Replies

The United States paid a price for the accomplishments of Linebacker II. During bombing raids, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy aircraft encountered intense enemy defensive actions that resulted in the loss of twenty-six aircraft in the twelve-day period.

On the first day of Linebacker II, the crew aboard a B-52G would tragically became the first casualty of the operation. The bomber and crew aboard Charcoal-01 launched from Andersen with the first wave of Linebacker II, headed toward their targets in Vietnam. Within seconds of their objective, the B-52 was hit by a surface-to-air missile. The pilot, Col. Donald L. Rissi, and gunner, Master Sgt. Walt Ferguson, were killed. Three other crew members -- Maj. Dick Johnson, radar navigator; Capt. Bob Certain, navigator; and, Capt. Dick Simpson, electronic warfare officer, -- survived the attack, but were taken prisoners of war. The officers were released from captivity in 1973 as part of Operation Homecoming, the return of U.S. service members held as POWs. The status of Lt. Robert J. Thomas, copilot, was unknown at the time of the incident. Officials listed the lieutenant as "missing in action, shot down over North Vietnam, 18 December 1972." Thomas' remains were identified and returned to his family in 1978.

Overall Air Force losses included fifteen B-52s, two F-4s, two F-111s, and one HH-53 search and rescue helicopter. Navy losses included two A-7s, two A-6s, one RA-5, and one F-4. Seventeen of these losses were attributed to SA-2 missiles, three to daytime MiG attacks, three to antiaircraft artillery, and three to unknown causes.

In 1997 crews from the US Army Central Identification Lab, Hawaii, and Joint Task Force-Full Accounting excavated the last B-52 crash site from Linebacker II operations in Vietnam. The recovery team began work at the site in November 1997.

Good Morning SAM

Great information thank you.

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I was planning to post this on Christmas Day. Oh well, I'll just have to post the Battle of Trenton and the Delaware Crossing instead.

(Ping list is on the way)

Operation Linebacker II ping!!!

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Great thread, SAM.

Bet some of these guys were there:

7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, TX. Currently flying the B1-B. Motto translated is "Death From Above."

I think I have pictures of F-4s in Tim's book I'm giving him for Christmas. (I decided I would let him lable the planes. LOL). Thank you for the thread.

Good morning Vets. Have a wonderful day everyone

<-------click on the December sunrise

I remember back in 85 we had a major base clean up on Andersen AFB Guam. We walked these aicraft reventments picking up any debris missed by the sweepers. There were plenty of empty aircraft parking spaces. Many hadn't had any type of aircraft on them since Linebacker II. You couldn't look over the flightline without thinking of all of the brave men and planes, some that never came back. One of the rows was supposedly haunted.

I read that during Linebacker II some NVA ( North Vietnamese Army) units were completly wiped out. No one survived and many others were painfully short of manpower after the B-52 raids. During the fall of Saigon in 1975, the North Vietnamese leaders greatest fear was that the B-52's would return.

