tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79225851104000121982024-03-05T12:26:12.751-06:00Voodoo Warrior's Military PageRandom thoughts about the Military from a middle aged conservative white guy67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-7754195429592502312014-02-23T10:47:00.001-06:002014-02-23T10:47:34.352-06:00Heroes Pass ...Commander Robert Heid, age 92, passed away on Feb. 15. Commander Heid was a 26 year Navy veteran, a Naval Aviator who flew combat missions from the deck of the USS Enterprise during WWII. <br />
<br />
Lt. Colonel James Armstrong, age 90, passed away Jan. 22. Col. Armstrong was a 23 year Marine, a Naval Aviator who flew Marine PBJ bombers in the South Pacific and China in WWII. He was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and 6 air medals during the conflict. He again went to war in Korea, flying Corsairs in support of Marines on the ground, He also volunteered to fly Piper Cubs on spotting and recon missions. He was awarded another DFC for actions in those Cubs. After retirement, he served as Texas Instrument's chief pilot.<br />
<br />
Bobby Hazelwood, age 81, passed away on Jan. 26. Hazelwood served in the USAF, piloting Century Series fighters for 10 years. <br />
<br />
Godspeed, gentlemen ...67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-91507887859618922322014-01-28T17:55:00.000-06:002014-01-28T17:55:24.089-06:00Long Live Superheats!Some youtube video I was just made aware of. Two VF-202 F-14s on the range at Ft. Chafee in 1993.<br />
<br />
These two jets were the last two F-14As built, BuNos 162710 and 162711. They served with the Dallas based reserve squadron from their delivery from Grumman in 1987 until the squadron shut down in 1994.
<iframe width="420" height="320" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/n81pIulraxY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-13468572315392325252013-10-24T12:22:00.001-05:002013-10-24T12:22:23.307-05:00A Very, Very Bad Day ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUdIQvMKvDi53YDWc3MG_YnMamocKiHXviGWtKz1UPSR27dh0CdFdb8fmBZECZPei3r2gLHAlsCe5OF9pBV0cyXuRY7TEjMTA7RTnqnOoQkRGr9h8VB2XXufam2oPH5JwQxsvYKDP4Bs/s1600/Gumby+All+2013+50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUdIQvMKvDi53YDWc3MG_YnMamocKiHXviGWtKz1UPSR27dh0CdFdb8fmBZECZPei3r2gLHAlsCe5OF9pBV0cyXuRY7TEjMTA7RTnqnOoQkRGr9h8VB2XXufam2oPH5JwQxsvYKDP4Bs/s400/Gumby+All+2013+50.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Yesterday, Oct. 23, P-51D "Galveston Gal", operated by the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston, went down in shallow water just west of its home base. The two gentlemen aboard did not survive the crash.<br />
<br />
Those of you who follow me know that this airplane and the folks who fly and maintain it are very close to me. I knew the pilot, a very experienced military and civilian pilot who had been flying the Museum's warbirds for many years. The passenger was a British citizen who was in the States on vacation. His wife had purchased the ride for him for their 41st wedding anniversary.<br />
<br />
I was in Galveston yesterday, at the museum preparing for this weekend's Wings Over Houston airshow. The things I saw, heard, and felt will be with me for the rest of my life - much as I wish they weren't. <br />
<br />
Galveston Gal had recently been fully restored, and was meticulously maintained. I know this for a fact. I still have dirty rags in my truck, used last weekend at the Alliance airshow to clean 'Gal' for her performance there. I remember how proud I felt watching her taxi out yesterday, still 'spotless' from my hours of cleaning her skin.<br />
<br />
Godspeed, Keith ...<br />
<br />
Rest In Peace, John ...<br />
<br />
Gal, we're going to miss you ...67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-83409023936992353552013-10-05T10:21:00.002-05:002013-10-05T10:21:23.897-05:00A Hero Passes ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGhsyfgG_RN9OCpdM32OhuJE3o5ZeCT9ZOhlI4BR15I8HUmJHGZQyL665knSfvu_25ldk9beAOivtyKUyXFUOngxHaIxtqAoKqxCSffoJImKsjHVz2FqYW-HKh4iSNCLMrd248w3a70c/s1600/Oresko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGhsyfgG_RN9OCpdM32OhuJE3o5ZeCT9ZOhlI4BR15I8HUmJHGZQyL665knSfvu_25ldk9beAOivtyKUyXFUOngxHaIxtqAoKqxCSffoJImKsjHVz2FqYW-HKh4iSNCLMrd248w3a70c/s1600/Oresko.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
Nick Oresko, age 96, passed away from complications following surgery to repair a leg fracture. He was surrounded at bedside by military and veterans (he had outlived all of his immediate family). Master Sargent Oresko was the oldest living recipient of the Medal of Honor.<br />
<br />
Assigned to Charlie Company, 302nd Infantry, 94th Infantry Division, on January 23, 1945 near Tettington Germany, Oreseko singlehandedly attacked and destroyed two enemy machine gun bunkers. Though seriously wounded in the hip, he eliminated 12 German soldiers, thereby clearing the way for his company to advance with minimum casualties.<br />
<br />
Godspeed, Sgt. Oresko ... thank you for your service for our country ...<br />
<br />
67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-16775121978132300972013-09-23T20:41:00.002-05:002013-09-23T20:41:17.877-05:00Invader Crew Comes Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P6WJi3L8dT7Yu-IEUospCFwA_OUIOicFRFomp40u8L683u2q7oI3ZOWGH6ONU2L2zLvCwAy51atsPN7lOTL3Q4aAuctI9FxXrycc7NX1DM9iHC7TPAPaLAYvtyrbbuF9doP1Xz4rHgo/s1600/609SOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P6WJi3L8dT7Yu-IEUospCFwA_OUIOicFRFomp40u8L683u2q7oI3ZOWGH6ONU2L2zLvCwAy51atsPN7lOTL3Q4aAuctI9FxXrycc7NX1DM9iHC7TPAPaLAYvtyrbbuF9doP1Xz4rHgo/s400/609SOS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
Air Force Majors James Sizemore and Howard Andre were laid to rest, side by side, at Arlington National Cemetery today. Their remains were recovered from a hillside in Laos, where they perished over 44 years ago.<br />
<br />
Sizemore and Andre were flying B-26K 64-17646 on a 'Barrel Roll' night interdiction mission on the evening of July 8, 1969. Their target was troop concentrations in central Laos. During a strafing run, their aircraft was hit by enemy fire, and crashed into a hillside. <br />
<br />
This was the third B-26 lost by the 609th SOS in 1969. Operating out of Nakhon Phanom AB in Thailand, the Invaders were very effective at attacking targets on the Ho Chi Minh trail at night.<br />
<br />
The B-26s were rebuilt A-26s that had been manufactured during World War II. Fast (for propeller aircraft), heavily armed, and with long loiter capabilities, they were ideal aircraft for the mission, and were widely regarded as the best night interdiction aircraft during the Vietnam conflict, with the exception of the AC-130 Spectre gunships.<br />
<br />
30 B-26Ks served in the SEA theatre, with 12 being lost to enemy fire or in operational accidents. They were retired from combat in November of 1969.67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-64160728610178307032013-09-23T18:54:00.000-05:002013-10-05T10:21:42.503-05:00A Hero Passes ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5g0b2r1kpCkQLzwl-yLdcvnsOD0kTzUMmyHyFGjAkqY_buiQryu0DaXC_CNMOivaJm0GOz0TWCC1wNrDpjxbCxNrqNm33-5TFlR0SW7wEfvTvT3uDItmkpojoY55q2C0B0BBB3EhhYik/s1600/georgeobit2_0921met.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5g0b2r1kpCkQLzwl-yLdcvnsOD0kTzUMmyHyFGjAkqY_buiQryu0DaXC_CNMOivaJm0GOz0TWCC1wNrDpjxbCxNrqNm33-5TFlR0SW7wEfvTvT3uDItmkpojoY55q2C0B0BBB3EhhYik/s1600/georgeobit2_0921met.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
