Thursday, March 26, 2009

F-22 Down At Edwards


Via AF news
An Air Force F-22A crash March 25 near here claimed the life of an Air Force veteran and Lockheed Martin test pilot.

David Cooley, 49, of Palmdale, Calif., died when the F-22A he was piloting crashed northeast of the base here. Mr. Cooley worked as a test pilot with Lockheed Martin, and was employed at the 411th Flight Test Squadron, 412th Test Wing, on Edwards

Monday, March 23, 2009

Hamas Terror Leader Praises Obama

Total outrage again today from the Middle East, you though giving the Palestinians almost 1 billion was bad check out what a Senior Hamas leader had to say about Obama. This is as bad as The U.N urging us to talk with the Taliban who have already shown their opposition to this. The meltdown in the White House will occur when a a 3AM phone call comes.

Via Breitbart
The exiled leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Sunday hailed the "new lexicon" being used by US President Barack Obama towards foreign policy issues the Middle East.

"The challenge for everyone is that (Obama's new language) is a prelude to a sincere change (of direction) in US and European foreign policy," Khaled Meshaal said in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

A senior US envoy said in Damascus earlier this month that Syria can be an important and constructive force in the Middle East, as Washington pursues a new policy of engaging with all countries in the region, even long-time foes.

And the Syria-based leader predicted that an "official" opening of US and European Union channels for dialogue with Hamas, listed as a terrorist organisation by the EU since 2003, is now "only a matter of time".

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Air Force Hero MSgt Timothy A. Wilkinson


This is the second installment of Air Force hero’s on the blog. The modern Airman has a distinct lack of history knowledge, I was always amazed by the majority of the people I served with over the years who have no idea who Richard Bong or Joe McConnell was and who could have cared less, the history taught is just not very good. Because of my Marine Corps background I’m convinced that more than just a basic knowledge of your branch history is needed. You need to know where you have been and where you have come from to be able to take pride in yourself and your unit and go forward to make your own bit of history.

This bring us to today's installment, Msgt Timothy Wilkinson who served as a Pararescuemen. As a member of this elite Special Operations career field his extensive training allowed him to operate in the most arduous situations while maintaining his focus on his primary mission. Msgt Wilkinson was awarded the Air Force Cross for his heroic actions that occurred in Somalia during the Blackhawk Down incident.

Information via the Air University
As a 24TH Special Tactics Squadron Pararescueman in the vicinity of the Olympic Hotel, Mogadishu, Somalia, from 3 October1993 to 4 October 1993, in response to an incident in which a United States helicopter had been shot down by a rocket propelled grenade, Sergeant Wilkinson conducted a fast rope insertion into the crash site and came under extremely heavy enemy fire from three directions. In the initial rescue effort, he repeatedly exposed himself to intense small arms fire and grenades to clear debris, provide emergency medical treatment to the survivors, and extract dead and wounded members of the crew from the wreckage. On his own initiative, Sergeant Wilkinson broke cover on three separate occasions to locate and provide emergency medical treatment to three ranger casualties. In doing so, he ignored all concern for his personal safety to cross a 45 meter-wide open area blanketed with intense fire from small arms, and rocket propelled grenades. Sergeant Wilkinson's medical skills and uncommon valor saved the lives of multiple gravely wounded American soldiers in the longest sustained fire fight involving United States Combat Forces in over 20 years.

In addition to the above I understand that MSgt Wilkinson was himself wounded during the battle and actually started an I.V. on himself after the Rangers were evacuated.

Pic Of The Day


First good shot I've seen of the F-15K Slam Eagle of the ROKAF.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Angela Ruiz)

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

F-16 Shoots Down Iranian UAV


After A few weeks of rumor control it has been confirmed that a USAF F-16 has shot down an Iranian UAV. I wonder what kind of reaction this has or will create in the White House:
“A USAF F-16 downed an Iranian drone for 70 minutes after it entered Iraqi airspace Feb. 25 before shooting it down 60 miles northeast of Baghdad, said 1st Lt. John A. Brimley, a spokesman at Multi-National Forces-Iraq, in a statement.

Monday, March 16, 2009

F-15E Ground Afterburner Run

Nice video but it does not do justice to the body shaking noise when the PW-220 lights off.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Russian Bombers To Base In Venezuela and Cuba?



Via Breitbart.com, click title for full article

Russia could use bases for its strategic bombers on the doorstep of the United States in Cuba and Venezuela to underpin long-distance patrols in the region, a senior air force officer said Saturday.
"This is possible in Cuba," General Anatoly Zhikharev, chief of the Russian air force's strategic aviation staff, told the Interfax-AVN military news agency.
The comments were the latest signal that Moscow intends to project its military capability in far-flung corners of the globe despite a tight defense budget and hardware that experts consider in many respects outdated.
I wonder when we will see ANG interceptors alongside Bears or Blackjacks?

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Have You Forgotton?






After todays anounment that the Obama administration will not use the term Enemy Combatant anymore, I think the tools in D.C. have forgotton.

