Category Archives: U.S.

U.S.

Cancel Culture: Welcome to the new hell under the new ‘president’

35% of Tokyo metro area residents want Tokyo Olympic Games cancelled

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Incomplete list of links to new reports about the new trend of cancel culture within the United States, as of 15JAN2021:

Will ‘cancel culture’ come for us all?

Actor Macaulay Culkin applauds editing out Trump’s Home Alone 2 cameo.
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How the GOP Fell in Love With Cancel Culture
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How to cancel a Funimation subscription

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How to cancel Twitch subscription

Investors abandon Facebook and Twitter after they canceled President Donald Trump!

Hypocrisy as online tech industry works hard to prevent you from cancelling their crappy service;  Amazon faces legal challenge over Prime cancellation policy

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Dog reality show The Pack Cancelled by Amazon

Ariel Pink says supporting Trump got him canceled and left “on the street”: “I can’t even afford my lawyer”

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ALABAMA: University swim meets cancelled

Why are so many elective surgeries being cancelled?

ARIZONA:  One of the biggest annual car shows in the Desert Southwest cancelled!

CALIFORNIA: Disneyland to Cancel Annual Passes

Green Day cancels Asia tour

The city of Morro Bay officially joins movement to cancel President Trump

COLORADO:  Classic cycling race canceled

FLORIDA:  People are being told how to cancel their vaccination appointments!

Art groups continue to cancel shows

GEORGIA: Attempts to cancel yet another historic statue

IDAHO:  Ski resort cancelled due to lack of people wearing masks! 

Idaho internet provider cancels Facebook and Twitter!

ILLINOIS:  Chicago official to propose ordinance allowing for removal of Trump Tower sign

MASSACHUSETTS: Northeast-10 Conference cancelled

MICHIGAN:  University cancels yet another game

Feed the Need food drive cancelled

MINNESOTA: Law students seek to cancel a former student for being in the ‘wrong’ political party!

Alma Highland Festival canceled

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MISSOURI:  State House legislators cancel their legislative session!

NEW YORK: Will City Cancel Contracts for Golf Course and Carousel?

NYC hospitals cancel COVID vaccine appointments

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Legal action filed to stop the cancelling of a historic statue

UTAH:  County officials now claims the cancellation of vaccine appointments was a mistake

VIRGINIA:  Local politicians demand hotel cancel reservations for Proud Boys!

Richmond Public Schools cancel fall sports season

Virginia women’s basketball program cancels remainder of season, joining Duke as ACC teams opting out
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WISCONSIN: State politician wants to cancel election officials who blew the whistle on election fraud!  

Going Viral: FLU MUTATING DUE TO COVID? USAF GIVES WARNING ABOUT VACCINES!

Vaccine Fail: U.S. VAX BANNED! SKYROCKETING NUMBER OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS REJECT THE SHOT!

U.S. BORDER WALL MILESTONES OF 2020

Technology, U.S.

DC-8: Pandemic Samaritan

Video

Photo via Samaritan’s Purse.

Samaritan’s Purse DC-8 arrives at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, 11JAN2021.

Photo by Giancarlo Casem.

The aircraft delivered supplies for a 50+ beds Emergency Field Hospital being constructed at Antelope Valley Hospital in nearby Lancaster.

Video, by Giancarlo Casem, showing off-loading of Samaritan’s Purse DC-8, 11JAN2021:

Samaritan’s Purse photo showing emergency hospital tent construction in Lancaster, California.

Samaritan’s Purse video showing emergency hospital tent construction:

Samaritan’s Purse photo showing hurricane response efforts in Honduras, November 2020.

Samaritan’s Purse photo showing hurricane response efforts in Honduras.

Samaritan’s Purse video, Honduras hurricane response, November 2020:

Samaritan’s Purse is based in North Carolina, is adamantly Christian, and has a history of working alongside the U.S. Department of Defense, at least as far back as 2012.

Pandemic Flights, 2020:   RECORD SETTING PANDEMIC AIRBRIDGE CONTINUES

Vehicle I-D:  NASA’S DC-8 CLIMATE WARRIOR

International, Technology, U.S.