Pete George, a Dallas native, passed away this past week at the age of 93. Mr. George was a Marine, serving in China before WWII, and then in the Phillipines when the war started. Assigned to coastal defense on Corregidor, he fought until he received serious shrapnel wounds in May of 1942. The day after he was wounded, Corregidor fell, and he began 42 months of hell being a POW of the Japanese.<br />
<br />
18 months were spent in a prison hospital and then the Cabanatuan prison camp. He was then transferred to Yokkaaichi Prison Camp No. 5, where he remained until liberated in August of 1945.<br />
<br />
Mr. George was laid to rest at the DFW National Cemetery, with full military honors.<br />
<br />
Godspeed, Mr. George ...67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-71132826393872878232013-08-30T07:33:00.000-05:002013-08-30T07:33:03.822-05:00Phantom PheverI was recently hosted by the 82ATS, Det.1, at Holloman AFB, for a day of shooting Phantoms on their ramp. There were about 30 QF-4Es there, including 8 that carry Heritage paint schemes. It was like a time warp, seeing all those birds in Vietnam camouflage lined up for my camera. Outstanding!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejBd1AekPxKd_SiGPP9GJe5LQFZ4vnHmLVyXwLcsJyHKUvAMgjPVLy-NEGUycbrAoGyE2xzRmjjQurlsbkHO0GCFs8kYWSSgwxuMUqifjDo_XbHy7OSsDgvIbFpz-66IkD0c31ql-lU0/s1600/71-0237+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejBd1AekPxKd_SiGPP9GJe5LQFZ4vnHmLVyXwLcsJyHKUvAMgjPVLy-NEGUycbrAoGyE2xzRmjjQurlsbkHO0GCFs8kYWSSgwxuMUqifjDo_XbHy7OSsDgvIbFpz-66IkD0c31ql-lU0/s400/71-0237+25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm73eMCmo4rP_l4y7zT7gSS_Z3EYQgJd6xC8wDDV5byFK5IZ9QHjG40PgHcFIlWqnW6jj8eDRzONreQibjiool1cfBeB4oL0SOMDrXIWju1cY8wTyNkWf4heKWk_B3lAQiwz_H5JfRYH4/s1600/71-0237+a+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm73eMCmo4rP_l4y7zT7gSS_Z3EYQgJd6xC8wDDV5byFK5IZ9QHjG40PgHcFIlWqnW6jj8eDRzONreQibjiool1cfBeB4oL0SOMDrXIWju1cY8wTyNkWf4heKWk_B3lAQiwz_H5JfRYH4/s400/71-0237+a+25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYUNaKqvpMB8Fu4FSoobLF3wNT_xamMx08UPv2bhc2xX9iimcmiF6zqxX734gEcW6h1ZPL_uv93El2i398C0dfcbiNtNr8hhqT4SZeEOzL3KXuHwQZa_FthGVK6rvyHnlOFI0GnqjZ2A/s1600/72-0140+a+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYUNaKqvpMB8Fu4FSoobLF3wNT_xamMx08UPv2bhc2xX9iimcmiF6zqxX734gEcW6h1ZPL_uv93El2i398C0dfcbiNtNr8hhqT4SZeEOzL3KXuHwQZa_FthGVK6rvyHnlOFI0GnqjZ2A/s400/72-0140+a+25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvjF6KkRzIbzmF8iRj45dTNyobdk4znM4akQp92BtGW3V2oaIR8U2J-3RiGwAUN-8C9V8J37DCu9XoeBXqNwO7F5-jQweI4ig4MGeP0O2O5RpbObIxNt7ZMYLKOEMVWQZQUaN3sQi5wM/s1600/74-1627+a+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvjF6KkRzIbzmF8iRj45dTNyobdk4znM4akQp92BtGW3V2oaIR8U2J-3RiGwAUN-8C9V8J37DCu9XoeBXqNwO7F5-jQweI4ig4MGeP0O2O5RpbObIxNt7ZMYLKOEMVWQZQUaN3sQi5wM/s400/74-1627+a+25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfBOIr1QlJRrcdeTRCcvpYXFc6gy3yz25IAktfOJeGf6E8pKbG48KgaiHs94pdl2TQdANCX5jiGAILvVhJ5L4gJS92Aph7du_ep9oHY_TnQFnz6_fMKIEbIrqZ2-vKQsidd23vCPZaJY/s1600/Viet+lineup+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfBOIr1QlJRrcdeTRCcvpYXFc6gy3yz25IAktfOJeGf6E8pKbG48KgaiHs94pdl2TQdANCX5jiGAILvVhJ5L4gJS92Aph7du_ep9oHY_TnQFnz6_fMKIEbIrqZ2-vKQsidd23vCPZaJY/s400/Viet+lineup+25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFsHnIx0TkIpv-70Z8OvVDEbBYQXKmeutwWjZk0K7Vr6URzHxFQjpdNugtblwGyqMs7D-lw_5dm-iBBYZG7caieDUrVSywEn7bOtn3Z19pd21jPJ2hr-2Gczb70x74iSUiNMBDPd5lFk/s1600/Viet+lineup+a+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFsHnIx0TkIpv-70Z8OvVDEbBYQXKmeutwWjZk0K7Vr6URzHxFQjpdNugtblwGyqMs7D-lw_5dm-iBBYZG7caieDUrVSywEn7bOtn3Z19pd21jPJ2hr-2Gczb70x74iSUiNMBDPd5lFk/s400/Viet+lineup+a+25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOmN-l368vdlZ_4Z9pK5fKvPL37zpLb21hthNZjLPmDumi3Qzy1RMmLJzxHO42xTubKlfsDrqLElJ8Sb4iArSnhq7ZLKcdoduo9d0WZQ2VsM8L23q3noj_ZbM7gKmTNJp4nxrWly9Dhs/s1600/74-1631+air+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOmN-l368vdlZ_4Z9pK5fKvPL37zpLb21hthNZjLPmDumi3Qzy1RMmLJzxHO42xTubKlfsDrqLElJ8Sb4iArSnhq7ZLKcdoduo9d0WZQ2VsM8L23q3noj_ZbM7gKmTNJp4nxrWly9Dhs/s400/74-1631+air+25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-23863774543638619942013-07-10T19:11:00.001-05:002013-07-10T19:11:11.694-05:00Maverick and Goose ... Officially CookedThe X-47B UCAS demonstrator performed its first arrested landing upon a carrier at sea, the USS George H W Bush.<br />
<br />
<iframe width="420" height="320" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cPaH8CCtRVU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Navy Secretary Mabus provided a statement to the press about he feels about this event:<br />
<br />
"It isn't very often you get a glimpse of the future. The operational unmanned aircraft soon to be developed have the opportunity to radically change the way presence and combat power are delivered from our aircraft carriers."<br />
<br />
Yeah, a glimpse into the future of our military, if Obama and his minions continue to massacre our forces and turn us into a nation defended by robots.<br />67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-91147703462585608112013-05-21T16:00:00.001-05:002013-05-21T16:00:12.948-05:00Maverick and Goose ... Where Are You?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHizw2MmXpgqTqTeapLilkLOd7Tw8MMQmj6b_ng2rUeJJqPMjEMrr83XKtprZIwdE7YUjtnLe5-VZTfWpi25zEarGf2BIG_QisANtqtnWOPAp6VKmc0MK5QA-z694YEBvq_24Up8XzlRs/s1600/47-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHizw2MmXpgqTqTeapLilkLOd7Tw8MMQmj6b_ng2rUeJJqPMjEMrr83XKtprZIwdE7YUjtnLe5-VZTfWpi25zEarGf2BIG_QisANtqtnWOPAp6VKmc0MK5QA-z694YEBvq_24Up8XzlRs/s320/47-a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The Navy's X-47B UCAS demonstrator recently completed its next phase of flight tests. The unmanned aircraft was launched from the deck of the USS George H W Bush (CVN-77), and performed a touch and go landing before recovering backs at its shore base. Next step is a launch and full, arrested, recovery back aboard ship.<br />
<br />
Maverick and Goose are going from the Danger Zone to the pile of discarded parts and pieces pretty soon. How sad.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Mv8Pu6cGKE1SAhPS9DmRTZLgIoHnQbKGbLNIPaEG8KfnVO86xQqXVLX_tLDQVuAD2OkpDkkrPXM9UT6SK99zOgY3mc5zuzSorz6QDaKwKixibYMNVkYnw8lS6z3RAzr0yxbDZmFIZAg/s1600/47-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Mv8Pu6cGKE1SAhPS9DmRTZLgIoHnQbKGbLNIPaEG8KfnVO86xQqXVLX_tLDQVuAD2OkpDkkrPXM9UT6SK99zOgY3mc5zuzSorz6QDaKwKixibYMNVkYnw8lS6z3RAzr0yxbDZmFIZAg/s320/47-b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: x-small;">Photos credit U S Navy</span><br />
67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-5386487842474757252013-04-30T13:25:00.000-05:002013-04-30T16:43:14.387-05:00US Forces Massacred, Part IThe immediate cuts supposedly caused by the sequestration have been announced by the US Navy and Air Force. They are devastating. <br />
<br />
In this first part, we'll look at what happens to the US Navy.<br />
<br />
Naval Aviation will bear the brunt of the cuts. The Navy has nine Carrier Air Wings. These are groups of squadrons that deploy on aircraft carriers. Four of the nine will be disbanded. Two more will be dropped into a 'reserve' status, performing only minimal flight training and maintenance.<br />
<br />
Here is what will be lost, in order:<br />
<br />
Air Wing 2 (USS Ronald Reagan)<br />
VFA-2 (F-18F)<br />
VFA-34 (F-18C)<br />
VFA-137 (F-18E)<br />
VFA-151 (F-18E)<br />
VAW-113 (E-2C)<br />
VAQ-131 (EF-18G)<br />
