Flightdeck Friday: MIA Edition – Missing WWII Airman Returns Home

The ‘MIA Returned’  series of posts has sort of grown on its own accord and as such, has become one of our favorties.  For new readers, whenever the remains of American servicemen are recovered and positively identified through a complex and rigorous DNA process, the DoD’s POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) issues a short announcement of that fact,…

This Date in Naval Aviation History: Operation Vittles – Navy-style

27 October 1948.  Four months earlier, the Soviets began their blockade of Berlin in earnest.  All surface transportation into the part of the city occupied by the Western Allies (US, UK and France) was cut off and all supplies, food, fuel and the like was prevented from entering the city.  But the air approaches into…

Flightdeck Friday: P-38 Lightning Edition (Part I)

OK, so it’s back onto the (Air)bus with the rest of the sardines and head back to Occupied Territory after a week of TDY near the Rockies’ Front Range. Presently researching a (near) future post that includes the events surrounding an engagement between 22 P-38J’s of the 474th Fighter Group temporarily based at St Marceau, France…

New Naval Operations Concept – Still Waiting…

As we’ve previously noted, the new Naval Operating Concept, derived from the Maritime Strategy released over a year ago, was slated to be released sometime this month (October).  Now it seems that release is delayed – no surprise given the coordination still being carried on within the Navy, much less that required between the Navy,…

This Date in Naval Aviation History – USS Hornet (CV 8) Commissioned

20 October 1941:  USS Hornet {CV 8} is put in commission at Norfolk, CAPT Marc Mitscher, USN commanding. Laid down 25 Sept 1939 and launched in 14 Dec 1940, the USS Hornet, seventh ship in the Navy to bear that name, was built by Newport News Shipbuilding at a cost of $32M.  At her launching,…

Flightdeck Friday: MIA Edition – Vietnam War Era Pilot Identified

First, the official release: Pilot Missing in Action From The Vietnam War is Identified The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. He…

History Lessons

Let’s see: – Political leaders supporting rapid growth of new lending institutions issuing mortgages for municipal and residential construction? Check – Mortgages easier than ever to obtain with comensurate building boom? Check – Skyrocketing land values with exponential speculation? Check – Borrowers assuming more credit with deceasing ability to pay it off? Check – Appearance…