U.S. Border Wall milestones of 2020

Video

During the decades of sporadic wall construction it should be noted that both Republican and Democrat politicians supported it.    The first wall section was built by the United States between 1909 and 1911.  Mexico built a wall section in 1918.  The walls were extended in the 1920s and in the 1940s.  President George H.W. Bush (senior) began new wall construction in the 1990s.  President Bill Clinton expanded funding for wall construction, in fact one book says it was under Clinton that wall construction became more focused in an attempt to stop drug and human smuggling.  President George W. Bush (junior) began new wall construction supposedly at the behest of California politicians.   President Barack Obama supposedly declared wall construction complete in 2011, yet quietly (secretly?) built an additional 128-miles (206-km) of wall.   In 2017, President Donald Trump officially restarted wall construction.  I predict President elect Joe Biden will not halt border wall construction.

Video, trench being dug for construction of wall near Columbus, New Mexico, April 2020:

Video, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) explaining why the U.S. needs a wall, June 2020:

 

Near El Paso, Texas, August 2020.

Video showing that wall construction continued at night in the South Pacific Border District, Arizona, September 2020:

Video, wall construction South Pacific Border District, California, September 2020:

Border wall slowly stretches across the desert near Columbus, New Mexico, October 2020.

Wall construction over mountains on the Barry M. Goldwater Range aboard Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, October 2020.

New wall completed near Tucson, Arizona, 02NOV2020.

17DEC2020, Tucson 10/28 Border Barrier near Nogales, Arizona.

21DEC2020, the final section of Yuma 10/27 Border Barrier is installed, in Arizona.

Operation CoViD-19, March 2020: BORDER GUARDS

New War on Drugs: U.S. BORDER PATROL PROMOTES TRUMP’S WALL!

International, Kit Bashing, Technology, U.S.

Rivet Joint-Airseeker: RC-135V/W Patriot & Red Coat

Video

RC-135 Rivet Joint , Las Vegas, Nevada, 07DEC2021. U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis.

Kadena Air Base, Japan, 12MAY2020. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Benjamin Sutton.

Personnel wearing masks board RC-135V at Kadena Air Base, Japan, 05MAY2020. USAF photo by Senior Airman Rhett Isbell.

Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, 21FEB2020. USAF photo by Manuel Garcia.

The Boeing RC-135V/W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft are the most recent members of the RC-135 family, which can be traced back to 1964.  The difference between the ‘V’ and ‘W’ variants depends upon which C-135 was upgraded/modified to Rivet Joint standard; RC-135Vs are upgraded RC-135Cs, while RC-135Ws are modified C-135Bs.

USAF photo by Manuel Garcia, 21FEB2020.

It provides near-real-time on-scene intelligence collection, primarily by detecting, identifying and geolocating signals throughout the electromagnetic spectrum.

Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, 28JUL2017. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Amy Lovgren.

Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, 28JUL2017. Photo by Technical Sergeant Amy Lovgren.

It can carry a crew of more than 30 people, and is powered by four CFM-56 turbofans.

Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, 27JUL2017. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Amy Lovgren.

Currently, U.S. Air Force Rivet Joints are flown by the 55th Wing, based out of Offutt Air Force Base (AFB), Nebraska.

Offutt AFB, Nebraska, 13MAR2012. USAF photo by Jeffrey Gates.

Time lapse video by Senior Airman Jacob Skovo-Lane, How to Wash your Rivet Joint, October 2018:

Video by Senior Airman Joshua Hoskins, Michigan Air National Guard re-fuels Rivet Joint over Afghanistan, January 2017:

Offutt AFB, 13MAR2012. USAF photo by Jeffrey Gates.

Over Afghanistan, 19JUN2011. USAF photo by Master Sergeant William Greer.

Over Afghanistan, 19JUN2011. USAF photo by Master Sergeant William Greer.

Over Afghanistan, 19JUN2011. USAF photo by Master Sergeant William Greer.

In August 2010, the USAF celebrated 20 years of Rivet Joint operations, with aircraft that are as much as 50 years old:

During the pandemic of 2020, believe it or not a mask was created for the nose of the RC-135.  It is nicknamed The Mule Mask.  Video interview of mask creator Technical Sergeant Kristen Horwith by Staff Sergeant Lexie West, 11AUG2020:

Video by (then) Senior Airmen Lexie West, USAF RC-135 at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, November 2017:

RAF RC-135W Airseeker, Offutt AFB, Nebraska, 02MAY2018. USAF photo by Senior Airman Jacob Skovo-Lane.

RAF RC-135W Airseeker, Offutt AFB, Nebraska, 02MAY2018. USAF photo by Senior Airman Jacob Skovo-Lane.

