Category Archives: Technology

Technology, U.S.

An emotional girl with a gun, a whole lotta guns!

Video

More than 16 years ago the Oregon Military Museum (near Clackamas/Camp Withycombe-Happy Valley) shutdown for renovations.  The museum is expected to reopen during the Summer of 2025, a year later than originally planned.

In January 2025, final work was being completed for the weapons display.

Kathleen Sligar, Director/Curator of the Oregon Military Museum, talks about the final preparations for the weapons display in this video report, via Oregon National Guard’s First Sergeant Zachary Holden, released 29JAN2025:

Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel, 23JAN2025.

Despite being closed for renovations, special tours were conducted for veterans organizations.

The museum has outdoor displays that visitors can view.

A woman with a mission: https://youtu.be/gg17C0W9BoU?list=OLAK5uy_kAZ6e1Hh1OnpO2PyMSjbMe7ajDbDDy6Ac

Oregon Military Museum, 2020:

How to assemble your 1:1 scale F-86

Technology, U.S.

Two crashes in two days involving U.S. military aircraft!

Video

U.S. Secretary of Defense Peter Brian Hegseth reports, morning of 30JAN2025, about the 29JAN2025 crash between U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk and American Eagle Flight 5342, video via Department of Defense:

On 28JAN2025, a U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning-2 crashed near Richardson Highway in Alaska. Colonel Paul Townsend, 354th Fighter Wing commander, conducts a local media press conference:

2022: MiG 31 crashes in Novgorod

2011: United States blows-up crashed French Mirage 2000D!

1949: NACA’s ramjet F-82 Twin Mustang, 1949 crash & burn? Reborn more than 60 years later!

1947: Cold War Dragon crashes into Antarctic Ocean, caught on film.

Technology, U.S.

Uncle Sam preps for War: Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

Video

Curtiss XP-40 Warhawk tested in the NACA wind tunnel, Langley Research Center, Virginia, 1939.

I edited together videos from United States Army Air Corps/Forces (USAAC/USAAF) newsreels, released in 1941. Curtiss P-40 Warhawk:

Before the U.S. entered the Second World War, ‘volunteers’ were being paid by the U.S. government to fly P-40 ‘Flying Tigers’ for China, against the Japanese.  However, after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor the Flying Tigers became an official USAAC/USAAF unit, along with some of their pilots being transferred to the Navy/Marine Corps, and the Chinese began flying their own P-40s.  Here is a poor quality, silent film of Chinese operated P-40s:

Here are some photos of various versions of P-40s throughout the war:

P-40 tied down on Iceland, 23SEP1941.

P-40E being tested by NACA, 20MAY1942.

A U.S. taxpayer funded P-40F is presented to a French air force chaplain in Algiers, northern Africa, 1942.

Warhawk lands at Burg-el-Arab, Egypt, October 1942.

Somewhere in the Caribbean, December 1942.

25DEC1942, “…SSGT J.A. Muller, CPL John W. Coleman, and CPL L.B. Thomas of the 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, consume their Christmas dinner on the field at a base somewhere in China.”

May 1943, Dobodura, New Guinea.

A bullet riddled British Royal Air Force P-40 ‘Kittyhawk’ somewhere in northern Africa, 1943.

Port Moresby Air Depot, Papua, New Guinea. A P-40 converted into a two seat observation plane, sometime in 1943.

Sometime in 1943, Burma-India Theater of Operations.

Sometime in 1943, Abadan, Iran, Soviet pilots play chess before flying their U.S. taxpayer funded P40s to the Karelian Front.

P-40 lands on a new airfield on Baker Island (aka New Nantucket), 11SEP1943.

Apamama Island, Gilbert Islands, January 1944.

February 1944, Upper Assam, India.

A Curtiss C-46 lands while a Curtiss P-40K watches, somewhere in China, sometime in 1945.

Chinese anti-air spotters are taught not to shoot down a Warhawk, sometime between 1945 and 1946.

Final flight outta the U.S.?: Yankee Lady, the last take-off? Does anybody know what is going on?

Technology, U.S.

U.S. Disaster 2025: What is PHOS-CHEK? FEMA & National Guard ops in California.

Video

PHOS CHEK is a product of a company called Perimeter Solutions. They also sell a retardant called FIRE-TROL. They claim their retardants are certified USDA “environmentally friendly”. The red color means nothing, it is one of three options for buyers, the other two are “disappearing color” and “uncolored”. Obviously the red would allow fire fighters to see where they’ve already applied the stuff.