HSC-12 (MH-60S)<br />
HSM-77 (MH-60R)<br />
VRC-30 Det.2 (C-2A)<br />
<br />
Air Wing 7 (USS Eisenhower)<br />
VFA-83 (F-18C)<br />
VFA-103 (F-18F)<br />
VFA-131 (F-18C)<br />
VFA-143 (F-18E)<br />
VAW-121 (E-2C)<br />
VAQ-140 (EA-6B)<br />
HS-5 (SH/HH-60)<br />
VRC-40 Det.3 (C-2A)<br />
<br />
Air Wing 9 (USS Stennis)<br />
VFA-146 (F-18E)<br />
VFA-147 (F-18E)<br />
VFA-192 (F-18C)<br />
VMFA-323 (F-18C)<br />
VAW-112 (E-2C)<br />
HSC-8 (MH-60)<br />
HSM-71 (MH-60)<br />
<br />
Air Wing 17 (USS-Vinson)<br />
VFA-22 (F-18F)<br />
VFA-81 (F-18E)<br />
VFA-94 (F-18C)<br />
VFA-113 (F-18C)<br />
VAW-116 (E-2C)<br />
VAQ-139 (EF-18G)<br />
HS-15 (MH-60S)<br />
HSM-73 (MH-60R)<br />
VRC-30 Det. (C-2A)<br />
<br />
Here is what will be placed in 'minimal readiness status':<br />
<br />
Air Wing 1 (USS Roosevelt)<br />
VFA-11 (F-18F)<br />
VFA-211 (F-18F)<br />
VFA-136 (F-18E)<br />
VMFA-251 (F-18C)<br />
VAW-123 (E-2C)<br />
VAQ-137 (EA-6B)<br />
HS-11 (SH/HH-MH-60)<br />
VRC-40 Det.1 (C-2A)<br />
<br />
Air Wing 11 (USS Nimitz)<br />
VFA-154 (F-18F)<br />
VFA-147 (F-18E)<br />
VFA-146 (F-18C)<br />
VMFA-323 (F-18C)<br />
VAW-112 (E-2C)<br />
VAQ-133 (EA-6B)<br />
HSC-6 (MH-60S)<br />
HSM-75 (MH-60R)<br />
VRC-30 Det.5 (C-2A)<br />
<br />
The squadrons in these two air wings will fly just enough to maintain safety of flight proficiency. To return them to combat ready status will take over a year, and cost 3 times more than it would to have kept them fully active in the first place - making it unlikely that either of these wings will ever become fully active again.<br />
<br />
An additional unit that was already planned to be cut due to budget cuts that had already been mandated before sequestration is VAW-77. This Naval Reserve E-2C squadron, operating out of NAS New Orleans, had been the main drug interdiction surveillance force in the Caribbean. The radar equipped aircraft watched over hundreds of thousands of square miles of the Caribbean, and had been directly responsible for the seizure of $17 billion worth of cocaine and pot that had been destined for the US. The unit was disbanded in March, and there is no replacement for their capabilities.<br />
<br />
All recruitment and training of Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers, and aviation related support positions is to be halted.<br />
<br />
This is just Naval Aviation. Although the surface fleet wasn't hit as hard, the cuts there will also be dramatic. For instance, if you have only 3 Carrier Air Wings, you don't need 9 carriers, do you? If you don't need 9 carriers, you don't need 9 Carrier Battle Groups. You don't need 9 sets of support ships. You don't need 9 sets of crews for all of those ships. You don't need the home port support infrastructure and man power. You don't need the civilian contractors and defense company workers who support those ships. Hundreds of thousands of trained, skilled people are going to lose their jobs. <br />
<br />
The impact on our carrier capability is devastating. If we only have three Air Wings, then that means we will only have two combat equipped carriers that can be deployed at any given time. The third carrier/Air Wing will be undergoing maintenance/training/regeneration. Two carriers to cover the entire world's oceans. Today, we often deploy two carriers to a single location in the event of brewing trouble. That will no longer be an option. Having carriers on station in different parts of the world, ready to respond to threats to the US and our citizens (and our allies) will no longer be possible.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">This blow is the worst attack/disaster suffered by the US Navy in its history. Pearl Harbor is a drop in the bucket compared to these losses. The drawdown of US forces after WWII, Korea, and Vietnam pale in comparison, even those were massive in their own rights. To realize that this is all caused by ourselves, caused by political games being played by our supposed Commander-In-Chief, is heartbreaking. Republicans tried to remove the military parts of the sequestration legislation several times - Obama threatened to veto any such action. Part of his grand plan in authoring the sequestration in the first place (the idea came from the White House, not Congress) was to cut a huge chunk out of our defense - and then work it around so that he could blame Republicans in the House for it. The blame game didn't work, but it doesn't matter that much. While sequestration cuts in all other departments have amounted to a tiny inconvenience, what the Department of Defense has been forced to do is truly devastating. </span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Obama has shot to the top of the list of people who have done the most harm to the security of our country. Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Ho Chi Minh ... none of them even came close.</span>67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-20728068258333566312013-04-30T13:18:00.001-05:002013-04-30T20:49:27.074-05:00These Guys Had A Bad DayNational Air Cargo (civilian) 747 N949CA crashes on takeoff from Baghram AB, Afghanistan. April 29, 2013. Speculation is a load shift on takeoff, causing a loss of balance - critical during takeoff. All 8 on board perished.<br />
<br />
I can't imaging the terror these guys felt in those last few seconds when they realized what was going to happen.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="http://www.liveleak.com/ll_embed?f=3b4f2af88dce" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
Godspeed, gentlemen ...67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-12894128740832731782013-03-02T11:30:00.000-06:002013-04-30T13:26:02.314-05:00Sequestration SucksThe USAF has announced that due to the sequestration budget cuts, it is suspending all participation at public events for the rest of the year.<br />
<br />
That means no open houses at USAF bases. No airshows. No Air Force aircraft will participate in any civilian airshow. The Thunderbirds season has been cancelled before it even starts. Heritage Flights - gone. Flyovers - none. Aircraft demonstrations - nada. <br />
<br />
No statement yet from the Navy or Marines, but I suspect they will do the same.<br />
<br />
So, we can't afford to have airshows. But, we can afford to spend billions on Obamaphones ... makes perfect sense in a liberal frame of mind.<br />
<br />
Somewhere, our Commie-in-Chief is laughing his ass off (probably on the golf course)... 67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-36677553500410831622013-03-02T11:23:00.000-06:002013-04-08T21:08:38.270-05:00A Hero Passes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksQGPeIr64D8cRKA_Nic81ge3VlYgzr39YcT-KApBnb9_-JeKWGjzTK0B99ikGMQUSNSXK1dsXQutJKGJMUIZtCqihAv4KU90PBqlCgQRWQ6MDibJYmWJE3eEstkJq7ChmnQVyFCJuP4/s1600/griff+1942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksQGPeIr64D8cRKA_Nic81ge3VlYgzr39YcT-KApBnb9_-JeKWGjzTK0B99ikGMQUSNSXK1dsXQutJKGJMUIZtCqihAv4KU90PBqlCgQRWQ6MDibJYmWJE3eEstkJq7ChmnQVyFCJuP4/s1600/griff+1942.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Maj. Thomas Griffin, USAAF (Ret.) passed away this past Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the age of 96.<br />
<br />
Major Griffin was the navigator on B-25 #9, during the Doolittle Raid in 1942. His passing leaves just 4 Doolittle Raiders still with us, out of the 80 men who flew the 16 bombers off the deck of the USS Hornet to attack Japan.<br />
<br />