For the Commonwealth of Nations (formerly British Commonwealth of Nations, formerly British Empire) member United Kingdom, in 2011 the RC-135W was chosen as the replacement for the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) BAe Nimrod R Mark 1.    In November 2013 the RAF received it’s first RC-135W, flying it’s first mission in May 2014.  The official British name for the RC-135W is Airseeker.

12FEB2017, Airseeker undergoing landing gear inspection, Offutt AFB. USAF photo by Delanie Stafford.

12FEB2017, Airseeker undergoing landing gear inspection, Offutt AFB. USAF photo by Delanie Stafford.

While taking part in Red Flag aerial wargames in February 2017, over Nevada, the RAF Airseeker developed main-landing gear problems and diverted to Offutt AFB in Nebraska.

12FEB2017, Airseeker undergoing landing gear inspection, Offutt AFB. USAF photo by Delanie Stafford.

It was determined that the Airseeker had a faulty main-landing gear sequence valve, which was preventing the gear from locking in the retracted position.

RAF Airseeker, Red Flag wargames, Nevada, 2017. Photo by Sergeant Neil Bryden.

Giant model of an RC-135, Lackland AFB, Texas. Photo by by Nadine Wiley De Moura.

The ancient Nova vacformed 1:72 scale KC-135 came with optional parts which you could use to make an RC version (but it has the older engines since it came out before the CFM-56 version, you could kit-bash using a newer CFM equipped AMT-ERTL KC-135R kit, which was also issued under the Airfix/Heller brands).

In the 1990s AMT-ERTL issued a 1:72 scale RC-135V, the version used during Desert Storm.   Some kit bashers used the kit to model a RC-135W Airseeker. 

An old photo of an RC-135, by Forrest Durham.

If you are a model builder, pay attention to the year of operation of the RC-135V/W you want to depict, because various antennae bumps and blades will appear and disappear depending on the latest electronic mission configuration.   It seems the older the plane gets the more skin growths it develops.

Somewhere in The middle East (South West Asia), 04MAR2010. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Michelle Larche.

Refueling during the invasion of Iraq. USAF photo by Master Sergeant Dave Ahlschwede, 09APR2003.

Over Nebraska, 01MAY2000. USAF photo by Master Sergeant Dave Nolan.

01MAY2000, USAF photo by Master Sergeant Dave Nolan.

Don’t forget the bottom.

Departing from a forward operating base during the invasion of Iraq. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Robert J. Horstman, 28APR2003.

11DEC1991, USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Scott P. Stewart.

Don’t confuse with the RC-135S Cobra Ball:

Not all RC-135S are covered in bumps and antennae. USAF photo by Senior Airman Amy Younger, 23MAY2020.

Variations of bumps and windows on RC-135S. Notice that the upper part of starboard wing, as well as nacelles, on some Cobra Balls are painted matt-black. USAF photo by Senior Airman Jeremy Smith, September 2001.

C-130: ONCE A RED COAT, NOW A BLUE ANGEL

Pandemic Overflight: KC-135

EC-135E FIRE-BIRD: 10329 COMES BACK TO LIFE, AGAIN! OR, WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR EXTRA KC-135 KIT.

Vehicle I-D: MLRS, BRITISH RED COATS INVADE U.S. ARMY BASE IN GERMANY!

2018: M777 artillery proof the Red Coats have returned!

2017: U.S. ARMY COMMANDED BY RED COATS?

Canadian Red Coats control U.S. NORAD: SHHH, DON’T “CROSSTELL”, BUT U.S. AIR MILITIA UNITS & CANADA PREPPING FOR TFR EMERGENCY!

Technology, U.S.

National Guard teaching a baby three horned dinosaur to fly?

Video

13 September 2020 / 04:18 (UTC-07 Tango 06)/ 23 Shahrivar 1399/25 Muharram 1442/26 Yi-You 4718

National Guard photos by Second Lieutenant Anna Doo and Sergeant John Montoya.  Videos by Second Lieutenant Anna Doo and Sergeant Zechariah Freeman.  Dig photos via New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.

New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Image

In October 2015, the New Mexico Army National Guard was called-up for a mission unlike any other; sling-load a 65-million years old baby Pentaceratops out of the desert: “This ranks very high in the importance of Pentaceratops discoveries because it is the first baby skeleton, including the skull, ever recovered, and one of less than 10 adult Pentaceratops skulls unearthed.”-Spencer Lucas, Chief Curator of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science

The baby three horned dinosaur was actually discovered back in 2011, in the Bisti/De-na-zin Wilderness Area south of Farmington. In 2013, an adult was found in the Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness Study Area, 10 miles (16 kilometers) away.  The paleontologists had a problem; no wheeled vehicles are allowed in those federally controlled areas, and once encased in protective plaster, the two dinosaur skeletons could weight as much as one U.S. ton.

