RIPPLE SALVO… blog #66… MAY MEETINGS…
Good Morning: Day SIXTY-FIVE of my look back at Operation Rolling Thunder, the “air war” against North Vietnam…
3 MAY 1966 (NYT)… ON THE HOME FRONT… Nice day in New York and partly cloudy, 56 in Washington. NYT page 1: “McNamara Predicts Rise in U.S. Forces in Vietnam”… The Secretary of Defense said “the U.S. will probably send more troops to South Vietnam to counter increasing infiltration of forces from North Vietnam.” The article did not say how many troops would be added to the 255,000 currently in South Vietnam but reiterated that there will be 400,000 by the end of 1966, plus 50,000 sailors in the Seventh Fleet. the Secretary noted that political unrest in South Vietnam was in its sixth week but “was coming to an end.”… Page 1: the Chairman of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors, Gardner Ackley, spoke to the annual meeting of Chamber of Commerce businessmen and cautioned them that “prices are too high” and that this is the time to ” …stop, look and listen lest the economy be imperiled.” Ackley asked if “that price you are asking is really necessary?” Ackley: “Profits after taxes are up 88-per cent from early 1961 and we are providing the highest sustainable return on owners equity in modern history. It is time to ask whether a further rise in the share of profits in the national income is in the interest of the national economy or in the interest of business itself.” He also noted that profits were up 12-per cent in the first quarter of 1966 and exceeds employee rise in compensation and creates a tendency for industrial prices to rise. Ackley’s quest is for insurance against inflation. The reporter stated that the industry chiefs in attendance were cool to the plea on pricing and urged a cut in federal spending as an alternative… Page 4: “Navy Jets Smash a North Vietnamese Missile Site” and destroyed two launchers in the attack on a site 34 miles northeast of Vinh. More than six tons of bombs and missiles were expended in the attack by USS Hancock A-4s and F-8s… In a separate strike 15 miles southeast of Vinh a Hancock A-4 was shot down and the pilot was rescued…
3 May 1966…ROLLING THUNDER OPERATIONS… one aircraft loss in Southeast Asia…An Air Force F-4C flamed out in heavy rain on a GCA to Cam Ranh Bay while returning from a strike mission… the crew successfully ejected and were rescued…
RIPPLE SALVO… Musters… In the 1850s mountain men rendezvoused in the Spring to enjoy the company of men of like nature. Their rendezvous’ at the confluence of the Weber and Ogden rivers gave rise to Fort Beneventura and the city of Ogden in due course.. Old aviators do the same thing but call their musters reunions, symposiums and conventions.
(1) May 4-6…Pensacola, Florida…at the National Naval Aviation Museum, the 2016 Naval Aviation Symposium… Schedule of events includes three symposiums: (1) Coast Guard Air: Into the Storm for 100 Years….(2) Pioneers in Naval Aviation…(3) The Flag Panel: “Naval Aviation: Today and Tomorrow” …(4) On Thursday evening, 5 May, the Museum Theater will host the Pensacola premiere of “The Millionaires’ Unit”… The museum can be counted on to pout on a great show in the first week of May every year… average attendance is 3,000, and the museum is a world class exhibit that cannot be seen in just one day and it is getting better every year…
(2) May 11-15…Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association reunion in Virginia Beach, Virginia… Events include (1) Group Welcome Overlooking Virginia Beach and the Atlantic… (2)Tour of Colonial Williamsburg …(3) Visit to Mariners’ Museum and Lynnhaven Fish House…(4) Group Dinner at Captain George’s Seafood Buffett…(4) Lunch Cruise featuring the Norfolk Naval Base on the Spirit of Norfolk…”A nice day on the water… (5) Flight Suit Party… (6) Business Meeting in hotel (Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront)… (7) Farewell Banquet… if you miss this one, catch the next one… River Rats throw a great party…
(3) Tailhook 2016 in Sparks/Reno in September 2016 will feature the 50th anniversary of Operation Rolling Thunder and the Vietnam air war. It is not too early to make reservations…
I invite all aviation associations to use this web site and forum to advertise your meetings, functions, causes and to recognize your most deserving warriors and members… especially those who flew and fought over North Vietnam… the forgotten warriors of Rolling Thunder and Linebacker…
Lest we forget… Bear ……….. –30– …………