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