Major Griffin parachuted from his B-25 over China as it ran out of fuel after the bombing raid. He evaded capture, and returned to action. He flew bombing missions out of North Africa, before being shot down in 1943. He then spent the final two years of the war in a German POW camp.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibr6XSkQSmuzRZ9Bw_kytt9e-vplRAxYLqtUK5NNssQctYF7-IDe0P9d12V-2EEewsfkgcSv-EDVVb_s7f0y8eCwAUu1U0_klD-vtOxDw-dPnXcrn5JTjP0d_d5ABK3TkqT6f9UZqgHHM/s1600/griff0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibr6XSkQSmuzRZ9Bw_kytt9e-vplRAxYLqtUK5NNssQctYF7-IDe0P9d12V-2EEewsfkgcSv-EDVVb_s7f0y8eCwAUu1U0_klD-vtOxDw-dPnXcrn5JTjP0d_d5ABK3TkqT6f9UZqgHHM/s320/griff0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Godspeed, Major ...</div>
67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-87565344538781060972013-02-11T12:01:00.002-06:002013-02-11T12:04:20.580-06:00Dave Menard, RIPDave Menard passed away last week. Dave was a world class aviation photographer. Thousands of people who never met him will recognize the name, for he provided so many historical military aircraft images for publication over the years. I never met Dave, but corresponded with him quite a few time back in the '80s. Heck of a nice guy, and a hell of a photographer. The world is a little sadder with his passing ...<br />
<br />
<br />
David Walter MENARD <br />
<br />
Obituary <br />
<br />
MENARD, David Walter died on Feb. 5, 2013, in Dayton Ohio <br />
where he lived since 1977. He was born in Elmhurst Ill on May 5, <br />
1936, moved to Lombard Ill in 1945 where he graduated from <br />
Glenbard High in 1954, followed by a year of study at the U <br />
of Illinois at Navy Pier. He followed his boy hood dream and <br />
joined the air force in 1955 where he served as a maintainer of <br />
aircraft in Africa, four countries in Europe, Greenland, and five <br />
Asian countries, in addition to six stateside postings. After retiring <br />
as a master sergeant in 1977, he immediately continued his work <br />
on aircraft at the Air Force museum at Wright Patterson AFB in <br />
Dayton, later serving as an historian due to his encyclopedic <br />
knowledge of aviation history. Retiring from that is 1999, he <br />
began following his other passion, care of children by volunteering <br />
at the Dayton children's Hospital, amassing 32,000 hours, the <br />
equivalent of working 16 years at forty hours a week fifty weeks <br />
a year!!! Meanwhile he develop a passion for Irish step dancing, <br />
viewing River Dance over sixty times and supporting several Irish <br />
dance troupes. He lived his life in service to his country....and <br />
children in general. He leaves a brother Mike (Marita) from <br />
Madison Wisc., four nieces and nephews and five grand nephews.<br />
His other brother Herbert James preceded him in death just <br />
two months ago. A memorial service will be held on Monday, <br />
Feb. 11 at 7 PM at the Taggert auditorium at Dayton's Children's <br />
Hospital, One Children's Plaza 45404, to which donations can <br />
be made in lieu of flowers. <br />
<br />
Published in Dayton Daily News from February 7 to February 9, 2013. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-11973176516406682802013-01-12T11:38:00.000-06:002013-02-06T16:16:43.651-06:00Your Tax Dollars At Work, Part III caught these two F-16Ds, 9822 and 9823, on a test flight at NAS Ft. Worth on 1/11/13. Both of them are now wearing US Star and Bar markings, the Egyptian markings that were previously carried have been painted out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDIOlS0ppm1lpwUZLb9RHtxTIspkNT1DZ1LEwJ692EdBQQ387MZFqIKfwemgruJyclq8rm6fOy7h20mLl7pgNeUPPmyKUnY_1U5HQ7dZZm_OwcFgDWpL4hRA0OInLPqwdKcPvMItSHP0/s1600/9822+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDIOlS0ppm1lpwUZLb9RHtxTIspkNT1DZ1LEwJ692EdBQQ387MZFqIKfwemgruJyclq8rm6fOy7h20mLl7pgNeUPPmyKUnY_1U5HQ7dZZm_OwcFgDWpL4hRA0OInLPqwdKcPvMItSHP0/s400/9822+a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_-BH5Dly6kVQNPg6AO1CUS72AO00Lkjg-p6H5rDkCa6wCiCVwxGZ8wC7pVWTWzgAcjaIhsiOwo6qgrCXZfatBhJLD02SoOXFq8ZIzc4HHXC8-hrdR7Y61OifbQ6Q8XA4DvyKKBb5iWo/s1600/9823+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_-BH5Dly6kVQNPg6AO1CUS72AO00Lkjg-p6H5rDkCa6wCiCVwxGZ8wC7pVWTWzgAcjaIhsiOwo6qgrCXZfatBhJLD02SoOXFq8ZIzc4HHXC8-hrdR7Y61OifbQ6Q8XA4DvyKKBb5iWo/s400/9823+a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
You might think that this change of markings would indicate that our government was rethinking delivery of these state of the art F-16s (plus 18 others) to an Egyptian government that is not exactly a friend. No ... quite the contrary. Combat aircraft that are delivered from US manufacturers to foreign governments have US markings applied just before their delivery flights, to avoid political issues arising from the countries that the aircraft stop in for refueling/rest. In addition, these two were carrying a full load of external tanks, indicating they were running fuel feed checks - again, something done just before delivery. I would guess that these two will be on their way to Cairo within a few days. Absolute lunacy ...<br />
<br />
These 20 aircraft would make a great addition to our Air Force ... or the Air National Guard. This is a full squadron's worth of the latest F-16s - superior to any currently flying in US service. Failing that, they could be diverted to a country that is actually an ally of ours - Israel ... Singapore ... South Korea ... Japan ... Since the American tax payers funded every dollar spent on them, we should be able to do with them what we want. Instead, the Obama Administration will go ahead and deliver all of them to the Muslim Brotherhood - where they will expand the spear that is pointed across Sinai at our true ally. Stupid ...<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Update - Four of these F-16s departed NAS Ft. Worth on their delivery flights to Cairo before dawn on Jan. 22.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: cyan;">Update II - Internet reports state that the four ship delivery included these two F-16Ds, along with F-16C 9753 and F-16D 9824.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-88517682148401483242012-12-06T16:01:00.001-06:002012-12-06T16:01:33.954-06:00Missing Persons ReportMaverick and Goose are missing!<br />
<br />
The Navy is rapidly moving forward in its testing of the Boeing X-47B stealth fighter/attack demonstrator aircraft. This next generation machine is destined to operate from our carriers in the future, alongside the current F-18s and (maybe) future F-35s.<br />
<br />
Catapult tests have recently started at NAS Pax River. Landing tests have been underway for some time. One example of the jet was just placed aboard the USS Harry Truman for deck handling tests. I have not seen a schedule for actual launch and recovery tests on the carrier yet.<br />
<br />
OK ... its a new airplane. So what, you might ask.<br />
<br />
There's nobody in it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZ6EzoxWeo6EPohvupozoFuw-NLBVTdzZL0iIGue-blZgpTi3Hp-LIE5g0XuV4zyiIr-pZ_ELtGmLlyLA0EOvjldrnwt8kD5-WQY0vl_Sx-s4Sd3s8Y2c2yH95gFx2zr35LyJMgYWav0/s1600/X-47B+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZ6EzoxWeo6EPohvupozoFuw-NLBVTdzZL0iIGue-blZgpTi3Hp-LIE5g0XuV4zyiIr-pZ_ELtGmLlyLA0EOvjldrnwt8kD5-WQY0vl_Sx-s4Sd3s8Y2c2yH95gFx2zr35LyJMgYWav0/s400/X-47B+b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEH2bw04XsQwRLip6ykZWiLfj8ISKuTNPMEM78OeBQJ8FTA8p9Gnoc4FgOVvh4Ip-B1iJlDR54KwRdvMPap09q05eDKlgmZFhXLKiAtLyHfaTBjf7TxfXCmvQ-0hQ_SDgogL3fWj1ZaGE/s1600/X-47+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEH2bw04XsQwRLip6ykZWiLfj8ISKuTNPMEM78OeBQJ8FTA8p9Gnoc4FgOVvh4Ip-B1iJlDR54KwRdvMPap09q05eDKlgmZFhXLKiAtLyHfaTBjf7TxfXCmvQ-0hQ_SDgogL3fWj1ZaGE/s400/X-47+a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It's a UCAS ... Unmanned Combat Air System ... drone ...<br />
