Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).
Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, developed at the end of World War Two.
In June 1950, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (north) invaded the Republic of Korea (south) in an attempt to unite the country (something that had been promised at the end of World War Two). The recently created United Nations essentially declared war and created the United Nations Command, invading Korea in September 1950. The United Nations Command still operates in South Korea, today.
Date and location not given, very likely to be Kimpo Air Base, 1950.
The F-80 had up to six Browning M3 .50 caliber (12.7mm x 99mm) machine guns.
General Purpose (GP) bombs.
I edited this silent USAF film (by H. E. Reid) showing the re-arming/re-fueling of F-80s on Kimpo, Korea, 19DEC1950:
Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union). “Near Pear Threats”, a recent U.S. Army code phrase for the expected Third World War.
Type 74 during a yearly base security exercise, on MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.
Japan’s Type-74 battle tank was designed in the 1960s and produced in the 1970s and ’80s (during the Cold War). It was originally scheduled to be retired in the 1990s, but for financial reasons remained active with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) until March2024, when it was finally, officially, retired.
U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Type 74s demonstrate their ‘lowrider’ collapsible suspension.
The Type 74 was originally designed to use a main-gun with an auto-loader, but it had so many problems it was decided to go with a manually loaded gun that was compatible with NATO ammunition.
The Type 74 uses a NATO standard 105mm main gun, with a redesigned breech & recoil system to get it to fit inside the turret.
Here is a boring USMC video (by Sergeant Cristian Bestul) of a Type 74, and its crew, posing for the camera, on MCAS Iwakuni, 17OCT2019:
Circa 1992.
10th Tank Battalion Type 74, circa 1991.
One of the first Type 74s, of First Tank Group, circa 1985.
Type 87 SPAAG, based on the Type 74 chassis, circa 1999.
In 1987, Mitsubishi modified the Type 74 chassis to create the Type 87 SPAAG (Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Gun). Japan also has a Type 87 Recon Combat Vehicle (RCV), but it is a wheeled armored car not related to the Type 87 tracked vehicle.
Lowered Type 87 SPAAG, circa 1992.
The Type 87 SPAAG was officially unveiled to the taxpayers in 1990.
In 1980, most Japanese tank units were using the Type 61, and even the older U.S. made M41 Walker Bulldog.
Type 61 during Exercise Orient Shield, November 1985, U.S. Department of Defense photo by Al Chang.
Japanese M41 Walker Bulldogs, circa 1980.
In 1978, Mitsubishi modified the Type 74 chassis to create the Type 78 ARV (Armored Recovery Vehicle).
In August 2024, the Ohio Army National Guard deployed a unit of engineers to the Borovac Training Area in Serbia.
According to the Serbian Ministry of Defense, engineers with the Serbian Armed Forces (SAF) trained with the Ohio Guard unit in such things as removing obstacles, constructing shelters, and building and maintaining roads.
In 2006, the U.S. Department of Defense tasked the State of Ohio with the job of mentoring the SAF, under the State Partnership Program.
In 2021, the Ohio Army National Guard issued this 15-year-anniversary video report:
The ZU (Зенитная Установка/Zenitnaya Ustanovka-antiaircraft installation)-23-2 is a Soviet-Cold War era twin gunned towed Air Defense Artillery (ADA) system using 23mm-by-152mm rounds.
The ZU-23-2 is also known as 2A13.
The ZU-23-2 was developed in the late 1950s from a prototype known as ZU-14. It entered service with the Soviet Union in 1960, and is still in production in Russia (upgraded to launch missiles and be remotely controlled), including licensed production in several former Warsaw Pact countries which are now part of NATO. Even Israel has helped Viet Nam develop its own version of the ZU-23-2, known as the 23-2M.
Sometime during the Cold War, a Yugoslavian(?) ZU-23-2.
Interestingly, during the Cold War most books about Soviet weaponry, published in the NATO West, never mention the ZU-23-2. Yet, today the ZU-23-2 is being used by at least 74 countries, by both ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’. It has also been mounted on all sorts of military and silly-vilian (civilian) vehicles.
