Like several other “workers’ paradise” libidiot-run cities, Washington DC recently raised its minimum wage substantially above the Federal minimum. In 2014, it was raised to $11.50 an hour – and there’s been talk about raising it further soon, to $15 an hour. They’ve also instituted other mandatory benefits.
So, things are rosy, right? This means the “little guy” minimum-wage workers in DC are all getting bigger average paychecks and living better?
Well, some might be. But I’m thinking this headline kinda gives us the “rest of the story”:
Looks more to me like employers are watching their bottom line – and as a result are paring hours to keep labor costs close to the same as before. If that’s the case, then that means that many entry-level workers are NOT are getting paid a whole lot more. Some may even be making less than they did before, albeit for less hours worked.
Oh, and yes: prices generally did rise, too. So it’s not just the little guys getting hours cut (or laid off) who are taking it in the shorts due to DC’s minimum wage hike.
Gee – who’d have thunk it?
Yes, that last was sarcasm. Anyone who has half a clue clue about economics could have predicted this.
Apparently they’ve managed to take down or degrade a number of well-known Daesh Twitter accounts. Seems that Daesh members find the images “haram” and either make the accounts private – or drop the accounts entirely.
What follows will seem fantastic – much like any other “no sh!t” story. But with this tale there’s a difference.
In this case, what I’m about to describe actually happened. And it’s fully documented.
I’m about to relate the story of the US Air Force’s “Cornfield Bomber.”
. . .
On 2 February 1970, four F-106As from the 71st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Montana, were scheduled for a training mission. The mission was to make history – but in a way that none could foresee.
The mission was scheduled to be a “2-on-2 combat maneuvering exercise”. As the name implies, two teams of two aircraft each would engage, attempting to get in position to score a simulated air-to-air “kill”.
Before takeoff, one aircraft experienced a mechanical issue – an on-ramp drag chute malfunction. To preclude scrubbing the mission, the day’s flight activities were altered to “2-on-1 combat maneuvering exercise”.
The remaining 3 aircraft took off, ascended to altitude – and engaged. The single aircraft made a high-speed approach at the other two, then went vertical. His two opponents followed.
. . .
In the maneuvering that followed, the pilot of one aircraft in the two-plane group – Capt. Gary Faust – appears to have “pushed the envelope” a bit too much while maneuvering. His aircraft stalled, then entered what aviators term a “flat spin” at approximately 35,000 feet elevation.
Now, I’m not a pilot. But even I know that a flat spin is some seriously bad juju. It’s essentially God (or Budda, Rama, Fate, Gaia, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or whoever/whatever entity you choose to worship) telling you, “You are now in deep (trouble). You have a very short time to figure this out or we’ll be meeting in person.”
Faust attempted to recover. He was unsuccessful. So after falling somewhere between 21,000 and 27,000 feet while in said flat spin, he ejected.
Faust’s ejection was successful. He deployed his parachute, and drifted in his parachute into the local Bear Paw Mountains. He was rescued by local residents using snowmobiles.
. . .
Now, when an aircraft’s pilot ejects three things happen to the aircraft. First, the weight and center of gravity change. Second, the ejection seat imparts a substantial downward force to the front of the aircraft. And, third, loss of canopy changes the aerodynamics of the aircraft somewhat.
The combination of those changes caused something quite remarkable. On its own, Faust’s aircraft came out of its spin. It then began to glide – straight and level – at around 175 knots.
It seems that one of the things that Faust had done during his attempts at recovery was to put his aircraft’s control surfaces into “takeoff trim” settings. These settings turned out to be virtually perfect on the F-106A for gliding under the conditions the bird now exhibited (no pilot/ejection seat/canopy, idling engine producing minimum thrust, straight and level).
The aircraft – now somewhere between about 8,000 and 14,000 AGL (accounts vary), then flew/glided, straight and level, for a number of miles. It approached the ground in farming country near the town of Big Sandy, MT.
Being February in Montana, the ground was covered with several inches of snow. The aircraft touched down in a farmer’s field (one account says alfalfa, another wheat).
After touching down, the aircraft skidded a substantial distance along the snow-covered ground. A low stone wall was blocking its path. Somehow, with no pilot it turned about 20 degrees right while skidding and skidded through a gap in the wall. It came to rest.
The engine was still running when local LE authorities reached it. They contacted the USAF, who advised them to simply let the aircraft continue to idle until it ran out of fuel – which it did, about 1 hour and 45 minutes later.
