On This Day in 1968: A Daring Rescue Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: History.com, United States Air Force, wearethemighty.com Some of us just don’t listen. America has many examples of those who ignore orders to cease and desist—despite the odds—and return to home base. We disregard pleas and advice or “guidance” to discontinue, to pull off…
The Night Witches Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: History.com, The Morning Brew, Alamy, Getty Images As an “early bird”, I’m up before light (it’s 5:45am as I type this—early get-ups were “beat” into me by the Marines). And like most of you, I’m sure, I’m always in bed well after dark, especially these days of…
On this day in 2001–New York City is devastated. Again. Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: Wikipedia, History.com, “The Aviators” by Winston Croom We aviation enthusiasts celebrate aviation. I would argue we do this, rightfully so. The invention of man breaking the chains that shackled him to earth has been a force for good, right?…
Eddie Rickenbacker…One More Time on His “Anniversary” Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: Max Lucado, “In the Eye of the Storm”, (pp. 21, 225-226), History.net Happy 249th Birthday to my fellow Marines out there and best wishes for a memorable Veteran’s Day, today, to all the veterans who so selflessly serve and served. An end of…
This Day in Aviation History–Election Edition. Eddie had it worse. Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: Historynet.com This is the 2024 “election edition” of our aviation history vignettes. As we approach election day, if you believe the news media and some of the constant barrage of political advertising from the individual political campaigns, we’re about to…
On This Day in Aviation History: First Steps Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: Wikipedia, History.com We gotta start somewhere. “The journey of a thousand miles begins” the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu is quoted as saying, “with a single step.” Today in 1952, my mom, two years married and 24 years old, was six months pregnant…
KSOP and KFQD Disaster Relief Operations Contributor: Barry Fetzer This aviation history vignette is less about history than it is about “current operations”. And it’s a story not about me although I was a bit player in it, emphasis on the word “bit”. So, I hope by telling it I don’t come off as…
The First Kamikaze Attacks 80 Years Ago Today Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: Wikipedia, Military Officer Magazine According to Wikipedia, “In desperation during the last years of WWII, the Japanese developed the concept of formally organized suicide units. Suicide attacks, beginning 80 years ago today in 1944, followed critical military and strategic defeats for Japan. …