<br />
Yes, the United States Navy is planning on operating unmanned jet attack aircraft from our carriers. This is not a surveillance aircraft that is supposed to putt-putt around in circles way up high using its cameras to spy on bad guys. This thing is intended to carry weapons and attack the bad guys, much the same way our manned fighters do.<br />
<br />
You know, drones have come a long way. The technology needed to operate one of these from the deck of a ship is way beyond that needed for land base operations. If I'm a Deck Boss, Air Boss, Captain, or anyone stationed anywhere near the flight deck of a carrier that has these things on it, I'm going to be more concerned with keeping myself alive than doing my actual job.<br />
<br />
Accidents in carrier operations are more frequent than most folks know about. Lots of airplanes get damaged or destroyed, lots of folks get hurt, and a few die. That's normal for the beast. I just am concerned about how those accident rates my go way up in the days of mixed drone/manned aircraft operations. I wouldn't want to be on deck for that first cruise!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: x-small;">Photos credit US Navy.</span>67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-57270467772236316442012-11-16T08:57:00.000-06:002013-01-12T11:50:29.612-06:00How Many More?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEnGZJNYlapJw3cil4O2ZYrM74_VmdzgK-vy_JP1pfc5B49pt0xRI_wIMen22tQnCtR4VpuTOmlRqpDomrQjy0AJpT9DIcenB8WLWria-JZrRExKi2N1QUAqrEjQpBx4REmb4eoCDGYc/s1600/10-5011+nose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEnGZJNYlapJw3cil4O2ZYrM74_VmdzgK-vy_JP1pfc5B49pt0xRI_wIMen22tQnCtR4VpuTOmlRqpDomrQjy0AJpT9DIcenB8WLWria-JZrRExKi2N1QUAqrEjQpBx4REmb4eoCDGYc/s400/10-5011+nose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Will we see thousands, as planned, or only a handful more?<br />
<br />
Obama's win may very well spell the end of this aircraft. The sequestration budget cuts, scheduled to happen on Jan. 2 by law, IF Obama and Republicans in Congress can't figure out how to cut $1.2 trillion out of the budget before the end of the year, will hit the Pentagon hardest of all. Procurement funds are likely to dry up to nothing. The F-35 is a very high dollar program that is in the early stages of production, and so would make a choice, juicy target for Obama to slash. <br />
<br />
Even if the unthinkable happens and an agreement is reached to avert the sequestration cuts, the F-35 is still a prime target for Obama. Democrats have the Defense Department in their sights, and want to castrate our ability to defend ourselves. The huge amount of money that will need to be invested in procurement of this aircraft for service in the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps in numbers great enough to replace the F-16, legacy F-18, and Harrier aircraft that are reaching the end of their service lives make the program a prime target. At around $100 million apiece, Democrats are salivating at the money they can take from this program and spend elsewhere.<br />
<br />
Cancellation of the program would cause tens of thousands of defense workers to lose their jobs. In a twist of irony, many of those workers are unionized, and voted for Obama. It would hit Texas very hard, since large portions of the aircraft are built here, and it is assembled and tested here. Unfortunately for Texas, our clout in Washington is very small these days, so we don't have a lot of political capital to fight with.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6wwVHmCPePZsz-Hx9FAojsBPYxXiPR8tr02TpLVXOc-zE7zZQYQARCwRlunM6CKPBuNjhffVYNqCL-n38FVzY1I9PX_nrkN1KUVzVnxp_P9hyzITJz11d2z_oprGNzIvAw5m_oFkTis/s1600/10-5011+side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6wwVHmCPePZsz-Hx9FAojsBPYxXiPR8tr02TpLVXOc-zE7zZQYQARCwRlunM6CKPBuNjhffVYNqCL-n38FVzY1I9PX_nrkN1KUVzVnxp_P9hyzITJz11d2z_oprGNzIvAw5m_oFkTis/s400/10-5011+side.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">The photos are of F-35A 10-5011, on a test flight out of the Lockheed-Martin factory in Ft. Worth. It is destined for delivery to the 53WG, 422TES, for operational test and evaluation use ('OT' tail code). Photos by yours truly.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Update, Dec. 7 - Yesterday, the Canadian Government decided to cancel its partcipation in the F-35 program. The reason cited was that misleading cost figures were used when the Canadians originally decided to procure the aircraft for their Air Forces. The Canadians will now look at existing fighter aircraft to fill the requirement to replace their fleet of aging F-18A/B Hornets. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">This decision, along with the apparent cancellation from the Dutch government (also due to cost) will drive the per aircraft cost for the remaining countries up significantly. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">The F-35 just became an even bigger cancellation target for the Obama Administration.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3zUuMu9ypTvt191r4vzZNRmdxujWbDAh_xjrAvn8qWObep1Uzn6ypU7SyTP87W13DapLLeIIfPzpshKInxsQr6JyhqT6gEY0lIAkZ5eF6rnC-zBUYjR74bwhTM8pmrD2DgSqf8idsLs/s1600/CF-05+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3zUuMu9ypTvt191r4vzZNRmdxujWbDAh_xjrAvn8qWObep1Uzn6ypU7SyTP87W13DapLLeIIfPzpshKInxsQr6JyhqT6gEY0lIAkZ5eF6rnC-zBUYjR74bwhTM8pmrD2DgSqf8idsLs/s400/CF-05+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">This photo is of F-35C CF-05, the fifth Navy carrier based version of the Lightning II. I shot this as it was landing after its first flight, November 30, 2012, at the L-M factory at NAS Ft. Worth.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3rAVjj8eVUnbEe3HNHrN4c3qUvYvoiP7kdDIGKEP6AE9efI-ZxKUrJoPjupuxpx2WO-0ruCjrWObwxz4mthgU02JgcypmzDUSjtCcvPUDyEUDWgbigCIjI-3T9Z_-nGCjn3lF9Km4bA/s1600/168721+VK-03+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3rAVjj8eVUnbEe3HNHrN4c3qUvYvoiP7kdDIGKEP6AE9efI-ZxKUrJoPjupuxpx2WO-0ruCjrWObwxz4mthgU02JgcypmzDUSjtCcvPUDyEUDWgbigCIjI-3T9Z_-nGCjn3lF9Km4bA/s400/168721+VK-03+a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">F-35B 168721, VMFA-121, on a pre-delivery test flight at NAS Ft. Worth on 1/11/13. This aircraft will the the third delivered to the first operational Marine Lightning squadron, based at MCAS Yuma, AZ.</span></div>
67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-69611135651072259672012-11-08T10:52:00.001-06:002013-08-30T07:35:19.022-05:00Oh, this was fun!A couple of weekends ago, I was down in Galveston/Houston for the Wings over Houston airshow. During preparation, I got the opportunity to fly in Lone Star's P-51. The pilot was Cousin Gumby. The flight was some formation work with the museum's P-47, flown by Tuna, out over the beach in preparation for their performance in the USAF Heritage Flight. Way cool.<br />
<br />
