Tag Archives: taxes

Red Coats invade Montana?

The United Kingdom’s Army is upgrading their Challenger-2 battle tanks with new armor and a new gun, the same gun used on the M1A1/2 Abrams; the German designed 120 millimeter (mm) Rheinmetall smoothbore, which launches various types of combustible cased rounds (various projectiles on a combustible plastic case with a metal base/’af-cap’).

The gun on the current Challenger-2 is also 120mm, but the British designed tube (barrel) is rifled and the ammo consists of a projectile which is loaded separately from the combustible case/bagged propellent.

A Royal Wessex Yeomanry Challenger-2 on Sennelager Training Area, Germany.

To prep the Royal Wessex Yeomanry on how to operate the Rheinmetall gun, Montana’s 1-163rd Combined Arms Battalion (part of the Idaho based 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, aka Snake River Brigade) is training the Red Coat tankers by letting them shoot-up the Montana mountains.

Montana Army National Guard’s video report (recorded 16MAY2025 on the Limestone Hills Training Facility, released 17MAY2025):

The new upgraded Challenger is called the Challenger-3.

A Royal Wessex Yeomanry Challenger-2, on the Sennelager Training Area, Germany.

Cold War to Battle for Ukraine: Challenger, a child of Serendipity? (from the Iranian Shir-2 to the Challenger-3)

Cold War: McDonnell F2H Banshee

Prototype XF2D-1 Banshee, possibly on its first flight on 11JAN1947.

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).

This F2H-1 Banshee was ‘written-off’ after a crash landing on 12JUL1951.

Production Banshees were powered by two axial flow Westinghouse J34 turbines.  The J34 was also known as the X24, its development was started in 1944.

Westinghouse 24C-8 (J34) with afterburner.

One aircraft was tested with afterburners, which burned the aft end of the test aircraft, hence why afterburners were not used on other Banshees.

In this photo of a -2N you can see that the 20mm guns were moved vertical of each other, to make room for a track/search radar.

The F2H-2N had a redesigned nose, longer with repositioned guns to accommodate a large radar for night fighter operations. The F2H-1/2 had a small gun aiming/ranging radar, the dialectic panel being visible on the upper tip of the nose with the 20-millimeter (mm) guns mounted horizontal to each other. The F2H-2 could also carry up to 2-thousand pounds of bombs.

Inboard bomb racks, inboard of the main landing gear wells.

The -2 Banshee had four weapons racks, outboard wing racks were for rockets only, the inboard racks were for bombs or rockets.

I edited this silent U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) film to show the use of the F2H-2 Banshee in Close Air Support (CAS) training, date and location not given:

I edited this silent film which shows USMC F2H-2 landing mishaps of VMF-122 & VMF-224 onboard the United States Ship (USS) Coral Sea (CV/CVA/CVB-43) during March 1951 (according to the info that came with the film). The first incident shows a Banshee approaching the carrier, the camera cuts out (Navy edited out?), then you see the tail of the plane sinking in the water, a helicopter rescues the pilot who ‘walks-it-off’ once on deck. The second incident shows a Banshee tangled in a barrier:

The USN says the first combat use of the Banshee was on 23AUG1951, when F2H-2s launched from USS Essex (CV/CVA/CVS-9) against Korea.  The Banshee proved to have better high altitude performance than the Grumman F9F Panther, yet never had the chance to engage in dog-fights with North Korean fighters. Battle damage to Banshees was the result of ground launched anti-aircraft fire.

On 16SEP1951, a McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee crashed while attempting to land on the USS Essex (CV/CVA/CVS-9) while sailing the Sea of Japan (near Korea). It missed the arrestor barrier and plowed into four parked aircraft (two Banshees and two Grumman F9F Panthers). Seven people reported killed. This crash is blamed for the adoption of the angled flight deck on aircraft carriers. I edited this from a silent USN film, if you look close at the slo-mo scene, where the Banshee misses the cable and then hops over the barrier, you can see what appears to be battle damage to its port aileron:

Two U.S. Marine Corps photo-recon Banshees of VMJ-2. Date/location not given.

