Lost and Found – January 21st Edition

What to remember about January 21st…

• 1738  American patriot, Revolutionary War hero, and founder of Vermont, Ethan Allen is born in Litchfield, Connecticut (d. 1789)
• 1855  (21st or 23rd) American firearms designer and inventor John Moses Browning is born in Ogden, Utah (d. 1926); known as father of modern firearms
• 1861  Jefferson Davis delivers farewell speech and then resigns from the senate; will become president of the Confederate States of America
• 1924  Architect of the Bolshevik Revolution and 1st leader of the Soviet Union Vladimir Lenin dies (b. 1870); replaced by Joseph Stalin
• 1950  Former State Department official and Soviet spy Algier Hiss is convicted of perjury
• 1954  USS Nautilus is launched; worlds 1st operational nuclear powered submarine
• 1968  Initial engagements of the 66-day long Battle for Khe Sanh
• 1976  Concorde SST aircraft carries its 1st commercial passengers with simultaneous departures from London and Paris
• 1977  President Carter unconditionally pardons thousands who dodged the draft during the Vietnam War
• 1985  Ronald Reagan inaugurated to second term as president; ceremony delayed as the 20th fell on a Sunday
• 2003  U.S. Census bureau announces that Hispanic population outnumbers African-American population in U.S. for the 1st time
• 2010  Supreme Court rules in Citizens United v. FEC that portions of McCain-Feingold Act are unconstitutional; 1st Amendment prohibits limits on campaign spending by corporations and unions

From beginning in this humble shop in the old West, J.M. Browning went on to bring the world such important weapons as the M1911 pistol, the Browning M2 .50 caliber machine gun, the Browning Hi-Power pistol, the Browning Automatic Rifle, and the Browning Auto-5, and the Ithaca Model 37 semi-automatic shotgun.

Lost and Found – January 14th Edition

What to remember about January 14th…

• 1639  Fundamental Orders are adopted in Connecticut; 1st written constitution in the colonies
• 1741  American General turned traitor Benedict Arnold is born in Norwich, Connecticut (d. 1801)
• 1784  War for Independence ends officially as Continental Congress ratifies second Treaty of Paris; Britain acknowledges colonies now as United States; known in U.S. as Ratification Day
• 1875  Nobel Prize-winning physician, theologian, and musician Dr. Albert Schweitzer is born (d. 1965)
• 1942  President Franklin D. Roosevelt issues Presidential Proclamation No. 2537, persons from Axis nations of Italy, Germany and Japan required to register with Department of Justice; opened door to full-scale internment
• 1950  1st flight of the Soviet Union’s MiG-17 jet fighter
• 1963  George Wallace is inaugurated as Democrat governor of Alabama; ran on platform of  “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!”
• 1969  Accidental explosion aboard the USS Enterprise kills 27 and injures over 300; serious safety flaws revealed aboard the 1st nuclear aircraft carrier
• 2005  World Health Organization reports that worldwide polio cases have doubled since Islamic boycott on vaccines began; Muslims claim an American plot
• 2008  Bobby Jindal is sworn in as the 56th Governor of Louisiana; 1st Indian-American governor elected in the U.S.

Lost and Found – January 12th Edition

What to remember about January 12th…

• 1876  American author and journalist Jack London is born (d. 1916)
• 1932  Democrat Ophelia “Hattie” Wyatt Caraway of Arkansas becomes the first woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate
• 1942  President Franklin D. Roosevelt re-establishes National War Labor Board to regulate business-labor relations
• 1943  Soviet forces penetrate the year-and-a-half long German siege of Leningrad
• 1951  American talk show personality and political commentator Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
• 1986  Bill Nelson (D-FL) is second sitting Congressman (now Senator) legislator to take flight aboard Space Shuttle as a mission specialist
• 1991  U.S. House of Representatives and Senate both approve a resolution authorizing use of force against Iraq to liberate Kuwait
• 2010  7.0 magnitude earthquake strikes the island of Haiti; estimates of 200,000 dead and over 800,000 homeless