On 12JAN2025, C-130 cargo haulers equipped with U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) get loaded with brand name PHOS CHEK, Channel Islands Air National Guard Station on Port Hueneme, California. Currently there are old C-130H Hercules operated by Colorado Air Force Reserve, Nevada Air National Guard and Wyoming Air National Guard. California Air National Guard operates the newer C-130J Super Hercules. I edited video via Technical Sergeant Nicole Wright:

California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing Super Hercules water-bombing (retardant/brand name PHOS CHEK) the mountains above Pacific Palisades. The air-horn noise is the MAFFS in operation. Video via Master Sergeant Nicholas Carzis, 11JAN2025:

On 11JAN2025, California Army National Guard’s 40th Combat Aviation Brigade arrived on Camarillo Airport, to link-up with CalFire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) Fire Hawks. I edited down a video via Specialist William Franco Espinosa:

On 11JAN2025, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began helping survivors file claims, at the Pasadena Convention Center. FEMA video via Alexis Hall:

If you are a fire survivor and have transportation, the FEMA and The American Red Cross have set up locations across Los Angeles County, to try and help you and even your pets. FEMA video via Alexis Hall, 10JAN2025:

California Army National Guard’s 40th Military Police Company on patrol in Santa Monica.  I edited video via Sergeant William Griffen, the video was recorded 10JAN2025, but not released until 12JAN2025:

U.S. Disaster 2025:USMC & Air Guard mobilized for California fires!

Technology, U.S.

U.S. Disaster 2025: USMC & Air Guard mobilized for California fires!

Video

A Presidential order, delegated through the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) and U.S. Northern Command (NorthCom), has mobilized full-time and part-time military units to fight the fires in the Los Angeles County area of California.  Those units began preparations on 10JAN2025, to be ready for action by 12JAN2025.

Marines prep a Bambi water bucket for their UH-1Y Venom.

On Camp Pendleton, California, U.S. Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367-Marine Aircraft Group 39-3rd Marine Aircraft Wing prepares Bell UH-1Y Venom for fire fighting duty.  About 5-hundred Marines will join fire fighting efforts. I edited video via Lance Corporal Jennifer Sanchez:

California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (aka Cal Fire) and Air National Guard prepare PHOS CHEK (a brand name of a type of fire retardant) and Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules (with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) on Port Hueneme, California.  I edited video via Master Sergeant Nicholas Carzis:

U.S. Air Force-Reserve’s 302nd Airlift Wing loads U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) on Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. I edited time lapse video (sent with no audio) via Technical Sergeant Justin Norton:

Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing personnel load a  USFS-MAFFS into a C-130H Hercules on Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. Video (sent with no audio) via Technical Sergeant Justin Norton:

Nevada Air National Guard 152nd Airlift Wing’s Maintenance Squadron prepares C-130H Hercules with a U.S. Forest Service MAFFS.  I edited down video via Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber:

Idaho deploys personnel and equipment to fight California fires: https://shoshonenewspress.com/news/2025/jan/10/north-idaho-crews-deploy-to-support-efforts-in-sou/

U.S. Disasters 2024: Hawaii Fires, 4+ months on, Lithium batteries made things worse?

2023: MAFFS prepping for 2023 wildfire season!

2022: C-130 MAFFS deployed, Idaho suffers most fires/acres burned in the U.S.!

2021: California MAFFS prep.

2018: California fires make at least 1-million tons of waste!

Technology, U.S.

What is USACE doing with the Upper Ohio River, in Pennsylvania?

Video

A huge taxpayer funded Upper Ohio River Project as part of Presidential Executive Order 14063 on Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects.

In 2024, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Pittsburgh District awarded a nearly $770-million contract to construct a new 110 feet by 6-hundred feet lock chamber at Montgomery Locks and Dam in Monaca, Pennsylvania.  It is part of the even bigger Upper Ohio Navigation Project, itself the result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which already authorized $934-million in taxpayer funding for the project.

