MKopack

From Massachusetts via the police scanner: "The suspect is in custody, but it's still a hot scene." Police asking for a medic.

Seventy-one years ago today Lt. Col. Richard Cole was the co-pilot for General Doolittle on his famous raid over Japan. On Tuesday, at age 97 he flew a Mitchell bomber again. Via the DAV Flight Team on Facebook: You may notice that Dick Cole is in the pilot seat of the B-25 "Panchito" during his flight with Larry Kelley and Syd Jones. He says he finally got a promotion from co-pilot! "Oh yeah, he did most of the flying today. He did the landing. He's dead on," said Larry Kelley the B-25's owner.

From my view he is on the close side of the brick building where the explosion is beyond the far side - he wouldn't be able to see anything from where he is. Building appears to have fencing around the roof, probably a rooftop garden, etc.

People might ask who would run towards an explosion? Just saw this pic on the Team Red White & Blue facebook page: Team RWB still does not have an update on the safety of most of our 17 runners and their families who are in Boston today---but we can confirm that several of our Team members ran to the chaos and have been serving as first responders. We are incredibly proud of our team every day....and it's moments like this that show what our organization is really about. Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) is a veteran support nonprofit organization whose vision is to increase the connectivity between America's combat veterans and people in their communities. We use exercise as a medium to bring people together (running, triathlon, Crossfit, yoga, hiking, etc...) You beat me to it, ThreeHoler...

I recently went completely in a different direction from what I normally read and finished "Free French Invasion: The St. Pierre and Miquelon Affaire of 1941" - a pretty enlightening book that I think says a lot about US and French relations right to this day. St. Pierre and Miquelon are tiny French islands, just off of Newfoundland, Canada, and as French territory they fell under the Nazi-aligned Vichy government during WWII. Just weeks after Pearl Harbor (24 Dec '41), Free French forces liberated the islands in a bloodless invasion celebrated around the world - except, somewhat surprisingly, within the US government. Our State Department which after being attacked only weeks before, and being at war with both Japan and Germany, maintained relations with and supported the Vichy French government over the Free French (even though Free French vessels were escorting American shipping to the UK across the Atlantic at the same time) - to the extent that the US Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, made a threat to send US Marines and Navy vessels to retake the islands from the "the so-called Free French" to turn them back over to the Nazi-aligned French government if the British or the Canadians would not. It's said that Charles de Gaulle was difficult for the US work with (at very best) but it seems that some of that may have been "self inflicted". Americans to this day talk a lot about the French surrender to the Nazis, but it's apparently forgotten that after it happened, our government - at least initially - backed the wrong side.

Back in '88 the Vice Wing Commander of the 56th spent about six months assigned to my jet. The morning I put SrA on as a nineteen year old (coloring in the stars on my sleeves with a blue Sharpie) the Colonel, who I wouldn't have thought knew me from anybody, said as he was stepping to the jet, "Chief, I see something new on your sleeves today. Congratulations." Have to admit, even though no one else was around, just the recognition felt pretty good. The case of beer that he had sent over after he landed was a nice touch too.

If I were king...

Reminds me of back when we were receiving the first "Big Mouth" Block 30 F-16C's - straight from the factory - at MacDill AFB in '88/89. During the incoming inspections we found cracked turbine buckets on F110-GE-100's that had less than ten running hours on them from new. As I recall at least one pilot and aircraft was lost and they convicted (and imprisoned) the President of the GE subcontractor that was supplying "recycled" metal that went into the engines. Bad scene.

All F-35's grounded after cracked turbine blade found:

Wait, I saw that movie... "Yippee Ki-Yay Mother Russia"

Ras is one of the "featured" LT's seen returning from his 100th North Vietnam F-105 mission in the USAF documentary "There is a Way".