The F2H-2P photo-recon Banshee used various types of cameras, such as the Fairchild K17, K18 and K38, with various size lenses.

F2H-2P recon Banshee, date and location not given.

Sometimes called Operation Long Step, sometimes Exercise Long Step, North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) wargame took place in The Mediterranean Sea, near Sardinia, in November 1952.  I edited silent USN film to show the F2H-2 Banshee operations onboard USS Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR, CVA-42) during the wargame:

F2H-2 Banshee hauling tow target, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California. USN photo, 07MAY1953.

F2H-3 (F-2C) Banshees began production in 1952.

The F2H-2B (B for bomber [nuclear]) and the F2H-3/4 (F-2C/D) were capable of carrying tactical nuclear bombs, the stronger wing allowed for a bomb load of more than 3-thousand pounds. Sometimes, when the -3 was equipped with nukes it was referred to as the -3B, but apparently that was never an official designation as the -3/4 was already nuclear bomber capable out-of-the-factory.

The so-called Thor Mark-7 (aka Mk7 Special Weapon) nuclear bomb is considered to be the first tactical nuke, but had to be delivered by ‘tossing’ it off the aircraft.

I edited this silent USN film showing a bare-metal VX-3 F2H-3 Banshee carrying the Thor, onboard the USS Midway (CVA-41/CVB-41). The film came with no date/location, but I was able to date/locate the film according to the F2H-3 aircraft (VF-31 Tomcatters) onboard the USS Midway; CVA-41 carried -3 Banshees from January through August 1954, while on a cruise of The Mediterranean Sea:

F2H-3 toss launches BOAR, sometime in 1955.

The Mark-7 was radically modified with a rocket motor (among other things) to assist with ‘tossing’.  A non-armed rocket powered Thor was tested by an F2H-3, over China Lake, California, in 1955.  The rocket powered ‘Thor’ was officially known as the Bureau of Ordnance Atomic Rocket, or BOAR (aka Bombardment Aircraft Rocket, BoAR).

F2H-3 Banshee with BOAR. USN photo, 04NOV1953.

When in-service the BOAR was known as ‘30.5 inch rocket Mark-1’.

VX-3 dash-3 Banshee refuels somewhere over New Jersey.

To bolt on the In Flight Refueling (IFR) probe the upper port-side 20mm gun was removed. The combined IFR capabilities and increased internal fuel capacity made the Banshee-3 the longest ranged USN jet aircraft for that time.

I edit this from silent USN film (dated 28NOV1955) which demonstrates the ‘bolt-on’ IFR probe on the F2H-3 (F-2C). The ‘K’ tail code indicates a Reserve Banshee based on Naval Air Station Olathe (now the New Century AirCenter), Kansas. The fuel was provided by the North American AJ-2 Savage of VC-5/VAH-5:

In 1955, the Royal Canadian Navy began using F2H-3s.  They also armed them with the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile, by modifying the outboard rocket pylons.  According to a Canadian government website, the F2H-3 was their only Sidewinder armed naval aircraft until the advent of the CF-18 Hornet.

In 1956, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) used the F2H-2B to test what it called hypersonic missiles.

NACA operated F2H-3.

In 1958, on MCAS Kāneʻohe Bay, Hawaii, a new emergency runway arrestor system was tested by a ‘Black Sheep’ F2H-3. The Banshee caught the cable at 60 knots (69 miles per hour).

Supposedly, there was no visual difference between the dash-3 and dash-4 Banshees. The F2H-4 (F-2D) had a better radar and more powerful turbines.

U.S. Navy photo claiming to depict a F2H-4 Banshee.

Dash-3/4 Banshees were updated with ‘horsal’ extensions on their leading edge of the horizontal stabilizers, to stop tail flutter.

So-called horsal extension, to stop tail flutter.

According to a 1968 Naval Institute publication, pilots of the Banshee nicknamed the plane ‘Banjo’, but there is no explanation as to why (there is a lot of text missing from the original article).

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

‘Bombing-up’ your F-80 Shooting Star in Korea!

