Ever see a float plane without wheels take-off from land?
Thought you might like to see what kind of aviation related things they do in Prince George, B.C. You have seen float planes come and go...but bet you haven't seen one take off like this. This video was taken in Prince George....got to give the pilot full marks for guts. I imagine you only get one shot at this... notice the fire truck following them... they obviously had a few doubts themselves.
When a floatplane is landed on the grass and taken to the hangar for maintenance, obviously it has to depart once again. Landing a floatplane on grass is easier than becoming airborne on grass. This is where 'Dolly' comes in. Put the aircraft on a 'dolly', fire it up, tow it down the runway, and, once a certain speed is attained, push the throttle to 'Warp Factor 9', and you are airborne.
Get ready, here is how the good people at Hill Aircraft Service Ltd. in Prince George, B.C., accomplish a 'dolly take-off'!'
Monday, June 22, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Calling All Navigators!
Memories of James Connally AFB.....
Click here for an interesting website of history and photo gallery:
JCAFB Navigators & Obervers Website
Click on this red link to go to a photo gallery of the:
T-29 Flying Classroom
Finally, click on the following red link for a great photo log of:
T-29 Restoration Project
Click on this red link to go to a photo gallery of the:T-29 Flying Classroom
Finally, click on the following red link for a great photo log of:T-29 Restoration Project
Thursday, May 28, 2009
May Book of the Month
WITH WINGS LIKE EAGLES:
A History of the Battle of Britain
By Michael Korda
Harper 2009
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much
owed by so many to so few."
Churchill, 20 August 1940, House of Commons.
Richard Spencer
39th ATS, KDOV
1962-1965
A History of the Battle of Britain
By Michael Korda
Harper 2009
"Never in the field of human conflict was so muchowed by so many to so few."
Churchill, 20 August 1940, House of Commons.
Few moments in British history are so firmly fixed in the people’s minds as the summer of 1940 when fewer than 2000 young fighter pilots stood between Hitler and the victory that seemed within his grasp. Britain, alone, “courageous, defiant, and without allies defeated a more powerful and warlike enemy in the nick of time.” And, so, Michael Korda begins his history about this fascinating military victory that is still commemorated annually on September 15 as Battle of Britain Day.
Like the defeat of the Spanish Armada and Trafalgar it is deeply etched into the British mind as a moment of supreme danger to the Empire. Korda, in spite of the academic pressures for historians to write revisionist tomes that glamorize or diminish according to their own inclinations, will have none of this. In WITH WINGS LIKE EAGLES, Korda gives a straightforward account of the intense political and military intrigue in the run up to the War that led to the formation of Fighter Command.
Click here to buy or rent a DVD:
Moviefone: Battle of Britain, the 1969 movie, and see a synopsis and two more posters.
During the 1930’s there was much debate about the mission of air forces in all of the countries that were soon to be at war. These forces were young and were largely commanded by WWI pilots used to open cockpits, no ground control, and blindly flying the skies looking for the enemy. However, the technology was developing that would put an end to such aerial combat in spite of the ‘old bulls’ traditional attitudes about individual gallantry. Closed cockpits were deemed unsuitable until pilots became convinced that 300 mph wind shear would be damaging to more than their combed hair.
In addition, Korda notes the general feeling among all that “The bomber will always get through” and that created a desire for each country to increase bombers over fighters. This seems to be an early and fledging use of the Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) that was developed fully during the Cold War. An attack on one will make certain the destruction of the other: Knowing that, neither will attack as both will face annihilation. Today’s nuclear doctrine of MAD is still relevant among the countries of the world possessing such weapons. Though strained, many attribute our long stretch of time without international world wars among Nations to this very strategy of nuclear deterrence.
Korda now turns his attention to Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding who becomes the central focus of WINGS; “To him the people of Britain and of the free world owe largely the way of life and the liberties that they enjoy today.” He, almost alone, understood that without modern fighters Britain might lose the war the moment it began. Enemy bombers could get through and wreak great physical and psychological damage; but, Britain could not deter such an attack by destroying, in turn, the aggressor’s homeland with its present bomber force. The distances were too great, the forces too small, and the technology too primitive. To save Britain Dowding surmised that the enemy must be destroyed enroute. Thus began his great personal effort to change the thinking of the military and political establishment to produce a modern fighter force in order to protect the homeland.
With much difficulty Dowding’s vision of the “big picture’ to defeat Germany became the reality called Fighter Command. Modern fighters, all weather concrete runways, radar sites, radio communications, hardened communication lines, observers, the integration of women as key players, central control, and much more were developed during the 1930’s.
As Korda notes, Dowding’s vision was to inflict a constant and unacceptable rate of loss upon the Luftwaffe through control of the air battle from Fighter Command Headquarters. The idea of overlapping radar sites to pick up enemy planes over the continent as a first line of defense to control the air battle was a daring and untried concept that caused bitter controversy for Dowding among his critics. Dowding intended to bluff the Germans by never revealing his hand and then bleed them to death. Luckily for Britain, they listened to this uncommunicative, but argumentative leader when it came to things that mattered to him, for they also mattered to all.