On This Day In History

Birthdates which occurred on December 19:
1036 Su Tung-p'o China, poet/essayist/painter/calligrapher
1498 Andreas Osiander Germany, Protestant Reformation theologist
1676 Louis-Nicholas Clerambault Paris France, composer/organist
1683 Philip V Versailles France, King of Spain (1700-24, 24-46)
1723 Susanne K von Klettenberg German friend of Goethes mother
1744 Jacobus J Cramer priest of Holland/Zealand/West-Friesland
1753 John Taylor Virginia, philosopher (Jeffersonian Democracy)
1778 Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte daughter of King Louis XVI & Marie-Antoinette
1779 Auguste-Gaspard-Louis Desnoyers Paris France, engraver
1783 Charles-Julien Brianchon France, mathematician (Brianchon's theorem)
1790 Sir William Parry England, Arctic explorer
1792 [Andries] Hendrik Potgieter Cape Colony, settled Transvaal
1796 Manuel Breton de los Herreros Quel Spain, poet/comic playwright
1797 Josef Theodor Krov composer
1809 Pierre-Joseph van Beneden Belgium, paleontologist (life cycle of tapeworms)
1813 Thomas Andrews Belfast Ireland, chemist/physicist (ozone)
1814 Edwin M[cMasters] Stanton Ohio, US Secretary of War (1861-65)
1817 James Jay Archer Brigadier-General (Confederate Army) died in 1864
1819 James Clifford Veatch Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1895
1821 Mary Ashton Livermore American reformer/women's suffrage leader
1824 Hercules Robinson Ireland, South Africa Commissioner (1880-89, 1895-97)
1825 George Frederick Bristow composer
1831 Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop Hawaii
1832 John Kirk Barry Scotland, Dr/companion to explorer David Livingstone
1836 Maria L Sanford pioneer educator (PTA)
1837 John Carpenter Carter Brigadier-General (Confederate Army), died in 1864
1849 Henry Clay Frick Pennsylvania, built world's largest coke & steel operation
1852 A[lbert] A Michelson Strelno Prussia, US physicist (Nobel 1907)
1861 Constance [Clara] Garnett Brighton England, Russian-English translator
1861 Italo Svevo Trieste Austria, Italian novelist (La Coscienza di Zeno)
1864 Adolf Sandberger composer
1865 Hermann Hirt Magdeburg Prussia, linguist (Indo-European Grammar)
1865 Minnie Maddern Fiske New Orleans LA, stage actress (Henrik Ibsen's plays)
1865 Tikhon Toropets Pskov Russia, patriarch of Russian Orthodox/saint
1869 Eduard Hermann Coburg Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, German linguist (Homer)
1875 Carter G Woodson New Canton VA, American historian (black studies)
1876 Carlo Gatti composer
1878 Anton Lajovic composer
1879 Beals C Wright tennis champion (US Open-1905)
1879 Otto Emanuel Olsson composer
1880 Nemesio Otano y Eugenio composer
1882 Walter Braunfels composer
1883 [Francis] Barry Byrne Chicago IL, architect
1883 Louis Davids [Simon David] Dutch cabaret performer/chorus performer
1884 Antonín Zápotocky premier/President of Czechoslovakia
1884 Ferdinando Liuzzi composer
1885 F S Flint London England, translator/poet (imagist movement)
1888 Fritz Reiner Budapest Hungary, conductor (Pittsburgh Symphony 1938-48)
1890 Klaas Schilder Dutch theologist/vicar (Occupied Territory)
1891 Edward Bernard Andre Maria Raczynski Poland, president-in-exile (1979-86)
1893 Harry Blomberg Swedish author (Mäster Jacob)
1894 Ford C Frick baseball commissioner (1951-65)
1894 Paul Dessau Hamburg Germany, composer/conducter (Berlin, 1925-33)
1894 Yoshida Isoya Tokyo Japan, architect (modern sukiya style)
1895 Ingeborg Refling-Hagen Norwegian author/poet (Loke Saar Havre)
1895 Maurice Roelants Belgian author (Jazz Player)
1896 John Seldon Whale theologian
1897 Louis Darquier de Pellepoix France, anti-Semite/nazi collaborator
19-- Jourdan Fremin New Orleans LA, actress (At Ease)
19-- Klaus Eichstadt rocker (Ugly Kid Joe-Mad Man, Too Bad)
19-- Maria Martha Serra Lima Buenos Aires Argentina, entertainer
1901 Oliver [Hazard Perry] La Farge New York NY, anthropologist/novelist (Laughing Boy)
1901 Vitorino Nemésio Portuguese author (Presença)
1902 Sir Ralph Richardson England, actor (David Copperfield, Dr Zhivago, Anna Karenina)
1902 Leonard Hirsch British violinist/orchestra leader (RAF Symphony Orchestra)
1903 Cyril Dean Darlington England, biologist (hereditary mechanisms)
1903 George Davis Snell Bradford MA, geneticist (H-2 gene)
1903 Theo Harych writer
1905 Charles Robert Owen Medley dancer/choreographer
1906 H Allen Smith Illinois, humorist/author (Armchair Detective, Low Man on the Totem Pole, Rhubarb)
1906 Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev Ukraine, 1st Secretary of the Community Party/President of the USSR (1964-82)
1910 Jean Genet Paris France, novelist/dramatist (The Blacks)
1910 Jose Lezama Lima Havana Cuba, poet/novelist
1915 Edith Piaf [E Giovanna Gassion] Paris France, chanteuse (Little Sparrow)
1916 Hal Hastings New York NY, orchestra leader (Chevrolet on Broadway)
1916 Adriaan van der Veen Dutch writer (Sister at Sea)
1916 Mervyn Wallace cricketer (13 Tests for New Zealand, latterly as captain)
1917 Graham Sharp ice skater
1920 David Susskind New York NY, TV host (Open End, David Susskind Show)
1920 Jimmy Dickens Bolt WV, country singer (Grand Ole Opry)
1920 Ragnild Hveger Denmark, 400 meter swimmer (Olympics-silver-1936)
1921 Ludvik Podest composer
1922 Walter Höllerer writer
1923 Luigi Innocenti designer
1924 Edmund Purdom England, actor (Asissi Underground, Pieces)
1924 Peter Prowtiny English real estate developer/multi-millionaire
1925 Tankred Torst writer
1926 Bobby Layne NFL QB (Detroit Lions)
1926 Jeanne Kirkpatrick US ambassador to UN