It is with heavy heart I share with you the passing of a fellow USAF Veteran, Ed Rasimus. Ed was a fighter pilot with two tours in Southeast Asia (F-105D Rolling Thunder & F-4E Linebacker I & II), an educator, and a terrific writer, and at least since 1996 I've been proud to call him a friend. “So here’s a nickel on the grass to you, my friend, and your spirit, enthusiasm, sacrifice and courage - but most of all to your friendship. Yours is a dying breed and when you are gone, the world will be a lesser place.” Going to miss you, Ed. Somewhere an F-105 taxied out of chocks today, not headed for Route Package VI, but just cleared for an unlimited climb on departure...

Search and rescue effort underway for missing aircraft Posted 1/28/2013 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs 1/28/2013 - AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Search efforts are underway after Aviano Air Base lost contact with one of its F-16 fighter jets at approximately 8 p.m. this evening. The aircraft was performing a training mission over the Adriatic Sea with one person on board. The pilot's condition is unknown at this time. More information will be released as it becomes available.

Via Fort Bragg, NC, on Facebook: "At noon today, individual pole testing will occur on Fort Bragg. Do not be alarmed, it is just a test." It's the Army, who knows, could be anything. I think only the Army would have something called a "pole test"...

Twenty-two years ago today.

I spent about four years with Lockheed Martin doing KC-10, P-3 and C-130 work at Donaldson in the late 90's. A lot of history at the base, but not a lot physically remains (although a lot of the buildings are obviously Air Force). Had a good friend that grew up just off base during WWII - his family rented rooms to B-25 student pilots, many of whom he kept in contact with once they went overseas. Some incredible stories. Greenville was also the home of Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr., USAF (15 September 1927 – 27 October 1962) the only person lost to enemy fire during the Cuban Missile Crisis when his U-2 was downed. There is an F-86 on display as a memorial to him in Cleveland Park in Greenville.

I love seeing a military unit that celebrates its heritage. Anyone recognize the Major's name on the canopy rail of the VFA-214 Commander's bird? (Seen by my Dad at the Mesa Gateway airport in AZ a week ago...)

Met him once at MacDill soon after he took over CENTCOM. That's a lot of stars for a young Sgt to see in the commissary when he turned around and said, "You've only got a couple of things, why don't you just go ahead of me..." Who'd have though that two years later he'd indirectly be "the boss" as I deployed to the Gulf. I understand he was a tough taskmaster, but then just look what he got out of us.

Just saw the commercial on TV for the new movie "Parental Guidance" (the commercial was enough of the movie for me). For a minute I thought it had a Hobbit in it, but when I looked again it was Billy Crystal.

I work about 20-25 miles from Seymour Johnson and during the day you can normally always hear the Strike Eagles up relatively high. Not today, what must have been a pair came over low enough to set off car alarms in the parking lot. If anyone is at SJ, I'd like to register some kind of a complaint if you don't come by again tomorrow... Strikes while I'm at work, and low level Herks from Pope when I'm home. Doesn't get much better!

Sadly it has now been confirmed that Noell Rather, a USAF Veteran F-105 pilot with 100 missions over North Vietnam, was lost today along with his passenger Fisher Floyd, in the crash of his Aero L-29 Delfin in Texas. A nickle in the grass and my condolences to their friends and families. https://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2012/12/small-plane-crashed-in-rural-kaufman-county.html/

I have several friends in the San Antonio Pack that have known Col. Parr for many years, only wish I'd had the opportunity myself. His flight west was only preceded by a few weeks by his good friend, and fellow double ace Major General “Boots” Blesse. Somewhere up there I'll bet there are a pair of Sabres flying over MiG Alley once again...

Given the history of their military acquisition system they'll jump back in in three years at double the price.

Just poured a dram of Ardbeg Uigeadail Single Malt from Isley, Scotland. (Named after Loch Uigeadail, the source of the distillery's water.) Wow, talk about an incredible peaty, smoky, sea spray explosion of a taste and smell. Amazing.

Might be able to get that far out with the wing pods removed. (I didn't even realize that they were removable...) I'd like to get out to Beale and just watch one day...