A fledgling fighter pilot, Geoffrey Wellum, who was not yet nineteen years old, posted straight to an operational squadron, having never seen a fighter, given a few hours of flying a Spitfire, and then met his baptism of fire. Wellum writes of this in almost poetic style as he describes the incident; and, Korda notes the “…description…as being about as good as words get in describing the indescribable”. Wellum fought through the Battle, won a DFC, had 100 sorties over France, and ended up fighting on the besieged island of Malta. Wellum summed up mortal air combat as remembering a simple, uncomplicated golden rule: “Never, never fly straight and level for more than twenty seconds. If you do, you’ll die.” A lesson learned mostly by those who survived.
On August 15, 1940 the Luftwaffe sent over a 1000 planes to bomb England in an attempt to completely destroy Britain’s capability to thwart a German invasion planned for September. Korda describes how Dowding’s strategy for Fighter Command had worked seamlessly as ordinary young Britons, just out of flight school, flew sortie after sortie until they could no longer count the number of take offs or the number of the enemy they had shot down. Crowds watched from the streets as the air battles took place out of sound but not out of sight not knowing the outcome. Civilian life went on as usual as the young men fought and died thousands of feet above in the sky. It was an eerie sight and time.
August 15 was to be one of the most critical days of the War; but at its end it was a British victory and a victory for Dowding. Churchill commented in his memoirs, “We must regard the generalship here shown as an example of genius in the art of war.” However, for both sides the hardest and most brutal fighting was still to come.
As Korda aptly states, those who flew in the Battle of Britain are forever remembered as “the Few.” The average age of a newly minted pilot was seventeen, with scant training, with a life expectancy in minutes; and, scarier to the veterans than the Germans were. It was about as intense a life as one could live. The Germans were making great efforts to destroy Fighter Command as Dowding’s “chicks” inflicted more and more destruction upon them. But, if Fighter Command survived, the Germans could not invade. And, so it was, modern British history for the ages in the making.
Churchill spoke to the Nation saying, “The effort of the Germans to secure daylight mastery of the air over England is of course the crux of the whole war.” Then, on September 15, came the decisive day of the Battle of Britain; and, many opine, the decisive day of the war. And, that became, forever, the day to be celebrated by the British as the Battle of Britain Day.
Korda does a marvelous bit of writing as he describes that day and “the Few” gloriously winning one of the four most crucial victories in British history. Amazingly, Dowding’s Fighter Command had never lost control of the air for even a single moment. To the wonder of the world, a personally remote military leader, sometimes reviled by his cohorts, and 2000 fighter pilots secured Britain’s freedom. In its time, it seemed a miracle.
With Wings Like Eagles will be quite interesting for C-133 crewmembers as we had several veterans in our early squadrons quite familiar with the European air battles. Also, for the WWII history buffs, Korda presents an unfettered analysis of this time in our lives when Britain stood alone against one of history’s most evil rulers in his quest for dominance of the European continent. Dowding’s unrelenting pursuit to implement his contested vision won the day. That in itself makes Wings a most enjoyable read. Kudos to Korda!
As a bonus, the 1969 movie, Battle of Britain, is available with marvelous flying scenes along with Dowding as technical director and Laurence Olivier playing him. I recommend it as an excellent depiction of these historic events and times as true to the story line. I had a very nostalgic evening viewing it after last seeing it almost 40 years ago. Click here to go to the Battle of Britain Historical Society homepage. Enjoy!
Like the defeat of the Spanish Armada and Trafalgar it is deeply etched into the British mind as a moment of supreme danger to the Empire. Korda, in spite of the academic pressures for historians to write revisionist tomes that glamorize or diminish according to their own inclinations, will have none of this. In WITH WINGS LIKE EAGLES, Korda gives a straightforward account of the intense political and military intrigue in the run up to the War that led to the formation of Fighter Command.
Click here to buy or rent a DVD:
Moviefone: Battle of Britain, the 1969 movie, and see a synopsis and two more posters.
During the 1930’s there was much debate about the mission of air forces in all of the countries that were soon to be at war. These forces were young and were largely commanded by WWI pilots used to open cockpits, no ground control, and blindly flying the skies looking for the enemy. However, the technology was developing that would put an end to such aerial combat in spite of the ‘old bulls’ traditional attitudes about individual gallantry. Closed cockpits were deemed unsuitable until pilots became convinced that 300 mph wind shear would be damaging to more than their combed hair.