U.S. Wall War, March 2025: Military deployments ramp-up, new war on terror!

On 20JAN2025, the President of the United States declared that drug cartels be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. As of 20FEB2025 eight gangs have been declared as terrorists, they are: Cartel del Golfo (aka CDG, Gulf Cartel, and Osiel cardenas-Guillen Organization),

Cartel del Noreste (aka CDN, Northeast Cartel, and Los Zetas),

Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (aka New Generation Cartel of Jalisco, CJNG, and Jalisco New Generation Cartel),

Cartel de Sinaloa (aka Sinaloa Cartel, Mexican Federation, and Guadalajara Cartel),

Carteles Unidos (aka United Cartels, Tepalcatepec Cartel, Cartel de Tepalcatepec, The Grandfather Cartel, Cartel del Abuelo, and Cartel de Los Reyes),

La Nueva Famila Michoacana (aka LNFM),

Mara Salvatrucha (aka MS-13),

Tren de Aragua (aka Aragua Train).

Here is a little bit of what the Department of Defense and the Customs and Border Protection were up to in March 2025:

Now called ‘expulsion flights’, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection DHC-8 is loaded with outbound illegals, Conroe, Texas.

Now called ‘expulsion flights’, a U.S. Coast Guard C-27J Spartan is loaded with outbound illegals, Conroe, Texas.

On 06MAR2025, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) released video of a drug boat intercept off the coast of the Dominican Republic. The intercept happened on 17FEB2025 and was recorded by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) aircraft. The USCG says 1-thousand-280 pounds of cocaine and five smugglers were captured:

The U.S. Army’s 101st Division Sustainment Brigade-101st Airborne Division deploys from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to Texas for border operations.

3rd Infantry Division UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters arrive on Fort Huachuca, Arizona, 08MAR2025.

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) says this boat held nine illegals, captured near Point Loma, California.

On 11MAR2025, the U.S. Coast Guard captured 15 illegals off the coast of San Diego, California.

The USCG says this boat was one of four used to illegally fish off the Texas coast. Approximately 2,500 pounds of red snapper and 16 Mexicans were captured.

10th Mountain Division Soldiers, assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border, train on the AN/TPQ-53 radar system near Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Deconstruction of CBP temporary migrant housing near Tucson, Arizona, due to a massive reduction in the number of illegals attempting to cross the southern border.

Alpha Company, of the 189th Division Sustainment Support Battalion, departed Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Fort Bliss, Texas.

USS Gravely (DDG 107) was assigned to assist the U.S. Coast Guard with interdiction operations.

On 18MAR2025, deploying Stryker units were issued Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) at Alpine, Texas.

On 19MAR2025, CBP released body-worn camera video of a shooting that happened near Laredo, Texas, back on 23SEP2024.  Part-1:

Part-2:

 

On 21MAR2025, Echo Troop of the 3rd Squadron-17th Cavalry Regiment-3rd Combat Aviation Brigade-3rd Infantry Division, based on Fort Stewart-Georgia, deployed as part of the new Joint Task Force-Southern Border.

President Donald John Trump answers questions about border security, migrant gangs and deportation, I mean expulsion flights, 21MAR2025:

On 22MAR2025, USS Spruance (DDG 111, home base San Diego) began its new assignment to augment CBP along the U.S. southern border.

On 26MAR2025, a U.S. Army Stryker (from 1st Battalion-41st Infantry Regiment-2nd Stryker Brigade, Fort Bliss, Texas) patrolled the border wall near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, as part of the new Joint Task Force-Southern Border.  Video via Private First Class Sean Hoch:

Check out my ‘Border War U.S.A.’ playlist on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkZrLGwZbnj8cKlJz-MWvlTazK36w4b4O

Wall War: February 2025.

City of Pocatello officially rejects motor sports?

While the City of Pocatello, Idaho, spends tax dollars rebuilding a small park into an elaborate skate park, it rejects private efforts at creating a dedicated motorsports complex.  Add to that the fact that the city is sitting on a federal land grant that has as one of its provisions that it could be used for sports, including motorsports (part of the Surplus Property Act involving Pocatello Airport, this is being administered by Bannock Development’s tax payer funded Project CREST)!