In 2014, administrators with the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, New Mexico National Guard, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, agreed to airlift the bones using UH-60 Blackhawks from New Mexico National Guard’s Company C, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation.

It took four hours to position just the encased baby skeleton for sling-load by the Blackhawk: “The process, since it was an unconventional load, took some different planning. We had the right personnel here and were able to brainstorm together. There was never really a set way that we had. We knew once we got in there we’d take a look at everything and figure out the best option. My favorite part was getting the jackets onto the sling loads. That was something we hadn’t had experience with and we knew it was going to be a difficult process. That was our biggest hurdle. Once we got past that we knew we had the capability to do everything else that we needed to.”-Staff Sergeant Jonathon Velarde, 1st Battalion-200th Infantry, National Guard site leader at the Bisti location

But when the day came for the airlift, it was discovered that the plaster surrounding the baby and adult Pentaceratops skeletons were water damaged from recent rain storms and could not be airlifted, only the skulls could be sling-loaded. However, it was soon discovered that the plaster jacketed skulls were much heavier than estimated.  The Blackhawk crew trying to lift the adult skull reported it weighed 5-thousand-5-hundred pounds (2494.8 kilograms) and the UH-60 was not able to safely lift it.  The jacketed baby skull weighed 4-thousand-5-hundred pounds (2041 kilograms), more than twice the estimate.

To make the lift the Blackhawk helicopters flew around burning off expensive fuel to lighten themselves.  Keep in mind that the National Guard personnel on the ground, heaving the heavy skulls into positions, even pushing one uphill, were unaware that they were dealing with weights that were more than twice what they were expecting.

Video, baby skull flip:

Apparently it took two days (28-29OCT2015) of struggling to position the two skulls for sling-load.

Video, adult skull flip:

Video interview, Staff Sergeant Jonathon Velarde explains the proper positioning of the sling-load net:

Video, skull lift:

Video, incoming skull:

The skulls were flown out of the ground vehicle restricted areas to a location where a M984 HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck) was waiting to take them to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science: “The mission went really well and it was good training for the traditional Soldiers. The mission was accomplished and everyone was safe. We were able to really show the capabilities of the National Guard as far as our air assets, the Infantry piece as far as them having to go out there and rig it, and our transportation assets as far as being able to move it, as well as working with the civilians and the general public.”-First Lieutenant Jerome Bustamante, 116th Transportation Company, New Mexico National Guard

HEMTT dino-load video:

The skulls are part of dinosaur displays at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, unfortunately the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs used the CoViD-19 fear-mongering to shutdown all taxpayer funded museums in New Mexico, until further notice.   

Just before the CoViD-19 BS started: BLACK HELICOPTERS SWARM SUPER BOWL-54

IDAHO BLACKHAWKS HEAD SOUTH, DOWN CENTRAL AMERICA WAY, YOU PAID FOR IT!

U.S. government shenanigans, January 2019: MULTI-AGENCY SUPER SURGE

U.S.

Still flying after 75 years!

Video

On 01SEP2020, vintage World War Two aircraft (and a post war Trojan trainer) flew over Oahu, Hawaii, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WW2 in the Pacific (V-J Day).

Takeoffs & landings, video via U.S. Indo-Pacific Command:

Photos by Master Sergeant Andrew Porch, Technical Sergeant Anthony Nelson, Staff Sergeant Mikaley Kline, Sergeant Ryan Jenkins, Sergeant Sarah Sangster, Petty Officer First Class Gilbert Bolibol and Lieutenant Darin Russell.

P-51D Mustang.

Watch how the vintage aircraft found their way to Hawaii, by boat. 

B-25 ‘Old Glory’ is a true combat vet, video interview by Specialist Carlie Lopez:

Twin engined B-25 Mitchell and single engine Avenger.

Video from T-6 Texan owner Jason Karlin showing Avenger and another T-6/SNJ:

B-25 and Catalina Flying Boat.

What it is like to fly in a PBY, video via U.S. Indo-Pacific Command:

A young PBY owner tells war stories, video by Specialist Carlie Lopez:

SNJ/T-6 Texan trainer taxis on Wheeler Army Airfield, 27AUG2020.