In addition, Korda notes the general feeling among all that “The bomber will always get through” and that created a desire for each country to increase bombers over fighters. This seems to be an early and fledging use of the Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) that was developed fully during the Cold War. An attack on one will make certain the destruction of the other: Knowing that, neither will attack as both will face annihilation. Today’s nuclear doctrine of MAD is still relevant among the countries of the world possessing such weapons. Though strained, many attribute our long stretch of time without international world wars among Nations to this very strategy of nuclear deterrence.
Korda now turns his attention to Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding who becomes the central focus of WINGS; “To him the people of Britain and of the free world owe largely the way of life and the liberties that they enjoy today.” He, almost alone, understood that without modern fighters Britain might lose the war the moment it began. Enemy bombers could get through and wreak great physical and psychological damage; but, Britain could not deter such an attack by destroying, in turn, the aggressor’s homeland with its present bomber force. The distances were too great, the forces too small, and the technology too primitive. To save Britain Dowding surmised that the enemy must be destroyed enroute. Thus began his great personal effort to change the thinking of the military and political establishment to produce a modern fighter force in order to protect the homeland.
With much difficulty Dowding’s vision of the “big picture’ to defeat Germany became the reality called Fighter Command. Modern fighters, all weather concrete runways, radar sites, radio communications, hardened communication lines, observers, the integration of women as key players, central control, and much more were developed during the 1930’s.
As Korda notes, Dowding’s vision was to inflict a constant and unacceptable rate of loss upon the Luftwaffe through control of the air battle from Fighter Command Headquarters. The idea of overlapping radar sites to pick up enemy planes over the continent as a first line of defense to control the air battle was a daring and untried concept that caused bitter controversy for Dowding among his critics. Dowding intended to bluff the Germans by never revealing his hand and then bleed them to death. Luckily for Britain, they listened to this uncommunicative, but argumentative leader when it came to things that mattered to him, for they also mattered to all.
A fledgling fighter pilot, Geoffrey Wellum, who was not yet nineteen years old, posted straight to an operational squadron, having never seen a fighter, given a few hours of flying a Spitfire, and then met his baptism of fire. Wellum writes of this in almost poetic style as he describes the incident; and, Korda notes the “…description…as being about as good as words get in describing the indescribable”. Wellum fought through the Battle, won a DFC, had 100 sorties over France, and ended up fighting on the besieged island of Malta. Wellum summed up mortal air combat as remembering a simple, uncomplicated golden rule: “Never, never fly straight and level for more than twenty seconds. If you do, you’ll die.” A lesson learned mostly by those who survived.
On August 15, 1940 the Luftwaffe sent over a 1000 planes to bomb England in an attempt to completely destroy Britain’s capability to thwart a German invasion planned for September. Korda describes how Dowding’s strategy for Fighter Command had worked seamlessly as ordinary young Britons, just out of flight school, flew sortie after sortie until they could no longer count the number of take offs or the number of the enemy they had shot down. Crowds watched from the streets as the air battles took place out of sound but not out of sight not knowing the outcome. Civilian life went on as usual as the young men fought and died thousands of feet above in the sky. It was an eerie sight and time.
August 15 was to be one of the most critical days of the War; but at its end it was a British victory and a victory for Dowding. Churchill commented in his memoirs, “We must regard the generalship here shown as an example of genius in the art of war.” However, for both sides the hardest and most brutal fighting was still to come.
As Korda aptly states, those who flew in the Battle of Britain are forever remembered as “the Few.” The average age of a newly minted pilot was seventeen, with scant training, with a life expectancy in minutes; and, scarier to the veterans than the Germans were. It was about as intense a life as one could live. The Germans were making great efforts to destroy Fighter Command as Dowding’s “chicks” inflicted more and more destruction upon them. But, if Fighter Command survived, the Germans could not invade. And, so it was, modern British history for the ages in the making.
Churchill spoke to the Nation saying, “The effort of the Germans to secure daylight mastery of the air over England is of course the crux of the whole war.” Then, on September 15, came the decisive day of the Battle of Britain; and, many opine, the decisive day of the war. And, that became, forever, the day to be celebrated by the British as the Battle of Britain Day.
Korda does a marvelous bit of writing as he describes that day and “the Few” gloriously winning one of the four most crucial victories in British history. Amazingly, Dowding’s Fighter Command had never lost control of the air for even a single moment. To the wonder of the world, a personally remote military leader, sometimes reviled by his cohorts, and 2000 fighter pilots secured Britain’s freedom. In its time, it seemed a miracle.
With Wings Like Eagles will be quite interesting for C-133 crewmembers as we had several veterans in our early squadrons quite familiar with the European air battles. Also, for the WWII history buffs, Korda presents an unfettered analysis of this time in our lives when Britain stood alone against one of history’s most evil rulers in his quest for dominance of the European continent. Dowding’s unrelenting pursuit to implement his contested vision won the day. That in itself makes Wings a most enjoyable read. Kudos to Korda!