On top of this, the administrator for the Pocatello Car Club (advocating for a motorsports complex) says he is now being accused of fraud! Here is most (but not all) of the letter published by the Pocatello Car Club:

After months of trying to work with the mayor to discuss hosting a second street drag for raising funds for the new motorsports complex (PMC), his response was, “There will be no racing on city streets this year.” Even after we addressed the issues, he refused to meet with me or any of the board members to discuss the street drags or allow it to go before the city council. The Pocatello Car Club Board and I have decided to wait until the November election to revisit the matter.

And after several attempts to also meet with the mayor to share our plans for PMC, his response was, “The city has their project and you have yours”. The city does not want to work with the Pocatello Car Club. He continued to refuse to meet with me or any of the board members to discuss the PMC or allow it go before the city council. The Board and I have agreed to wait until the November election to address this issue again.

I spent months trying to organize a demo derby or figure 8 race at the county fairgrounds to help raise funds for the PMC. Their final response was “No motorsports”. They were unwilling to discuss it further. The Board and I have decided to wait until November to reconsider our options.

With the city and county refusing to discuss fundraising events for PMC, I reached out to Power County and Fort Hall. I asked about using their facilities for a demo derby, but I haven’t received a response yet. I’ve attended two Power County Fairgrounds meetings to discuss the derby, and they have yet to make a decision. I’m still waiting for their reply.

This has been a difficult year for the Pocatello Car Club. I’ve been poorly treated and lied to by several government officials who acted as if they were accountable to no one. It seems as though local government officials even set up roadblocks to hinder our efforts to bring motorsports back to Pocatello.

I fully admit to my mistakes in dealing with the mayor and the county, including telling the mayor exactly what I thought of him after he refused to meet and I threatening legal action against the county after they strung me along for months. I mishandled these situations, and as a result, there have been negative consequences for the Pocatello Car Club. My reputation has been tarnished. I apologize to everyone who relied on me to handle this better.

After hearing about the CREST project near the airport, I reached out to the project organizers to explore collaboration. However, they canceled our meeting and refused to reschedule despite my repeated attempts.

I realize that I’ve handled the situation poorly and I’m not the right person to continue leading the PMC project, given the current political climate. I still believe in the importance of the motorsports complex and know that many people in Pocatello want it. However, I am not the right person to navigate this unique political environment.

Along with alienating government officials, I’ve also upset members of the car community. At the last car show in the mall that I organized, volunteers were so upset that they vowed never to help at one of my shows again. And just this week, a member of the car community publicly accused me of fraud.

I recognize the need for a motorsports complex, events like street drags, and car shows, but I am currently not the right person to make these things happen. I’ve made poor decisions and rubbed people the wrong way.

With the battles against politicians, low attendance at the PMC public meeting, the fallout from upsetting volunteers, and the accusation of fraud, I believe it’s best if I lay low for a while.

I will continue to follow through on the projects I’m currently working on and support my son and his PYMP projects.

As for the PMC, I’ve exhausted all the options I think were available and have come up empty. I don’t blame anyone else—it’s me being the wrong person for the job and bad timing of only being able to work with the political leadership we have.

I hope things will change in November. There are good candidates running against the incumbents. Not only is Pocatello the only city in Idaho without motorsports, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it has the most politicians currently under investigation

As for pokycarclub.com, I’m shutting it down today. Because I failed to make progress with the PMC, understandably, membership renewals have been minimal, and it costs around $50 a month to maintain the site.

All funds raised from club membership fees and donations will be transferred to the Pocatello Youth Motorsports Program (PYMP) account, which has been a bright spot in all this work. I really enjoy helping my son with his project of teaching youths how to build and race entry-level race cars. This also shows the community how motorsports can help improve safety and I believe having a youth motorsports team will do more than anything else to help the PMC project.

