Military History

As some of you may know, record setting aviator Steve Fossett and navigator Mark Rebholz are due to recreate the famous 1919 trans-Atlantic flight from Newfoundland to Ireland achieved by British flyers Alcock and Brown. The flight will be (hopefully) made this weekend in a replica of the original Vickers F.B.27 Vimy bomber (the world's largest flying biplane), taking off from my home town here in St. John's, Newfoundland. This morning I was fortunate to get a closer look at this amazing aircraft and snap a few photos. Enjoy. The Vimy is an impressively large aircraft: The nose ... ... and the tail Accolades and honours…

I am trying to find a list of Royal Fleet Auxilliaris (British), AO, AFS, etc. extant in June 1965. Can any one help?

From BBC News 26 March 1979: Israel and Egypt have ended 30 years of war with an historic peace treaty brokered by the United States. The ceremony on the White House lawn in Washington was broadcast live on television. The two leaders sealed the deal with a firm handshake, watched by a smiling President Jimmy Carter. More here

From BBC News 11 March 1985: Gorbachev becomes Soviet leader There is a new man in charge at the Kremlin - Mikhail Gorbachev has taken over following the death of Konstantin Chernenko. Chernenko, 73, died yesterday after a long illness - but his death was only announced to the Soviet people this morning. Sombre music preceded the news on radio and television and scheduled programmes were cancelled. The speed of naming of his successor - at 54 the youngest man to take over as general secretary of the Soviet communist party - has taken people by surprise. More here

Hans Bethe, Father of Nuclear Astrophysics, Dies at 98 -- 5 page article, interesting historical anecdotes [Excerpt from an article by William J. Broad in today's New York Times www.nytimes.com (registration required, no fee)]

From Air Force Magazine, March 2005 issue Rolling Thunder By John T. Correll Rolling Thunder, the air war against North Vietnam, began on March 2, 1965. The first mission was an indication of things to come. The targets, timing of the attack, and other details of the operation were all decided in Washington, D.C. There were only two targets. Both were relatively minor, located just north of the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Vietnam. The enemy’s real strength around Hanoi and Haiphong was not touched, not even threatened. It was a strange way to begin a war. more here: http://www.afa.org/magazine/march2005/0305thunder.asp