As a bonus, the 1969 movie, Battle of Britain, is available with marvelous flying scenes along with Dowding as technical director and Laurence Olivier playing him. I recommend it as an excellent depiction of these historic events and times as true to the story line. I had a very nostalgic evening viewing it after last seeing it almost 40 years ago. Click here to go to the Battle of Britain Historical Society homepage. Enjoy!
Richard Spencer
39th ATS, KDOV
1962-1965
Monday, May 25, 2009
We Remember! Thank you!
To those who gave all for our freedom,
and their families
.....especially our colleagues lost in 133's.....
we salute you!!
Appropriate story; author anonymous:
As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open. The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away.
I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm, walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something. The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade and then turn back to the old man and I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying, 'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.
I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine. He then went to his wife and spoke with her and appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight and as I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having a problem.' He smiled sheepishly and quietly nodded his head. 'I looked under the hood myself and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me.'
Looking around I saw a gas station up the road and told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went inside and saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them and related the problem the old man had with his car and offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.
The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us, he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine) I spoke with the old gentleman. When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?'
He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal. He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me and I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card.
He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands all around again and I said my goodbye's to his wife. I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station.
Once at the station I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me. One of them pulled out a card from his pocket looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then, that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off.
For some reason I had gone about two blocks when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name.......'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'
I sat there motionless looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together, because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage and an honor to have been in his presence.
Remember, OLD men like him gave you FREEDOM for America.
Thanks to those who served and those who supported them. America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the mall.
If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them!
Remember, Freedom isn't "Free" -- thousands have paid the price so you can enjoy what you have today.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Dog Fight for the Birds
Some of you might have already seen this on other nets. I got it from a friend of a friend who runs a 2,000 acre corn farm up around Barron, WI, not far from Oshkosh. He used to fly F4Es and F-16s for the Guard and participated in the first Gulf War. Submitted for your enjoyment, and as a reminder that there are other great, magnificent flyers around.
****************************************************************************************************
I went out to plant corn for a bit to finish a field before tomorrow morning and witnessed THE GREAT BATTLE.
A golden eagle - big bastard, about six foot wingspan - flew right in front of the tractor. It was being chased by three crows that were continually dive bombing it and pecking at it. The crows do this because the eagles rob their nests when they find them.
At any rate, the eagle banked hard right in one evasive maneuver, then landed in the field about 100 feet from the tractor. This eagle stood about 3 feet tall. The crows all landed too and took up positions around the eagle at 120 degrees apart, but kept their distance at about 20 feet from the big bird. The eagle would take a couple steps towards one of the crows and they'd hop backwards and forward to keep their distance. Then the reinforcements showed up!
I happened to spot the eagle's mate hurtling down out of the sky at what appeared to be approximately Mach 1.5. Just before impact the eagle on the ground took flight, and the three crows which were watching the grounded eagle, also took flight thinking they were going to get in some more pecking on the big bird. The first crow being targeted by the diving eagle never stood a snowball's chance in hell. There was a mid-air explosion of black feathers and that crow was done! The diving eagle then banked hard left in what had to be a 9G climbing turn, using the energy it had accumulated in the dive, and hit crow #2 less than two seconds later. Another crow dead!
The grounded eagle, which was now airborne and had an altitude advantage on the remaining crow, which was streaking eastward in full burner, made a short dive then banked hard right when the escaping crow tried to evade the hit. It didn't work - crow #3 bit the dust at about 20 feet altitude.
This aerial battle was better than any airshow I've been to, including the warbirds show at Oshkosh! The two eagles ripped the crows apart and ate them on the ground, and as I got closer and closer working my way across the field, I passed within 20 feet of one of them as it ate its catch. It stopped and looked at me as I went by and you could see in the look of that bird that it knew who's Boss Of The Sky. What a beautiful bird!
****************************************************************************************************
I went out to plant corn for a bit to finish a field before tomorrow morning and witnessed THE GREAT BATTLE.
A golden eagle - big bastard, about six foot wingspan - flew right in front of the tractor. It was being chased by three crows that were continually dive bombing it and pecking at it. The crows do this because the eagles rob their nests when they find them.
At any rate, the eagle banked hard right in one evasive maneuver, then landed in the field about 100 feet from the tractor. This eagle stood about 3 feet tall. The crows all landed too and took up positions around the eagle at 120 degrees apart, but kept their distance at about 20 feet from the big bird. The eagle would take a couple steps towards one of the crows and they'd hop backwards and forward to keep their distance. Then the reinforcements showed up!
I happened to spot the eagle's mate hurtling down out of the sky at what appeared to be approximately Mach 1.5. Just before impact the eagle on the ground took flight, and the three crows which were watching the grounded eagle, also took flight thinking they were going to get in some more pecking on the big bird. The first crow being targeted by the diving eagle never stood a snowball's chance in hell. There was a mid-air explosion of black feathers and that crow was done! The diving eagle then banked hard left in what had to be a 9G climbing turn, using the energy it had accumulated in the dive, and hit crow #2 less than two seconds later. Another crow dead!