U.S. Army video interview (by Specialist Carlie Lopez) of T-6 Texan owner:

View of USS Missouri, the battleship where Japanese officials signed the documents of surrender.

Video by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command concerning Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz’s thoughts about the 02SEP1945 surrender ceremony aboard USS Missouri (BB 63):

F4F/FM-2 Wildcat.

Stearman-Kaydet.

Kaydet owner explains what his plane did during WW2.  Video by Ryan Jenkins:

Developed during WW2, but not used in the war, an F8F Bearcat taxis on Wheeler Army Airfield, 27AUG2020.

Proud F8F owner explains how German engineering helped make the Bearcat the best interceptor, and the first Blue Angel, only jet powered aircraft could beat it.  Video by Ryan Jenkins:

The 75th WW2 Commemoration has been ongoing since May (the end of the war in Europe, aka V-E Day) and will conclude in September (the end of the war in Pacific, aka V-J Day). 

U.S.

Last ride for 1st, 2nd & 4th Tank

Video

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Andrew Cortez, Camp Pendleton, California, 18JUL2020.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Justin Evans, 28JUL2020.

USMC photo by Lance Corporal Justin Evans, 28JUL2020.

In July 2020, the United States Marines Corps (USMC) began retiring its M1A1 Abrams tanks and M88A2 Hercules recovery tanks, as part of a so called modernization plan called Force Design 2030.

The last M1 Abrams assigned to 1st Tank Battalion depart Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, 06JUL2020. Photo via USMC.

The units affected are California based 1st Tank Battalion (1st Tanks) of the 1st Marine Division (my grandfather’s Alma Matter) and 4th Tank Battalion (4th Tanks) 4th Marine Division, as well as North Carolina based 2nd Tank Battalion (Iron Horse) of the 2nd Marine Division.

2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division M1 Abrams are pushed out the gate from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 27JUL2020. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Patrick King.

Last ride into retirement. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Patrick King, 27JUL2020.

The 2nd Tank Battalion was an armor unit for almost 80 years, but apparently that ends under Force Design 2030.

1st Tank Battalion was created in 1941, originally in North Carolina but quickly made a new home in Twentynine Palms, California.  After 79 years the 1st Tanks is no more:

From my grandfather’s files, 1st Marine Division unit citations for actions in World War Two and Korea (click on each to make bigger):

Alpha Company, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, Camp Pendleton, California, said good bye to its armored vehicles on 18JUL2020.  Alpha Company is the first of the six companies of 4th Tanks to deactivate.  4th Tanks was created in 1943, during World War Two:

A Caterpillar 988 tractor moves a ‘divested’ M1A1 Abrams Tank into position for loading and shipping via rail to Anniston Army Depot. USMC photo by Laurie Pearson.

In August 2020, tracked armored vehicles located on the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow (after being a TC on Sherman tanks during the war in the Pacific my grandfather worked at the Yermo Annex), California, were loaded on rail cars and shipped-off to the U.S. Army.

01OCT2020, these tanks are being used for rail operations training, on the Yermo Annex, Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California. USMC photo by Laurie Pearson.

All the Marine Corps’ tank units are expected to be deactivated by the end of 2021.  The vehicles could be ‘sold’ to the U.S. Army, or to foreign militaries.

Don’t blame Trump, Force Design 2030 is part of the Obama era plan referred to as Pivot to Asia:  2013, New York Times reports that U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was pursuing a “pivot” against China.

According to U.S. Naval War College “Starting in 2010, the U.S. and Vietnam accelerated this process effectively forming a partnership on several fronts. The Obama administration identified Vietnam as one of the new partners to cultivate as part of its ‘rebalancing’ of U.S. priorities toward the Asia-Pacific region, a move commonly referred to as the U.S.’s ‘pivot’ to the Pacific.” 

Vehicle I-D: U.S. MARINES USE ‘FAKE NEWS’ MIG-23

WHAT DO THE MARINES DO WITH ALL THAT AMMO THEY CAN’T USE?

M1A1 ‘DAY AT THE RANGE’ WITH THE USMC, 2016

Dorian: HOW TO EVACUATE THOUSANDS OF U.S. MARINES

Harvey: MARINES USE AMPHIBIOUS COMBAT TANKS TO SAVE LIVES!

Technology, U.S.