Lost and Found – January 2nd Edition

What to remember about January 2nd…

• 1776  Congress publishes Tory Act to advise colonies on how to deal with persons remaining loyal to Britain
• 1788  Georgia becomes 4th state in the Union by voting to ratify the U.S. Constitution
• 1909 Father of modern conservatism and 5-term U.S. Senator Barry Morris Goldwater is born in Phoenix, Arizona (d. 1998)
• 1923  Albert Fall, Secretary of the Interior under President Harding resigns over corruption charges in Teapot Dome scandal
• 1935  Bruno Hauptman goes on trial for the murder of the infant son of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh
• 1974  President Nixon signs Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act to establish a national speed limit during oil crisis
• 1980  President Carter reacts to Soviet invasion of Afghanistan by delaying implementation of SALT-II Treaty; Soviets unimpressed

Warbirds – B-1B Lancer

Today’s installment of Warbirds brings us to the supersonic, swingwing marvel the B-1B Lancer.  Unofficially known as the “Bone” (from B-one), the development and deployment of this strategic bomber increased pressure on the Soviets and helped shorten the Cold War.  The B-1’s first flight took place on December 23, 1974.

Envisioned in the 60’s as a Mach 2 replacement for the B-52, it was hoped that the Lancer would have the range and payload capacity to meet or exceed her predecessor.  Actual development of the aircraft didn’t start until the 1970’s and the design changed many times as political views of what her mission would be were revised.  President Carter actually cancelled the B-1A program after 4 aircraft were built in another misguided attempt to placate the Soviet Union.  But, the Reagan administration resurrected the project in 1981 to counter mounting worldwide Soviet adventurism.  Subsequently, Rockwell received a contract in 1982 and B-1B became operational with the U.S. Air Force October 1st, 1986.

It was known early on that the Lancer would not be able to take the place of the Venerable B-52.  What was envisioned was a strategic bomber that had the ability to elude Soviet radar and strike without warning deep within enemy territory.  Many viewed this capability as destabilizing in a Nuclear world.  However, the necessity of countering the perceived threat of the B-1B forced the Soviets into ever more unsustainable research, development, and defense spending.   Without ever delivering a nuclear weapon, the Lancer helped shorten the war.

In the 90’s, further development proceeded on the “Advanced Technology Bomber” (which became the B-2 Spirit), leading to a role change for the B-1B.  Part of the fleet was converted over to a fledgling conventional munitions capability.  However, engine issues prevented the Lancer’s participation in the Gulf War.  It would be 1998 before B-1Bs would take part in Operation Desert Fox and undertake conventional combat operations.  That successful mission against Saddam Hussein’s regime would presage deployments in Kosovo, the invasion of Iraq, Operation Enduring Freedom, and they continue to perform “armed overwatch” in support of ground forces in Afghanistan today.

Of the original 100 built, only 93 remain in the inventory and a good portion of those are in reserve storage.  Without the refits and upgrades that the Obama administration has placed on hold, the aging B-1Bs are looking ahead to retirement in the 2030s.  Debate continues over the true effectiveness of the Lancer as further deployment of the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber continues.

Further information on “Bone” can be found on the U.S. Air Force website on the B-1B Lancer Fact Sheet or in the Air Force documentary below.

 

Lost and Found – November 27th Edition

What to remember about November 27th…

• 1746  American founding father Robert R. “R.R.” Livingston is born in New York; negotiator of Louisiana Purchase (d. 1813)
• 1863  Confederate cavalry raider John Hunt Morgan breaks out of Ohio state prison and escapes to the South
• 1924  1st Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is held in New York City
• 1940  Martial-arts expert and actor Bruce Lee is born in San Francisco, California (d. 1973)
• 1942  American guitarist Jimi Hendrix is born in Seattle, Washington (d. 1970)
• 1942  French Admiral Jean de Laborde orders French fleet scuttled in Toulon harbor in order to keep it out of German hands
• 1945 After almost 4 years in prison for perjury, suspected Soviet spy Alger Hiss is released
• 1978  Angry over the loss of his job, Dan White murders San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk

Lost and Found – November 25th Edition

What to remember about November 25th…

• 1783  3 months after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, the last British troops withdraw from New York
• 1863  Union troops crush Rebels at Battle of Missionary Ridge; Confederates forced to withdraw from Chattanooga, Tennessee
• 1864  Confederate “Copperhead” sympathizers start over 20 fires in attempt to burn down New York City
• 1947  After being cited for contempt of Congress, the “Hollywood 10” are blacklisted by the major studios
• 1963  Johnson proclamation declares a day of national mourning as President Kennedy is buried in Arlington Cemetary
• 1985  Former National Security Agency (NSA) employee Ronald W. Pelton is arrested for attempting to sell secrets to the Soviets
• 1986  Attorney General Edwin Meese reveals that profits from arms sales to Iran used to supply arms to Nicaraguan Contra rebels
• 1999  International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women established by the United Nations
• 2002  President Bush signs bill creating Department of Homeland Security
• UPDATE:  2016  Murderous communist dictator Fidel Castro dies in Havana, Cuba (b. 1926); celebrations break out in communities of Cuban exiles and refugees – especially in Miami, Florida

Lost and Found – November 20th Edition

What to remember about November 20th…

• 1789  New Jersey becomes 1st states to ratify the Bill of Rights amendments to the United States Constitution
• 1945  War crimes trials of 24 Nazis begin at Nuremberg
• 1947  Princess Elizabeth marries Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey; in 1957 becomes Queen Elizabeth II of United Kingdom
• 1962  After removal of Soviet weapons, Cuban Missile Crisis ends with lifting of quarantine of the island
• 1979  Islamic militants seize Grand Mosque at Mecca, days of clashes with Saudi and French troops leave at least 250 dead and 500 wounded
• 1985  Microsoft releases Windows 1.0 operating system
• 1998  Zarya is the 1st module of the International Space Station launched into orbit

Lost and Found – November 19th Edition

What to remember about November 19th…

• 1794  U.S. and Great Britain sign Jay’s Treaty to resolve issues still creating tension after end of the Revolutionary War
• 1831  Future President James A. Garfield is born near Cleveland, Ohio (d. 1881)
• 1863  President Lincoln delivers Gettysburg Address at dedication for military cemetery in Pennsylvania
• 1942  Soviets begin counterattack at Battle of Stalingrad; by January this battle will turn the tide in the Allies favor
• 1967  For heroism on the battlefield this day U.S. Army Chaplain Charles Watters will receive Medal of Honor (posthumously)
• 1977  Egyptian President Anwar Sadat is 1st Arab leader to set foot in Israel; peace process moves forward
• 1985  President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev meet for 1st time at summit in Geneva
• 1998  Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives begins impeachment hearings for President Clinton
• 2002  Cameras capture King of Pop Michael Jackson dangling his infant son from a hotel balcony in Berlin
• 2006  Nintendo releases their 7th generation gaming console the Wii

Lost and Found – November 12th Edition

What to remember about November 12th…

• 1790  First Lady Letitia Christian Tyler, wife of President John Tyler is born in New Kent County, Virginia (d. 1842)
• 1892  William “Pudge” Heffelfinger becomes the 1st paid professional football player
• 1927  Leon Trotsky is expelled from Soviet Communist Party leaving Joseph Stalin undisputed leader of the Soviet Union
• 1948  War crimes tribunal in Tokyo sentences 30 for violations of laws of war; 7 are to be put to death
• 1954  After serving as gateway for over 12 million immigrants, Ellis Island immigration facility is closed
• 1969  Independent journalist Seymour Hersh breaks story of My Lai Massacre and Army investigation of Lt. William Calley
• 1979  President Carter ends oil imports from Iran in response to take over of Embassy in Iran and kidnapping of 66 Americans
• 1981  NASA launches Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-2; 1st time a manned spacecraft sent to space more than once
• 2004  After months-long trial, Scott Peterson is found guilty in the murder of his wife Laci and their unborn child