From the This Day in Aviation website
7 August 1963: The first Lockheed YF-12A interceptor, 60-6934, took off from a top secret air base at Groom Lake, Nevada, on its first flight. Lockheed test pilot James D. Eastham was at the controls.
Three YF-12A prototypes s were built. They were Mach 3+ interceptors developed from the Central Intelligence Agency “Oxcart” Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance airplane.
From the Task and Purpose website
North Korea is pressing on with its nuclear weapons program and several countries believe it has “probably developed miniaturized nuclear devices to fit into the warheads of its ballistic missiles,” according to a confidential U.N. report.
The report by an independent panel of experts monitoring U.N. sanctions said the countries, which it did not identify, believed North Korea’s past six nuclear tests had likely helped it develop miniaturized nuclear devices. Pyongyang has not conducted a nuclear test since September 2017.
Attached is today’s COVID-19 Daily News Update issued by Hawaii State Department of Health.
Because of today’s report of two deaths and 201 new positives, there are several changes to the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the American Revolutionary War, the Badge for Military Merit decorated six known soldiers. Purple Heart Day on August 7 commemorates the creation of the oldest American military decoration for military merit, the Purple Heart and honors the men and women who are of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Created by General George Washington in 1782 to be presented to soldiers for “any singularly meritorious action”, the decoration was a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk bound with a thin edge of silver and the word Merit embroidered in silver across the face.
It is unknown who designed the Badge of Merit. It is also unknown how many soldiers may have received the honor symbolizing the courage and devotion of an American Patriot. According to The Badge of Military Merit by Professor Ray Raymond, The “Book of Merit” where the names of possible recipients and their deeds were recorded has long been missing. According to the Badge of Military Merit by Professor Ray Raymond,
Until Washington’s 200th birthday, the Purple Heart remained a Revolutionary War footnote. Through the efforts of General Douglas MacArthur, the U.S. War Department created the Order of the Purple Heart. Today the medal bears a bust of George Washington and his coat of arms.
Off the 117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Facebook page
Hawaii National Guard Airmen and Soldiers board a C-17 to return home after serving with Task Force Maui providing civil support to the County of Maui during COVID-19 operations, Kihei, Hawaii, August 4, 2020. These troops will reunite with their families and others will soon take their place. The Guard is actively rotating and right-sizing its troops across the neighbor-islands in order to continue missions. Be on the look out for fresh faces!
See more photographs by SSG Tinisha Mellein
Great job by these Hawaii Guardmembers!
The Kūkā‘ilimoku is the official e-newsletter of the 154th Wing, Hawai’i Air National Guard. The first issue came in September 1957 and continues as a monthly newsletter today.
Today we feature the July 1958 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue. This issue includes the following stories:
* Medical Unit News
* Promotions – include T/Sgt David Rodrigues, future HIANG Commander
* Operations Face Lift – some familiar names
Military advocacy groups are calling for changes that give working-age retirees a longer grace period if they fail to set up a way to pay new fees for Tricare Select set to kick in January 1.
As it is, if the retirees fail to set up their payments by January. 1, they’ll be kicked out of the health care program, and will have 90 days to apply for reinstatement.
Many advocacy organizations are hearing complaints about the new fees from angry members who may not have realized fees were coming, said Karen Ruedisueli, director of health affairs for the Military Officers Association of America. “Some of the angriest are the recent retirees who served almost their entire careers while our nation was at war and endured multiple combat deployments, only to face fee increases as they’re about to retire,” she said.
The Kūkā‘ilimoku is the official e-newsletter of the 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard. The first issue came in September 1957 and continues as a monthly newsletter today.
Today we feature the August 1966 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue. This issue includes the following stories:
* Hawaii Air National Guard Participates in Blood Drive
Review the entire August 1966 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue – one page issue
Having trouble identifying your pills? Enter the shape, color, or imprint of your prescription or OTC drug. The pill finder on this WebMD website will display picture that you can compare to your pill. Great reference!
From the Sea Grant College Program website
The fourth edition of the Homeowner’s Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards is available now! Learn how you can prepare for natural hazards including tsunami, hurricane, earthquake, flood, volcano, and climate change.
What’s new in this fourth edition: Evacuation Planning, Retrofit Options, Resilience, Adaptation, and Sustainability
This undated photograph shows a Hawaii Air National Guard McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom on Taxiway Mike. Aircraft leaving on training flights get an engine running last check at the end of Taxiway Mike prior to takeoff.
The Kūkā‘ilimoku is the official e-newsletter of the 154th Wing, Hawai’i Air National Guard. The first issue came in September 1957 and continues as a monthly newsletter today.
Today we feature the August 1974 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue. This issue includes the following stories:
* Recruiter Richard Saunders Shows Off New Recruiting Van
* Load Crew Competition
* 154th Supply Squadron Happenings
Off the Hawaii Air National Guard Facebook page
It’s no surprise that a lot of information has been coming out these days. With so many changes going on and opportunities to receive help within the HIANG network, we built a tool that can help bring you closer to the many available resources for Airmen and their family members.
The HIANG Digital Resource Pocket Book is a living document, which directs members toward Family Services, Financial Benefits, Legal Support, Metal Health avenues and Medical Guidance.
This pocket book can be accessed from any place that has an internet connection and will be continually updated with new information as new opportunities and resources come our way.
We believe that knowledge and awareness is key to success, so feel free to explore the many resources that are awaiting for you! They’re just a few taps away!
From the Anderson AFB Facebook page
Guardsmen from the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard (ANG) along with members of the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania National Guard, deployed here, were the first to locate three missing mariners during a search and rescue mission in the Federated States of Micronesia southwest of Guam.
On July 29, three mariners aboard a 23-foot white and blue skiff departed Puluwat Atoll intending to travel approximately 21 nautical miles to Pulap, Chuuk. However, they never made it to their destination and were reported missing.
“Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam received notification of an overdue skiff last seen in the vicinity of Chuuk and requested our assistance,” said Air Force Maj. Shaun McRoberts, 506th Air Expeditionary Aerial Refueling Squadron assistant director of operations. “Once notified, we began immediately working a plan to launch crews to locate the missing vessel.”
Hawaii Air National Guardsmen Lt. Col. Jason Palmeira-Yen, Maj. Byron Kamikawa, Tech. Sgt. Shane Williams along with Pennsylvania Air National Guardsmen Tech. Sgt. Rodney Joseph and Senior Airman Jeremy Williams took off from Andersen AFB in their KC-135 Stratotanker destined to locate the missing vessel.
After almost three hours into their mission and flying at about 1,500 feet, the crew located the mariners on the tiny island of Pikelot, Yap.
“We were toward the end of our search pattern,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jason Palmeira-Yen, the KC-135 pilot. “We turned to avoid some rain showers and that’s when we looked down and saw an island, so we decide to check it out and that’s when we saw SOS and a boat right next to it on the beach. From there we called in the Australian Navy because they had two helicopters nearby that could assist and land on the island.”
The Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Canberra (L02) was also in the region and agreed to divert and provide search sorties with embarked helicopters while the FSS Independence departed from Yap to assist.
A helicopter crew from HMAS Canberra delivered supplies to the stranded mariners while a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules from Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii airdropped a radio and message block informing them the FSS Independence was en-route to rescue and return them home.
“Partnerships” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Christopher Chase, Coast Guard Sector Guam, commander. “This is what made this search and rescue case successful. Through coordination with multiple response organizations, we were able to save three members of our community and bring them back home to their families.”
At 12 a.m., August 3 (HST), the Independence arrived on scene, launched a small boat crew and rescued the mariners.
Great job by these Air Guardmembers!
Retiree News 