USS Bonhomme Richard LHD-6: Into the Steel Inferno!

Video

This is just a fraction of the intense photos and videos captured by U.S. Navy personnel, 12-17 July 2020.

INFERNO

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Second Class Austin Haist, 12JUL2020.

On the morning of 12JUL2020, and after two years of extensive retrofitting, USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) became a steel inferno while moored pier side at Naval Base San Diego, California.

Into the steel inferno. USN photo by Petty Officer Third Class Jason Waite, 14JUL2020.

Video by Petty Officer Third Class Christina Ross, 1st day of fire.  At the end of the video, night time, it’s clear that flames are leaping from inside the island superstructure:

USN photo by Lieutenant John J. Mike, 12JUL2020.

RESPONSE

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Jason Kofonow, 12JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Jason Kofonow, 12JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Nall Morgan, 13JUL2020.

Video via Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, 2nd day of fire:

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Nall Morgan, 13JUL2020.

AIR TANKS & MASKS, etc

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Julio Rivera, 16JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Natalie Byers, 15JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Natalie Byers, 15JUL2020.

Barrels of firefighting foam. USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Austin Haist, 12JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Jessica Paulauskas, 14JUL2020.

BOATS & HELICOPTERS

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Jason Kofonow, 13JUL2020.

Video from day 2, boats and helicopters focus on the superstructure:

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Austin Haist, 12JUL2020.

In this photo, notice that the forward mast is still standing.

Video, 3rd day, fire and smoke are no longer visible on the outside, but the external damage is obvious:

On 14JUL2020, with the fire(s) contained the boats, and MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters, continued applying water to cool down the exterior of the amphibious assault ship.

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Patrick W. Menah Junior, 13JUL2020.

In these photos you can see the forward mast has collapsed.

USN photo by Petty Officer Third Class Mar’Queon A. D. Tramble, 13JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Benjamin K. Kittleson, 14JUL2020.

For more helicopter action: KNIGHTHAWKS FIGHT TO SAVE LHD 6!

EXHAUSTION

On 16JUL2020, the fires were considered extinguished.  The U.S. Navy press release was careful to state “all known fires.”

USN photo by Seaman Lily Gebauer, 15JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Jason Kofonow, 14JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer Third Class Christina Ross, 14JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer Third Class Hector Carrera, 14JUL2020.

USN photo by Seaman Apprentice Jeffrey Yale, 16JUL2020.

BATTLE DAMAGE

On 16JUL2020, a U.S. Navy press release stated “We did not know the origin of the fire. We do not know the extent of the damage. It is too early to make any predictions or promises of what the future of the ship will be.”

Burned-out hanger bay. USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Jason Kofonow, 14JUL2020.

Yes, metal can burn. USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Jason Kofonow, 27JUL2020.

USN photo by Petty Officer Third Class Brandie Nuzzi, 16JUL202.

Listing due to all the water pumped in.

USN photo by Petty Officer Second Class Natalie Byers, 15JUL2020.

The ship’s motto would become ‘famous last words’.

U.S.

Michigan militia flood rescues

Video

“I heard about the flooding about 30-minutes after the first dam collapsed.  I received a call from my command around 11pm last night to come in right away and have been working since.”-Private First Class Lydia Humphrey, 1073rd Maintenance Company, Michigan Army National Guard

In northern Michigan the Edenville and Sanford Dams failed between 19-20 May 2020, but the state’s National Guard was already activated for the CoViD-19 lock-downs, so response time was fast.   130 of the 1-thousand activated Guard personnel were diverted to flood response.

Officials also said evacuation warnings had been heeded by most residents so there wasn’t much rescuing going on.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, is now figuring out how to prevent more dam failures in Midland and Gladwin counties, due to severe weather.

Back in April 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported that The Great Lakes were at record water levels and that significant erosion and flooding was ongoing.

OCEANS SINK AS THE LANDS FLOOD: CLIMATE CHANGE, 26-31 JANUARY 2020

2019: INDIANA MILITIA EXPANDS FLOOD RESPONSE OPS

NEW JERSEY NATIONAL GUARD SAVING PETS IN QATAR!

RESCUING DOGS, AND DOGS WHO’LL RESCUE YOU!

THE U.S. MILITARY TRAINS TO SAVE YOUR PET FROM DISASTER!

2017: MISSOURI MILITIA RESPONDS TO RECORD FLOODING!

Idaho, International, Technology, U.S.