The grounded eagle, which was now airborne and had an altitude advantage on the remaining crow, which was streaking eastward in full burner, made a short dive then banked hard right when the escaping crow tried to evade the hit. It didn't work - crow #3 bit the dust at about 20 feet altitude.
This aerial battle was better than any airshow I've been to, including the warbirds show at Oshkosh! The two eagles ripped the crows apart and ate them on the ground, and as I got closer and closer working my way across the field, I passed within 20 feet of one of them as it ate its catch. It stopped and looked at me as I went by and you could see in the look of that bird that it knew who's Boss Of The Sky. What a beautiful bird!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Hotelicopter
Those Russians just know how to design a good lookin' aircraft, don't they????
And it flies!!!!!!!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Agent Orange Legislation
Here is some proposed legislation in the House of Representatives that will be of interest to all aircrew who flew into Vietnam but were never stationed there. It changes the definition of Vietnam Service to make eligibility for Agent Orange benefits less difficult to obtain. HR2244, The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009, was introduce by Rep Filner on 5 May 2009. It would clarify the legal presumption of exposure to Agent Orange for veterans who served in the vicinity of Vietnam. Currently, 38 US Code Section 1116, defines a Vietnam veteran as "a veteran who, during active military, naval, or air service, served in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975." The Department of Veterans Affairs uses a conservative interpretation to mean "boots on the ground" which excludes most Navy and Air Force personnel who have Agent Orange related issues but who can not prove "boots on the ground." HR 2244 would clarify this section by redefining a Vietnam veteran as one who, during active military, naval or air service (a) served in the Republic of Vietnam (including the inland waterways, ports and harbors of such Republic, the waters offshore of such Republic and the airspace above such Republic) during the period January 9, 1962 - May 7, 1975: (b) served in Johnston Island during the period April 1, 1972 - September 30, 1977: or (c) received the Vietnam Service Medal of the Vietnam Campaign Medal. This is something important about which to contact your representative.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
C-133 TV program
Greg Sheffer, of Inversion Productions, is still working on a teaser of 3-5 minutes to promote the C-133 story to possible TV outlets. He will soon also have a website set up. All of the raw footage from the last flight of 61999 went to him. He is also looking for any other film or imagery or other material that might be useful. Anyone who has potential material should contact Greg at gsheffer@inversionproductions.com.
Cal Taylor
Cal Taylor
Military News Blog
Here's a site that might be of interest to others. http://military-online.blogspot.com/
Also, I was contacted by Raymond Foster, who invited me to list my book on www.military-writers.com. That has been done and I let him know about the four books that I promote on the C-133 website. If there are other authors on the C-133 blog, you might want to contact him. HIs CV is at www.police-technology.net/raymond.foster.cv.html.
Cal Taylor
Also, I was contacted by Raymond Foster, who invited me to list my book on www.military-writers.com. That has been done and I let him know about the four books that I promote on the C-133 website. If there are other authors on the C-133 blog, you might want to contact him. HIs CV is at www.police-technology.net/raymond.foster.cv.html.
Cal Taylor
Sunday, April 26, 2009
April Book of the Month
T. R. The Last Romantic
(Theodore Roosevelt)
by
H. W. Brands
Basic Books, 1997 New York, NY
A good reason to read Brands’ biography of our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt, is that he lived a highly unusual personal and political life as a moral absolutist. Throughout and until the day he died, T.R. had little difficulty distinguishing ‘right from wrong’. He knew the Devil when confronted with conflicting situations that called for a moral answer. His decisions about his personal life and his political life were abundantly clear to all. Simply put, honest and brave men agreed with him; cowardly and corrupt men disagreed. What could be more straightforward?
Through his use of executive power, his enormous energy, and his magnetic personality T.R. became one of our most beloved public figures. However, it becomes increasingly difficult to be generous in evaluating the historical outcome of Roosevelt’s use of executive mandates in acting for “the public welfare.” He, almost alone, ushered in America’s Progressive Era that first culminated with The New Deal, was partially buried during the last 25 years by free markets, and has now been resurrected.
Reading Brands’ T.R.: The Last Romantic would help one assess the political impact of yesterday’s moral absolutist from the impact of today’s moral relativist. Embarking upon a process to determine personal decisions regarding which view is more beneficial to the well being of the country and its citizens one needs to be aware that it may take more analysis of the interrelated dynamics than first thought. As our history has taught us, democracy is fraught with devilish choices that do not always lend themselves to dogma.
In his early adult life Roosevelt suffered simultaneous personal tragedies on February 14, 1884 when his mother and wife both died in the same house. His wife died from complications of childbirth and his mother from typhoid. They were buried together February 16th. He concluded at the death of his wife: “That for joy or for sorrow my life has now been lived out.” Little was the world to suspect his future.
