Current News Update

Airdrop to Micronesia

The U.S. Air Force, Japan’s Air Defense & Royal Australian Air Force spread the joy of Christmas…

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam — The U.S. Air Force is once again playing the role of Santa to people living in some of the most remote locations in the world.

Airmen from the Yokota Air Base’s 374th Airlift Wing have spent the last week in the back of their C-130s, dropping much-needed supplies to island villages and atolls scattered throughout Micronesia. In its 64th year, the holiday humanitarian mission has become known as Operation Christmas Drop.

The supplies, which benefit more than 20,000 people in the Northern Marianas Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau, are collected through donations.

“When we heard that these people needed our help, we did everything we could get some toys and food collected at our school,” said Lolaine Arriola, a ninth-grader from Okkodo High School on Guam. Even though the students only had a few days to collect items, “we still filled a few boxes of goods and got a few classmates to come to the base to help pack the bundles,” Arriola said.

This year, the Yokota crew has had help from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force, making this Christmas Drop a multinational effort.

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The New Orleans National World War II Museum took airmen for another flight…

The museum takes special care of aircraft used in the war; this year, the show has featured a B-29 Superfortress, which was used in the Pacific for long-range bombing and a B-25, a plane which saw much service in Europe.  War veterans who were able to attend the show were given the opportunity to ride in the planes again.

Victor J. Hancock, 92, flew a B-25 during the war and said he thought back to Corsica as he rode in the aircraft again during this year’s show.  He flew 22 missions in Italy and Austria, generally targeting the Brenner Pass, used by the Germans to move their troops and supplies into Italy.  During the airshow, though, Hancock was a passenger who got to look out the windows and enjoy the view for a change.

Martin Biener, 93, flew 51 war missions over Europe in a B-25 nicknamed the Yellow Rose.  On his ride during the show he sat in the middle by the gunner position, which he noticed was made differently than the original.  He and the other five veterans in the plane took photos with their phones while enjoying the ride.

Bernie Peters, 92, was another veteran who took a ride during the show.  He recalled, during the safety talk advising him of the location of emergency exits, that he knew all too well where they were.

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Navy sends new stealth destroyer out for trials…

USS Zumwalt leaves Maine

WASHINGTON — The Navy’s new stealth destroyer began a week of sea trials Monday to try and prove that after years of setbacks, the next-generation warship was worth the wait.

The USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) is the first in a class of futuristic destroyers that will have an angular but low external profile to maximize stealth on the outside, and next-generation power systems to enable the ship to run energy-demanding future weapons and sensor systems on the inside.

The ship sailed Monday from its port in Bath, Maine for a weeklong test of its onboard systems, according to the Navy.  The Zumwalt was designed to replace the Navy’s current fleet of Arleigh-Burke destroyers but cost overruns and program delays led the Navy to cap the ship’s production to three.

Stories were found In Stars and Stripes and WWI online.

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Navy Humor – 

The Navy’s version of Sad Sack

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Farewell Salutes – 

Harriet Behrans – Washington DC; US Navy WAVE, WWII

Matthew Dinning – Richmond Hill, CAN; RC Army, Afghanistan, 2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade

Marion Faure Jr. – Pocatello, ID; US Army, WWII, PTO, Purple Heart

Harold Heffer – NZ; RNZ Navy # 1447, WWII, Petty Officer

Norman Johnson – Leominister, MA; US Army, Korea, 187th RCT

Oliver Lewis – Ogden, UT; US Army Air Corps, 11th Airborne

Arnold McKerley – Warrior, AL; US Navy, WWII

Hifumi Okazaki – Honolulu, HI; US Army, WWII, MIS Nisei

Arthur Scarborough – Savannah, GA; Civil Air Patrol, WWII/ US Navy, Korea, photographer

William Walsh – Salem, NH; US Navy, WWII

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