|
|
|
|
 |
|
Welcome to Ken's Corner... |
|
|
05-22-09
What I'm wearing (picture above - Ken) here is a reproduction WWII
US Army Air Forces A-2 flight jacket. These were usually in
horsehide or goatskin, in seal brown color (less usually other brown
colors, but not black). They are mild weather jackets...no
insulation. I got mine on eBay about a year ago. If you're
interested, there are plenty of them available on-line. Caution:
There are more phony knockoffs than authentic reproductions. Be
careful. I assume you don't want to invest in a genuine WWII item.
Mine is a Cooper goatskin A-2 from a recent USAF
contract...identical to Jim's and Skip's. I removed the Velcro and
sewed on an authentic leather name strip, K. JOHNSON ($10.00 on
eBay). A final caution: The A-2, like all flight jackets, fits
smaller than the size suggests.
04-28-09
We need a break from all the crises and scares. Here we have our
national symbol, a magnificent bald eagle named 'Challenger'. He was
named in honor of Space Shuttle 'Challenger' which blew up shortly
after lift-off in January, 1986. Raised by his owner from a chick,
he is bonded in love to him. He regularly performs during the
National Anthem at public events. A rare and beautiful experience.
04-22-09 The threat of an
Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) attack...
We may not need to get hysterical, but we should inform ourselves
about what an electromagnetic pulse EMP) could do to the USA. A
small nuke delivered by a North Korean or Iranian missile, detonated
200 miles above Kansas, could (would?) fry most electronic items all
across the USA. No cell phones, cars and trucks will die and not
restart, grocery stores would run out, no TV, no computers, no
electricity, military degraded, no air traffic control (I don't know
what the effects would be on airliners), hospitals crippled, etc. No
doubt more than we could imagine.
Should I buy spare electronic ignition modules for my cars? They
could be shielded and stored. Skip...I think your 172 would
start...unless the wiring got zapped. Should I shield my freezer in
the basement...and keep it stocked? Canned and nuked food in the
pantry. Pet food. Am I prepared to cook in my fireplace?
Prescription drugs. Plenty of batteries for flashlights and radios.
Practically the same preps as for any disaster, plus some additional
items. Help may be days away.
This is why we must stop the North Koreans and Iranians from
developing nuke delivery capability. Ballistic missile defense (BMD)
could save us...and we're not the only part of the world threatened
by EMP attack. Oh...let's cut funding for BMD!
If we all do a little research, we can share info and figure out
what is reasonable to do.
Comments? |
04-14-09
The cheesy Somali pirates took on the wrong country. The US military
handled the situation with superb efficiency and direct firepower by
Navy Seals. Bravo Zulu! The media is ignoring the capture of the SS
Mayaguez in May of 1975 by Khmer Rouge forces (President Ford called
them 'pirates'). They commandeered and sailed the ship to Kho Tang
island off the coast of Cambodia. US military action escalated -
Marines, Navy and USAF men and assets were put in use for the rescue
effort. I can't find verification, but I recall that a 15,000-pound
BLU-82B bomb (Code name 'Cheeseburger') was dropped on the pirates.
The ship and crew were recovered...41 US servicemen's lives were
lost. Their sacrifice should never be forgotten.
|
CLICK TO VIEW |
CLICK TO VIEW |
|
04-03-09
The story of the L-4 Piper Cub engaging and forcing down a German
Fieseler Storch in WWII reminds me of a similar action in the
Vietnam War. When I was flying combat missions out of Udorn,
Thailand, Air America was collocated with us on the base. They were
all employees of a civilian company. Uh-huh. They supported and
trained the Royal Laotian Air Force. Uh-huh. If captured by the
enemy, they were not likely to survive. True. We drank with these
guys at the club, and got to hear their stories. In 1968, an Air
America UH-1 helicopter shot down a North Vietnamese Colt using an
M-16. Unlike the Storch, the Colt crew did not survive. Naturally,
this Air America exploit was not revealed until after the war. |
|
CLICK TO VIEW |
NO CLICK |
|
|
03-16-09
CLICK TO VIEW |
Some fifty years
ago, two pilots in a Cessna 172 set a World Record for endurance.
Taking off from McCarran
Field in Las Vegas on Dec 4, 1958, Bob Timm and John Cooper stayed aloft
until Feb 7, 1969 -- close to 65 days!
The fuselage was stripped out, and a 95-gal belly tank was installed. They
also had direct access to fuel and oil
lines. They took turns piloting in four-hour shifts. A mattress was used
for sleeping.
Every day, a fuel truck would race down a desert road under the 172,
directly fueling the belly tank and conveying |
up supplies. When the truck was unavailable, a
red Thunderbird sent up fuel in 5-gal cans.
The flight was sponsored by the Hacienda Hotel as a fundraiser for a
cancer charity. The 172 is suspended over the baggage claim area of
McCarran. The record is unbroken. Some of you probably have more
information |
|
|
02-10-09
February is Black History Month. Daniel 'Chappie' James was a
legendary USAF fighter pilot who happened to be black. He started
his flying career as a Tuskegee Airman in WWII. I met him at RAF
Bentwaters in the mid-60s, where he was paired with his friend Robin
Olds as 'Blackman and Robin'. They continued on to Ubon, Thailand,
flying combat in F-4s. He was wing commander at Wheelus Air Base,
Libya, when that base was ordered closed by Muammar Qaddafi. In one
negotiation session, Qaddafi wore a sidearm. When Qaddafi moved his
hand to his pistol, James told him to move his hand. Packing a .45,
James later said he would have shot Qaddafi if he had tried to draw.
That was a man! 'Chappie' was born in February and died in February
(1978, age 58).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
01-05-09
I hope you're enjoying Wichita Lunch Bunch's new website. It's
designed to be useful to us as well as fun and interesting. More
features are coming. Here in my column I'll have the opportunity to
comment on meetings, make remarks on happenings in the world, ask
your opinion, explain obscure facts.
Unlike our email traffic, we intend to use only first names; little
or nothing personally identifying -- no addresses, where we work,
email addresses, affiliations, etc.
We will all be able to comment via the upcoming 'Bulletin Board'
page. Our email addresses will not appear. Same thing -- watch the
personal ID's, and please no 'hard' profanity, recognizing some
spice can't hurt as we're not the church choir. That said, let's
relax and enjoy this new venue.
Next meeting will be Saturday, January 24, Auntie C's Restaurant.
See you there. |
|
