Col Bud Anderson | Arms Deals August | Army Solider Guilty for Spying

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IN HISTORY

Colonel Clarence "Bud" Anderson: The Triple Ace

Born on a farm in Newcastle, California, in 1922, Clarence "Bud" Anderson grew up with a fascination for aviation, sparked by the barnstormers he saw as a child. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Anderson enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, beginning a journey that would take him to the skies over Europe as one of the most skilled fighter pilots of World War II.

Anderson trained rigorously, moving from the P-39 Airacobra to the P-51 Mustang, where his true talents as a fighter pilot emerged. Stationed with the 357th Fighter Group, known as the "Yoxford Boys," Anderson quickly made his mark. His first kill came on March 3, 1944, when he took down a Messerschmitt Bf-109 attacking a B-17. From there, Anderson's kill count steadily rose as he flew missions deep into enemy territory, protecting bombers and engaging in fierce dogfights with the Luftwaffe.

Anderson’s combat prowess was undeniable—by the time he finished his second tour, he had 16 ¼ aerial victories, making him a triple ace. His P-51 Mustang, "Old Crow," carried him through 116 missions without being hit by enemy fire or having to turn back.

After the war, Anderson continued to serve his country as a test pilot and later as a commander during the Vietnam War, flying 25 missions and closing the base in Thailand which was home to the 355th TFW.

FLIGHT LINE

🎯 Three Years Since Taliban's Return to Power in Afghanistan | The Taliban celebrated at Bagram Air Base marking their third anniversary of return to power. Cabinet members highlighted their achievements in front of the all male audience. The picture below really sums it up…

🎯 Ukraine Seeks Retired F-16 Pilots Amid Training Delays | Ukraine is seeking retired F-16 pilots to fly its jets while new pilots undergo training. The search for experienced pilots comes as Ukraine prepares to integrate F-16s into its fleet, addressing an immediate need for skilled personnel to operate these advanced aircraft. 20 Ukrainian pilots are expected to be ready to fly this year.

🎯 U.S. Approves $20 Billion Military Equipment Sale to Israel | The sale includes 50 new F-15s (to be delivered in 2029), upgrades to their existing F-15’s, Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), tank ammunition, armored vehicles and more.

🎯 Voepass ATR Update | The aircraft from the Voepass crash on August 9th has been reported as the same aircraft that suffered a tail strike upon landing on March 11th. The damage was significant and resulted in the aircraft being out of service for four months. The aircraft returned to service July 9th but experienced a cabin pressure loss, it was returned to service July 13th.

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🎯 U.S. Soldier Pleads Guilty to Selling Military Secrets to China | An Air Korbein Schultz, a U.S. soldier, has pleaded guilty to charges of selling military secrets to China. The information included classified data on U.S. military operations and technology, which Schultz attempted to pass to Chinese intelligence. It started with a $200 payment but would lead to 14 payments totaling $42,000 for the army intel analyst.

🎯 Fire Halts U.S. Coast Guard’s Icebreaker Healy | The U.S. Coast Guard's icebreaker Healy, one of only two of ice breakers, suffered a fire in one of its main propulsion motors, forcing it to suspend its Arctic mission. The Healy had left Seattle in late July for a months-long deployment focused on Arctic research and maintaining U.S. presence in the region.

🎯 Boeing Secures $2.56 Billion Contract for E-7A Wedgetail Aircraft | Boeing has been awarded a $2.56 billion contract by the U.S. Air Force to develop and deliver the E-7A Wedgetail aircraft. The E-7A, an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform, will enhance the Air Force's capabilities in surveillance, battle management, and command and control. The contract includes the delivery of two rapid prototypes (2027) and an expected fleet size of 26 aircraft.

🎯 Poland Strengthens Military with Major U.S. Arms Deals | Poland is signed two major deals with the United States. Poland signed an $850 million contract for hundreds of AIM-120C AMRAAMs, with deliveries starting in 2029, to boost its long-range strike abilities. Additionally, Poland has agreed to purchase 96 Apache helicopters and a variety of munitions at a cost of $10 billion, with deliveries beginning in 2026.c

🎯 U.S. Approves $5 Billion Patriot Missile Sale to Germany | The U.S. State Department has approved a $5 billion sale of 600 Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missile segments, produced by Lockheed to Germany. Germany purchased over $2 billion in Patriot missile systems and components earlier this year from the Rayehton which builds the Patriot system.