Pocatello Car Club will maintain its non-profit status, but for now, the focus will shift from promoting the PMC to supporting the PYMP. The kids have four cars and are getting closer to being ready to race. PYMP will not be affected by my decision to hold off working on promoting the PMC until after the November election. My son and the kids he is working with are going full steam ahead building and getting ready to race. 

As far as organizing other car show events besides what I have planned, I am going to take a break from this and we’ll see how it all looks next year. Thankfully we have members in the car community like Carl Hocker, who I don’t think has ever offended anyone. He will be organizing the cars in the Chubbuck Days Parade. We also have Boyd Walton, who brings years of experience in organizing car shows and is working on what will undoubtedly be an amazing event.

I will continue to run the Pocatello Car Club Facebook group where everyone is welcome to share their car related content and information about car show events in our area. 

If anyone wants to contact Historic Downtown Pocatello to arrange entering cars in the 4th of July parade, that would be wonderful. It’s pretty simple, just tell Stephani Palagi how many cars you want to enter and let us know on the FB group where and when to meet. 

That wraps up the updates and changes. If anyone wants to take over the effort of bringing motorsports back to Pocatello and run with it, I’d love to hand it off to someone more capable. If not, the board members and I will look at the political situation after the election.

….Feel free to contact your local politicians and organizations like Bannock Development Corporation, and remind them that we want motorsports in Pocatello. 

Thank you for allowing me to put on a few fun car show events and bring the attention to our community that we need motorsports here. 

Here’s a few more Pocatello shenanigans,

2019: IDAHO’S BRIDGE TO NOWHERE?

2015: Poky Pavegate fallout: Taxpayers asked to clean up their own streets, while paying more taxes!

Pocatello’s ‘Amy’s-Gate’!

2011: Building Contractors Association of Southeast Idaho (BCASE) threaten Pocatello with lawsuit over exorbitant fees caused by crashing tax revenues!

Car crushing tracked vehiculars!

 

The pland-emic didn’t stop the U.S. Marine Corps from conducting ‘Gator Week’ on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 06APR2023.  The event included crushing cars with an AAV7A1 (Amphibious Assault Vehicles-7A1).

U.S. Army M1A2 SEP wows the crowd on the Bemowo Piskie Training Area, in Poland.

Polish Leopard 2A5(?) and United Kingdom Challenger-2 battle-tanks do damage to puny little European cars, on Grafenwöhr Training Area, Germany. I edited together videos via Kevin S. Abel and Daniela Vestal (recorded between 04-06JUN2018):

Swedish Stridsvagn (Strv) 122 Leopard crushing cars during Strong Europe Tank Challenge-2018.

Austrian and German Leopard battle-tanks smash PT Cruiser, and more! I edited from videos (recorded from 05-07JUN2018) via Emily Houdershieldt & Markus Rauchenberger:

They created a pile of crushed European cars.

United States M1A2 Abrams crushing cars on Grafenwöhr Training Area, 06JUN2018. Video via Kevin S. Able:

Here is some more car crushing courtesy the M1A2 Abrams, video  via Emily Houdershieldt:

Austrian Leopard 2A4(?) and German Leo 2A6(?) attempt to smash puny VW cars on Grafenwöhr Training Area, MAY 2017.

I edited this from videos via the U.S. 7th Army Training Command:

HERCULES stands for Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System, only ‘A2’ version is called HERCULES.

U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) video of their M88A2 crushing a car on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 24APR2014:

Check out more tank videos on my ‘Forever Wars’ Playlist on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkZrLGwZbnj93-HZy9E6tQvyrXyMi_-x7

BBN Vehicle I-D: M88A2 HERCULES (another tool of the British empire?)

NORINCO’s drone carrying VT4A1 Battle Tank

Whatever happened to Ukraine’s Tanks? or, How to shoot yourself in the foot, and make NATO pay for it!

Is the combat proven A-10C being replaced by a crop-duster on steroids?

The use of crop-duster aircraft as combat aircraft is nothing new, and it seems the United States is simply following a global trend, because the agricultural aircraft are relatively cheap and easy to maintain.

