Last F-4F Deployment?

Six F-4F Phantoms of the Luftwaffe's Jagdgeschwader 71,the Red Baron squadron based in Wittmund,Germany will return to Siauliai, Lithuania, on Jan. 5 as part of NATO's Baltic air policing mission. It will be probably be the last deployment for the Phantom as the Luftwaffe continues to concert to the Eurofighter Typhoon.

B-52 In Action

B-52 Stratofortress - The best home videos are here

One of my favorite B-52 videos, complete with a little iron rain. At the end you can almost hear the crew say "now it's Miller time".

Chinook Extraction

More insane skills shown by Army pilots extracting a SEAL team. We need to pull out of A-Stan tomorrow and play whack a mole with the drones and Special Operations forces. Check out thr prisoner at 1:28 :)

Apache VS Al-Qaeda

Once again I'm very impressed by the skill of the USA Apache crews.

RAAF Retires F-111

After 37 years of service the last of the Australian Air Force F-111 fleet was retired Dec 3. The F-111 which in my opinion was retired way to early (EF-111 Raven) by the USAF, was an all weather supersonic attack aircraft that was still the fastest thing around on the deck.

A Day That Will Live In Infamy

Today is the sixty ninth anniversary of the sneak attach at Pearl Harbor Hawaii

God Bless our Armed Forces around the world.

Happy Birthday USMC

Today November 10th is the 235th birthday for the United States Marine Corps. During the American Revolution, a committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines that would be able to fight for independence at sea as well as on shore. The rest is history, and with the approval of the resolution on November 10, 1775, the Continental Marines were officially formed.
To all Marines past, present and future, hoist a pint in celebration.

Semper FI

Quote Of The Day

You voted for Obama to prove you’re not a racist. Now, who are you going to vote for to prove you’re not an idiot?”

most recently seen at Michelle Malkin

USS Cole, 10 Years Ago Today

The USS Cole was bombed ten years ago today. RIP to the crew
Chief Petty Officer Richard Costelow, Morrisville, Pennsylvania.
Signalman Seaman Recruit Cheron Luis Gunn, Rex, Georgia.
Seaman James Rodrick McDaniels, Norfolk, Virginia.
Seaman Recruit Lakiba Nicole Palmer, San Diego, California.
Operations Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Lamont Saunders, Ringgold, Virginia.
Ensign Andrew Triplett, Macon, Mississippi.
Seaman Apprentice Craig Bryan Wibberley, Williamsport, Maryland.
Hull Maintenance Technician 3rd Class, Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter, Mechanicsville, Virginia.
Mess Management Specialist Seaman Lakeina Monique Francis, Woodleaf, North Carolina.
Information Systems Technician Seaman Timothy Lee Gauna, Rice, Texas
Engineman 2nd Class Mark Ian Nieto, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Electronics Warfare Technician 3rd Class Ronald Scott Owens, Vero Beach, Florida.
Engineman Fireman Joshua Langdon Parlett, Churchville, Maryland.
Fireman Apprentice Patrick Howard Roy, Cornwall on Hudson, New York.
Electronics Warfare Technician 2nd Class Kevin Shawn Rux, Portland, North Dakota.
Mess Management Specialist 3rd Class Ronchester Mananga Santiago, Kingsville, Texas
Fireman Gary Graham Swenchonis Jr., Rockport, Texas

November Is Coming

Pic Of The Day

He's going vertical and so am I!

The 343

Later today I will ride with my brothers in memorial to the 343 brothers who lost thier lives on 9/11

Never Forget

9/11

Courage

I think this says it all.

Cornfield Bomber

I can't remember who wrote this but it's a great story

In 1970, while assigned to the 71st FIS at Malstrom AFB, Montana , 58-0787 had it’s pilot eject during an inflight emergency. The pilot somehow got himself into a flat spin -- considered generally unrecoverable in an F-106 - and he ejectedit , i.e. eject.