. . .
USAF personnel went to the site afterwards and inspected the aircraft. It indeed seemed effectively intact. However, there was no good way on-site to determine the amount of damage to the aircraft’s underside.
The aircraft was partially disassembled, then recovered by the Air Force. Amazingly, there wasn’t much more than minor damage to the underside of the aircraft. One of those involved with recovery efforts reportedly commented that if there had been any less damage, they could have simply flown the aircraft out (there was a paved road nearby that was straight and level enough to allow that).
The aircraft was sent to McClellan AFB, California, for depot inspection and repair. (Ya think?) It was determined to be repairable, and was indeed repaired and return to service. Capt. Faust reportedly later flew the same aircraft while the aircraft was assigned to a unit at Tyndall AFB, Florida, and he was TDY there for training several years later.
. . .
Well, “That’s the story, and I’m sticking to it.” (smile)
But perhaps you think I’m “BS-ing” you? Well, if you think that – read/watch the links/videos below. They document the fact that the incident described here really happened.
The aircraft in question was tail number 58-0787. For unclear reasons, it came to be known as the “Cornfield Bomber” – though it was not a bomber and did not self-land in a cornfield. It today is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
Sometimes truth is seriously stranger than fiction.
Author’s Note: the title of this article is one version of the reported radio transmission made in jest by USAF Maj. Jimmy Lowe, flying as Faust’s wingman that day, on observing the aircraft come out of its spin and fly away on its own after Faust ejected.
Col. Schaefer was the senior US military officer taken prisoner by Iran during their act of war against the United States on 4 November 1979 – the seizure of the US Embassy. He was at the time performing attache duty at the US Embassy.
As the senior military officer captured, Schaefer was singled out for harsh treatment. He was held in solitary confinement for 150 of the 444 days he was held prisoner, and was subject to extensive interrogation by his Iranian captors.
Schaefer passed away in hospice care in Scottsdale, AZ, of congestive heart failure. He was 85.
Godspeed, Colonel. May you have been in heaven a half hour before the devil knew you were gone.
• MM1 Harold F. Carney, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted-for on 21 April 2016.
• Seaman 2nd Class Vernon N. Grow, US Navy, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost at Pearl Harbor, HI, on 7 December 1941. He was accounted-for on 2 June 2016.
• PHM3 Howard P. Brisbane, US Navy, assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, USMC, was lost on 20 November 1943 on Tarawa Atoll. He was accounted-for on 2 June 2016.
• Pfc. Charles E. Oetjen, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, USMC, was lost on 20 November 1943 on Tarawa Atoll. He was accounted-for on 6 May 2016.
• Pfc. James B. Johnson, Company K, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, USMC, was lost on 20 November 1943 on Tarawa Atoll. He was accounted-for on 18 April 2016.
• Pfc. James F. Mansfield, Company K, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, USMC, was lost on 20 November 1943 on Tarawa Atoll. He was accounted-for on 6 May 2016.
• Pfc. Elmer L. Mathies, Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, USMC, was lost on 20 November 1943 on Tarawa Atoll. He was accounted-for on 29 January 2016.
• Pfc. Roland E. Schaede, Company M, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, USMC, was lost on 20 November 1943 on Tarawa Atoll. He was accounted-for on 6 May 2016.
• Pvt. Harry K. Tye, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, USMC, was lost on 20 November 1943 on Tarawa Atoll. He was accounted-for on 6 May 2016.
From Korea
• SGT Harold Spakrs, L Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, US Army, was lost on 2 November 1950 in North Korea. He was accounted-for on 11 May 2016.
Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. You’re home now.
Our apologies that your return took so long. Rest in peace.
. . .
Over 73,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,800 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; and over 1,600 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA). Comparison of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from recovered remains against mtDNA from a matrilineal descendant can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.
DPAA’s web site now has what appears to be a decent “Contact Us” page. The page doesn’t have instructions concerning who can and cannot submit a mtDNA sample or how to submit one, but the POCs listed there may be able to refer you to someone who can answer that question – or may be able to answer the question themselves. If you think you might possibly qualify, please contact one of those POCs for further information.
If your family lost someone in one of these conflicts and you qualify to submit a mtDNA sample, please arrange to submit one. By doing that you just might help identify the remains of a US service member who’s been repatriated but not yet been identified – as well as a relative of yours, however distant. Or you may help to identify remains to be recovered in the future.
Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.
Author’s Note: DPAA is indeed “slipstreaming” delayed announcements of personnel accounting into their web page listing of personnel who were MIA and have been recently accounted for. That web page lists personnel by date accounted for, earliest first, so delayed entries do NOT show up at the top of the list. These delayed announcements account for the apparent delay in publicizing the recovery and identification of a number of the personnel above.
Isn’t it great? We have a wonderful story today from the DC Metro area.
It’s a story of a man fleeing chaos in Somalia. He moved to America decades ago, around the time that Somalia descended into chaos. He’s now a lawful permanent resident. He’s made a wonderful life for himself here in America.
In fact, he’s been working as a security guard at a DC area airport for several years – Dulles, to be precise. If you’ve flown in/out of Dulles in the past few years, there’s at least a small chance you’ve seen him inside the security perimeter at that airport.
Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Heartwarming, even.
Until you find out that the man involved – Yusuf Abdi Ali – is a former official of the brutal Mohamed Siad Barre regime in Somalia. He was named in 2006 as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging serious human rights violations – specifically, of overseeing torture, as well as personally conducting it. The acts Ali has been accused of committing may well qualify as war crimes under both US and international law.
And it gets even better. Apparently the US government has been aware of the allegations against Ali for “years”. However, per his employer somehow Ali passed all required security background checks to work at Dulles. He was only recently suspended from duties and placed on administrative leave.
Remember about six weeks ago, when North Korea attempted to test-fire their new “Musudan” IRBM in honor of the 104th birthday of North Korea’s “eternal president”, Kim Il-Sung? Remember that the test was reportedly a failure?
Well, it appears that the “fine, stalwart engineers” in NorK-Land’s missile development program gave it another go again yesterday. And, like before: the latest test was also a failure.
I really would not want to be one of the folks on the Musudan’s design team – or someone assigned to the assembly team for this latest test, either.
No word on who ND:tBF, AKA Fatboy Kim AKA the Dork of NorK AKA Ementaller-boi, will have executed this time around because of the failure. There’s also no word what new and novel means of execution he’ll decree this time. But you know it’s going to happen – he has to soothe his massive bulk’s irritated nerves somehow.
And in the interim between now and the executions, I’m guessing he’ll be consuming many kilograms of Ementaller.
• LTJG Aloysius H. Schmitt, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost on 7 December 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He was accounted for on 18 May 2016.
• Warrant Officer Daryl H. Goggin, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost on 7 December 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He was accounted for on 25 May 2016.
• FM1 Frank E. Nicoles, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost on 7 December 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He was accounted for on 20 May 2016.
• Seaman 2nd Class Challis R. James, assigned to the crew of the USS Oklahoma, was lost on 7 December 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He was accounted for on 20 May 2016.
From Korea
• SFC Richard Davis, K Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, US Army, was lost on 2 November 1950 in North Korea. He was accounted for on 23 May 2016.
From Vietnam
• LCDR Frederick P. Crosby, Light Photographic Squadron (VFP) 63, US Navy, was lost on 1 June 1965 in Vietnam. He was accounted for on 25 May 2016.
Additionally, as Jonn noted the other day the remains of 1st Lt. Donald W. Bruch, Jr., 333rd Tactical Fighting Squadron, USAF, have also been recovered and repatriated. 1st Lt. Bruch was lost on 29 April 1966 in Vietnam. He was accounted for on 30 November 2015. Either I missed DPAA’s announcement of his accounting at the time or DPAA’s announcement of his accounting was delayed.
Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.
You’re home now. Rest in peace.
. . .
Over 73,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,800 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; and over 1,600 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA). Comparison of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from recovered remains against mtDNA from a matrilineal descendant can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.
DPAA’s web site now has what appears to be a decent “Contact Us” page. The page doesn’t have instructions concerning who can and cannot submit a mtDNA sample or how to submit one, but the POCs listed there may be able to refer you to someone who can answer that question – or may be able to answer the question themselves. If you think you might possibly qualify, please contact one of those POCs for further information.
If your family lost someone in one of these conflicts and you qualify to submit a mtDNA sample, please arrange to submit one. By doing that you just might help identify the remains of a US service member who’s been repatriated but not yet been identified – as well as a relative of yours, however distant. Or you may help to identify remains to be recovered in the future.
Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.