Friday, March 13, 2009

CMSAF Paul Airey, RIP


Former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Paul Wesley Airey died March 11 in Panama City, Fla. Chief Airey held the top enlisted post from April 3, 1967 to July 31, 1969. When I was stationed at Tyndall in the early 80s it was not unusual to see the Chief at various base functions, at the commissary and other locations. He always had time for his Airmen. He was a good man and will be missed by the many people who knew him.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

San Fran nan and the G5


SanFran Nan continues to amaze, this comes after her and other Congress critters chomping on the Auto Exec for using their company aircraft to fly to D.C. The total hypocrisy of these people is limitless. Click the title for the full Fox news article

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has repeatedly requested military aircraft to shuttle her and her colleagues and family around the country, according to a new report from a conservative watchdog group.
Representatives for Judicial Watch, which obtained e-mails and other documents from a Freedom of Information request, said the correspondence shows Pelosi has abused the system in place to accommodate congressional leaders and treated the Air Force as her "personal airline."
...In one e-mail, aide Kay King complained to the military that they had not made available any aircraft the House speaker wanted for Memorial Day recess.
"It is my understanding there are NO G5s available for the House during the Memorial Day recess. This is totally unacceptable ... The Speaker will want to know where the planes are," King wrote.

US Intel Chief Says Diplomacy Will Not Halt Iran


Talk about your no brainer US Intelligence Chief Dennis Blair in testimony before the Senate said
Via the Jerusalem Post
“It would be difficult to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and hard to tell which combination of carrots and sticks might convince Iran's leaders to abandon that goal”, the US Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair, told the Senate Tuesday.

Thank God the IAF will act when needed to take away the threat a nuclear-armed Iran
The only problem I see is the lack of testicular fortitude within the Obama administration, because when it the Israelis go and they will it will take the concentrated efforts of the US Navy and Air Force to keep the Straights of Hormuz open.

Click the title for the full article

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Understatement Of The Day

Via AFLINK

Near Malek Din, a Strike Eagle providing aerial overwatch to a coalition convoy used a GBU-12 to take out an enemy motorcycle after its rider was spotted detonating an improvised explosive device. The IED had exploded as a coalition convoy was passing, but the armor of the vehicle it hit absorbed the blast. The IED bomber attempted to escape the area on his motorcycle, but was unable to outpace the twin-engine, supersonic fighter. The F-15E also flew a show of force in the area to deter any potential enemy attack following the IED explosion.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Pic Of The Day


An F-15 Strike Eeagle from the 48th low leveling in Scotland

Friday, March 6, 2009

Blast From the Past



One thing I noticed during my Air Force career was the total lack of history knowledge of the Air Force and Army Air Corps that the average Airman possessed. This is the exact opposite of what I was exposed to on the Marine Corps as every Marine learns the history of the Corps from the start of Recruit Training. Mention Tun Tavern or Chesty Puller and every Marine will know exactly what you are talking about. Mention Leo Thorsness to a group of Airman and I guarantee you will meet a blank stare. To try and remedy this I will start adding more blasts from the pasts to include heroic Airmen and operations. Of course I must be true to my military origins and will do additional stories of Marines.

Leo K. Thorsness, Colonel, USAF

Col Leo Thorsness enlisted in the USAF in 1953 and earned his wings and commission through the Air Cadet program. Col Thorsness was a fighter pilot who flew the F-84, F-100 and transitioned to the F-105 Thunderchief. In 1966 he was trained as a Wild Weasel and assigned to the355 Fighter Wing at Takhli Thailand. Col Thorsness earned the Medal of Honor during one of his Weasel missions. Here is the citation from his medal that was earned on April 19 1967 during a mission downtown to Hanoi

The President of the United States in the name of the Congress takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor to

LIEUTENANT COLONEL LEO K. THORSNESS
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. As pilot of an F-105 aircraft, Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness was on a surface-to-air missile suppression mission over North Vietnam. Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness and his wingman attacked and silenced a surface-to-air missile site with air-to-ground missiles and then destroyed a second surface-to-air missile site with bombs. In the attack on the second missile site, Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness’ wingman was shot down by intensive antiaircraft fire, and the two crewmembers abandoned their aircraft. Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness circled the descending parachutes to keep the crewmembers in sight and relay their position to the Search and Rescue Center. During this maneuver, a MIG-17 was sighted in the area. Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness immediately initiated an attack and destroyed the MIG. Because his aircraft was low on fuel, he was forced to depart the area in search of a tanker. Upon being advised that two helicopters were orbiting over the downed crew’s position and that there were hostile MIGs in the area posing a serious threat to the helicopters, Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness, despite his low fuel condition, decided to return alone through a hostile environment of surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft defenses to the downed crew’s position. As he approached the area, he spotted four MIG-17 aircraft and immediately initiated an attack on the MIGs, damaging one and driving the others away from the rescue scene. When it became apparent that an aircraft in the area was critically low on fuel and the crew would have to abandon the aircraft unless they could reach a tanker, Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness, although critically short on fuel himself, helped to avert further possible loss of life and a friendly aircraft by recovering at a forward operating base, thus allowing the aircraft in emergency fuel condition to refuel safely. Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness’ extraordinary heroism, self-sacrifice and personal bravery involving conspicuous risk of life were in the highest traditions of the military service, and have reflected great credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force.


Col Thorsness did not actually get his medal had to wait until he was repatriated in March of 1973. 11 days after his historic mission he was shot down by a Mig 21 and was captured spending six years in captivity as a POW. Col Thorsness retired from active duty in October 1973

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Global Warming Protest In D.C,

There was a protest in D.C. today about global warming or is it climate change now? I had to laugh, 6 inches of snow and mid 20’s temperatures paralyzed the city, In fact San Fran Nan could not attend. All this going on while some scientists are now saying that there is not enough Co2 in the atmosphere. I have said for year follow the money on the environmental whack jobs.
Now I like clean air and clean water but there must be a balance. If you are against coal like Obama and these groups then why was their no money too build and insure new technology nuclear reactors? It is because these same no growth no technology save the planet people get their cash from the same front group that Soro’s and his ilk fund. The same people that want to kill off capitalism for some kind of socialist commune are the ones that help propel Obama to the Presidency.