After the pilot did just that, 58-0787 recovered itself from this 'unrecoverable' situation. In a vain attempt to break the spin, the pilot had lowered half flaps, rolled in takeoff trim, and throttled the engine back to an approach power setting.

After the ejection, the aircraft recovered from the spin on its own, and established a wings level low rate descent under reduced power to the ground. Ground effect broke its rate of descent, and it settled into a near-perfect gentle belly landing in a farmer's snow-covered cornfield.

When the local sheriff came upon the scene, the engine was still running. The aircraft was situated on a slight incline, and was creeping forward slowly under the thrust of its still-running engine, as the snow compressed to ice under it. Concerned about where it might be headed, the sheriff didn't think he could wait for the recovery team to get there from Malstrom which, was about 50 miles away; so he got himself connected to the aircraft's squadron for engine shut down instructions before he entered the cockpit to secure the engine.

A depot team from McClellan AFB recovered the aircraft and it was eventually returned to service. When the 71st FIS was disbanded in 1971, 58-0787, now famously known as the "Cornfield Bomber, was transferred to the 49th FIS, where it finished out its operational service life.

Pilots of the 49th FIS would occasionally run into ex-71st FIS guys at William Tell and rag them unmercifully about the "emergency" so dire that the plane landed itself.

58-0787 is now on permanent display in its 49th FIS markings at the USAF Museum at Wright Patterson AFB, where its story is told in the exhibit. While the the 49th FIS Eagle jocks are reportedly glad to see their squadron immortalized in this way for millions to see, they would prefer to see it made more clear that it was the 71st, and not one of theirs, who jumped out of this perfectly good aircraft.

Cops and donuts

I don;t know what it is with the boys in blue and donuts but these two pics are great.

Sad Obama milestone

I just can't help but think that the changes to the ROE has led to more U.S. deaths. Marines should not be calling for and denied artillery support like happened in July because we are so worried about civilian casualties. There will be civilian casualties, I agree with the notion that we should try and limit this but at the same time there is no way I can support a policy that fails to give all the support needed to a unit under fire. If this means arty or airstikes on a walled compound that the Marines are taking fire from, so be it.

Pic Of The Day

W at DFW

George W at DFW, can you imagine the current resident on Pennsylvania Ave doing this? I thought not.

W at Ground Zero

After The one fumbled the ball Friday and showed once again were his loyalties are. Here is the video of George W as he talked to the rescue workers digging through the rubble. I think we all know were George would stand on the Ground Zero Mosque

CF-18 Hornet Down

This was one lucky pilot with a great ejection system. This CF-18 was lost a few days ago while practicing for an airshow in Alberta. While making his high angle of attack pass the Hornet apparently lost an engine causing the excess yaw and forcing the pilot to eject. A board of inquiry from the Canadian Air Force will be investigating the crash to determine the cause.

Pic Of The Day

Nice shot of the welcome ceremony for the F-22 at Hickam AFB with the Hawaii ANG
Photo USAF

Apache's 2 Terrorists Zero

Via Weasel Zippers. It is amazing that one terrorist survived the Hellfire shot. Nice work with the 30MM

First Rig Leaves Gulf

As predicted many weeks ago when the one shut down oil drilling in the gulf, the first rig is leaving for Egypt. When these deep water rigs all go so will numerous high paying jobs in the Gulf. More of that hope and change for you.

WASHINGTON — Diamond Offshore announced Friday that its Ocean Endeavor drilling rig will leave the Gulf of Mexico and move to Egyptian waters immediately — making it the first to abandon the United States in the wake of the BP oil spill and a ban on deep-water drilling.

And the Ocean Endeavor's exodus probably won't be the last, according to oil industry officials and Gulf Coast leaders who warn that other companies eager to find work for the now-idled rigs are considering moving them outside the U.S.

Devon Energy Corp. had been leasing the Endeavor to drill in the same region of the Gulf as BP's leaking Macondo well, which has been gushing crude since a lethal blowout April 20.

But Diamond announced Friday it will lease the rig through June 30, 2011, to Cairo-based Burullus Gas Co., which plans to send the Endeavor to Egyptian waters immediately.