1928 Galt MacDermot Montréal Canada, composer (Letting Down My Hair)
1928 Michael Hurd composer
1929 Herman T M Lauxtermann Dutch 2nd chamber member (VVD)
1933 Cicely Tyson Harlem NY, actress (Roots, Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman)
1933 James Booth London England, actor/writer (Zulu, Robbery, Revenge)
1934 Al Kaline Baltimore MD, Hall of Fame outfielder (Detroit Tigers/American League bat champion 1955)
1934 Rudi Carrell [Rudolf W Kesselman] Dutch showmaster
1938 Barbara Steele Trenton Wirrall England, actress (Came from Within)
1940 Phil Ochs El Paso TX, anti-war folk singer (Joe Hill, War is Over)
1941 Maurice White Memphis TN, rock vocalist (Earth, Wind & Fire-Spirit)
1942 Jean-Patric Manchette thriller writer
1943 William De Vries Brooklyn NY, surgeon-inventor (Symbion artifical heart)
1944 Tim Reid Norfolk VA, comedian (Venus Flytrap-WKRP, Frank's Place)
1944 Zal Yanovsky rock guitarist (Lovin' Spoonful-Do You Believe in Magic)
1944 Alvin Lee Nottingham England, rock vocals/guitarist (10 Years After)
1944 Richard Leakey anthropologist
1945 Elaine Joyce Cleveland OH, actress (City of Angels, Mr Merlin)
1945 John McEuen rocker (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
1946 Marianne Faithfull Hampstead England, singer (Money, As Tears Go By)
1946 Robert Urich Toronto OH, actor (SWAT, Spenser for Hire, Vega$)
1947 Janie Fricke South Whitley IN, country singer (It Ain't Easy Bein' Easy)
1949 Claudia A Kolb US, 200 meter breast stroke swimmer (Olympics-silver-1964)
1949 Lenny White rocker
1951 Fred W Leslie Ancon Panama, PhD/astronaut (STS 73)
1953 Peter McEwan cricketer (New Zealand batsman early 80's)
1955 Susil Fernando cricketer (5 Tests for Sri Lanka 1983)
1956 Alice Barrett New York NY, actress (Frankie Frame-Another World)
1957 Doug Johnson rock keyboardist (Loverboy-Get Lucky)
1957 Kevin McHale NBA forward (Boston Celtics)
1957 Liz Glazowski Chicago IL, playmate (April, 1980)
1958 Limahl British rocker (Kajagoogoo-Too Shy)
1958 Iqbal Sikander cricketer (Pakistan leg-spinner 1992 World Cup)
1958 Rick Pearson Marianna FL, Nike golfer (1990 Yuma Open)
1959 Edward Metgod Dutch soccer goalie (Haarlem, Sparta)
1959 Kathryn "Furu" Carpenter Marshall MI, fencer-epee (Olympics-96)
1960 Daryl Hannah Chicago IL, actress (Splash)
1960 Mike Lookinland Mount Pleasant UT, actor (Bobby-Brady Bunch)
1961 Reggie White NFL defensive end (Green Bay Packers-Superbowl 31)
1962 Bettina Huebers Hamburg German Federal Republic, illegitimate daughter of Paul McCartney
1962 Charith Senanayake cricketer (played for Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1991)
1963 Chris Greatrex LPGA golfer (1995 Fielcrest Cannon Classic-71st)
1963 Jennifer Beals Chicago IL, actress (Flashdance, Bride)
1963 Karen Bliss-Livingston Quakertown PA, cyclist (Olympics-96)
1964 Beatrice Dalle Breast France, actress (Betty Blue, Sabbath)
1964 Arvydas Sabonis NBA center (Portland Trailblazers)
1964 Lorie Kane Prince Edward Island Canada, LPGA golfer (du Maurier Ltd-1994, 95)
1964 Mike Fetters Van Nuys CA, pitcher (Milwaukee Brewers)
1964 Randall McDaniel NFL guard (Minnesota Vikings)
1965 Chuckii Booker rocker
1965 Jessica Steen Toronto Ontario, actress (Earth II, Homefront, Trial & Error)
1966 Robert MacNaughton New York NY, actor (ET)
1966 Alberto "La Bomba" Tomba Italian skier (Olympics-gold-1988, 92)
1966 Courtney Griffin CFL defensive back (Winnipeg Blue Bombers)
1966 Eric Weinrich Roanoke, NHL defenseman (Chicago Blackhawks)
1966 Monique Oliver Malibu CA, WPVA volleyballer (US Open-4th-1994)
1966 Rajesh Chauhan cricketer (Indian off-spinner since 1993)
1966 Roberto Beam soccer player (Vitesse/MVV)
1967 Doug Johns South Bend IN, pitcher (Oakland A's)
1968 Jennifer Devine Portland OR, rower (Olympics-96)
1969 Kristy Swanson actress (Knots Landing, Buffy Vampire Slayer)
1969 Michael Bates NFL wide receiver (Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers)
1969 Mike Alexander WLAF corner (Rhein Fire)
1969 Nayan Mongia cricketer (Indian Test batsman-wicketkeeper 1994- )
1969 Santana Dotson NFL defensive tackle (Green Bay Packers-Superbowl 31)
1969 Scott Pearson Cornwall, NHL left wing (Buffalo Sabres)
1969 Tom Gugliotta NBA forward (Minnesota Timberwolves)
1970 Zac Foley rock bassist (EMF-Unbelievable)
1970 Jon Cleveland Fresno CA, Canadian 100 meter/200 meter swimmer (Olympics-bronze-92, 96)
1970 Robert Lang Teplice Czechoslovakia, NHL forward (Team Czechoslovakia Representative, Los Angeles)
1970 Wendy Miles Australia, golfer (1993 T77 Alpine Australian Ladies Masters)
1971 Amy Locane Trenton NJ, actress (Andrea-Spencer, Sandy-Melrose Place)
1971 Jen[nifer] Dore Kearny NJ, rower (Olympics-4th-96)
1971 Mike Groh WLAF quarterback (Rhein Fire)
1972 Alyssa Jane Milano Brooklyn NY, actress (Samantha-Who's the Boss, Jennifer-Melrose Place, Phoebe-Charmed)
1972 Warren Sapp NFL defensive tackle (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
1972 Waverly Jackson DL (Carolina Panthers)
1973 Kebu Stewart NBA forward (Philadelphia 76ers)
1974 Bryant Westbrook cornerback (Detroit Lions)
1974 Jake Plummer quarterback (Arizona Cardinals)
1974 Ricky Ponting cricketer (prodigious Tasmania batsman, Australia 1995)
1975 Casual [Jon Owens] rapper
1975 Kristin Folkl St Louis MO, volleyball outside hitter (alternate-Olympics-96)
1977 Maria Joana Parizotto Miss Universe-Brazil (1996)
1978 Lauren Petty Miss New Jersey Teen USA (1997)
1981 Stevie Ficker Miss Oregon Teen USA (1997)
1996 Paige Speakman England, born 19 days before her twin sister
4913 William C De Vries surgeon/inventor (artificial heart)