Singapore Sky Pirates & Idaho Gunslingers

Video

In March 2022, Idaho’s Gov’na, Brad Little, poses with Singapore’s Buccaneers. U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sergeant Joshua Hoskins, 21MAR2022.

In December 2021, the Buccaneers flew from Idaho to Florida, to take part in the Weapons System Evaluation Program. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 08DEC2021.

The Buccaneers take part in Red Flag, in Nevada, March 2021.
USAF photo by Senior Airman JaNae Capuno.

Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB), Idaho, is home to F-15SG Buccaneers (428th Fighter Squadron Republic of Singapore) and F-15E Gunfighters (U.S. Air Force 366th Fighter Wing).  They fly their own colorfully painted ‘flagships’. The tiny Republic of Singapore is part of the British empire’s Commonwealth of Nations.

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Andrew Kobialka, 15MAY2020.

Buccaneers F-15SG flagship flying alongside an F-15E from a different squadron (Bold Tigers) of the same Fighter Wing, and Idaho National Guard A-10Cs, as part of CoViD-19 morale booster operations 15MAY2020.  The Buccaneers are flown by the The Republic of Singapore Air Force, but are based at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 15MAY2020.

About to deploy from Idaho to Utah, for Combat Hammer. USAF photo by Airman First Class Jeremy D. Wolff, 02MAY2017.

Combat Hammer, 2017.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Jeremy L. Mosier, 02MAY2017.

Official USAF video report about Combat Hammer, Singapore bombs Utah:

USAF photo by Senior Airman Connor J. Marth, 27FEB2017.

Over Mountain Home AFB, February 2017.

USAF photo by Airman Alaysia Berry, 08APR2016.

Buccaneers bomb crew getting instructions at the start of weapons loading competition at Mountain Home AFB, April 2016.

Singaporean F-15SG crews competed against USAF F-15E crews for best weapons loading, on Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. USAF photo by Airman First Class Chester Mientkiewicz, 08APR2016.

USAF photo by Senior Airman James Hensley, 19NOV2015.

Landing at Luke AFB, Arizona, for exercise Forging Saber, November 2015.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Thomas Spangler, 11JUL2014.

Red Flag Nevada, July 2014.

Video, Red Flag Nevada night take-off, afterburners:

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jim Araos, 09OCT2012.

Idaho’s, I mean Singapore’s Buccaneers taking part in Red Flag Alaska, October 2012.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton, 16OCT2012.

Only one of the F-15SGs has fancy paint on its tails, the others are plain.

The Republic of Singapore began flying F-15SG Strike Eagles at Mountain Home AFB in 2009.  The U.S. Air Force re-activated the 428th Fighter Squadron specifically for the RSAF (as part of the Peace Carvin V program).  The 428th Fighter Squadron (FS) is officially part of the 366th Fighter Wing (FW).

(MATTIS DISCOVERS SINGAPORE’S INVASION OF IDAHO)

And now for Idaho’s Gunfighters:

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jeremy L. Mosier, 12JUN2019.

‘Flagship’ F-15E Strike Eagle of the 366th FW, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

Video, 2019 ‘elephant walk’ at Mountain Home AFB:

USAF photo by Todd Cromar, 15AUG2018.

Taking part in Combat Hammer at Hill AFB, Utah, 15AUG2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class JaNae Capuno, 22MAY2018.

Gunfighter flagship over Mountain Home AFB, 22MAY2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class JaNae Capuno, 23MAY2018.

The 366th FW ‘Gunfighters’ (represented by the 20mm Vulcan-gun carrying Spook) includes 389th FS ‘Thunderbolts’ (represented by the lightening bolt), 391st FS ‘Bold Tigers’ (represented by the orange field with black tiger stripes [like Idaho State University’s colors]) and 428th FS ‘Buccaneers’.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Javier Cruz, 13DEC2016.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Javier Cruz, 13DEC2016.

A 391st Fighter Squadron Bold Tigers F-15E Strike Eagle over Saylor Creek bombing range, near Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. USAF photo by Master Sergeant Kevin Wallace, 16OCT2013.

NEW TAIL FEATHERS FOR OREGON EAGLE, B-17 BOMBER STYLE!

D-DAY F-15E STRIKE EAGLE

LOCATION OF MISSING IDAHO F-15E STRIKE EAGLES REVEALED? OR, WHY HI-TECH DOESN’T EQUAL FEWER HUMANS?

IDAHO F-15E WALK-AROUND