U.S. Marines check-out a captured ZU-23-2 on the island of Grenada, 28OCT1983. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate Second Class David Wujcik.
Iraqi ZU-23-2 during the early years of the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988).
Iranian ZU-23-2 during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988).
Operation Praying Mantis; the U.S. attacks the Iranian navy during the Iran-Iraq War. U.S. marines check-out a ZU-23-2 on a captured Iranian offshore oil rig, 18APR1988. USMC photo by Corporal John Hyp.
Afghan ZIL-131 truck with ZU-23-2, under tow on Kandahar Airport, 17JAN2002. USMC photo by Captain Charles G. Grow.
Iraqi MTLB armed with ZU-23-2. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Jennifer A. Krusen, 11APR2003.
Iran loves the ZU-23-2 so much that in 2010 an eight barreled radar guided version (ZU-23-8?) entered production, it’s called the Mesbah-1.
In 2013, NATO-Greece modified their Soviet era BMP-1s by mounting ZU-23-2s on them.
November 2016, U.S. Army video (by Sergeant Jacob Holmes) of Ukrainian troops training with their ZU-23-2:
August 2017, U.S. Army promotional video (by Sergeant Anthony Jones) explaining the Ukrainian ZU-23-2:
On the left is a NATO-Romanian ground mount (towed) Oerlikon GDF 35mm guns, on the right is a NATO-Polish truck mounted ZU-23-2. U.S. Army photo by Gary Loten-Beckford, 06DEC2017.
NATO-Bulgarian ZIL-131 with ZU-23-2, during U.S. Army sponsored wargame Shabla 19. USA photo by Sergeant Thomas Mort, 12JUN2019.
Interestingly, during the false flag ‘Arab Spring’ rebellions that swept across North Africa and the Middle East, rebel/extremist groups were magically supplied with Toyotas equipped with ZU-23-2s. This photo (supposed taken in 2021) shows the new Libyan National Army with brand new ZU-23-2 equipped Toyotas.
Russian armored Ural ‘Tornado’ truck armed with ZU-23-2 (2A13) somewhere in the battle for Ukraine, April 2022.
In August 2022, the Houthis paraded their ZU-23-2 armed Toyotas in Sanaa, Yemen.
Russian remote controlled ZU-23-2 (2A13), June 2023. Photo via Russian Union of Mechanical Engineers.
Moldovan troops pose with their ZU-23-2, 13SEP2023. North Carolina Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Brendan Stephens.
NATO video from March 2024, showing NATO-Poland’s upgraded ZUR-23-2, which can also launch anti-aircraft missiles:
On 04AUG2024, the U.S. Air Force (USAF), and the Arkansas Air National Guard, used Highway 63, near Bono, as a runway for transport and special operations aircraft. It was part of the greater Emerald Warrior 24 Field Training eXercise (FTX) II (2).
Arkansas Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Samuel Zang, 04AUG2024.
For the first time, Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing used Highway 63 as a runway for it’s C-130H Hercules aircraft. Officially it is to “expand the Arkansas Air National Guard’s capabilities that can be used in humanitarian and disaster relief.”
On Hurlburt Field, Florida, Special Operations Airmen board a C-146A, bound for HWY 63. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Joseph Pick, 02AUG2024.
The USAF’s 492d Special Operations Wing (SOW) sent their C-146A Wolfhound (Do-328).
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ty Pilgrim, 04AUG2024.
An MC-130J crewmember preps to fuel an AC-130J. USAF photo by Senior Airman Ty Pilgrim, 04AUG2024.
The 492nd SOW also sent their MC-130J Commando-2 to act as a FARP (Forward Arming Refueling Point) to resupply a 1st SOW AC-130J Ghostrider Gunship.
An AC-130J rolls in for fuel and ammo. USAF photo by Airman First Class Saisha Cornett, 04AUG2024.