U.S. Air Force (USAF) Special Operations Command (SOC) loves its latest crop-duster, the OA-1K, which is actually based on the Air Tractor (based in Olney, Texas) crop-duster and fire-fighting aircraft.  The USAF boasts that its new Skyraider-2 is “cost effective”Air Tractor calls their combat crop-duster the AT-802U Sky Warden (the AT-802 first flew in 1990).

In January 2025, the finalized version of the crop-duster on steroids arrived on Hurlburt Field, Florida.  In February, USAF-SOC christened the OA-1K the “Skyraider-2”.

On 03APR2025, the USAF-SOC officially accepted its first OA-1K during a ceremony on Hurlburt Field: “Skyraider-2 represents not just a new platform, but a modular solution to our national security needs. It will redefine how we approach joint campaigning, crisis response and the evolving landscape of modern warfare.”-Lieutenant General Michael Conley, SOC commander.

I edited this together from two USAF promotional videos:

The Skyraider-2 is already being offered for sale to Central American and Caribbean countries.  On 27AUG2024, the OA-1K was flown to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, being presented during the Industry Day/Air Chiefs conference for the air forces of those countries.

Actually, most A-10C units are turning in their Thunderbolt-2s for the F-35 Lightning-2.  The OA-1K Skyraider-2 is specifically a ‘special operations’ aircraft, the crew are known as Air Commandos.

This is the AT-802U trainer version.

Training on the OA-1K will officially take place on Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, in Oklahoma.  Interestingly, the training version has been arriving on Will Rogers Air National Guard Base since July 2024, months before the official acceptance of the OA-1K.

The A-10C:

Idaho’s heritage A-10C ‘8N’

Afghan Phase Inspection

 

Vehicle I-D: M88A2 HERCULES (another tool of the British empire?)

Development of the M88A2 was started in 1991, after it was realized the A1 version could not tow the M1 Abrams by itself; it required two M88A1s to tow the 70-ton battle-tank. The first M88A2 went into service in July 1997. Only the A2 is called the HERCULES, which stands for Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System.

U.S. Marine Corps HERCULES near Al-Karmah, Iraq.

In May 2010, the U.S. Army’s 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment was on the National Training Center (Fort Irwin, California) preparing for deployment to Iraq. Here’s a quick explanation of what the M88A2 can do:

U.S. Marine Corps HERCULES lifts a battle damaged French Mirage 2000D, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

(See more of the Mirage 2000D crash by clicking here.)

From 1961 to 1994 the M88 was built by a company originally called Bowen & McLaughlin. Here is some confusion; Bowen & McLaughlin supposedly started in Phoenix, Arizona, during World War Two. However, by 1950 Bowen & McLaughlin apparently setup shop in York, Pennsylvania, changing their name to Bowen McLaughlin York (BMY).  BMY became a division of U.S. based Harsco Corporation, which ‘went public’ in 1956.  In 1994, Harsco and FMC (Food Machinery Corporation) joined forces and created United Defense.  Harsco still exists today, but changed its name to Enviri Corporation.

U.S. Marine Corps HERCULES pulls the ‘power pack’ (turbine-transmission combo) of an M1 Abrams, on Combat Outpost Shir Gazay, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

More confusion; from 1994-2005, M88 production was done by United Defense and Anniston Army Depot.  In 2005, BAE Systems took-over United Defense. BAE Systems was created in 1999 when the Italian Marconi Electronic Systems merged with the United Kingdom’s British Aerospace. Since 2005 production is officially done by BAE Systems.  The estimated cost of each M88A2 HERCULES is a little more than $2-million (as of the year 2000).

U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) video of their M88A2 crushing a car on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 24APR2014:

The ‘A2’ is larger and heavier than the previous versions. A more powerful Diesel piston motor, and efficient transmission, allows the use of only one recovery vehicle to tow the M1 Abrams.

U.S. Army HERCULES about to lift a Cold War era M47 range target on Hohenfels, Germany.

In 2017, the U.S. Army requested that eleven M88A2s be modified with even more powerful power-packs (engine/transmission combo), a hydro-pneumatic suspension and a seventh roadwheel (per side), for a cost of $28-million.