The surviving baby, Alice, was all but abandoned by Roosevelt and was placed in the care of his sister. He never warmed to her the way he did to the other children from a future marriage.
President Theodore Roosevelt and First Lady Edith Roosevelt in 1908
Brands aptly describes Roosevelt’s feelings about American honor and the necessity of the warrior code. A rich nation that is slothful, timid, or unwieldy is an easy prey for those who retain soldierly virtues. Roosevelt felt that nothing could compensate for a lack of national or personal courage. “ Cowardice in a race, as in an individual, is the unpardonable sin.” Those feelings were largely driven by the heroic exploits of his Bulloch uncles during the Civil War, his experiences with the code of the wild U. S. West, and the blemish he felt about his family honor as his father had paid to be relieved of Civil War military duty.
Roosevelt’s motto was “…better to err on the side of over readiness than on the side of tame submission….” A lesson for the ages as he opined that no matter how skilled in commerce and finance, in science or art, a country can quickly lose its right to stand as the equal of the best. This became part of his absolutist vision concerning the role of America in world affairs. Roosevelt’s use of bellicose language in defending American Exceptionalism is largely unknown in today’s national political rhetoric. But, we can be certain that T.R. would not approve of and would soundly denounce as detestable the pusillanimous language now used in defining our international role. He never waived in his sturdy defense of America.
At one time every American schoolboy was familiar with the daring story of Roosevelt leading the charge up Cuba’s San Juan Hill during the Spanish American War of 1898. However, few realize that the bitterest fighting was at Kettle Hill where Roosevelt led the charge of his Rough Riders shaming the regulars into joining him. Roosevelt was described as the most conspicuous figure in the charge, mounted high on horseback, charging the rifle pits at a gallop, a blue polka-dot handkerchief on his sombrero, so quite alone and brave that “you would like to cheer”.
For these heroic exploits Roosevelt now felt that he had done something that would leave a name to the children, which they could be “rightly proud”. T.R. was thus nominated for a Medal of Honor that was finally awarded to him posthumously in 2001. Following in the family military tradition it should be noted that one of his sons was killed in WWI as a highly decorated fighter pilot and another was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism on the Normandy beaches during the invasion of June 6, 1944. The combination of an American President and son both receiving the highest of all military awards for heroism is historic in the annals of U.S. history. Roosevelt was also a Nobel Peace Prize recipient and that is seemingly incongruent with his penchant to threaten the use of military force as national policy.
Brands vividly describes one of America’s national tragedies and the events leading to the responsibilities of the Presidency falling upon Vice President Roosevelt on September 14, 1901 at the death of McKinley by the hand of an anarchist. The assassination was seen as a blow at America’s essence. Noted Roosevelt, “It was in the most naked way an assault not on power, not on wealth, but simply and solely upon free government, government by the common people.” The first War hero since Grant was now President of the United States. This Rough Rider had now ridden to the zenith of the highest possible political hill in America.
Roosevelt became President as America was becoming increasingly industrialized. Industrialization was creating a life hitherto unknown as people exited agriculture for the factories and urban areas. Huge corporations were being formed that had monopolistic powers corrupting the political process and T.R. became known as a trustbuster. In his defense, he never felt that American business was evil but that Corporations in conjunction with politicians were a corrupting influence upon the welfare of the people. Many of today’s political class have quite a different attitude by painting business as evil in its own right.
In understanding where in the American political tradition the idea of unlimited, redistributive notions as fairness were created one needs to look no further than Roosevelt as the original big government liberal. In 1910, T.R. proffered a general right of the community to regulate the earning of income and use of private property to whatever degree the public welfare may require it. In other words, redistribution of an individual’s wealth by the government at its finest.
All who believe in this sort of redistributive governance know the Constitution is their enemy in implementation as it bypasses the preference aspect that established the protection of equal natural rights as the permanent task of the government. The national government, in T.R.’s view, was not one of enumerated powers but of general powers, and the purpose of the Constitution was merely to state the narrow exceptions to that rule. Progressives reject the assumption that the power of the people is the general rule and that the power of the government is the exception.
Historians point to the demise and rejection of this most basic, historic understanding of our Founding Fathers originally outlined by Hamilton in the Federalist Papers as the time that government quit talking about the Constitution as our country’s guiding general principle. Progressivism, then and today, is a sophistic argument that erodes respect for individual personal and economic freedoms that are our bedrock beliefs and subordinates them to the demands of the State. I, for one, believe Roosevelt’s national development of Progressivism has tainted his legacy.
Sadly, during the 20th Century, members of both political parties and much of the judiciary have embraced this departure from original intent largely as a method to secure votes. Progressive rhetoric has consistently misled voters into thinking that their elected officials are working for the public’s behalf when they are actually increasing their own personal and party power. It is Hamilton’s worse nightmare becoming ours as well!