(Actually, it was way hot! It is very warm with the sun beating down through that canopy, and this thing doesn't have an air conditioner!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_oLtcp2EUPLveeIWSxMfd9g5r1iLZ3MIte8XvKpFedwiah1x7bVPR-EMVVqNQdQUuL43DPD4_Z2gCfKhhRVlabvx8x6d6Rs0lcf38FPNprz_BLYeVZvg6dISuQlikjL6ayhyphenhyphencKZluws/s1600/WOH+2012_40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_oLtcp2EUPLveeIWSxMfd9g5r1iLZ3MIte8XvKpFedwiah1x7bVPR-EMVVqNQdQUuL43DPD4_Z2gCfKhhRVlabvx8x6d6Rs0lcf38FPNprz_BLYeVZvg6dISuQlikjL6ayhyphenhyphencKZluws/s400/WOH+2012_40.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6BNDqzkHSA5JlwWo70AW-zV_2Zpo4CyIkOKp1NqqfmKXo7LqFdhWCVcnm2xJARYyOtIPXR1R-tlxDVKULT4LmbNH7KL5DemKGmNDQLKdRsgFytc9VstOLASUr3vQUI4FYqANYHQ-rQA/s1600/P-47+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6BNDqzkHSA5JlwWo70AW-zV_2Zpo4CyIkOKp1NqqfmKXo7LqFdhWCVcnm2xJARYyOtIPXR1R-tlxDVKULT4LmbNH7KL5DemKGmNDQLKdRsgFytc9VstOLASUr3vQUI4FYqANYHQ-rQA/s400/P-47+c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
</div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBA0ZWMcUioYHxMmZWZCLpRkAViQMRkxsyHKp7eMS5-YfGSPVzMcuys8ehVaDxMO_pvorgx4IKrk1_WVYqlijc1cN-uBInfc7V1-9Eq-2CAsu78OReikG5V1fqTB-_jLeIXdRVxIouHnA/s1600/P-47+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBA0ZWMcUioYHxMmZWZCLpRkAViQMRkxsyHKp7eMS5-YfGSPVzMcuys8ehVaDxMO_pvorgx4IKrk1_WVYqlijc1cN-uBInfc7V1-9Eq-2CAsu78OReikG5V1fqTB-_jLeIXdRVxIouHnA/s400/P-47+a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTl3BjAmgf20-8vhc92JlYLz8e0pMRTss8BW1XBvv8O7aLxHkvSA7GeNvaYtAkAD5XWjK-avEcQqAWEG-A-u7AZwJUNG47f7OhfDUOldBFueV68GX7qv3rDHCn4OSox-CdpwsL4jzdzPA/s1600/WoH+P-47+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTl3BjAmgf20-8vhc92JlYLz8e0pMRTss8BW1XBvv8O7aLxHkvSA7GeNvaYtAkAD5XWjK-avEcQqAWEG-A-u7AZwJUNG47f7OhfDUOldBFueV68GX7qv3rDHCn4OSox-CdpwsL4jzdzPA/s400/WoH+P-47+b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJh_kBbtmqs-HvuMUZ3wsLMgw-_Wph7uYmi55fT1g3QqqheRZNMWFFRckcp236YBr-q_e7-egp5Caj9JnJeUul1q4OsIDFqX0s6BRqV_19qPbuAb6zZsg0c7ZUJ9yQy3n1G5qaV7XK-WU/s1600/WoH+HF+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJh_kBbtmqs-HvuMUZ3wsLMgw-_Wph7uYmi55fT1g3QqqheRZNMWFFRckcp236YBr-q_e7-egp5Caj9JnJeUul1q4OsIDFqX0s6BRqV_19qPbuAb6zZsg0c7ZUJ9yQy3n1G5qaV7XK-WU/s400/WoH+HF+b.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Heritage Flight during the show, with Gumby in the P-51, Tuna driving the P-47, Ichi in the QF-4E, and Shadow sticking the F-22A. Beautiful job, guys!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: x-small;">All photos by yours truly, except the top one, graciously provided by Outlaw13.</span></div>
67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-43230049289607554332012-10-21T10:55:00.001-05:002012-10-21T10:57:03.789-05:00Sabre RattlingA few shots of a couple of restored F-86 Sabre Jets, seen at the recent Alliance Airshow. There were actually 3 of them in attendance, and all three flew together on the show days, but the weather was lousy. I took these during Friday's practice show. It was a rare treat to see these awesome pieces of history beating up the field!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6hhtLNMmBsgnSp7ZP62uRFgahuH1wTQYi0z5nbydxPnL-10kH8vBPbVk96ulbtMCcS1tG-Y7kwuzDLYDsIKliRDjUErEN_gO_m1Fp-d7xegqV27a4bmYVqbdrV903fDK_pV1PNVUFrQ/s1600/take+off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6hhtLNMmBsgnSp7ZP62uRFgahuH1wTQYi0z5nbydxPnL-10kH8vBPbVk96ulbtMCcS1tG-Y7kwuzDLYDsIKliRDjUErEN_gO_m1Fp-d7xegqV27a4bmYVqbdrV903fDK_pV1PNVUFrQ/s400/take+off.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcjc88gl6TitlHiiqJJh8sRXG5rHUaj36zWcxzDrQKVAH398N-Zpnj5wb6lD51ErvVMcCkktWyJk2nTzoiRoNjZMID7EnXnpecAzsE6SGshm3tDz-j2MXGYMVk7ICFlSqMe6OVbqQanQ/s1600/single+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcjc88gl6TitlHiiqJJh8sRXG5rHUaj36zWcxzDrQKVAH398N-Zpnj5wb6lD51ErvVMcCkktWyJk2nTzoiRoNjZMID7EnXnpecAzsE6SGshm3tDz-j2MXGYMVk7ICFlSqMe6OVbqQanQ/s400/single+a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRMFs1nxF33cDut0eMnHVIrwPisbYvxbhoWQr8MCR-lUK2GmQgquJaARcUOttwQHhUq40gcv8NsaB1vlnQVcCHD6m6jXHB5NGicH37dg6sEjZtqxf30QeCTEyfYskbiwPedyD7sXqWxE/s1600/single+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRMFs1nxF33cDut0eMnHVIrwPisbYvxbhoWQr8MCR-lUK2GmQgquJaARcUOttwQHhUq40gcv8NsaB1vlnQVcCHD6m6jXHB5NGicH37dg6sEjZtqxf30QeCTEyfYskbiwPedyD7sXqWxE/s400/single+b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCveRRD5lETAS71K6CZzRkwWnJrDc12q-cETG2ICA2ULMQHSUPyiV1VP5exspCHYQYXZlJuOecEnQFKcTm1rhgH3BjYN4uPD8thsLVr6FjZkF97lelc-pN1U_iYkha9xSH02vIcVWSYXg/s1600/2+ship+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCveRRD5lETAS71K6CZzRkwWnJrDc12q-cETG2ICA2ULMQHSUPyiV1VP5exspCHYQYXZlJuOecEnQFKcTm1rhgH3BjYN4uPD8thsLVr6FjZkF97lelc-pN1U_iYkha9xSH02vIcVWSYXg/s400/2+ship+a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqneS7HfrRYoJ9cl_2ODpOfCfhaGRVvqc3FXB8oDrUX4IPgirjFaFmGSNKogkuWZ1y0wXnkknndzUXOwmp3k_zkMiz-JtiRX5ArxNWTZSAeh-l1P646XzffyOK8Wk76stAkwmxKU5E_I/s1600/86+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqneS7HfrRYoJ9cl_2ODpOfCfhaGRVvqc3FXB8oDrUX4IPgirjFaFmGSNKogkuWZ1y0wXnkknndzUXOwmp3k_zkMiz-JtiRX5ArxNWTZSAeh-l1P646XzffyOK8Wk76stAkwmxKU5E_I/s400/86+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-49793917909762963612012-10-17T09:30:00.003-05:002012-10-17T14:40:32.917-05:00Spitfire Heaven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh509ezsyopyVyWkJ_C6guw9d0ppA4YgwV1IKqvD3AF0G98vLAMCHlrjWjDFBQd0RA0pF77HTBbjD1a2Q8B6KkBBUpUSsodB8LqomMtejYugEDBGaub_NY2nC1vqDi1h9rapACX9KBfdtc/s1600/Spit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh509ezsyopyVyWkJ_C6guw9d0ppA4YgwV1IKqvD3AF0G98vLAMCHlrjWjDFBQd0RA0pF77HTBbjD1a2Q8B6KkBBUpUSsodB8LqomMtejYugEDBGaub_NY2nC1vqDi1h9rapACX9KBfdtc/s400/Spit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The aircraft shown above is a British Spitfire, one of the premier World War II fighter aircraft. It was used in every major theater during that war, and for several years afterwards by many allied air forces.<br />
<br />
David Cundall spent 16 years pursuing a legend, that a number of these aircraft were delivered to Burma during the early days of the conflict for use by the British Far East Forces. As the Japanese approached, the Brits buried the aircraft, still in their shipping crates unassembled, to keep them out of the enemy's hands. After the Japanese were run out, the aircraft were deemed obsolete, and not worth retrieving - and they were forgotten except for a very few people who were aware of the initial burial. <br />
<br />
12 trips to Burma (or Myanmar, or whatever it calls itself now) and a couple of hundred thousands of dollars in expenses finally yielded success when Mr. Cundall located the site. Then the fun started.<br />
<br />
A Spitfire on the open market these days will fetch in excess of a million dollars. How much in excess relies on how good a condition the aircraft is in, and how rare the actual model is. Warbird operators/enthusiasts will spend well in excess of that figure taking pieces and parts and restoring one to flyable condition. That equates to a whole lot of money buried under Burmese soil ...<br />
<br />
Once Mr. Cundall located the aircraft and word of his discovery leaked out, a cat fight broke out, mainly between Cundall, the English Government, and the Burmese Government. Each claimed the aircraft. Mr. Cundall thought they were his by right of salvage. The English thought they belonged to their government, stating that even though they were abandoned and forgotten, they were still English property. The Burmese felt that since they were buried in Burma and forgotten, it was their land and anything left behind had become theirs (as had been the case with enormous amounts of war material left in place all over the world after the end of the war).<br />
<br />