Devon is one of three companies that has cited the deep-water drilling ban in trying to ease out of contracts to lease Diamond rigs. Diamond, a drilling company, said it expects to make about $100 million from the deal, including a $31 million early termination fee it recovered from Devon.

Larry Dickerson, CEO of Houston-based Diamond, signaled that other of his company's rigs could be relocated, too.

"As a result of the uncertainties surrounding the offshore drilling moratorium, we are actively seeking international opportunities to keep our rigs fully employed," Dickerson said. "We greatly regret the loss of U.S. jobs that will result from this rig relocation."

It was unclear how many U.S. jobs could leave with the Ocean Endeavor, but typically more than 100 workers are on the rig at any given time, doing everything from drilling to cooking meals. Onshore, a network of businesses supplies the rigs with groceries, equipment, uniforms and drilling materials.

"It's not unusual for an energy service company to have 1,000 vendors that they buy from or purchase services from," noted Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands. As a result, Brady said, the economic damage from the moratorium stretches far and wide.

Fearing for investment
Brady and other oil-patch lawmakers have been pressing President Barack Obama to end the six-month moratorium he imposed on 33 deep-water projects May 27 after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig that was drilling a well for BP.

Obama said the ban was needed to allow time for new safety standards to be implemented and a commission to investigate the cause of the April 20 blowout at BP's Macondo well.

Although the administration on Thursday lost its second bid to keep the ban in place while it appeals a federal court's decision to strike down the moratorium, federal regulators plan to try again with a revised version soon.

Dan Pickering, a financial analyst with Tudor, Pickering Holt & Co. Securities, said the legal uncertainties surrounding the ban - and the administration's plan to issue a new, revised moratorium - ensure that no companies will resume deep-water drilling in U.S. waters anytime soon.

"Are you really going to spend $5 million … getting ready to drill a well that someone would then probably block you from drilling?" Pickering said.

Lawmakers complain
Pickering added that prospects are high that a dozen rigs ultimately could leave the Gulf of Mexico because of the ban.

Brady said the rig owners are searching for revenue - even if it means relocating to get it.

"There are two types of rigs in the deep-water Gulf today: those that are leaving the country and those that want to, because with this moratorium hanging over their heads, they simply can't go back to work," Brady said. "I'm afraid this is the first of many rigs and many American jobs to leave the Gulf."

Once the rigs relocate, it could be a minimum of five to 10 years before they return, predicted Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land.

"We cannot afford to lose these jobs or the energy they provide," Olson said. "President Obama should allow this moratorium to remain lifted and let Americans get back to work."

During trading Friday, Diamond Offshore stock fell 86 cents - or 1.32 percent - to close at $64.40. It has fallen 29 percent from its closing price of $91.20 on April 20, the day the Deepwater Horizon exploded.

jennifer.dlouhy@chron.com

Back in gear

Back for some regular posting I was getting a little burned out at work, but now I'm back and I'm highly motivated with the fool in the White House marching the USA off a cliff giving me renewed energy.

USMC warrior song

Semper Fi

Pic Of The Day

Somali pirates on the deck of the Russian tanker they captured being held by the Russian Special Forces unit that took the ship back. The Somali's are now complaining that these guys did not make it back to shore. To bad I bet no other Russian ship is messed with for awhile.

Last SEAL Innocent

In a trial that should have never happened Navy Seal Matthew McCabe became the third warrior found not guilty of assaulting a killer terrorist today.

Fron FOX
A Virginia military jury found a Navy SEAL not guilty Thursday on all charges he punched an Iraqi suspected in the 2004 killings of four U.S. contractors in Fallujah.

“I’m really happy right now,” Matthew McCabe, the Navy SEAL, told Fox News shortly after hearing the outcome of the court martial. “It’s an amazing feeling. I’m on cloud nine right now.”

McCabe, a special operations petty officer second class, called the proceedings “troubling at times,” adding “having your career on the line is not an easy thing to handle.