In spite of the unpleasant results of Roosevelt’s policies by those acolytes who overstepped as the century progressed, he remains as one of our Presidents most beloved, most determined, and most creative. His intellectual curiosity coupled with a robust physical nature led the United States onto the world stage. Brands outlines in T.R.: The last Romantic all of the notable aspects of Roosevelt’s life and Presidency in a fashion that brings pride to the reader, to the author, and to the man. Undoubtedly, T.R. is, in life as well as death, an American icon.
I believe that C-133 crewmembers will enjoy Brands history of this era as we lived so much of it and it speaks directly to our military mission of providing a safe, free, and democratic homeland.
Reviewed by:
Richard Spencer
39th ATS, DAFB
1962-1965
Richard Spencer
39th ATS, DAFB
1962-1965
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Connection with Washington (the state)
A blogger who journals "Aircraft Losses in Washington State and Military and Aviation Related Topics" recently discovered our blog and connected with Cal Taylor. He had a couple of posts of common interest with 133 Crews.
One was on March 29, 2009: http://washingtonwreckchasing.blogspot.com/search/label/C-133 where he talked about discovering our CargomasterRaster blog, and the Last Flight of 61999 which stopped-over at McChord AFB.
An earlier post was on May 21, 2008, which focused on Exercise Coulee Crest.....remember that one? http://washingtonwreckchasing.blogspot.com/2008/05/exercise-coulee-crest.html .
Cal & I have both entered Comments on both these posts. The author is looking for anybody who remembers, and has records of 133s participating in Coulee Crest. Please let him, and us know.
UPDATE #1 - 04/24/09:
Dick,
Between 19 April and 1 May 1963, Dover launched 14 C-133 and 19 C-124 sorties in Coulee Crest. Troops were on-loaded from bases in the central and eastern US and airlifted to Yakima. Then on 2 May, Dover reinforced CC with 9 C-124s and 7 C-133 aircraft. The redeployment took place between 16 & 25 May. Dover's crews logged a total of 4,180 flying hours during all phases of the operation. Sorry to say that some idiot, way back when, destroyed the documents that may have given information on the aircraft squadron assignments.
Harry E. Heist II
Archivist/Editor Hangar Digest
Air Mobility Command Museum
1301 Heritage Road
Dover AFB DE 19902-5301
(302) 677-5997 DSN:445
www.amcmuseum.org
UPDATE #2 - 04/24/09:
Dick: 18 through 25 May '63, I flew a "Coulee Crest" mission with A/C Capt. Robert O. Lane, a farm boy from MO who drank Dixie Belle sour mash. The mission was from Dover to Larson (AFB?) (I believe Larson was in Moses Lake WA.) to Westover, MA. , then three more trips to Larson from Westover, then to James Connally, to Charleston and back to Dover. Total flying time; 56 hours , 40 minutes. No idea what we hauled ... wish I'd kept a diary! Q (Dick Quimby)
One was on March 29, 2009: http://washingtonwreckchasing.blogspot.com/search/label/C-133 where he talked about discovering our CargomasterRaster blog, and the Last Flight of 61999 which stopped-over at McChord AFB.
An earlier post was on May 21, 2008, which focused on Exercise Coulee Crest.....remember that one? http://washingtonwreckchasing.blogspot.com/2008/05/exercise-coulee-crest.html .
Cal & I have both entered Comments on both these posts. The author is looking for anybody who remembers, and has records of 133s participating in Coulee Crest. Please let him, and us know.
UPDATE #1 - 04/24/09:
Dick,
Between 19 April and 1 May 1963, Dover launched 14 C-133 and 19 C-124 sorties in Coulee Crest. Troops were on-loaded from bases in the central and eastern US and airlifted to Yakima. Then on 2 May, Dover reinforced CC with 9 C-124s and 7 C-133 aircraft. The redeployment took place between 16 & 25 May. Dover's crews logged a total of 4,180 flying hours during all phases of the operation. Sorry to say that some idiot, way back when, destroyed the documents that may have given information on the aircraft squadron assignments.
Harry E. Heist II
Archivist/Editor Hangar Digest
Air Mobility Command Museum
1301 Heritage Road
Dover AFB DE 19902-5301
(302) 677-5997 DSN:445
www.amcmuseum.org
UPDATE #2 - 04/24/09:
Dick: 18 through 25 May '63, I flew a "Coulee Crest" mission with A/C Capt. Robert O. Lane, a farm boy from MO who drank Dixie Belle sour mash. The mission was from Dover to Larson (AFB?) (I believe Larson was in Moses Lake WA.) to Westover, MA. , then three more trips to Larson from Westover, then to James Connally, to Charleston and back to Dover. Total flying time; 56 hours , 40 minutes. No idea what we hauled ... wish I'd kept a diary! Q (Dick Quimby)
Monday, April 20, 2009
VeteransAid.org
Here's potentially valuable information from Rick Spencer. Check out the website link below:
"I have run across a little-known benefit that can be of great assistance to wartime veterans and their wives or widows in paying for assisted living and nursing home expenses. The Special Pension for Veterans' Aid and Attendance pays up to $1,644 a month, $19,736 annually, toward assisted living, nursing homes or in-home care for veterans 65 and older who served at least 90 days plus one day during wartime - stateside or overseas. Veterans and their spouses can receive up to $23,396 annually and spouses of deceased veterans, $12,681. This benefit was established in 1952 and is fully funded by the Federal Government. An estimated $22 million a year goes unclaimed. Don Soard, a volunteer with Operation Veterans' Aid in Oklahoma City, can be reached at 405-703-3849. For additional information go to VeteranAid.org or www.va.gov . These people can help you in filing a claim and payments are retroactive. Remember this includes stateside veterans also. Problems do not have to be service connected."
