Operation Tidal Wave | Billionaire Terrorist 💀 | Army Solider Convicted in Russia

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“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting."
- Sun Tzu

IN HISTORY

 August 1, 1943 | Operation Tidal Wave | The Allies launch one of the most daring air raids of World War II. The mission aimed to cripple the Axis oil supply by targeting the heavily defended oil refineries in Ploiești, Romania. A total of 178 B-24 Liberators from the U.S. Army Air Forces, primarily from the Ninth and Fifteenth Air Forces, took part in the raid. The mission required precision low-altitude bombing to ensure the destruction of the refineries, despite the risks posed by intense anti-aircraft defenses.

While the operation temporarily disrupted the Axis oil production, the cost was enormous. Of the 178 bombers that embarked on the mission, 53 were lost, and approximately 660 airmen were killed, captured, or reported missing.

Five Medals of Honor and 56 Distinguished Flying Crosses would be awarded for Operation Tidal Wave and would be dubbed one of the bloodest and most heroic missions of all time, according to a report conducted by the USAF’s Air War College.

The Army Air Corps never again attempted a low-level bombing raid against the Germans.

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FLIGHT LINE

🎯 National Defense Strategy Report | In 2023, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees established the Commission on National Defense Strategy, charged with analyzing the 2022 National Defense Strategy. The report is out…and well…it’s not great.

🎯 Israel Strikes Into Tehran | Israel has killed a top leader of Hamas in Tehran. Ismail Haniyeh has lived in exile since 2019 from Gaza and on the morning of July 30th attended the swearing in of Iran’s new president Masoud Pezeshian. At the time of his death Ismail was worth approximately four billion dollars. Initial reports claimed he was struck with an airstrike but now appears to be more likely the result of a planted explosive device

🎯 First F-16’s Arrive in Ukraine | A Ukrainian lawmaker, speaking on a condition of anonymity, stated a small number of F-16’s have arrived in the country.

🎯 US Carries Out Defensive Airstrike in Iraq | The U.S. military conducted a defensive airstrike in Iraq, targeting targeting combatants attempting to launch one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWAUAS). This is the first airstrike conducted in Iraq since February.

🎯 More KC-46 Woes | The KC-46 added new category 1 deficiency (see below) to its long list numerous issues. Vibrations from the fuel pumps are damaging the air ducts. The quick fix is for crews to turn the pumps off and then back on. The pumps will have to be re-designed for a long term fix. This adds to the $7 billion dollars in charges that Boeing has racked up with the KC-46 program.

• Cat 1 Deficiency - Could resulted in death, aircraft loss or damage, prevents aircraft from performing primary or secondary mission or critically restricts operator from primary duty.

🎯 US Army Stops Paying Soldier Imprisoned in Russia | Army Staff Sgt. Gordon Black was convicted of theft and threatening murder in Russia. But before that point he broke a few Army rules. Including traveling to Russia (against the rules), flying through China to get there (also against the rules). But why vacation in Russia? Well, Sgt. Black allegedly fell in love with a Russian woman while stationed in South Korea. While on leave he followed her back Vladivostok where she ultimately ended up calling the police after an argument.

🎯 Israel Eliminates Top Hezbollah Military Commander | On Tuesday, Israel struck into Beirut to kill a Faud Shukr with a precision strike. Shukr was designated a terrorist by the U.S. and had a $5 million bounty on his head.

🎯 Wagner Group Attacked | A mix of 80 Wagner group mercenaries and Malian personnel are dead and more 15 are in captivity following an ambush near Mali’s northern border with Algeria.

🎯 North Korean Hacker Indicted | A grand jury in Kansas has indicted Rim Jong Hyok for hacking U.S. healthcare providers. The U.S. is offering a $10 million dollar bounty.

🎯 B-52 Stops by Iraq and Syria | A B-52 crew conducted a 32-hour mission flying from Europe, across the Middle East, and back home to Louisiana this week. Tail number 60-0054 (That’s right it rolled off the assembly line in 1960) conducted overflight over numerous countries in the middle east, rejoined with A-10’s, Qatari F-15QA’s, and of course KC-135s.

 🎯 NGAD takes a Knee | The Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter program is on pause to see if it is “on the right course” said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall on July 30th. He said we “are still going to do a sixth generation crew aircraft…”