January 9, 1941 – On this date, the Avro Lancaster made its first flight.  The Lancaster would go on to be one of the premier heavy bombers of the second world war and the workhorse of the Royal Air Force’s bombing campaigne against Nazi Germany.

January 9, 1945 – Armed forces of the United States invade Luzon, in the Philippines, fulfilling the vow made by General Douglas MacArthur when hs famously said “I shall return.”

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

Flightline Fabrications would like to say “THANK YOU” to all of our veterans today!

“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

Until July 18th, 1979, no commemoration was held to honor America’s POW/MIAs, those returned and those still missing and unaccounted for from our nation’s wars. That first year, resolutions were passed in the Congress and the national ceremony was held at the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. The Missing Man formation was flown by the 1st Tactical Squadron, Langley AFB, Virginia. The Veterans Administration published a poster including only the letters “POW/MIA” and that format was continued until 1982 when a black and white drawing of a POW in harsh captivity was used to convey the urgency of the situation and the priority that President Reagan assigned to achieving the fullest possible accounting for Americans still missing from the Vietnam War.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day legislation was introduced yearly, until 1995 when it was deemed by Congress that legislation for special days would no longer be proclaimed by Congress. However, the President continues to sign a proclamation each year. In the early years, the date was routinely set in close proximity to the League’s annual meetings. In the mid-1980’s, the American Ex-POWs decided that they wished to see the date established as April 9th, the date during World War II when the largest number of Americans were captured. As a result, legislation was passed in 1984 which included a July date, but established April 9th as the commemoration date for 1985.

The 1984 National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony was held at the White House. At that most impressive ceremony, the Reagan Administration balanced the focus to honor all returned POWs and renew national commitment to accounting as fully as possible for those still missing. Perhaps the most impressive Missing Man formation ever flown was that year, up the Ellipse and over the White House. Unfortunately, the 1985 ceremony was canceled due to inclement weather, a concern which the League had expressed when the April 9th date was first proposed.

Subsequently, in an effort to accommodate all returned POWs and all Americans still missing and unaccounted for from all wars, the National League of Families proposed a date in September, usually the third Friday, not associated with any particular war and not in conjunction with any organization’s national convention. Nearly all National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies have been held at the Pentagon; however, on September 19, 1986, the national ceremony was held on the steps of the U.S. Capitol facing the Mall, again concluding with a flight in Missing Man formation.

The sacrifice and service of America’s veterans, including those who became prisoners of war or who went missing in action, have preserved freedom for America and brought freedom to millions around the world. On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we honor the extraordinary courage of the Americans who have been prisoners of war, and we pray for those who are still missing in action and unaccounted for. This Nation also remembers the challenges and heartache endured by the families of prisoners of war and missing in action. We seek answers for the families of those who are still missing, and we will not rest until we have a full accounting.

Flightline Fabrications wishes to honor and say thank you to all those who fight to protect our freedom!

“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

We honor those who gave everything for our freedom!

THANK YOU!

 “What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

July 20, 1944 -  World War II – US Troops storm the beaches on the Pacific island of Guam as yet another step in the island hopping campaign against the Empire of Japan.

July 20, 1944 – World War II – Adolph Hitler survives an assassination attempt (known as teh July 20 plot) led by German Army Colonel Claus Philipp Maria Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg.  While the plot was successful in detonating a bomb in close proximity to Hitler during a meeting, several factors such as the location of the meeting and the placement of the bomb in relation to a heavy wooden table leg led to the ultimate failure.  The 2008 film Valkyrie starring Tom Cruise was based on this event.

July 20, 1960 – A Polaris ballistic missile is launched successfully for the first time from a submarine,  the USS George Washington.

April 6, 1917 – The United States under President Woodrow Wilson declares war on Germany and her allies thus entering America into World War One.  This war, optimistically dubbed “the war to end all wars” would see the advent of many new implements of war such as the machine gun, armored tank and possibly most importantly the airplane.

January 30, 1862 – The first US Ironclad warship, the USS Monitor is launched.

January 30, 1933 – Adolph Hitler is sworn in as Chancellor of Germany.

January 30, 1945 – 126 US Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts and Filipino resistance fighters liberate 514 prisoners of war (POWs) from the Japanese POW camp near Cabanatuan in the Philippines.  Edward Dmytryk’s 1945 film Back to Bataan starring John Wayne opens by retelling the story of the raid on the Cabanatuan POW camp. The raid was recreated, with great attention to historical accuracy, in the 2005 John Dahl film The Great Raid.

January 30, 1945 – Adolph Hitler gives his last ever public address via radio on the 12th anniversary of his ascendance to power.

January 30, 1948 – Indian pacifist and leader Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is assassinated by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist. 

January 30, 1968 – The Tet Offensive begins when Viet Cong forces launch a series of surprise attacks in South Vietnam.  While the action was tactically  a route for the VC and victory for American and allied forces, images of the carnage that reached the US caused heightened frustration and weakened resolve at home for the war that appeared far from over and helped lead to the ultimate withdrawl of US forces several years later.

January 30, 1969 – The Beatles‘ last public performance, on the roof of Apple Records in London. The impromptu concert is broken up by the police.

January 30, 1972 – British paratroopers kill fourteen civil rights/anti internment marchers in Northern Ireland.  The action would lead the day to be known as Bloody Sunday and eventually memorialized by the band U2 in their song Sunday Bloody Sunday.

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On December 23, 1776, patriot Thomas Paine penned Common Sense, a series of tracts concerning the American Revolution.  His writings stirred the colonists to strengthen their resolve, resulting in the first successful anticolonial action in modern history.

This is but a portion of paragraph one, The Crisis Part 1.

THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.

Common Sense is powerfully written, full of depth, meaning and patriotic sentiment.   While we are certainly not fighting a war of revolution today, the words are just as pertinent as they were 232 years ago.

December 20, 1941: WWII

The American Volunteer Group  (A.V.G.) Flying Tigers, American Pilots in China, enter combat against the Japanese over Kunming.

The Shark Mouthed P-40 Warhawk fighters of the Flying Tigers remain among the most recognizable of any individual combat aircraft of World War II.  The Flying Tigers demonstrated innovative tactical strategies designed and perfected by General Clair Chennault.

The group first saw combat on 20 December 1941, 12 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor (local time). The Flying Tigers achieved notable success during the lowest period of the war for U.S. and Allied Forces, giving hope to Americans that they would eventually succeed against the Japanese. The Tigers were credited with destroying almost 300 aircraft while losing only 14 pilots on combat missions. In July 1942, the AVG was replaced by the U.S. Army 23rd Fighter Group, which was later absorbed into the U.S. 14th Air Force with General Chennault as the commander. The 23rd Group went on to achieve similar combat success, while retaining the nose art and nickname of the volunteer unit.

 WWII – Flying Tigers Bite Back