"I have run across a little-known benefit that can be of great assistance to wartime veterans and their wives or widows in paying for assisted living and nursing home expenses. The Special Pension for Veterans' Aid and Attendance pays up to $1,644 a month, $19,736 annually, toward assisted living, nursing homes or in-home care for veterans 65 and older who served at least 90 days plus one day during wartime - stateside or overseas. Veterans and their spouses can receive up to $23,396 annually and spouses of deceased veterans, $12,681. This benefit was established in 1952 and is fully funded by the Federal Government. An estimated $22 million a year goes unclaimed. Don Soard, a volunteer with Operation Veterans' Aid in Oklahoma City, can be reached at 405-703-3849. For additional information go to VeteranAid.org or www.va.gov . These people can help you in filing a claim and payments are retroactive. Remember this includes stateside veterans also. Problems do not have to be service connected."
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Road to Serfdom Follow-up
Our 133 Crew colleague and Book of the Month reviewer, Rick Spencer, likes to relate historically significant authors to current events. His December Book of the Month in 2007 featured a book by Friedrich A. Hayek. He now submits the following reference to a Hayek website:
In Dec07 I reviewed The Road to Serfdom by Hayek for the webblog. Given the present climate of economic turmoil, Hayek's theories and his signature public writing have both made their reappearance as a very popular line of study and debate. Here is a site that takes Hayek very seriously and is a good one for those who want to delve a little more into the present applications of his work. http://hayekcenter.org/
In Dec07 I reviewed The Road to Serfdom by Hayek for the webblog. Given the present climate of economic turmoil, Hayek's theories and his signature public writing have both made their reappearance as a very popular line of study and debate. Here is a site that takes Hayek very seriously and is a good one for those who want to delve a little more into the present applications of his work. http://hayekcenter.org/
Friday, April 10, 2009
Fly Away Flight Simulation
We welcome you to Fly Away, one of the most popular Flight Simulation Portals on the web - the next generation of flight simulation news and information sites. They have lots to offer at Fly Away, including the latest Flight Simulator news, product and hardware reviews, the latest downloads and updates for flight simulator and of course their bustling FS forums. Please take the time to post your comments on their forum located here. Enjoy your stay and don't hesitate to become a member here!
Check it out: Fly Away
(also on our Related Websites links list)
Also take a look at their News Section
Check it out: Fly Away
(also on our Related Websites links list)
Also take a look at their News Section
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Vietnam Database
A friend sent this link to me. It is a truly exhaustive (and probably exhausting to compile) database on anything conceivable related to the Vietnam War.
http://www-static.cc.gatech.edu/fac/Thomas.Pilsch/Vietnam.html
Cal Taylor
http://www-static.cc.gatech.edu/fac/Thomas.Pilsch/Vietnam.html
Cal Taylor
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Fighter Pilot of Old
Anybody out there old enough to remember this commercial? Actually, I thought "real aviators" smoked Camels!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Aviation Dictionary
Dick Strouse sent a long list of interesting aviation sites to Dick Hanson. I posted them on a new page of The C-133 Project site. Go to
http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/c133bcargomaster/home.html
and click on Aviation Dictionary or go directly to http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/c133bcargomaster/c133aviationdictionary.html
Cal Taylor
http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/c133bcargomaster/home.html
and click on Aviation Dictionary or go directly to http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/c133bcargomaster/c133aviationdictionary.html
Cal Taylor
C-133 Film
Greg Sheffer, who is the main photographer of 61999 in AK and CA, is producing something much broader than simply a disc on the move from Anchorage to Travis. As he puts it, "The C-133 grows on a person." He intends to do something that can be sold to a network--Discovery, Wings, History--etc. It will include more about the C-133 history and operations in the USAF, as well as in AK. We are trying to track down the producer of the 1999 tape of Alaska operations. Someone has some 8mm of missile loading. I have lots of stills. If anyone else has movies of any sort, please let me or Greg Sheffer know. He is at gsheffer@inversionproductions.com. The product will take some time, but should be really good.
Cal Taylor
Cal Taylor
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