At the end of June 1950, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, aka North Korea) invaded Republic of Korea (RoK, aka South Korea). The United Nations condemned the attack and essentially declared war by creating the United Nations Command (UNC), and designating the United States as the leader of the UNC.
At the end of July 1953, an armistice (a type of truce/ceasefire) was established, but it did not officially end the war. It is a true ‘Cold War’ that never ended.
Photo via U.S. Forces Korea, 02AUG2024.
On 02AUG2024, at a ceremony on Camp Humphreys in the RoK, NATO Germany became the 18th country to join the UNC operations: “By joining the UNC, we are contributing substantially to stability on the Korean Peninsula.”-Boris Pistorius, Federal Minister of Defense of Germany
U.S. Armed Forces Network (AFN) video report, recorded on 02AUG2024 but not released until 15AUG2024:
The last time I observed DC-10 air tanker operations (ops) on the Pocatello Airport was in July 2021 (in August 2022, I observed BAE-Avro-RJ85, MD87 and Air Tractor ops).
Sometime between 11 and Noon, flying eastward over the Chubbuck Days Festival.
On 10AUG2024, I was alerted to the DC-10’s presence when they flew low over the Chubbuck Days Festival in Cotant Park.
Ex-NASA DC-8 now serving as Idaho State University’s aviation maintenance aircraft, and further down is another DC-10 being ‘bombed-up’ at the U.S. Forest Service’s air tanker base.
DC-10s and a retired DC-8 (the wind has picked up and is messing with the audio):
The Pocatello Air Tanker Base is one of several U.S. Forest Service operations covering the western United States. Upgrades to the base were completed by Summer 2022, however, the upgrades actually resulted in “minimized capacity”:
The ‘new-to-me’ location of the U.S. Forest Service’s air tanker base, on the eastern end of the airport runway. Near the dirt racing track and skeet shooting range.
The new U.S. Forest Service air base ops building versus the old building, and apparently there was a new fire near the Soda Springs area of Idaho (according to the wildfires.gov website):
During the never officially declared Cold War, Sweden decided that its fighter aircraft should be able to use silly-vilian highway systems as runways. In May 2024, the Gripen took part in landings and take-offs from a highway near Gothenburg. Video via NATO:
Taking part in Bomber Task Force Europe, May 2020. Försvarsmakten photo.
JAS 39C Gripen during the 2019 Royal International Air Tatoo, over the United Kingdom. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Aaron Thomasson, 20JUL2019.
JAS 39D Gripen, on Kallax Air Base, Luleå, Sweden, during the Arctic Challenge wargame in May 2019. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist John M. Hageman.
June 2014, a U.S. Air Force (USAF, 100th Air Refueling Wing) KC-135 refuels a Swedish Gripen during NATO wargame BaltOps (Baltic Operations), video by Senior Airman Laura Yahemiak:
Normally a U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier instructor pilot, Major Eric Grunke (hometown Weiser, Idaho) straps into the back seat of a Gripen-D for a FAC training mission over Malmen Military Base, Linköping, Sweden. USMC photo by Sergeant Tatum Vayavananda, 21AUG2013.
In January 2013, Sweden sent their Griffins to take part in the USAF Red Flag wargame over Nellis, Nevada. I edited this take-off video from videos recorded by the USAF:
I edited this landing video from videos recorded by the USAF:
On 05JUN2024, the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing received its first Boeing F-15EX Eagle-2 (aka Super Eagle).
Oregon Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Nichole Sanchez, 05JUN2024.
Tail number 008 arrived at Portland Air National Guard Base, just in time for lunch. I edited this together from video recorded by Steven Conklin and Technical Sergeant Kyle Mergeler:
Tail #008 was built in Berkeley, Missouri.
Berkeley, Missouri, 05JUN2024. Oregon National Guard photo by Aaron Perkins.
It is the first of 18 Super Eagles heading to Oregon’s 142nd Wing.
#008 departs Berkeley, Missouri, on its way to Portland, Oregon, 05JUN2024. Oregon National Guard photo by Aaron Perkins.