USMC HERCULES lifts a bulldozer onto a trailer, on Twentynine Palms, California.

Vehicle I-D: M88A1 ‘mud-bug’

Yankee tools of the British empire: National Guard, older than the United States itself!

A-M-P-V making profits off U.S. taxpayers, for the British Empire!

BAE’s M109A7, DON’T CALL IT A PALADIN!

M777 artillery, more proof the Yankees are the Tools of the Red Coats!

Uncle Sam preps for War, 1941: Going Airborne!

Although the first official United States Army (USA) Airborne unit was created in 1943 (82nd Airborne Division), the USA had been experimenting with the idea of having Soldiers jump out of perfectly good aircraft since the end of World War One.

Most of the early Airborne training took place on Fort Benning (recently called Fort Moore, previously known as Fort Benning [a different Benning than the current Benning]), Georgia, with the Airborne Test Platoon (ATP) becoming the first to drop on Lawson Field, 16AUG1940.  The ATP consisted of 48 ‘volunteers’.  The 16th of August is now officially National Airborne Day in the U.S.

I edited together this video, taken from 1941 U.S. Army Air Corps/Forces (USAAC/USAAF) newsreels about the U.S. Army’s paratroop training:

Here are some more USAAC/USAAF Airborne newsreels from 1941:

Paratroopers have their own official National Airborne Day! Video shows you why!

Uncle Sam preps for War, 1941: Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

Jumping out of a perfectly good C-130, over Morocco: African Lion 2023

LDS connection to new military training center in Utah!?

The federal U.S. Army Reserve is having a new training center built on the Utah Army National Guard’s Camp Williams.  Army Reserve training personnel will be redeploying from their home on Fort Douglas, Utah, to Camp Williams.

Fort Douglas was one of many locations, during World War One, where German prisoners of war (PoW) were held. This photo purports to show German PoWs building model ships.

Fort Douglas was established during The War Between the States, in 1862.

In the 1960s, the Army deployed a mobile recruiting post out of Fort Douglas. The photo was made by J. Hargreaves in Murray, Utah, 12OCT1965.

The Civil War era base was officially shutdown in 1991, at least for active duty (Regular Army) use as the federal Army Reserve continued to conduct their training on the now historic site.

The project would not be possible without direct help from the University of Utah and the people of Utah: According to the Army Reserve’s 358th Public Affairs Detachment, the taxpayers of Utah will spend “…$17 million to purchase the land and an additional $100 million to build the new Army Reserve Center and a maintenance facility.”  

Construction is being done by a contractor (Jacobsen Construction) who builds/renovates temples for the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS). Video report via Specialist Ronald D. Bell, 06MAR2025:

The Army Reserve expects to move onto Camp Williams by Spring 2026.

Soldiers on Fort Douglas taking a University of Utah carpentry course in 1917, during World War One.

The University of Utah has a long history of cooperation with Fort Douglas and will takeover the remaining 50 acres of the historic site.

August 2023: Utah State Militia

2022: Utah’s new FEMA Region 8 Urban Disaster Training Site

2014: Utah, home base for massive NSA data center, training National Guard to spy on you using LLVI!

Utah not only home to massive NSA data centers, but to massive military intelligence wargames aimed at you?

2013: ebay, Dell, HP, federal & state governments build World’s largest data collection spy center system in Utah! Real time data stream monitoring!

2012: Utah National Guard base to become site of largest personal data center in the U.S. You are the target!

Like Riceburners? Join the U.S. Air Force, see Japan!

To boost lagging recruitment (and apparent lack of desire to deploy to Japan), the U.S. Air Force is promoting its Auto Hobby Shop on Yokota Air Base. It is open seven days per week, with six self-service lift bays, an oil-change pit, and they provide the tools!

U.S. Armed Forces Network video report released 17MAR2025:

Cold War to Near Peer Threats:Japan’s ‘lowrider’ Type 74, finally retired?

Idaho: British Austin + Japanese Suzuki = The Duke!?

Idaho’s Bold Tigers invade Japan?