Deaths which occurred on December 19:
0401 Anastasius I Bishop of Rome (399-401), dies
1370 Urban V [Guillaume de Grimoard] 1st Avignon Pope (1362-70), dies
1614 Melchior Bischoff composer, dies at 67
1741 Vitus J Bering Dutch navigator/explorer, dies
1749 Francesco Antonio Bonporti composer, dies at 76
1798 Charles-Joseph Panckoucke publisher (Moniteur Universel), dies at 62
1800 Georg Peter Weimar composer, dies at 66
1804 Mary Bright British PM Rockingham, dies
1810 Johann Heinrich Egli composer, dies at 68
1815 Michel Woldemar composer, dies at 65
1815 Robert Hudson composer, dies at 83
1823 Nicolas-Joseph Hullmandel composer, dies at 67
1848 Adam van Duyn governor of South Holland, dies at 77
1851 J M William Turner British painter (Rain, Steam & Speed), dies at 76
1867 Jean-Georges Kastner composer, dies at 57
1914 Johann F Ritter von Schulte German catholic lawyer, dies at 87
1915 Alois Alzheimer German neurologist (first described Alzheimer's Disease), dies at 51
1925 Jose Ignacio Quinton composer, dies at 44
1930 Johnny Douglas cricketer (soccer int, boxing gold medal), drowns
1939 Eric Fogg composer, dies at 36
1939 Karl Wagenfeld Low German writer (Lucifer, Death & Devil), dies at 70
1939 Willem Benoy Flemish actor/director (The White), dies at 57
1941 L M Dovator Russian general, dies in battle
1951 Barton Yarbrough actor (Dragnet), dies at 51
1952 Harry Makepeace cricketer (cricket & soccer international for England), dies
1953 Robert A Millikan US physicist (Nobel 1923), dies at 85
1953 Rudolf Leonhard writer, dies
1957 John W Van Druten US stage/screenwriter (I Remember Mama), dies at 56
1959 Walter Williams claimed to be last survivor of Civil War, dies at 117
1966 Ehm Welk writer, dies at 82
1967 Alfred Courtens Belgian sculptor, dies at 78
1968 Norman Thomas founder (ACLU)/Socialist Party (1926-55), dies at 84
1977 Nellie Taylor Ross 1st woman governor, dies at 101
1982 Jean-Jacques Grunenwald French organist/composer, dies at 71
1982 Lawrence Collingwood composer, dies at 95
1983 Raymond Massey actor (Dr Gillespie-Dr Kildaire), dies at 87
1984 Michel Magne composer, dies at 54
1989 Dorothea "Stella" Gibbons English journalist/author, dies at 87
1990 Basil Henson actor (Change Partners), dies of stroke at 71
1991 Ernest K Gann US adventure novelist, dies at 81
1991 Paul Maxwell actor (City of Fear, Freedom to Die), dies at 70
1993 Anthonius "Ton" Kors writer (Time of Anton de Lange), dies at 47
1993 Antoon Veerman Dutch ARP Assistant Secretary of Education (1973-75), dies at 77
1993 Michael Clarke drummer (Byrds), dies of liver failure at 49
1994 Noel Pointer jazz violinist, dies at 39
1995 Dame Ruth Nita Barrow governor-General of Barbados, dies at 79
1995 Harold Watkinson politician/businessman, dies at 85
1995 Janet Wilder stuntwoman, dies at 29
1996 Marcello Mastroiani actor (8½, Assassin, Family Diary), dies at 72
1996 Ronald Howard actor (Hunting Party, Koroshi), dies at 78
1996 Yuli Borisovich Khariton scientist, dies at 82
1997 David Norman Schramm physicist, dies at 52
1997 Masaru Ibuka co-founder (Sony Corp), dies at 89
1998 Mel Fisher underwater film maker, dies from bladder cancer at 76