It is hoped the project will help with the transportation of at least 12-million tons of products in and out of the Port of Pittsburgh: “Completing the new lock chamber’s plan marks a significant achievement for the district’s team. This project is vital to ensuring safe and reliable navigation on the upper Ohio River. With the contract awarded, we are ready to advance this critical infrastructure for the region and the nation.”-Colonel Nicholas Melin, USACE Pittsburgh District

The old lock is almost 1-hundred years old, and will disrupt the U.S. domestic supply chain if it fails. It is estimated that if the old lock fails it would cause the loss of nearly $150-million for the U.S. economy, per year of shutdown.

The Montgomery Locks and Dam project must first deconstruct the old auxiliary lock chamber, then the new primary lock chamber will begin sometime in mid to late 2025. But even before that, a new ‘pad’ had to be built in order to mix, on-site, a special type of concrete that will be used. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers video explainer via Michel Sauret, released 03JAN2025:

USACE in Idaho: Boise State University joins forces with USACE, it’s about water!

International, Technology, U.S.

NATO-Poland’s 1st F-35s arrive in Arkansas!

Video

“The arrival of Poland’s first F-35s is a significant milestone for our state, the nation, and our allies who will train on this fifth-generation fighter at Ebbing Air National Guard Base. I’m extremely proud of the whole team in the 188th Wing, and the staffs at Razorback Range and Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center for the planning and work that has resulted in the sound of freedom returning to the River Valley today. They’ve partnered with the active-duty Air Force to go from concept to jets being parked on the ramp in a compressed timeframe. We are thankful for the dedicated teamwork of those in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, our entire Congressional delegation, and state elected officials who have moved mountains to make this mission possible in Arkansas.”–Brigadier General Chad Bridges, Arkansas National Guard

Polish F-35A flybys, edited from videos via Airman First Class Miles Chrisman, of the Air National Guard’s 188th FW:

On 23DEC2024, a couple of ‘firsts’ took place; the first of several Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning-2 (named after the P-38 Lightning) for NATO-Poland were delivered, and secondly, the training for Polish pilots will take place on an Air National Guard base.

In July 2024, the United States Air Force (USAF) 85th Fighter Group (FG) was re-activated by the 33rd Fighter Wing (FW) specifically to train Polish pilots to fly the F-35A.  The 85th FG will conduct the training on Ebbing Air National Guard Base (ANGB), in Arkansas. When the 85th FG was deactivated, in 2006, its last assignment was in Iceland. The 85th FG is now part of the 33rd Fighter Wing (FW), which is part of the USAF’s Air Education and Training Command (AETC).

In May 2024, officials with the U.S. Foreign Military Sales, USAF and NATO-Poland, met on Ebbing ANGB, on Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Polish F-35A gets hosed, edited from videos via Airman First Class Miles Chrisman, Air National Guard 188th FW:

Ebbing ANGB is also home to Arkansas Air National Guard’s 188th Wing.

The decision to use Ebbing ANGB to train foreign pilots was made in 2023, after almost three years of comparing eligible air bases, both USAF and National Guard. Future F-35 training will include pilots from NATO-Finland, NATO-Germany, Singapore (one of several East Asian countries being wooed by NATO) and Switzerland (a NATO ‘partner’ but not a full member).

In November 2024, the USAF admitted it was all about supporting taxpayer subsidized Foreign Military Sales.

NATO-Belgium: First F-35A arrives in Arizona!

International, Technology

Cold War era BMP-2 continues to stay alive via never ending ‘Berezhok’!

Video

BMP=Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty-Боевая Машина Пехоты, literally Combat Vehicle Infantry

‘Standard’ BMP-2s destroyed in combat.

The BMP-2 was first born during the ‘Cold War’, developed from the BMP-1 during the late 1970s, going into service in 1980.  It, along with the even older BMP-1, stays in service with never ending upgrades.

Russian forces trying out their new BMP-2M, somewhere in Belarus, December 2022.

The modern all-inclusive upgrades (armor, armament, power-pack, etc) for the BMP-2 are referred to, in Russian, as berezhok (бережок), and were first revealed at the end of 2019.  

By August 2021, the first BMP-2Ms entered service, with the Western Military District, Leningrad Region.

‘M’ series upgrades for weapons & targeting systems, on public display.

In addition to the BMP-2M’s 30-milimeter(mm) 2A42 gun, a long barreled 30mm AGS-17 (Avtomaticheskiy Granatomot Stankovyy, automatic grenade launcher), 7.62mm machine guns and four launchers for the 9M133 anti-tank ‘Kornet’ missiles, the targeting system is using second generation thermal sights for the gunner, and the TC (tank commander) now has a panoramic sight. 