🎯 Raptors in Indonesia | For the first time, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters have been deployed to Indonesia as part of a joint exercise aimed at strengthening military ties between the two nations. The F-22s conducted hot-pit refueling operations with a C-130 upon landing and then departed.

🎯 Raptors in the Middle East | The U.S. Air Force has deployed F-22 Raptors to the Middle East to bolster defenses against potential threats from Iran and its proxies.

🎯 USMC Cites Pilot Error in 2023 Fatal Osprey Crash in Australia | The U.S. Marine Corps has attributed the fatal 2023 MV-22B Osprey crash in Australia to pilot error. The incident, which resulted in the deaths of three Marines, occurred during a routine training exercise. The investigation revealed that the pilot's misjudgment in managing the aircraft's descent led to the crash.

“During the flight’s final approach to the pre-coordinated landing zone, the aircraft executed three extreme right banks, causing an aerodynamic stall condition…”

🎯 Chinese Aircraft Carrier Shandong Deploys to Philippine Sea | China’s aircraft carrier Shandong has deployed to the Philippine Sea, a strategic move that underscores Beijing’s growing military presence in the region. The deployment follows recent tensions between China and the Philippines over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The Shandong, accompanied by a fleet of warships, is expected to conduct exercises.

 🎯 UN Issues Warning Over Kursk Nuclear Power Plant |  UN Issues Warning Over Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. The warning comes as Ukraine pushes further into Russia and fighting intensifies.

Radar Scope

☢️ Defense Contractor Charged: A Department of Defense contractor was charged after attempting to leave the country with top-secret documents, caught at the U.S.-Mexico border

☢️ Laptop Farm Dismantled: U.S. authorities dismantled a laptop farm in Nashville, TN used by undercover North Korean IT workers who were generating revenue for the regime through illegal online work.

☢️ SkyWest Pilot Diverts Flight: A SkyWest pilot was forced to divert a flight after realizing they were not qualified to operate the aircraft due to a misunderstanding during the scheduling process.

☢️ Pilot Continues Flight Without Gear: A pilot continued their flight despite the landing gear struck a dyke on takeoff in Maban South Sudan.

☢️ F-35 Fleet Reaches 1,000 Jets: The global fleet of F-35 fighter jets has surpassed 1,000 aircraft, marking a significant milestone in the program's expansion.

☢️ Lockheed Delivers First C-130J to RNZAF: Lockheed Martin has delivered the first C-130J Super Hercules to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).

☢️ USS Abraham Lincoln Accelerates Transit to Middle East | The USS Abraham Lincoln has been ordered to accelerate its transit to the Middle East as tensions in the region escalate. Additionally, the guided-missile submarine USS Georgia is also heading to the CENTCOM area of responsibility.

☢️ Nord Stream Pipeline Attack Suspicions: New evidence is emerging regarding the attack on the Nord Stream pipeline, with speculation that it may have been orchestrated by a professional dive instructor who is also a Ukrainian national.

☢️ New Zealand Charity Candy Contaminated with Meth: A New Zealand charity's candy was found to be contaminated with potentially lethal levels of methamphetamine.

☢️ Russian Su-34 Fighter-Bomber Downed Near Kursk: A Russian Su-34 supersonic fighter-bomber was reportedly downed near Kursk, with conflicting reports on whether Ukrainian forces were involved.

☢️ Army Establishes Arctic Aviation Command: The U.S. Army has established a new Arctic Aviation Command to enhance its operational capabilities in extreme cold environments.

😭 Residents Push Burlington City Council on F-35 Noise Concerns: Burlington residents are urging the city council to address noise issues related to the Vermont Air National Guard’s F-35 jets.

“Our classes will sometimes have to stop because the F-35s are so loud. We cannot hear our teachers and we cannot hear our peers. It’s a really big issue. I think we’re not taking this into consideration about education and the next generation.”

☢️ Norway Inquires About HIMARS Purchase: Norway has expressed interest in purchasing Lockheed Martin’s HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) to bolster its long-range strike capabilities.