On this day...
0401 St Anastasius I ends his reign as Catholic Pope
1055 Seldjuken under Toghril Beg occupy Baghdad
1154 King Henry II of England crowned
1551 Dutch west coast hit by hurricane
1562 Battle at Dreux: Anne de Montmorency & huguenots under Condé captured
1686 Robinson Crusoe leaves his island after 28 years (as per Defoe)
1688 King James II's wife & son flee to France
1696 Jean-François Regnard's "Le Joueur" premieres in Paris
1732 Benjamin Franklin (under the name Richard Saunders) begins publication of "Poor Richard's Almanack"
1776 Thomas Paine published his 1st "American Crisis" essay, in which he wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls"
1777 Washington settles his troops at Valley Forge PA for the winter
1783 English government of Pitt Jr forms
1788 Chinese troops occupy capital Thang Long Vietnam
1795 1st state appropriation of money for road building, Kentucky
1823 Georgia passes 1st US state birth registration law
1828 South Carolina declares the right of states to nullify federal laws
1835 HMS Beagle/Charles Darwin approaches New Zealand
1842 US recognizes independence of Hawaii
1843 Charles Dickens publishes "A Christmas Carol" in England
1854 Allen Wilson of Connecticut patents sewing machine to sew curving seams
1859 Grading started for Market Street RR
1861 Battle of Black Water
1862 Skirmish at Jackson/Salem Church TN (80 casualties)
1867 Victims of "Angola Horror" burned to death (Angola NY)
1871 Albert L Jones (New York NY), patents corrugated paper
1881 Jules Massenet's opera "Hérodiade" is produced (Brussels)
1884 Italy recognizes King Leopold II's Congo Free State
1887 Jake Kilrain & Jem Smith fight 106 round bare knuckle draw
1888 Stanley's expedition reaches Fort Bodo, East-Africa
1889 Bishop Museum founded in Hawaii
1890 Start of Sherlock Holmes "The Adventure of The Beryl Coronet" (BG)
1891 1st Negro Catholic priest ordained in US, Charles Uncles, Baltimore
1891 Canadian Rugby Union forms
1894 Cricket day 5 1T Australia vs England England 437 all out, Australia need 177 are 2-113
1903 Williamsburg suspension bridge opens between Brooklyn & Manhattan
1904 The Dawson City (Yukon) hockey team begins 9 day walk to get a boat to Seattle to catch a train to Ottawa to play in the Stanley Cup on January 13 1905
1907 239 workers die in a coal mine explosion in Jacobs Creek PA
1907 Gas explosion at Jacobs Creek PA coal mine kills 239
1910 1st city ordinance requiring white & black residential areas (Baltimore)
1910 Rayon 1st commercially produced, Marcus Hook PA
1913 Jack Johnson fights Jim Johnson to a draw in 10 for hw boxing title
1916 Suriname Bauxite Company forms in Paramaribo
1917 1st NHL game played on artificial ice (Toronto)
1917 Québec Bulldogs play their 1st professional hockey game
1918 Robert Ripley began his "Believe It or Not" column (New York Globe)
1919 American Meteorological Society found
1920 1st US indoor curling rink opens (Brookline MA)
1922 Mrs Theres Vaughn, 24, confessed in court to being married 62 times
1924 Test Cricket debut of Bill Ponsford, who scored 110 in 1st innings
1928 1st autogiro (predecessor of helicopter) flight in US
1930 James Weldon Johnson resigns as executive secretary of NAACP
1931 Bradman scores 112 Australia vs South Africa at cricket SCG
1931 Joseph A Lyons (C) becomes premier of Australia
1932 British Broadcasting Corp begins transmitting overseas
1933 Electric Home & Farm Authority Inc, authorized
1934 Japan agress to fleet treaty of 1922 & 1930
1939 Russian air & ground attack against Finnish positions near Summa
1941 German submarine U-574 sinks
1941 Hitler takes complete command of German Army
1941 US Office of Censorship created to control info pertaining to WWII
1943 Military coup in Bolivia
1945 Austrian Republic re-establishes
1945 Jean Giraudoux' "La Folle de Chaillot" premieres in Paris
1946 War breaks out in Indochina as Ho Chi Minh attacks French in Hanoi
1946 Noël Coward's musical "Pacific 1860" premieres in London
1948 8th largest snowfall in NYC history (15.3")
1948 Cleveland Browns beats Buffalo Bills 49-7 in AAFC championship game
1948 Philadelphia Eagles shutout Chicago Cardinals 7-0 in NFL championship game
1948 2nd political action of Java/Sumatra
1949 Luxury passenger ship Aquitania demolished in Garelock Scotland
1949 WJW TV channel 8 in Cleveland OH (CBS) begins broadcasting
1950 General Eisenhower named NATO commander
1950 Tibet's Dalai Lama flees Chinese invasion
1951 Nazi General Christiansen leaves Netherlands