McCabe was the third and final Navy SEAL to be prosecuted in the case. He had faced charges of assault, making a false official statement and dereliction of performance of duty for willfully failing to safeguard a detainee. McCabe was accused of punching last year is Ahmed Hashim Abed, the suspected mastermind of the grisly killings six years ago.

After the court martial, the 24-year-old from Perrysburg, Ohio, thanked the public for its continued support.

Navy Seal Matthew McCabe thanked Americans for their support.

Poles in the Baltic

The latest rotation of NATO's Baltic air policing mission is being conducted by the four Polish air force MiG-29s, the Lithuanian defense ministry announced. The Polish AF has done this mission bfore but with Mig-21'a.

Pic Of The Day

F-16I from the IAF, Syrian, Iranian and Hezbollah commanders have nightmares about these guys.

SEALS Court Martial Starts

I cannot belive the Navy is going through this sham court martial. Since the terrorist was and is dirt bag scum it’s shame they took him captive alive. The message this trail sends is a bad one and I can almost guarantee in the future these captives will not be taken care off and brought in for interrogation. My hope is the Navy wises up and dismisses all charges since the prosecution main witness is the scumbag terrorist

From the UPI
Prosecutors have dropped lying charges against two Navy SEALs implicated in an Iraqi detainee abuse case.
Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Keefe still face courts-martial in Norfolk, Va., for allegedly not protecting a reputed terrorist after his capture in Fallujah, Iraq. Huertas also faces a second charge of impeding an investigation.
Charges that the men lied to an investigator were formally withdrawn Tuesday in response to earlier testimony that they were not read their rights.
The case against them and a third Navy SEAL stem from the 2004 detention of Ahmed Hashim Abed. Keefe’s trial is set for April 19, with the case against Huertas will follow. The third defendant, Petty Officer 2nd class Matthew McCabe, is to face a court-martial in May for allegedly hitting Abed in the stomach while Keefe and Huertas were in the room.

M60A1

I had a request to post a pic of the tanks I used to crew on while in the USMCR. Here is a decent pic of an M60A1 medium tank like I was a crewmember on. You know your getting old when the tanks you crewed on are either static displays or on the known distance ranges getting blown away.

SPECS
Weight- 60 tons
Length- 32'4"
Width- 13'6"
Height- 12'6"
Ground Clearance- 18in
Track Width- 28in
Forward speed- 30 mph
Reverse speed- 10 mph
Engine- 750 hp Continental AVDS-1790 V-12 diesel
Vertical- obstacle climb 49 in
Maximum width ditch- 108 in
Fording Depth- 48 in
Main Gun- 105mm/51cal M68 rifiled gun with 63 rounds
Coaxial machinegun- M240 - 7.62mm with 5,950 rounds
Commander's machinegun- M85 - .50 cal antiaircraft gun with 900 rounds

I've been slack

I've been slack over the last few months but I still have a lot to share so I'll be blocking a little time every day for some updates and pics.

A real first pitch

This is how a first pitch should be thrown, not the rainbow that the one threw, soon after he threw our Nuclear deterrent under the bus.

First USAF not Army Air Corps MOH Award

Major Benard Fisher the United States Air Force's first medal of honor recipient

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

MAJOR

BERNARD FRANCIS FISHER

AIR FORCE

For service as set forth in the following:

CITATION:

For The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Major Bernard Francis Fisher, United States Air Force, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Pilot with the 1st Air Commando Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing, in action near Bien Hoa and Pleiku, Republic of Vietnam. On 10 March 1966, the special forces camp at A Shau was under attack by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army regulars. Hostile troops had positioned themselves between the airstrip and the camp. Other hostile troops had surrounded the camp and were continuously raking it with automatic weapons fire from the surrounding hills. The tops of the 1,500-foot hills were obscured by an 800 foot ceiling, limiting aircraft maneuverability and forcing pilots to operate within range of hostile gun positions, which often were able to fire down on the attacking aircraft. During the battle, Major Fisher observed a fellow airman crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Major Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue. Although aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, he elected to continue. Directing his own air cover, he landed his aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway, which was littered with battle debris and parts of an exploded aircraft. While effecting a successful rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed, with 19 bullets striking his aircraft. In the face of the withering ground fire, he applied power and gained enough speed to lift-off at the overrun of the airstrip. Major Fisher’s profound concern for his fellow airman, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Case You Missed It

