forcing all 21 enemy to surrender and capturing 13 more Spandau guns. Learning the function of this weapon by questioning a German officer prisoner, he placed the captured guns in position and instructed other members of his platoon in their operation. The next night when the Germans attacked the outpost again he killed 3 and wounded more Germans with captured potato-masher grenades and fire from his Spandau gun. Pfc. Squires was killed in a subsequent action.
WILSON, HAROLD E.
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Company G, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Korea, 23-24 April 1951. Entered service at: Birmingham, Ala. Born: S December 1921, Birmingham, Ala. Citation: For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as platoon sergeant of a rifle platoon attached to Company G, in action against enemy aggressor forces on the night of 23-24 April 1951. When the company outpost was overrun by the enemy while his platoon, firing from hastily constructed foxholes, was engaged in resisting the brunt of a fierce mortar, machine gun, grenade, and small-arms attack launched by hostile forces from high ground under cover of darkness, T/Sgt. Wilson braved intense fire to assist the survivors back into the line and to direct the treatment of casualties. Although twice wounded by gunfire, in the right arm and the left leg, he refused medical aid for himself and continued to move about among his men, shouting words of encouragement. After receiving further wounds in the head and shoulder as the attack increased in intensity, he again insisted upon remaining with his unit. Unable to use either arm to fire, and with mounting casualties among our forces, he resupplied his men with rifles and ammunition taken from the wounded. Personally reporting to his company commander on several occasions, he requested and received additional assistance when the enemy attack became even more fierce and, after placing the reinforcements in strategic positions in the line, directed effective fire until blown off his feet by the bursting of a hostile mortar round in his face. Dazed and suffering from concussion, he still refused medical aid and, despite weakness from loss of blood, moved from foxhole to foxhole, directing fire, resupplying ammunition, rendering first aid, and encouraging his men. By his heroic actions in the face of almost certain death, when the unit’s ability to hold the disadvantageous position was doubtful, he instilled confidence in his troops, inspiring them to rally repeatedly and turn back the furious assaults. At dawn, after the final attack had been repulsed, he personally accounted for each man in his platoon before walking unassisted l/2 mile to the aid station where he submitted to treatment. His outstanding courage, initiative, and skilled leadership in the face of overwhelming odds were contributing factors in the success of his company’s mission and reflect the highest credit upon T/Sgt. Wilson and the U.S. Naval Service.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for April 24, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD “PHIL” MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
24 April
1909: The first aerial motion picture was shot while Wilbur Wright flew his Wright Biplane over Centocelle, Italy. (20)
1929: Flying a Bellanca CH monoplane, Miss Elinor Smith, a 17-year-old, set a women's solo duration record of 26 hours 21 minutes 32 seconds at Roosevelt, Long Island. (20) (24)
7-24 April 1942: Liquid-propellant rockets developed by Dr. Frank S. Malina, a member of the Caltech “Suicide Club,” are evaluated on an AAF Douglas A-20A aircraft. A total of 44 Jet Assisted Takeoffs (JATO) were made during the test program. (JPL image. Technically, they were “rocket” assisted takeoffs)
1943: First class of women pilots graduated from US AAF flight training. 1945: MEDAL OF HONOR. In his fighter-bomber, Lt Raymond L. Knight of Twelfth Air Force flew several low-level strafing missions in Italy's northern Po Valley. He destroyed 14 enemy aircraft and wrecked 10 others on the ground. In his final attack, Knight's plane was damaged so badly it was virtually inoperable. Realizing his unit’s critical need for aircraft, he tried to return to base. He crashed and died in the Apennines Mountains. Knight earned the medal for his actions and sacrifice. (4)
1946: At Philadelphia, Winged Cargo Incorporated inaugurated the first glider commercial freight service. The company employed a DC-3 towing a Waco glider and made Miami its first stop. Other stops included Havana, Cuba, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. (24)
1951: KOREAN WAR. On separate pickups, a 3 ARS H-5 helicopter rescued the pilot first, then the navigator of a downed B-26 near Chorwon, about 15 miles north of the 38th parallel. The navigator, suffering a broken leg, had been captured by two enemy soldiers, but he managed to seize a gun from one enemy soldier, causing them to run for cover. Friendly fighters kept them pinned down, while the helicopter made the pickup. (28)
1992: Two Peruvian fighters attacked and heavily damaged a USAF C-130 Hercules in international airspace. Captain Pete B. Eunice, a 310 MAS pilot, still managed a safe landing. For that effort, the C-130 crew earned the 1992 Mackay Trophy. This highly classified anti-drug surveillance mission remains controversial even today. One Airman was killed, and others were wounded onboard the aircraft during the Peruvian Su-22 attack.
1958: The USAF increased the Atlas force to nine squadrons. (6)
1962: The USAF used an orbiting satellite for the first time to transmit TV photographs from Camp Parks, Calif., to Westford, Mass. (4)
1967: AIRFIELD STRIKE. Eight F-105s attacked Hoa Lac Airfield, a North Vietnam MiG base. This first authorized attack against an occupied North Vietnamese air base under the restrictions imposed on US air power destroyed approximately 14 MiGs on the ground. (17)
1975: FIRST WOMEN IN MISSILE COMPETITIONS. Through 2 May, the first female technicians actively participated in SAC’s eighth missile competition. A1C Jeanine A. Sousley competed with the 308 SMW’s reentry vehicle maintenance team, while Sgt Jo A. Williamson competed with the 321 SMW’s electronic laboratory maintenance team. The 381 SMW from McConnell AFB won the Blanchard Trophy. (1) (6)
1980: Operation EVENING LIGHT/EAGLE CLAW. An attempt to rescue American hostages in Iran failed after mechanical difficulties caused some Navy RH-53 helicopter crews to turn back. An RH-53 and an Air Force HC-130 also crashed together in a sandstorm, killing eight servicemen. (21)
1990: The USAF accepted its first British Aerospace C-29A Combat Flight Inspection Aircraft from LTV's Sierra Research Division at the Company's plant at Buffalo, N.Y. The C-29 would help the USAF inspect and calibrate its air traffic control and landing facilities, replacing CT-39s and C-140s used for that mission. (8: Jul 90) Boeing’s Condor, an unmanned autonomous aircraft, completed eight test flights as part of a high altitude, long-endurance technology effort under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The aircraft had a wing span larger than the Boeing 747. (8: Jul 90) HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE. On the 35th Space Shuttle flight, the Discovery lifted off with a crew of five. Astronaut Steven Hawley released the telescope the next day. (20)
1992: MACKAY TROPHY. Two Peruvian fighters attacked and heavily damaged an USAF C-130 Hercules in international airspace. Captain Pete B. Eunice, a 310 MAS pilot, still managed a safe landing. For that effort, the C-130 crew earned the 1992 Mackay Trophy. (16) (18)
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SkipsList" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to skipslist+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/skipslist/CACTjsm0V5i4NjVjU4Q_di6Ji0vJ2xkyVwUh-9FvsVLPgiQNeuw%40mail.gmail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.