1952 Queen Juliana unveals statue "Docker"
1953 KFYR TV channel 5 in Bismarck ND (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting
1955 Carl Perkins records "Blue Suede Shoes"
1957 "The Music Man", starring Robert Preston, opens at Majestic Theater NYC for 1375 performances
1958 1st radio broadcast from space (President Eisenhower voice "To all mankind, America's wish for Peace on Earth & Good Will to Men Everywhere")
1959 1st Liberty Bowl game-Penn State beats Alabama 7-0
1960 Fire aboard USS Constellation, under construction in Brooklyn (50 die)
1960 Mercury-Redstone 1A reaches 210 km in test flight
1960 Frank Sinatra's 1st session with Reprise Records (Ring-A-Ding-Ding)
1961 British government begins decimal coin system
1961 Indonesian President Sukarno proclaims general mobilization
1962 Nyasaland secedes from Rhodesia & Nyasaland
1962 Street signs in Golden Gate Park approved by Park Commission
1962 Transit 5A1, 1st operational navigational satellite, launched
1963 Zanzibar becomes independent from UK
1965 French President De Gaulle re-elected (Mitterrand gets 45%)
1968 WCWB (now WMGT) TV channel 41 in Macon GA (NBC) begins broadcasting
1969 Beatle's 7th Christmas album is released
1971 NASA launches Intelsat 4 F-3 for COMSAT Corp
1971 "Inner City" opens at Barrymore Theater NYC for 97 performances
1971 CBS airs "Homecoming - A Christmas Story" (introducing the Waltons)
1971 Stanley Kubrick's X-rated "A Clockwork Orange" premieres
1972 Apollo 17 (last of Apollo Moon landing series) returns to Earth
1973 "Molly" closes at Alvin Theater NYC after 68 performances
1973 Grenada adopts constitution
1974 Dave Kryskow scores Washington Capitals 1st NHL shorthanded goal
1974 Nelson A Rockefeller sworn-in as the 41st Vice-President
1974 "The Man With the Golden Gun" premieres in US
1975 John Paul Stevens becomes a Supreme Court Justice
1975 Ron Wood joined the Rolling Stones
1976 Jo Ann Washam/Chi Chi Rodriguez win Pepsi-Cola Mixed Team Golf Championship
1976 John Lever takes 7-46 in 1st Test Cricket innings, vs India Delhi
1976 Piper Cherokee crashes into Baltimore Memorial Stadium upper stands, 10 minutes after Colts lose 40-14 to Steelers; No one seriously hurt
1976 President Brezhnev receives his 5th Lenin order
1977 Dutch government of Van Agt/Wiegel forms
1978 France performs nuclear test
1978 Indira Gandhi ambushed in India
1980 Anguilla becomes a British dependency separate from St Kitts
1980 Iran requests $24 billion in US guarantees to free hostages
1980 Mutual Broadcasting cancels Sears Radio Theater
1984 Fire at the Wilberg Mine in central Utah killed 27 people
1984 Scotty Bowman becomes NHL's all time winningest coach
1984 China People's Republic performs nuclear test at Lop Nor People's Rebublic of China
1984 China People's Republic Premier Zhao Ziyang & Margaret Thatcher sign Hong Kong Treaty
1984 UK signs agreement with China to return Hong Kong to China in 1997
1984 Wayne Gretzky, 23, is 18th & youngest NHL-er to score 1,000 points
1985 STS 61-C scrubbed at T -13 seconds because of SRB auxiliary power problem
1985 "Wind in the Willows" opens at Nederlander Theater NYC for 4 performances
1985 Mary Lund is 1st woman to receive a Jarvik VII artificial heart
1986 USSR frees dissident Andrei Sakharov from internal exile
1986 Jack Morris agrees to salary arbitration with former team Tigers & accuses owners of collusion against free agency
1986 Michael Sergio, who parachuted into Shea Stadium during game 6 of the World Series, sentenced to 100 hours of community service & fined $500
1987 Bruins' Linseman & Blues' Doug Gilmore score goals, 2 seconds apart
1987 Gari Kasparov becomes world chess champion
1988 NASA unveils plans for lunar colony & manned missions to Mars
1988 Oklahoma's College football team gets 3 year probation
1988 Unexploded WWII bomb found in Frankfurt, Germany-5,000 evacuated
1989 American Airlines purchases Eastern Airline's Latin American route
1989 Larry Bird (Celtics) begins NBA free throw streak of 71 games
1991 Boris Yeltsin takes control of Kremlin
1991 New York Yankee pitcher Steve Howe arrested for cocaine possession
1991 "Christmas Carol" opens at Eugene O'Neill Theater NYC for 14 performances
1993 "Red Shoes" closes at Gershwin Theater NYC after 5 performances
1993 Guinee General Lansana re-elected president
1995 Queen Elizabeth askes Prince Charles & Diana to divorce
1996 "Once Upon a Matress" opens at Broadhurst NYC for 187 performances
1997 MTV drops video "Smack My Bitch Up" by Prodigy

Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"

Hawaii : Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop's Birthday
World : Underdog Day - - - - - ( Friday )

Religious Observances
Orthodox : Feast of St Nicholas the Wonderworker

Religious History
1808 Birth of Horatius Bonar, Scottish clergyman and poet. He authored several missionary biographies and penned over 600 hymns, including "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say."
1855 Birth of William Henry Draper, Anglican clergyman and hymnwriter. His words to "All Creatures of Our God and King" are an English translation of a Latin text believed to have been penned by St. Francis of Assisi.
1860 Birth of Frank E. Graeff, American Methodist clergyman. Well_known for his interest in children's ministry and for his storytelling abilities, Graeff also authored over 200 hymns, including "Does Jesus Care?"
1944 Birth of Andrew Robert Culverwell, American sacred music songwriter. This contemporary music artist has written such popular Christian songs as "Born Again" and "Come On, Ring Those Bells."
1965 American missionary and apologist Francis Schaeffer wrote in a letter: 'God has given us rules not because He is arbitrary, but because the rules...are fixed in His own character... Thus, when we sin we break the law of God...in the direction of destroying what we really are.'

Thought for the day :
" To save one life is better than to build a seven story pagoda. "

Nice Thread Sam. Thanks for the invite. During Linebacker II, I was a young AF Major in USAF Intell at the Pentagon. I had the privilege of briefing the Chief of Staff on the BDA photos from Linebacker II. If I'm not mistaken, I think it was Gen Jack Ryan (three fingers) at the time. Which I could remember the details, but I can't. You guys did a lot more damage than Jane Fonda gave you credit for, however.

Good afternoon SAMWolf, thank you for the information- its nice to come home from the shopping crowds and find fun stuff to read waiting for me. :)

Today's classic warship, USS Kalk (DD-611)

Benson class destroyer
Displacement. 1,620
Lenght. 348'4"
Beam. 36'1"
Draft. 11'9"
Complement. 258
Speed. 37.5 k.
Armament. 4 5", 4 40-mm., 7 20-mm., 5 21" tt., 6 dcp., 2 dct.

The USS KALK (DD-611) was laid down 30 June 1941 by the Bethlehem Steel Co., San Francisco, Calif.; launched 18 July 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Flora Stanton Kalk, mother of Lieutenant Kalk, and commissioned 17 October, Lt. Comdr. C. T. Singleton, Jr., in command.

Following shakedown along the California coast, KALK departed San Francisco 28 December for patrol and escort duty in the Aleutians. Steaming via Dutch Harbor, she arrived Adak 9 January and patrolled from Adak to Amchitki Island. On the 16th she embarked 185 survivors of SS ARTHUR MIDDLETON and WORDEN (DD-352) which had foundered in an Arctic storm. She transported them to Adak, then continued intermittent patrols until she sailed 26 February for home, arriving San Francisco 4 March.

After repairs, KALK steamed from San Francisco 7 April and proceeded via the Panama Canal to New York, where she arrived a fortnight later for Atlantic convoy escort duty. She cleared New York 28 April and the next day joined a 35-ship convoy, UGF-8, headed for Oran, Algeria. Arriving 12 May, she searched for a suspected U-boat. The destroyer departed Casablanca, French Morocco, 19 May escorting a westbound convoy. Arriving New York 31 May, she sailed 13 June via Casco Bay, Maine, and Argentia, Newfoundland, to Norfolk for further convoy-escort duty. From 27 June to 6 December she escorted three convoys between the United States and North Africa. After overhaul at New York and Boston, she arrived Norfolk 29 December and then sailed 2 January 1944 for the Pacific.

She departed Balboa, Canal Zone, 8 January with DesDiv 38, escorting battleships NEW JERSEY (BB-62) and IOWA (BB-61). Reaching Funafuti, Ellice Islands 27 January, KALK searched for downed fighter planes before sailing for New Guinea 31 January to join the 7th Fleet at Milne Bay 7 February. She operated in the New Guinea area, primarily on patrol and convoy escort duty until 12 June. During the protracted struggle for New Guinea, she also covered amphibious invasions, bombarding Manus, Pityilu, Los Negros, and Rambutye Islands, Admiralties: Tanahmerah Bay and Wakde-Sarmi, New Guinea, and Biak and Owi, Schouten Islands.