Anyway, a battle ensued over about two years, with a lot of negotiation between all parties, the installation of a new more pro-Western government in Burma, and the British Prime Minister getting personally involved. An agreement was reached between Mr. Cameron and the new President of Burma, Mr. Sein, during a meeting between the two earlier this year. I don't have a lot of detail on the agreement, except the announcement that Mr. Cundall, his company, and their Burmese partners will be allowed to excavate the aircraft and take them back to England.<br />
<br />
Excavation is to begin in late October.<br />
<br />
This is a double edged sword for the Warbird movement. If you are looking to procure a Spitfire for your collection, chances just went way up that you will be able to get a zero time, essentially brand new one sometime in the next few years. If you currently have a Spitfire and are looking to get rid of it, the resale value on it just fell through the floor.<br />
<br />
As an aviation enthusiast, I am thrilled by this. The Spitfire is an awesome aircraft. It is probably second to the Mustang in WWII aircraft (non-trainer) in the number that are on display or flying today. To see a huge infusion of new ones into the warbird movement will ensure the Spitfire will grace the skies for many, many years to come. <br />
<br />
Now, if only someone can find a bunch of brand new buried Mustangs ... or Thunderbolts ... or Warhawks ... or Lightnings ...<br />
<br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: x-small;">Photo - Lone Star Flight Museum's Spiftire LXFVIe, registered as N97RW - shot by yours truly at its home field in Galveston.</span><br />
<br />67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-44790849884593716352012-08-13T14:35:00.004-05:002012-12-11T17:34:02.786-06:00Your Tax Dollars At Work<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEjcUhAEK4py_7uBeG8_PgmagN1zjTy6rd3Ar81GYumzl617PzNCLWDacmyEXriNeB_1QCfC2rqgRhqa1M1GSt4PF0BvwZ3qlKYJrnmzNoGt-XTr_NNgvj8iQ3O624Uub_sxoe-vj45M/s1600/9822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEjcUhAEK4py_7uBeG8_PgmagN1zjTy6rd3Ar81GYumzl617PzNCLWDacmyEXriNeB_1QCfC2rqgRhqa1M1GSt4PF0BvwZ3qlKYJrnmzNoGt-XTr_NNgvj8iQ3O624Uub_sxoe-vj45M/s400/9822.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I shot this rather nice view of an F-16D on a pre-delivery acceptance test flight at Lockheed-Martin, over in Ft. Worth, a couple of weeks ago. This aircraft, s/n 9822, is destined for the Egyptian Air Force, and is one of 20 new build F-16Cs and Ds that are currently being manufactured/delivered.<br />
<br />
Guess what? You're paying for them.<br />
<br />
You've probably heard about that 3 billion or so in annual military aid that the US is supplying Egypt? Well, these highly advanced aircraft are part of that aid package. Your tax dollars, not the Egyptian government, are paying for them.<br />
<br />
The contract for these aicraft was made in 2009, under the previous, pro-US, regime. When the unrest hit that country, our government and the Pentagon fought to keep the military aid package intact and on schedule, in order to keep the Egyptian Generals friendly to us. Well, guess what? The Generals' power has pretty much been neutered. We are delivering state of the art aircraft and other weapons systems to a nation whose government is now controlled by radicals of the Mulsim Brotherhood. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me ...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I think it would have been prudent to put a HOLD on deliveries of this type of equipment, to see how things ultimately shake out in Egypt. As it is, we probably are giving a shit pile of military goodies to folks who don't think very highly of us (or our ally Israel). One more VERY questionable decision by the Obama Administration ...<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Update, Dec. 11 - the mainstream media has finally gotten wind of this, and public outrage is building. Problem is that almost all of the 20 planes in the order have already been delivered!</span>67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-82825720694778297902012-07-09T10:00:00.003-05:002012-07-09T10:01:05.872-05:00A Flight of Heroes Comes HomeOn December 24, 1965, an AC-47D gunship took off from Da Nang for a daylight mission over southern Laos. 45-1120, assigned to the 4th ACS, 6250th CSG didn't have a specific target, it was searching for 'targets of opportunity'. A mayday was heard from the aircraft after it arrived over Laos, and then nothing more. The aircraft was lost, with no trace of it or the crew.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAdo5e3ech4yPpjxS0qR5yGunqMIVq_C7s2886zZzXeOMt2B1vRZAuctye_OPy-jTTtLzn1QuNnb7Ct-imAszneSvZqAQpIAvOVMwQotQ2yptNx39gp9JWI9lkn3jkIl8-cO-VH_0gck/s1600/ac474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAdo5e3ech4yPpjxS0qR5yGunqMIVq_C7s2886zZzXeOMt2B1vRZAuctye_OPy-jTTtLzn1QuNnb7Ct-imAszneSvZqAQpIAvOVMwQotQ2yptNx39gp9JWI9lkn3jkIl8-cO-VH_0gck/s320/ac474.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
In 2010, a USAF MIA search team located the wreckage, and recovered remains from the 6 crewmen on board. These heroes will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetary on July 9:</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Major Derell Jeffords</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
1Lt Dennis Eilers</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Major Joseph Christiano</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
MSgt Larry Thornton</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
TSgt William Colwell</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Ssgt Arden Hassenger</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
God speed, gentlemen ... Welcome Home</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2fNG78XWhhX5VXQhwmc8AWjhOt514ake-7cXJHDkrGeSMEZLN8x8wRoEiHiniN1v219z3AOu0W5xDkkqESVIXY-v6znMkAq1MHQc2SnEJV-cUoALHAMGXLGBMgMkSwRBoYR1xnOt1jE/s1600/ac-47-parked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2fNG78XWhhX5VXQhwmc8AWjhOt514ake-7cXJHDkrGeSMEZLN8x8wRoEiHiniN1v219z3AOu0W5xDkkqESVIXY-v6znMkAq1MHQc2SnEJV-cUoALHAMGXLGBMgMkSwRBoYR1xnOt1jE/s320/ac-47-parked.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
As a side note, this was the second 4ACS AC-47D lost in December of 1965. The unit had deployed to SVN on November 14, equipped with 20 'new' AC-47s. These were gunship conversions of the venerable Gooney Bird, sporting 3 7.62mm mini-guns firing through windows on the left side of the aircraft. 43-49492 was shot down on December 17, while on a cargo run between Tan San Nhut and Phan Rang. All aboard were lost:</div>
<br />
Major Robert Abbot<br />
Major Robert Abernathy<br />
1Lt Francis Buckley<br />
MSgt Joseph Cestaric<br />
TSgt John Chappell<br />
TSgt Thomas Sloan<br />
SSgt Ralph Hinson<br />
A1C Claude Matthews<br />
A1C Johnson Meade<br />
<br />
The AC-47s were known as Dragon Ships, Puff the Magic Dragon, or simply by the 4th ACS squadron call sign : 'Spooky'.67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-20468994108266429252012-06-21T09:35:00.000-05:002012-06-21T09:35:50.381-05:00A Hero Comes Home<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8znYcC58z7-3mKbl9vgNN-LAA5XkPp_3DuY9V2yCCyLjlKqCTGFcT8rR7gX7RW9OpgLuV_fxB7we9Cg2bO1FMkHBRk9QlrIjGqUN16L6AXG8AUT4-nzjavSLcQI_jKKi6pwJAZrSyOxg/s1600/Capt.+Campbell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8znYcC58z7-3mKbl9vgNN-LAA5XkPp_3DuY9V2yCCyLjlKqCTGFcT8rR7gX7RW9OpgLuV_fxB7we9Cg2bO1FMkHBRk9QlrIjGqUN16L6AXG8AUT4-nzjavSLcQI_jKKi6pwJAZrSyOxg/s320/Capt.+Campbell.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<br />
