Pinch passes word that Robin Olds is in the hospital and in poor shape (see his post over at Black5) and offers a link to pass along your best wishes. Back in YHS’ halcyon youth, Olds was well remembered for his exploits in the F-4 over SEA. As CO of the of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing (the Wolfpack), Colonel Olds led them through a year where the Wolfpack amassed 24 MiG victories (1967). Take a moment for a still living legend (even one in AF blue…) – SJS
Background: In the course of writing for this blog I’ve had occasion to meet up with a number of folks who’ve “been there/done that” in a historical context. By default many have been from Vietnam, a few from Korea andsome of whom have been by proxy from WWII, but late last year I had the…
This Thursday, 21 October 2010, marks the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the first purpose built AEW aircraft, the E-2 Hawkeye (actually, it was the YW2F-1). Designed around the radar, rather than adapting an existing airframe, the Hawkeye symbolized function over form – from the 24ft “rotodome†prominently perched over the fuselage, to…
“AIR RAID PEARL HARBOR. THIS IS NOT A DRILL” Seventy years ago those words ushered in a period of unbelievable agony, trial, effort and sacrifice. What was once before was forever changed afterward. Jack-booted thugs bent on their “Final Solution” strode cobblestone streets of the land distantly remembered as the forebear of a new nation,…
Folks, we’re two weeks out and the vermin and carrion eaters are crawling out from the shadows. On the one hand, you have those who wouldn’t mind another 9/11 if in the aftermath their political agenda is met. So a few innocents get off’d in the process, well, you know, it’s “All For The Greater…
15 November 1960. The USS George Washington (SSBN-598) deployed from Charleston, SC with a load-out of 16 UGM-67 Polaris A-1s on the first strategic deterrence patrol. The first US nuclear-powered submarine armed with long-range ballistic missiles, the GW was ordered on 31 December 1957, with orders to convert two attack submarine hulls to missile-carrying FBM…