BMP-2M without the armor upgrade, supposedly in the Northern Military District, sometime in 2023.

Also, the power-pack (motor/transmission) now uses a more powerful turbocharged diesel motor, and don’t forget the extra armor protection.

Armor upgrade being made in the field.

This ‘standard’ BMP-2 is being upgraded in the field with the newest armor protection.

At least it is getting the ‘M’ series armor?

In this video report, published on 20DEC2024, reporter Alexander Stroganov goes for a ride in the latest berezhok/upgrade:

Surprise! This BMP-2M berezhok turret is mounted on a BMP-3 hull.

How about on a BTR-90?

Forever Wars, 2023: Baptism-of-Fire for New ‘Berezhok’ BMP, in Ukraine!

Forever Wars, 2022: One month’s worth of abandoned or destroyed armor!

Vehicle I-D: Indian BMP-2, Cold War and beyond!

Technology, U.S.

F-89 Scorpion: 1950s Cold War interceptor still in use?

Video

The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was developed after a 1945 U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) request for an all-weather, radar guided, twin jet powered bomber interceptor.  The only competitor was the XP-87 (aka XF-87) Blackhawk, which was nixed for being too slow.  The F-89 was first known as the N-24, as development progressed it was changed to XP-89, then to XF-89 when the Air Force become independent of the Army (after 1947).

Photo dated 26FEB1952, F-89 radar undergoing testing in freezing temperatures.

The F-89 entered service in 1950, but despite having advanced radar and turbines the production Scorpion was rapidly upgraded, from ‘A’ version to ‘J’ version by 1954.  Some of the final upgrades included radar guided Falcon anti-aircraft missiles and Genie nuclear armed rockets (first tested during Operation Plumbbob in 1957).

Date/location not known, poor quality silent film of F-89s in flight and launching rockets from the wingtip pods:

Poor quality silent film of 1958 William Tell fighter/interceptor competition over Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. I edited the film to show only the F-89J, some are being loaded with the AIR-2 Genie (MB-1 Ding-Dong) nuclear rocket:

Quick silent film of F-89J launching Falcon missile over Holloman AFB, New Mexico, 1958(?):

Scorpion was quickly retired from full-time active duty by 1961 (still serving in National Guard and Reserve units, at least until 1965).

Oregon Air National Guard F-89J Scorpion, November 1962.

Michigan Air National Guard F-89C ‘Gate Guard’.

Montana Air National Guard’s Scorpion ‘Gate Guard’.

Vermont Air National Guard promotional poster from January 2021.

In 2024, it was revealed that the South Dakota Air National Guard’s 114th Fighter Wing was going to train its tactical aircraft maintenance personnel by having them rebuild a ‘mystery’ F-89 found on Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), California. Video interview by Airman First Class Kyle St. Pierre, recorded on 05DEC2024, released for public use on 19DEC2024:

Gate Guards: How to sling load your 1:1 scale F-80 Gate Guard with a CH-47.

International, Technology, U.S.

NATO-Belgium’s 1st F-35A arrives in Arizona!

Video

“It’s a historic day for the Belgian air force. Our first jet just landed at Luke Air Force Base, marking the start of our training period. A lot of work has gone into making this moment possible and we are excited to begin flying and complete our training.”-Lieutenant Colonel Pierre-Yves Libert, 312th Fighter Squadron, 03DEC2024

The first Belgian Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning-2 arrived on Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona,  03DEC2024.

Video interview by Senior Airman Mason Hargrove recorded on 03DEC2024, released for public use on 19DEC2024:

Video van Senior Airman Mason Hargrove opgenomen op 3DEC2024, uitgezonden op 19DEC2024:

Vidéo du Senior Airman Mason Hargrove enregistrée le 03DEC2024, diffusée le 19DEC2024:

More F-35As for Belgium are expected on Luke AFB as it will be where the Belgian Air Force/Air Component will build its new ‘5th generation’ F-35 Lightning-2 squadron, eventually replacing their Cold War era F-16s.

NATO, December 2024: New U.S. MLRS arrives in NATO-Europe

F-35-I ADIR: “TOGETHER, WE WILL DOMINATE THE SKIES!” IS THE U.S. COMPLICIT IN GAZA GENOCIDE?