Capt. Clyde William Campbell will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetary on June 21.<br />
<br />
Campbell was shot down on March 1, 1969, while flying A-1J 52-142023, assigned to the 602nd Special Operations Squadron, 56th Special Operations Wing. He was based at Nakhon Phanom AB, Thailand. He was on an armed recon mission near Na Khang, in central Laos. He was attacking enemy forces in support of a US radar installation at the time. His aircraft was seen to crash, and he did not get out of it.<br />
<br />
Campbell was born in Longview, TX, and graduated from Texas A&M in 1967. <br />
<br />
His remains were found by a USAF search team in in 1997, and recovered by another team in 2009.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9Najp_QnIHpE4hBRofbF279dscWiJKHVWrz34FOoEj6X5xkwtY-RpK_WCZe14QEnfFMmW-BTaKlOtr7Z116Xw0-QwFoFqUdiWA5RKpKbFrrIhhimaXGf9xHfa0O7P0mUA2_lrwOYsiA/s1600/campbell+skyraider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9Najp_QnIHpE4hBRofbF279dscWiJKHVWrz34FOoEj6X5xkwtY-RpK_WCZe14QEnfFMmW-BTaKlOtr7Z116Xw0-QwFoFqUdiWA5RKpKbFrrIhhimaXGf9xHfa0O7P0mUA2_lrwOYsiA/s320/campbell+skyraider.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Welcome Home, Capt. Campbell ...</div>67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-218829046652592552012-06-06T10:48:00.003-05:002012-06-06T10:49:14.971-05:00Navy Colors X - CONA and MoreA few more colored up birds, some of them from the Centennial of Naval Aviation, others just plain good looking aircraft ...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46sBdZ_8TBo0EHPpUWPGoJsnFNwG7UlWqyuYVXp7q3j0XnsXcGZotZSu1vMctCl6L8d4BBgmJwAOrsAawXR7T5kgjv-E8RlEbK5lVYHUfCmf7tJiT32IU1VTkXWmYNO_n2-kX6KNF7M4/s1600/167099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46sBdZ_8TBo0EHPpUWPGoJsnFNwG7UlWqyuYVXp7q3j0XnsXcGZotZSu1vMctCl6L8d4BBgmJwAOrsAawXR7T5kgjv-E8RlEbK5lVYHUfCmf7tJiT32IU1VTkXWmYNO_n2-kX6KNF7M4/s400/167099.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
VT-21 Redhawks' CAG T-45C 167099. Specially painted for CONA. Seen at the Dyess AFB open house in April.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_43oX16VRDkzfFX3S5TJJquhnB0lgd26K6nMMeiuzwCCpfnx7jkk6OJJcMPvJMusu57V_hD4se0GgZe2mYDQPo0Ip27nwSIL_V1yfyzMsXGlsFZTZ4TMxMN42UmjOPq5AjawYANMmsc/s1600/T-45C+167100+VT-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_43oX16VRDkzfFX3S5TJJquhnB0lgd26K6nMMeiuzwCCpfnx7jkk6OJJcMPvJMusu57V_hD4se0GgZe2mYDQPo0Ip27nwSIL_V1yfyzMsXGlsFZTZ4TMxMN42UmjOPq5AjawYANMmsc/s400/T-45C+167100+VT-22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
VT-22's CAG T-45C 167100, seen taxiing at Luke AFB. This scheme was applied for CONA.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3qysY6DSl8VbcgHBbnp2Y92oRewI5Ftvg5E1nj-CSA4wYvLReZIXBqNeJiiahm3-G_-SP6PBlL5coU-whf7GAU3OsgxtMuoK0akt2PiEokE5-Q2GDTkrWhanoTP0_veP7liCaK4qFUo/s1600/158206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3qysY6DSl8VbcgHBbnp2Y92oRewI5Ftvg5E1nj-CSA4wYvLReZIXBqNeJiiahm3-G_-SP6PBlL5coU-whf7GAU3OsgxtMuoK0akt2PiEokE5-Q2GDTkrWhanoTP0_veP7liCaK4qFUo/s400/158206.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
P-3C 158206, representing PATWING 10, stationed at NAS Whidbey Island. This CONA scheme represents the one carried by Navy Patrol Planes in the early Vietnam era.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jOCzCWaQ7_zyV6FLBv312kshMdNcA3cAUQ17EMxW-P4cf631Qd24fUynqYwGPQC9ocx_dZ2Mt30S_YxO2hsfeNJ4qxSZjCbdUzkNNQA8UqTrv8oukEljCSWWalC0_229H1cg5N5ibZc/s1600/VAQ-141+Washington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jOCzCWaQ7_zyV6FLBv312kshMdNcA3cAUQ17EMxW-P4cf631Qd24fUynqYwGPQC9ocx_dZ2Mt30S_YxO2hsfeNJ4qxSZjCbdUzkNNQA8UqTrv8oukEljCSWWalC0_229H1cg5N5ibZc/s400/VAQ-141+Washington.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
VAQ-141's CAG Growler, trapping aboard the USS George Washington.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-Xo7zqN_vcdwQzoYfPOS0ppqcSOqNrrEsSfuE3EiW3Mz260dX_UEbzGEGCLhZXCexatTHXD4ZuLcIUaov0otkFw7r_VjhKtFnhy6UGONViaZ__XBBPzDqpJ2o3X_9ZWphYwaCIL9F0w/s1600/VAW-125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-Xo7zqN_vcdwQzoYfPOS0ppqcSOqNrrEsSfuE3EiW3Mz260dX_UEbzGEGCLhZXCexatTHXD4ZuLcIUaov0otkFw7r_VjhKtFnhy6UGONViaZ__XBBPzDqpJ2o3X_9ZWphYwaCIL9F0w/s400/VAW-125.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This wildly painted E-2C Hawkeye belongs to VAW-125.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbbBQMP8-SJj_5DlOMhpZI9wv4I9rrnWsgeuRhWjICGOPcHPkxTzVaYVG3zvkOPA5q3yGmDjotw5bss-6sxyMMfsx7gXg9efOl487n0qvvtAhwGl1vMRZkTCRccPE-031RLELx6AdmLo/s1600/VFA-2+CAG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbbBQMP8-SJj_5DlOMhpZI9wv4I9rrnWsgeuRhWjICGOPcHPkxTzVaYVG3zvkOPA5q3yGmDjotw5bss-6sxyMMfsx7gXg9efOl487n0qvvtAhwGl1vMRZkTCRccPE-031RLELx6AdmLo/s400/VFA-2+CAG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
VFA-2's CAG Super Hornet launching from a waist catapult.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: x-small;">All photos credit US Navy, except for 167099, which was taken by yours truly.</span></div>67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922585110400012198.post-39709013695447839802012-05-16T15:01:00.001-05:002012-05-16T15:01:13.326-05:00The USS Flag Burner - Coming To A Navy Near YouRay Mabus, Obama's Navy Secretary, has taken it upon himself to use his time in office to leave a mark on the Navy forever - kind of like a permanent underwear skid mark.<br />
<br />
First, Mabus directed the naming of the San Antonio class amphibious support ship LPD-26 the 'USS John Murtha', after the corrupt Democratic Congressman, the same one that called our Marines in Iraq 'murderers'.<br />
<br />
Second, Mabus had a Lews and Clark class dry cargo ship named the USS Cesar Chavez, after the migrant rights leader - the same leader who called his time in the military the worst period of his life. The USS Chavez was christened on Cinco de Mayo this year in San Diego.<br />
<br />
Third, Mabus directed that a new Littoral Combat Ship, LCS-10, will be named the USS Gabrielle Giffords, after the Congressperson who was tragically shot and has retired from Congress. I have nothing against Ms. Giffords, but she has nothing to do with the military whatsoever (except for the man she is married to), and her claim to being a 'heroic figure' was that she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.<br />
<br />
Now, out of San Francisco comes an effort to name a new ship after Harvey Milk, the gay rights rabble rouser who was gunned down in San Francisco in 1978. Milk had been a Navy diver during the '50s, receiving an honorable discharge after an undistinguished service period. Milk's fervent anti-war and anti-military stance during Vietnam made it clear to everyone what his feelings towards the military were.<br />
<br />
It is amazing to me the arrogance of Obama and his minions. With these namings, they are making a mockery of the military. With all the historic ships names that are currently not used, and heroic combat veterans who deserve recognition, why are these controversial military 'haters' being honored? We don't have a USS Lexington, a Yorktown, a Saratoga afloat. The Enterprise is about to be retired and cut up, yet there are no plans to move the name to another ship.<br />
<br />
Just another reason to get Obama and these jerks out of power.67Cougarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07511932800961601646noreply@blogger.com0