Earlier this week the USS Nicholas engaged and took down Somali prates on Thursday, sinking their boats and capturing pirates.
Hap Tip Black Five and Sniper for the poster

Apache 4 Terrorists Zero

ASSHAT of The Week Rep. John Boccieri (D) OH

Rep. John Boccieri (D)OH 16th district is this weeks ASSHAT of the week. He was quoted yesterday in saying
"“Having flown missions in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan, I know what it’s like to be in harm’s way. But I never imagined serving in Congress could feel the same. While Members of Congress, including myself, experience threats against our lives, our families, and our staff in the wake of the historic health care vote, I am calling on our leaders to be responsible with their remarks, especially those with a national microphone.

“We need to have a respectful conversation about contemporary issues, however once that discussion crosses into incendiary and dangerous remarks, it is time for Members of Congress to speak up.

“As passions run deep, violence will never solve our problems. I demand responsible leadership on both sides of the aisle because progress should not cower to the politics of fear.”

Personally knowing many Marines who have served as lost men in thier Conpanies in Iraq, his staement is absurd at any level. Of course this is the lefts mantra now, the same people who openly appluded the talks and films on the killing of President Bush now think that poeple who oppose the government takeover of our lives are dangerous and not patroti. Maybe the reprasenative should start looking for a real job since his yes vote on healthcare should have hom on the street this Novenmber.

ARM Leader Killed in South Africa

Afrikaner Resistance Movement Leader Eugene Terre’blanche was beaten and hacked too death at his farm adding to the total of white farmers killed in recent years throughout South Africa. While I may not agree totally with his politics to think that a opposing party leader is assassinated such a way in a supposed democracy should concern everyone in the stability on not only South Africa bout southern Africa as a whole
This is what happens when communists gain control and anarchy rules. South Africa is on its way to Zimbabwe status. This is to bad considering all of the scenic beauty and natural resources it has. Where is Executive Outcomes when you need it?

Venezuela K-8 Deliveries

The first six of eighteen K-8 training/light attack aircraft have been delivered to the Venezuelan Air Force. This is what you end up with when you have a communist thug in power. The VAF was at one time equipped with two squadrons of F-16’s none of which are airworthy because of the, U.S. embargo in place since 2006.

Bad Day at Fallon NAS

Two pilots based out of Lemoore are safe today after their jets collided above Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada.

The mid-air collision happened around 10:00 p.m. Monday night during what the Navy is calling a routine training mission.

Both pilots were flying F/A 18 E Super Hornet aircraft.

One pilots landed safely, with damage to his aircraft; the other was forced to eject and was found by rescue crews about an hour after the crash.

Both pilots are okay following the crash.

The pilots were based out of NAS Lemoore and are part of Strike Fighter Squadron 137.

The cause of the collision is under investigation.

No US flag flying in Hati

The latest BS from the Obama administration. As a vet this just blows my mind, this needs to be spread around.

Via Waeseal Zippers


The many nations helping Haiti recover from the devastating earthquake that struck there have set up their own military compounds and fly their flags at the entrances. France's tricolor, Britain's Union Jack and even Croatia's coat of arms flap in the breeze.


But the country whose contributions dwarf the rest of the world's — the United States — has no flag at its main installation near the Port-au-Prince airport.

The lack of the Stars and Stripes does not sit well with some veterans and servicemembers who say the U.S. government should be proud to fly the flag in Haiti, given the amount of money and manpower the U.S. is donating to help the country recover from the Jan. 12 quake.

The Obama administration says flying the flag could give Haiti the wrong idea.

"We are not here as an occupation force, but as an international partner committed to supporting the government of Haiti on the road to recovery," the U.S. government's Haiti Joint Information Center said in response to a query about the flag.