After providing fire support during the invasion of Biak Island 27 May, Kalk continued escort and picket duty between Biak and Humboldt Bay. While on patrol 12 June off the southern coast of Biak, an enemy plane dived out of the sun and released a bomb which struck abaft her forward stack at the base of her starboard torpedo tubes. As KALK's 20-mm. gunfire splashed the attacker, the bomb exploded the air flasks of her torpedoes, destroying several 20-mm. guns, showering her crew with shrapnel, and damaging her superstructure amidships. Though suffering 70 casualties, her heroic crew rallied to save the destroyer. Skillful firefighters extinguished each blaze; and, while other hands tended the wounded, volunteers detached the warheads from torpedoes scattered about the deck. Every man knew what to do and did it.

The only Allied ship seriously damaged in more than 2 weeks of repeated air attacks at and near Biak, KALK retired to Hollandia, New Guinea, for emergency repairs and sailed 20 June via the Admiralties and Pearl Harbor for the United States. Reaching San Francisco 31 July, she received complete repairs and underwent alteration at Mare Island.

Then the gallant destroyer departed 26 October for Pearl Harbor, arriving 1 November. On 12 November she headed via Eniwetok to Ulithi, Western Carolines, where she arrived 26 November to resume her duty in the western Pacific.

For more than 8 months KALK operated out of Ulithi on ASW patrols screening sea logistics forces during offensive operations from Luzon to Okinawa. From 16 to 23 December she patrolled northeast of Luzon during replenishment of the 3d Fleet. Sailing from Ulithi 29 December, she screened supply units which supported TF 38 during the crucial Lingayen Gulf operations on western Luzon. She continued this important duty until returning to Ulithi 27 January 1945.

As a unit of DesDiv 38, KALK rendezvoused with TG 50.8 on 18 February for refueling and replenishment operations of TF 58 during the savage campaign on Iwo Jima. Returning to Ulithi 6 March, she sailed north-ward 13 March with TG 50.8 to screen logistic support for the 6th Fleet which was then clearing Ryukyu waters of enemy shipping and aircraft in preparation for the invasion of Okinawa 1 April. From then to the end of the war, KALK operated with the 5th and 3d Fleets off the Ryukyus as escort, plane guard, and ASW screen. Concerned primarily with screening supply ships between Ulithi and Okinawa she destroyed numerous Japanese mines during patrols. While steaming for Okinawa 5 June with logistic support group TG 30.8, she passed through a raging typhoon with destructive winds of more than 90 knots. Suffering only minor damage, KALK continued screening patrols. When the war ended 15 August, she was steaming from Okinawa to Ulithi.

Departing Ulithi 20 August, KALK sailed via Saipan and Okinawa to Japan, arriving Tokyo Bay 1 September escorting DETROIT (CL-8). Present at the formal Japanese surrender 2 September, she departed the 3d on an escort run to Eniwetok. After returning to Tokyo Bay 16 September, she departed for the United States 12 October via the Philippines, Eniwetok, and Pearl Harbor. Reaching San Diego 17 November, she proceeded on the 17th for the East Coast, arriving Boston 11 December. After overhaul, she departed Boston 18 January 1946 and arrived Charleston, S.C., on the 20th. KALK decommissioned at Charleston 3 May 1946, entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Kalk was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in June 1968. She was sunk as a target in March 1969.

KALK received eight battle stars for World War II service .

USS Kalk was named in honor of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Stanton F. Kalk, USN, (1894-1917), who lost his life in the sinking of USS Jacob Jones in December 1917.

Bump for AARDVARKS! The F-111

Linebacker II

AARDVARKS over Libya.......Ronny says Hello Gaddafi!

The air wing of the George Washington Battle Group ended a six-month deployment today as aviators returned a day ahead of the ships.

Sarah Steenson, 2, is happy to be in the arms of her
father, Lt. Justin Steenson, after he returned from
deployment with the VAW-125 "Tigertails" at Norfolk
Naval Station on Thursday. The squadron of E-2C
Hawkeyes was part of the George Washington air wing.
Photo by Steve Earley / The Virginian-Pilot.
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As 7 of 9 likes to say Sam......U.S. Navy Smackdown!

Great post, Sam. 26 aircraft in a 12-day period sounds like a substantial loss, doesn't it?

A song for us all

Jefferson and Liberty-Thomas Jefferson's 1800 presidential campaign song-A theme Song For Us here?

Very nice summary...what historians fail to note is that most of our losses occurred during the first three days of Linebacker II; the sight of B-52s over Hanoi frightened the NV, and they (literally) fired their entire SA-2 inventory during the first 72 hours of the operation. After that, the Buffs and TACAIR roamed the skies unchallenged, and inflicted even more damage on North Vietnam. And by New Year's Day, Hanoi was ready to talk "peace."