The absence of the American flag bothers Navy veteran Arthur Herriford, national president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

"It's very improper," Herriford said. "Our military people always engage and function under the American colors — always have and always will."

Brit Hertitage Flight

Nice shot of a Spitfire and a Typhoon making a Heritage flight pass.

CH-53K

With the ongoing dilemma in the USAF for a replacement helicopter for Special Operations, you have to ask yourself why don’t they just piggyback on the USMC/Sikorsky CH-53K program. According to a recent press release from Sikorsky y
“The CH-53K helicopter will maintain virtually the same footprint as the CH-53E aircraft, but will nearly triple the payload to 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under “hot high” ambient conditions. The CH-53K helicopter’s maximum gross weight (MGW) with internal loads is 74,000 pounds compared to 69,750 pounds for the CH-53E aircraft. The CH-53K’s MGW with external loads is 88,000 pounds as compared to 73,500 for the CH-53E helicopter.
Features of the CH-53K helicopter include: a joint interoperable glass cockpit; fly-by-wire flight controls; fourth generation rotor blades with anhedral tips; a low-maintenance elastomeric rotor head; upgraded engines; a locking cargo rail system; external cargo handling improvements; survivability enhancements; and reduced operation and support costs.
The CH-53K helicopter team has successfully completed several risk reduction initiatives on two critical technologies, the split torque main gear box and the advanced main rotor blade, and is preparing for Technology Readiness Assessment in early 2010. The program conducted a successful Preliminary Design Review in September 2008, and is tracking toward a Critical Design Review in 2010 with an Initial Operational Capability milestone scheduled in early 2016.”With these advancements in the primary systems how hard would it be for Sikorsky and the USAF to install upgraded PAVE LOW avionics in the bird and presto you have a new long range SAR and Special Operations helicopter Sort of a Super PAVE LOW, without all the drawbacks that were pointed out with the MC-47. But since a but of USAF airframes could reduce everyone’s costs and Sikorsky know how to integrate the avionics to make a new PAVE LOW and we know how to maintain and support a 53 series helicopter and still have the basic infrastructure to make it happen it probably won’t as the Air Staff is seemingly blind to common sense.

Artwork photo Sikorsky

Haiti Airport

The Haiti earthquake and its aftermath is a terrible thing, but what amazes me are the complaints of the French and other about how the airfield is being operated.
The day after the earthquake two MC-130H Combat Talon II and one MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft from the USAF 1st Special Operations Wing landed at the heavily damaged airport. These aircraft brought in Combat Control, Pararescue, Security Forces, and communication specialist airmen and allowed the airport according to Col Buck Elton to begin receiving aircraft 28 minutes after their arrival. Since then over 600 relief flight have been handled at a facility the was averaging only three flights a day.
Instead of complaining maybe the MSM should do an in-depth story on these Airman and their ability to bring stability out of chaos to bring the relief to the people who are suffering.

787 Inital Airwortiness Milestone Met

Much to my great relief the Boeing 787 test program is soldiering on and earlier this week has met its initial airworthiness milestone. These initial tests in 15 flights over 60 flight hours have seen the 787 do its stalls, fly at 30000 feet and cruise at .65 mach. By reaching this initial goal flight going forward will go to 40000 feet and up to .85 mach as the test team expands the operating envelope. The 787 will change air travel as we know it by offering a more comfortable cabin with new efficiency for the airlines.

Photos Boeing

Skydive Key West

I had a great experience with these guys down at Skydive Key West. AN unbelievable rush, I had jumped 6 times before all on static line deployment, the feeling in free fall is great and the view is breathtaking of the Keys from altitude. Try it you'll like it.

Pic Of The Day

A nice shot of maintenance guys getting it done on the ramp.
Photo USAF

Back in gear

No posting in over a month, had to get through the holidays and the drama at work with more drama coming probably this week. But now it's time to get going again especially with the the Democrat party still not getting a clue card after the Brown when in lefty Mass.